The Revolutionary Persona 5 Royal Awakenings That Will Change Gaming Forever

Highlights

Persona 5 Royal sets a new standard for impactful Persona awakenings, making them vital moments for both storyline and gameplay.

The way the game handles awakenings, occurring during intense moments in the story, effectively displays the inner strength of the characters and portrays them as powerful even before engaging in their initial battle. Persona 5 takes an action-oriented approach to awakenings, highlighting the party members' Personas against formidable minibosses, resulting in a highly gratifying experience that sets a precedent for future Persona games.

Persona 5 Royal revolutionized the way Persona awakenings occur in the series, and this new approach should be the standard moving forward. These awakenings hold immense importance, both in terms of the game's storyline and its gameplay. As such, it is vital that we treat the scenes and characters involved with the utmost respect. Persona 5 Royal has set a new benchmark by ensuring that Persona awakenings are truly impactful moments in the game. Future installments, including Persona 6 and beyond, should take inspiration from this to create their own memorable awakenings.

In every Persona game, each party member possesses their own unique Persona, a necessity for obvious reasons. These Personas grant them the power to combat Shadows and other monsters encountered during their respective journeys. The fact that each party member's Persona is usually tailored to suit their individuality adds an extra layer of significance, distinguishing them from the other Personas acquired throughout the game. Typically, their Persona only changes when it evolves, whether through friendship or due to significant events in the storyline, meaning players will encounter them frequently.

Persona 5 Had the Series' Best Take on Persona Awakenings So Far

Before Persona 5, new party members in Persona games would typically awaken their Persona and become available after a significant fight, apart from the starting party. An example of this can be seen in Persona 4, where every party member, except the protagonist, is unlocked by defeating their Shadow. This method of character unlocking seems logical, as it involves removing doubt from their hearts to awaken their persona. However, apart from a cutscene after the fight, they are not actively involved in their own recruitment.

Persona 5 introduced a new storytelling pattern, deviating from the previous status quo. Instead of awakening after a boss battle, the characters experience their awakenings during tense and pivotal moments in the story. At the peak of their emotions, often in threatening situations, they impressively awaken their persona and adopt their own thief persona simultaneously to join the fight. Rather than needing to be rescued and recruited, they tap into their inner strength to give life to their persona, showcasing their strength even before their first battle.

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The way Persona 5 presents its Persona awakenings provides a valuable lesson for Persona 6. Following a character's awakening, there is often a miniboss encounter where the Persona aligns well against the enemy. This instantly highlights the party member's strength and showcases them in a positive light. This approach not only allows lesser-used party members to shine, but also enhances the overall satisfaction of the awakening scene.

The awakening of a character's Persona is a significant moment. It not only drives their personal development but also serves as an introduction to their Persona. If Persona 6 wants to capture the same impact, it must give each party member the chance to demonstrate their Persona's abilities. While alternative awakening methods can also be effective, Persona 5's action-oriented approach provides a more gratifying experience. As a result, Persona 5's method of presenting Persona awakenings should serve as the blueprint for future iterations of the series.

Persona 5 Royal is available now for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.