Persona 5 vs Persona 5 Royal: What’s Different and Which Version is Superior

Persona 5 – Experienced creators have always been wary of perfectionism. The desire to refine is natural and driven by the best intentions. But it’s too easy to fall into the trap of never-ending tweaking and tinkering. In the domain of electronic entertainment, this mindset is rarely beneficial. Minor bug fixes and UI adjustments aside, there is little point to modifying the formula.

Nevertheless, some companies manage to achieve the impossible. In fact, Atlus, the renowned Japanese studio, has pulled it off more than once. Their post-release treatment of their legendary Jungian RPGs has always been impressive. Critics consider the fifth installment for PS4 the crown jewel of the series.

Thanks to Persona 5 Royal, PC and other consoles added the title to their libraries. Moreover, the extended edition was a genuine improvement upon what was already a masterpiece. Can it really be that much better than its forerunner? Let’s take a closer look and determine what sets it apart.

Dark Corners of the Soul

The previous chapter first came out on PS2, and was later ported to other platforms. But it wasn’t for another decade that it finally reached Windows. The next project coincided with the advent of a new generation of consoles. The timing let the developers of Persona 5 switch to superior hardware much sooner.

Consequently, it came out simultaneously on PlayStation 4 and 5, and ran nicely on both. The product was a huge success both in Asia and in the Western countries. At that point, the creators could have easily decided to rest on their laurels. But instead of basking in the rays of glory, they continued to perfect their brainchild. This time, the plans for the future upgrade were a lot more ambitious.

Understandably, the announcement of the Persona 5 Royal release date took many by surprise. In under 5 years, the team expanded upon virtually every aspect of the game. The scope of their undertaking is hard to appreciate without having played through the original.

The list of its main features included:

• Modern spin on the familiar gameplay that blended JRPG and time-management life sim mechanics
• Dozens of creatures that embodied their masters’ multifaceted personalities
• Engaging turn-based battle system with a variety of melee, ranged, and magic attacks
• Awesome noir art style interwoven into the signature Persona 5 manga esthetics
• Memorable heroes with interesting, well-written backstories
• Distinctive dungeons that represent the depths of the minds they stem from
• Huge city with countless daily activities to partake in
• Perhaps, the coolest story in the history of the franchise

As usual, the single-player campaign incorporated a staggering number of missions, side-quests, and everyday routines. The heroes’ skills and performance depended on how they spent the limited time they had. The replay value was already extraordinary. But as it turned out, all that was just a warm-up for the main event.

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Persona 4 – Detailed Review

Introducing Persona 5 Royal

Both renditions share the same premise, inspired by analytical psychology. It implies that every person wears multiple social masks to protect themselves. In this work of fiction, it’s possible to enter the subconscious domain. In its surreal environment, facets of human personalities manifest as metaphysical entities.

Essentially, they are demon warriors with various attributes and powers. A group of high-schoolers who call themselves Phantom Thieves use them to change the world. They enter the psyches of influential, corrupted individuals, hoping to reshape them.

But while the storyline is largely the same, P5R elevates it to the next level. It has numerous compelling advantages:

1. Reimagined combat that rebalances the gunplay, and adds cool combo finishers
2. Major expansion of the original plot, with a whole new semester to complete
3. New areas and dungeons
4. Additional confidants and NPCs
5. More collectibles and unlockables
6. Less grinding due to quick kills in mementos
7. Mounds of extra dialogue

Overall, the reissue feels like a completely fresh experience. It addresses many of its predecessor’s problems and boosts the appeal, without losing the charm.

Persona 5 Characters

The storytelling has always been primarily character-driven. This entry doesn’t deviate from the established tradition.

The incredible cast consists of the following playable members:

Ren Amamiya

The player-named mask-wearing protagonist (Ren Amamiya by default) who wields firearms and knives. Falsely accused of assault, he discovers a way to affect reality through the metaverse.

Ryuji Sakamoto

Ryuji Sakamoto, his schoolmate with short blond hair. An infamous troublemaker, he favors clubs and shotguns.

Ann Takamaki

Ann Takamaki has been a fan-favorite since the early Persona 5 PS5 and PS4 builds. An empathetic outcast with a striking appearance, she slays foes with whips and SMGs.

Yusuke Kitagawa

Yusuke Kitagawa is a dark-haired descendant of a renowned artist. He prefers long katana swords and assault rifles.

Makoto Niijima

Makoto Niijima is a highly intelligent brown-haired girl. She often gets violent in the name of justice, using her bare fists and revolvers.

