The Evolution Persona 6 Desperately Needs: Breaking Tradition and Redefining the Franchise

Details about Persona 6 are currently unknown, leaving room for speculation on what fans would like to see in the popular JRPG franchise. Persona 5 was a huge success for Atlus, increasing expectations for its successor to deliver a similar experience that keeps players interested. Throughout the series, each Persona game has made various changes to refine the formula and provide fans with new experiences. Features like the weather forecast system in Persona 4 and the fast-paced combat and artistic style of Persona 5 were praised for their uniqueness and innovation. While most aspects of the games have remained consistent, Persona 6 presents an opportunity to introduce a significant addition.

Persona 6 Needs More Personas

The Personas in the Persona series and the demons in the Shin Megami Tensei series have remained largely unchanged over the years. While there have been some additions, players can always expect to encounter familiar creatures as they embark on their adventures. Pixies, Jack-o'-Lanterns, Agathions, and many others have been staples since the early days of these popular Atlus JRPGs.

Although there have been new additions, especially among the higher-level Personas that can be fused using lower-level ones, many of the stronger creatures are still recurring. Notable examples include Melchizedek, Alice, and Beelzebub, which can be found in almost every Persona and Shin Megami Tensei title. Persona 5 Royal boasts a total of 259 Personas, 33 more than in Persona 4 Golden. While this does offer some variety, dedicated fans who have played all the previous Persona and SMT games may find the roster quite familiar.

Persona 6 Could Take The 'Unova' Approach

Game Freak expanded its portfolio by introducing a vast array of new creatures in Pokemon Black and White, surpassing the number seen in the first generation. In Generation 5, no Pokemon from previous generations were available to be captured in Unova, which sparked some controversy among players who were critical of the new Pokemon designs. However, in hindsight, this decision successfully breathed new life into the games. In today's era saturated with "Gen 1 Pokemon," it would be refreshing to start a new game without immediately encountering the familiar 150 from Kanto.

To set Persona 6 apart from its predecessors, it could adopt a similar approach by incorporating a completely original collection of Personas for players to negotiate with and fuse together. While this would undoubtedly enhance the uniqueness of the game, one drawback is the substantial amount of time required to create hundreds of new Personas. Persona 5 already faced numerous delays without attempting to alter its inventory of Personas, so implementing such a change in Persona 6 would likely lead to further delays in its development.

Based on various creatures from real-life folklore or mythology, each Persona represents a unique persona. With countless options available, it might be a challenge to gather enough mythical creatures to form a completely fresh roster. Nevertheless, it is not an impossible task, and Atlus would have the opportunity to explore fascinating cultures that have yet to be referenced before. The existing lineup of Personas mainly draws inspiration from European and East Asian folklore, while a new lineup could include creatures inspired by the myths of South America, Africa, Oceania, and more. It would undoubtedly be a delightful addition if Atlus decides to pursue this direction. Excitingly, development for Persona 6 is currently underway.