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Persona Community Thread |OT9| SPOILER TAGS OR DIE

Dantis

Member
I dunno, P3 was pretty melodramatic.

P3: Everything is death

P4: Everything is friendship Truth

P5: Everything is Corrupt (?)
It was. P5 has a lot of 'look how awesome and unbeatable the party are!' moments. That's what I'm referring to. It did nothing for me, but I'm sure some people will love it.

And the fact I played it in Japanese doesn't change much of what I've been saying. I'm not remotely endeared to the characters, but that's not something I bring up when talking about playing the game. Regardless of language, I still think the narrative is bad. I still think the final boss theme is underwhelming. I still the the last 20% of the story is kinda dumb and uninteresting.

Every time someone says 'you only dislike it because you didn't understand it', I think they're missing what I disliked.

Some people will love Persona 5 (yay!). Some people will not (oh no!). Some people, like me, will think that it starts out incredibly strong and gets progressively less so. As a game it's good all the way through. That's what matters. It's also worth remembering that I thought P3's story was trash, and P4's turns bad in the final dungeon.
 

Makio

Member
P5 has that garbage antagonist .

Glad to see Persona 5 being consistent with Persona 1 / Persona 3 / Persona 4 line of antagonist and since i dont even remember the Persona 2 one i suppose it was bad too....

(And i know a lot of people love the overrated P4 one , dont worry i respect your opinion no need to convince me)
 

PK Gaming

Member
It was. P5 has a lot of 'look how awesome and unbeatable the party are!' moments. That's what I'm referring to. It did nothing for me, but I'm sure some people will love it.

And the fact I played it in Japanese doesn't change much of what I've been saying. I'm not remotely endeared to the characters, but that's not something I bring up when talking about playing the game. Regardless of language, I still think the narrative is bad. I still think the final boss theme is underwhelming. I still the the last 20% of the story is kinda dumb and uninteresting.

Every time someone says 'you only dislike it because you didn't understand it', I think they're missing what I disliked.

Some people will love Persona 5 (yay!). Some people will not (oh no!). Some people, like me, will think that it starts out incredibly strong and gets progressively less so. As a game it's good all the way through. That's what matters. It's also worth remembering that I thought P3's story was trash, and P4's turns bad in the final dungeon.

7Z3nASm.jpg
 

Dantis

Member
I feel like it's everyone except PK to be honest.

I find it really weird and insecure that people just can't accept that I dislike certain parts of P5. It's a great game! But I found the ending to be weak. And I would still think that in English.
 

bluethree

Member
I understood what was going on (roughly) and I still think the ending is a bit dumb, I can agree with you there.

Not bad enough that I wouldn't consider the overall story fantastic (and a big leap for RPGs in general) though.
 

FSLink

Banned
I feel like it's everyone except PK to be honest.

I find it really weird and insecure that people just can't accept that I dislike certain parts of P5. It's a great game! But I found the ending to be weak. And I would still think that in English.

Because it's weird seeing criticism about certain parts of the game when it's clear you don't have the full context behind it due to the language barrier. The criticism may be valid when you end up playing it in English, but it feels a lot like hearing a review of a movie from someone who only read the Wiki page of it instead of them actually having the full context.

I don't think that's weird and insecure to rather hear from opinions that had the full picture instead of some of it.

I understood what was going on (roughly) and I still think the ending is a bit dumb, I can agree with you there.

Not bad enough that I wouldn't consider the overall story fantastic (and a big leap for RPGs in general) though.

Yeah, from what I understood and with friends helping me with the translation, I likely will agree with Dantis somewhat once I replay it in English (I also agree that P3's plot was meh and P4's was decent until the final dungeon)
 
It's funny that you should say that. One of the conversations I'm referring to is our one about Futaba. Y'all were miles off.

EDIT: Just to be clear, it's not a knock against the game. But a lot of the things that I suspected in regards to its narrative were accurate.

Broadly speaking, it's a higher-stakes narrative, which leads to it being much less personal. Which is exactly what I expected. The thieves are the absolute heroes and the whole thing serves as a power fantasy. People are going to love it.

In my ideal scenario though, it would have gone the other way. Have it more like Steins;Gate, where Okabe thinks he's one thing, and leads the player to believe that also, only for reality to smash him in the face and make everyone cry. Maybe next time. Until then, we have by far the strongest awakening scenes in the series. Just wait until you see Ann's. I hate 'badass' stuff, but man, it's badass.

I played both steins gate and persona 5 and i don't get it
Your ideal scenario is unrealistic for this franchise IMO

DId i miss a narrative centered about the MC in previous ( persona ) games?
I feel like it's everyone except PK to be honest.

I find it really weird and insecure that people just can't accept that I dislike certain parts of P5. It's a great game! But I found the ending to be weak. And I would still think that in English.