Futaba Sakura

Futaba Sakura, an introverted hacker, is easily recognizable by her orange hair and glasses.

Haru Okumura

Haru Okumura comes from a rich family, which makes her suspicious of others’ motives. Despite being gentle and kind, she brutally annihilates enemies with axes and grenade launchers.

Goro Akechi

Goro Akechi is a famous investigator with an agenda of his own. Amiable and charming, he is fond of futuristic laser sabers and pistols with silencers.

Morgana

Morgana is an odd anthropomorphic feline, capable of transforming into a van. He doesn’t remember anything about himself, and strives to recover the truth about his past.

Aside from the existing Persona 5 Characters, the second incarnation adds several more:

Sumire Yoshizawa

Sumire Yoshizawa, a joyous and friendly redhead. She is a talented gymnast, armed with rapiers and rifles.

Takuto Maruki

Takuto Maruki is a compassionate and likable student councillor. He is rarely seen without his white lab coat and square-shaped spectacles.

Jose

Jose is a mysterious entity who appears as a pale-headed little boy. He trades items and equipment in exchange for flowers found in mementos.

P5R Important Locations

The lively streets of Tokyo are a stark contrast to part 4’s rural town setting. The protagonist settles in the attic of a small café. Using the subway system, they can explore the metropolis in their spare time.

The virtual city incorporates such landmarks as Akihabara, the Shibuya, and Sangen-Jaya stations.

In Persona 5 Royal, PS5 owners could revisit all the previously available levels:

The legendary Velvet Room, which in this case looks like an otherworldly prison.

Shujin Academy, where the bulk of the crew studies.
The targets’ twisted mind-palaces, where most of the fighting occurs.
Mementos, a system of tunnels at the heart of the Metaverse.

Countless real-world shops, restaurants, and businesses.

They were slightly updated in Persona 5 on Xbox, Nintendo, and other platforms.

The Royal expansion has even more places to visit:

Kichijoji, a popular neighborhood with a thriving commercial district.
The shopping complex in Nakano.
Old Temple, a quiet place of respite, perfect for meditation.
The Shinagawa aquarium, a fun hangout spot.
The Thieves Den, the main character’s customizable hub of memories.

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7 Best Tips for Beginners

The body of content is enormous, and newcomers can easily get overwhelmed and confused. Don’t worry too much about the progression early on. Complete the tutorial to get the hang of the process. The understanding of the fundamental mechanics should come naturally. However, it’s crucial not to miss out on several helpful tricks.

They are applicable to Persona 5 Royal Switch, Valve, and Microsoft store-based remasters as well:

1. Interact with the surroundings to raise stats by watering plants, solving crossword puzzles, etc.
2. Keep learning materials on hand just in case there is nothing else to do
3. The confidants grant some neat perks, like reading during class and mid-battle character-switching
4. Spend plenty of time with Takuto, Goro, and Kasumi to get the true ending
5. Don’t get attached to specific personas, and fuse them without hesitation for better results
6. Back up the save files occasionally to be able to go back and fix mistakes
7. In Persona 5 Royal, Persona ID information is automatically uploaded to the cloud on Steam

This information is just the tip of the iceberg. Visit subreddits, research wikis, and chat with other enthusiasts on Discord to learn more.

Brief Overview of the Endings

The bad outcomes are self-explanatory and not too hard to avoid. Here are a few examples of how to trigger them:

• Decline Igor’s proposition at the very beginning
• Fail to finish any of the Palaces in time
• Respond incorrectly during the interrogation

The more satisfying resolutions require reaching the final dungeon. Without unnecessary spoilers, agree to the offer to get the ‘good’ option. Alternatively, turn it down for the ‘true’ conclusion. The latter is the only way to access the third semester. It was added in the Persona 5 Royal Xbox, PS5, Switch, and PC remasters.

What Can Players Learn From P5

Similarly to its precursor, this story-driven adventure tackles serious subjects, for example:

1. The importance of cooperation and building social ties
2. Gaining inner strength through facing the darker sides of one’s personality
3. Being understanding and compassionate towards others, regardless of their image and status

The action is tactical in nature and intellectually stimulating. It benefits logical thinking, strategic reasoning, and overall mental acuity.

As for Persona 5 Royal, Steam, Nintendo, and other recent iterations carry an anti-escapism message. The bonus section shows the dangers of living in a dream-world, where everything is perfect.

FAQ About The Persona 5 Game