Persona 6: Revolutionizing the Franchise with a Groundbreaking Protagonist Twist
Persona 6 has the opportunity to redefine the series by breaking tradition and exploring the uncharted territory of a protagonist's family dynamics, adding depth and emotional resonance to the game
With Persona 3: Reload slated for release next year, fans of Atlus' popular JRPG series eagerly anticipate the opportunity to revisit the past while they await the arrival of the highly-anticipated sixth mainline installment. Following the phenomenal success of Persona 5, both longtime and new players have high expectations for Persona 6, seeking an evolution of the series in ways unseen before. Although it may appear challenging to experiment within the franchise's well-established high school setting after five previous outings, this formulaic backdrop presents Persona 6 with the ideal chance to revolutionize its narrative by addressing a key aspect and offering players a completely fresh experience.
The Persona series has traditionally centered around the trials and tribulations of teenagers navigating their way through high school while contending with the supernatural elements of the Shin Megami Tensei universe. However, this portrayal has not always accurately reflected the experiences of most individuals during that time. While previous Persona games have heavily focused on the protagonist's personal life, they have often neglected to address the presence of parents, contributing to the common storytelling trope of "invisible parents." Persona 6, on the other hand, has the opportunity to rectify this peculiar detail by presenting a more realistic depiction of the protagonist's familial relationships.
Persona Has Never Properly Featured a Protagonist's Parents
Most Persona titles have focused on the parents of the party members and side characters, neglecting the protagonist's parents. The stories of characters like Haru Okumura's and Mitsuru Kirijo's twisted fathers have played a crucial role in their respective games, but the protagonist's personal development is never explored to the same extent. Makoto of Persona 3 is an orphan, while both Yu Narukami and Joker seem to have parents who are indifferent towards them.
Persona 2's duology, particularly Innocent Sin, provides the closest look into the home lives of its two player characters, Tatsuya and Maya. However, many details about their domestic origins remain unclear. The closest thing to a genuine family dynamic in the series can be seen in Persona 4, where Yu Narukami's detective uncle, Dojima, plays a significant role. However, even this situation is rather grim as a substitute for a true home life.
Persona 6 can Define Itself Through Bold Choices like a Focus on Family
Taking on the role of Nanako's older brother adds a unique level of personal investment in the narrative, something that is rarely seen in the franchise. While Joker's innocence and criminal status in Persona 5 provided an exciting story arc, the emotional struggle within the family dynamic in Persona 4 showcases the potential for future scenarios.
In previous Persona games, the protagonists have played a crucial role in helping their party members and friends overcome significant personal challenges. However, in the next game, we could explore the potential of bringing these issues closer to the main character's own life, offering a fresh perspective. While the Social Links between Nanako, Dojima, and the protagonist in Persona 4 had the potential to deliver deeply engaging and tragic narratives, Persona 6 could introduce an array of new Confidants, including the protagonist's parents, siblings, and other significant individuals, allowing for even more profound connections to be formed.
By emphasizing the romance options, Persona 6 could greatly enhance the importance of player choice through the various forms of familial approval. Introducing a more developed family dynamic would add a fresh twist to the usual high school setting seen in the series. Alternatively, Persona 6 might veer away from adolescence entirely, drawing inspiration from Persona 2: Eternal Punishment.
However, if Persona 6 chooses to focus on an adult cast like Eternal Punishment, neglecting to include the player's family could feel unoriginal. Regardless of the chosen path, delving deeper into the protagonist's real home life has the potential to create the most emotionally impactful experience in the entire series.
Persona 6 is currently in development.