I disagree. The usage of the themes , the pacing...damn that pacing is godly .. Yeah the heroes are the good guys, but they were challenged in this game in ways that didn't happen at all in P4.
Like i don't understand what make this ending weak , compared to what .. P5 is not a flawless game , that i can agree. But many of it faults are in the middle. The whole rollercoasters of the final arcs are so strong that i consider the last 20-25 hours of my first run to be the most entertaining i've got in 2016.

I can understand criticism around some arcs
( mainly the 2nd and the third )
but how is that ending weak?
 

Lynx_7

Member
I find it really weird and insecure that people just can't accept that I dislike certain parts of P5. It's a great game! But I found the ending to be weak. And I would still think that in English.

It's more skepticism than anything. When a lot of people who can read japanese argued in favor of the ending in the import OT and said it's thematically fitting while its most vocal detractor is someone who didn't really get the full picture, it's a bit hard to take said criticisms at face value. Specially when (modern) Persona narratives and how much their endings and overall story resonate with the player rely so much on your attachment to the cast in the first place. To criticize that aspect when you can't tell what's being said on screen or have no emotional investment whatsoever feels like missing the point.

Perhaps a lot of people will agree with you once the game comes out in english. It's also entirely possible this is just a matter of taste and your opinion won't change regardless of language, which is the most likely outcome considering you don't like the premise or higher stakes to begin with, but right now it falls flat as objective criticism.
 

Setsu00

Member
Criticism is never objective. I also don't think it makes sense to discuss the impact or the quality of a game's ending that roughly 95% of the people who frequent this place haven't played yet.
 

Dantis

Member
It's more skepticism than anything. When a lot of people who can read japanese argued in favor of the ending in the import OT and said it's thematically fitting while its most vocal detractor is someone who didn't really get the full picture, it's a bit hard to take said criticisms at face value. Specially when (modern) Persona narratives and how much their endings and overall story resonate with the player rely so much on your attachment to the cast in the first place. To criticize that aspect when you can't tell what's being said on screen or have no emotional investment whatsoever feels like missing the point.

Perhaps a lot of people will agree with you once the game comes out in english. It's also entirely possible this is just a matter of taste and your opinion won't change regardless of language, which is the most likely outcome considering you don't like the premise or higher stakes to begin with, but right now it falls flat as objective criticism.

I guess this is fair. I can't say specifically what bothers me due to spoilers, and because of that, people are dubious.

I'll be able to say more post-release. There are a few things I apparently interpreted incorrectly (not sure I believe it, tbh), so it'll be nice to see them in full context.

I would be surprised if the concensus puts the ending above P3 and P4 after the hype has cooled off, though.
 

Lynx_7

Member
Criticism is never objective. I also don't think it makes sense to discuss the impact or the quality of a game's ending that roughly 95% of the people who frequent this place haven't played yet.

Eh, it's pretty objective criticism to say Final Fantasy XV's narrative is badly paced and presented regardless of how I feel about it, and I could make an informed argument on why that's the case (and many have done it before). I agree with you on the latter.
 

Mediking

Member
I've been thinking about what the charming moments in P5 will be.


I think it would be kinda charming and goofy if like Joker and crew are planning a major heist or something but everything gets pushed back because someone gets a cold. Annoying to any other gamer but sounds cool to me. Lol
 
I've been thinking about what the charming moments in P5 will be.


I think it would be kinda charming and goofy if like Joker and crew are planning a major heist or something but everything gets pushed back because someone gets a cold. Annoying to any other gamer but sounds cool to me. Lol

I can think of at least one charming inconvenience during a later dungeon.
No points for guessing who it involves. :p
 

asagami_

Banned
Glad to see Persona 5 being consistent with Persona 1 / Persona 3 / Persona 4 line of antagonist and since i dont even remember the Persona 2 one i suppose it was bad too....

(And i know a lot of people love the overrated P4 one , dont worry i respect your opinion no need to convince me)

P1 has a competent antagonist. It's not amazing, but I prefer Kandori above whatever P3 offers, in fact. P4, well..., the main antagonist is fine but I don't think is so awesome like many people think.
And no people, Izanami is not the main antagonist even if she is the responsible to give powers to Adachi.

I disagree about P2, because it haven't only a antagonist, or two, or three. There a LOT really. The most prominentt are King Leo, Joker-sama, JOKER, Kashihara, and
Hitler
the man in sunglasses, but there are other minor antagonist who are good in the moments when they spot:
Kandori
, the lady from the New World Order, the taiwanese mafia guy, for example.
 

Setsu00

Member
So I just found out that the lyricist for Beneath the Mask is Rike Schmalz and she's German. I'm genuinely surprised to hear that.

In other news: Mystic found out that Benjamin Franklin (the lyricist for most of other new vocal tracks in Persona since P4G) is working for a Japanese music agency called Dagmusic, which sort of implies that he's a native speaker.
 

DNAbro

Member
Okay Mystic posted some of the lyrics for Rivers and I'm shocked on how bad Lyn is at pronunciation. Even when I think I understand her, it's completely different.
 

Setsu00

Member
Okay Mystic posted some of the lyrics for Rivers and I'm shocked on how bad Lyn is at pronunciation. Even when I think I understand her, it's completely different.

I'd attribute this partially to how strange some of these lyrics are to begin with. But yeah, Lyn does botcher the lyrics quite a bit.
 

Dantis

Member
Okay Mystic posted some of the lyrics for Rivers and I'm shocked on how bad Lyn is at pronunciation. Even when I think I understand her, it's completely different.

Point the first for Dantis.

EDIT: I just looked at the lyrics. I really like them, but they're way too complex for someone who doesn't have good pronunciation. The lead back into the final chorus should be excellent, but I'd never even realised it linked until I read this.

A place to refresh
heart and mind
Can I find
Some time in

A river in a dry land
 

Makio

Member
So I just found out that the lyricist for Beneath the Mask is Rike Schmalz and she's German. I'm genuinely surprised to hear that.

Benjamin Franklin (the lyricist for most of other new vocal tracks in Persona since P4G) .

That's a pretty cool tidbit , specially since Beneath the Mask and Last Surprise are my favorite lyric-wise.
Hope she continue working with the series.

And i think Benjamin Franklin dont get the love he deserves , song in Persona pretty much always had cool and meaningful lyrics if you put attention to it.

But he really started working until P4G i thought he was there before that.
Curious who is the writer for the og P4 and P3 ones (i least the lyrics of ones of P3 FEM MC songs are done for Lotus Juice and Reiko Tanaka)
 

Dantis

Member
Hahahaha, we were all miles off on Life Will Change too.

I fucking told you.

Also these lyrics are actually really solid. It's kind of frustrating.
 

Setsu00

Member
That's a pretty cool tidbit , specially since Beneath the Mask and Last Surprise are my favorite lyric-wise.
Hope she continue working with the series.

And i think Benjamin Franklin dont get the love he deserves , song in Persona pretty much always had cool and meaningful lyrics if you put attention to it.

But he really started working until P4G i thought he was there before that.
Curious who is the writer for the og P4 and P3 ones (i least the lyrics of ones of P3 FEM MC songs are done for Lotus Juice and Reiko Tanaka)

I think Tanaka was also behind P4's considering that there's a clear shift in style between P4 and P4G towards less "coded" language (or gibberish, depending on your point of view).
 

Dantis

Member
I think Tanaka was also behind P4's considering that there's a clear shift in style between P4 and P4G towards less "coded" language (or gibberish, depending on your point of view).

Yep, Franklin came in after Atlus worked on Trauma Team (which he did the vocals and lyrics for with Kitajoh). His first project was P4G, which Kitajoh worked on, so that's probably how he came into the Persona franchise.
 

Makio

Member
A taste of your own meds
Fire in every breath
Fire inside your head, your heart
And as your crippled brain
Tries to fight in vain
Your empire will fall apart


Thats sounds awesome but not way Lyn is saying this.... my god she is an amazing singer but she destroyed the lyrics i swear.

Dont way people can guess 100% those lyrics , my god.
 

Makio

Member
Hey guys, here's the final boss music, in case anyone is curious. Music spoilers, obviously.

Listening to a high quality version... I maintain that it's not a great final boss song.

The
second part
is kinda better but i cant get out of my head is
Genesis
part 2 electric boogaloo and the one you posted sound like something you can put in Devil Survivor as midboss battle or something.

Is not that bad , but compare how spoil Meguro gets us with Final Themes in the past this is one of his weaker one so far with Pandora (Persona PSP)

Edit : This one sounds WAY better than the P5 one , before the game i imagine we get something like this or better
 

Dantis

Member
So, something interesting as well: The instrumental version of Wake Up(from the first proper trailer) is awesome, but also super, super rough. Really makes me wonder at what point Meguro actually came on board to compose full time. I'm inclined to say it was relatively late on.

Listening to the whole thing back to back, it's a weird OST. At its best, it's tremendous stuff. It's not the Meguro that I think most people will know. It's rarely powerful and never upbeat. Often chilled out and uncomfortable, it's definitely the more modern sounding of the Persona OSTs, but it's also the least consistent. Next to other game soundtracks, it's a lot more interesting than what most are doing, but next to Meguro's other OSTs, I'm not sure where it falls.

EDIT: Regret is a weird track. It's this beautiful, tragic remix of a different track, but I'm not sure how well it fits the game. It seems... too sad, maybe, for the content, I think. It is excellent though.

Also the Memento music is still absolute dogshit that eats my brain jesus get it away from me tens of hours of this shitty loop fucking hell
 

Setsu00

Member
Layer Cake is the weirdest item shop song I've ever heard. I'm also sure that it's the best item shop song I've ever heard.
 

Lynx_7

Member
Where are you guys looking up the official lyrics?

And that would be a cool theme for a "plot" boss like Strega but it's not very climatic for a final showdown. P4, 3, 2 and 1 all have better Final Boss themes. Maybe it'll grow on me once I hear it in-game?
 

Makio

Member
, but next to Meguro's other OSTs, I'm not sure where it falls.

I like to think i prefer his Nocturne and Digital Devil Saga (both games as one) work over this one.

But for sure my favorite so far in the series from him for that "power" it brings. When some track hits they hit hard in the right places and i love that.

For example this Great Heist Music i imagine for a movie / game about thieves or stealing stuff.

And still the vocals one despite Lyn rare asf English , works very well in my book and in the moments they put it in the game. Tho they link Rivers of The Desert to the wrong
boss

Where are you guys looking up the official lyrics?

"Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There"
http://pastebin.com/3FS9N7U3

"Life Will Change"
http://pastebin.com/XguBiNFs

"Last Surprise"
http://pastebin.com/NVFW35y5

"Rivers in the Desert"
http://pastebin.com/xgBHkWV9

Courtesy of Mystic Twitter , he say he is gonna to update with Whims of Fate , Beneath the Mask and the Credits Songs later.
 

Dantis

Member
The good side of Persona 5's OST:
Beneath The Mask -rain-

Sunset Bridge

The bad side of Persona 5's OST:
My Homie

My Wicked Plan

Meguro uses a lot of dopey sounding synth in P5's everyday tracks, and it's bleh.

For example this Great Heist Music i imagine for a movie / game about thieves or stealing stuff.

This is a great track, but it's just one of Konishi's FMV tracks. It never plays outside of a short cutscene.

EDIT: Man, I love the raw guitars in the Wake Up instrumental. Really cool.
 
From the few songs I've seen, my favorites are Life Will Change, Wake Up Get Up Get Out There, and instrumental mixes of Beneath the Mask. Goddamn, they're so good.

Fake edit: HOLY SHIT THE INSTRUMENTAL VERSION OF THE OPENING IS GOD TIER.
 

DNAbro

Member
I'm finally listening to the full version of Wake Up and I literally couldn't understand Lyn in the second half. It's almost comical.

The instrumental version is fantastic.
 

Mediking

Member
I can think of at least one charming inconvenience during a later dungeon.
No points for guessing who it involves. :p

Hahahah I love the charming moments in Persona games where you can smile at the goofiness.

And you know what? I still think there's potential in the classroom setting instead of quick lightning facts that you need to guess correctly on.

And no... I'm not talking about another teacher flirt or jerk teacher from P4.
 

Sophia

Member
Some lines of Wake Up were different then what I expected.

"Feed your anger like fire" and "Raise your voice against liars"

Hm.
 

Setsu00

Member
Plot twist: It turns out that Benjamin Franklin is German as well - at least if this link is to be believed. It's a German podcast where he's discussing the differences between Japanese and Western music tastes with a German publication and also talks about his life in Japan as a German. Unfortunately the actual podcast seems to have been taken down when the magazin died, but it's certainly an interesting "twist".

It also explains to a certain extent why I (as a non-native speaker) think that some of the lines in his lyrics sound rather unnatural.

Edit: He pretty much confirmed on his blog that he's German. Mystery solved.
 

Makio

Member
Now i understand the lyrics Whims of Fate is easily my favorite vocal song in the game right now , the lyrics are not i was expecting but they fit with the atmosphere of the part of the game which appears .

Plus since i got almost right the chorus which post it the other day
 

bluethree

Member
I disagree. The usage of the themes , the pacing...damn that pacing is godly ..

Another thing is that the *plotting* is far better than the other games...it's less baddie of the month (though obviously that's part of it), and it feels like a logical progression throughout the story, things ramp up in a very believable way. And they knew how to shake things up, such as (minor spoiler)
the fourth dungeon being different in that you're not stealing a bad guy's heart, you're helping a new ally get over their depression
.

Really, there are things to nitpick about P5 - such as it being too long and having too much text - but the plotting and characterization are so on point despite these problems. I said it in my previous post, but it's not just a good story - IMO it's a big step forward for RPG stories as a whole.
 

Makio

Member

Good calling , but that one was the easy to recall the lyrics the slow pace and Lyn good pronunciation this time help.

And i feel like a father with their sons with these songs love all of them and feels bad for having a "favorite"

Only thing i know (in my opinion) Persona 5 had the strongest and fitting lyrics in the series so far. They do a terrific work in this department.

Last Surprise is the most direct and kicking ass Persona battle theme (at regular / vocal ones)
 
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