I'm hoping for a unique take on the fantasy setting. I'm not a huge fan of fantasy in general which is why the destroyed or stylish cities of SMT always resonated with me more than any of the numerous games set in fantasy worlds did.
I saw a Hashino quote where he said he was reading Lord of the Rings in preparation to get started on this and that....isn't exactly inspiring much confidence in me. The LotR take on fantasy is not anything I feel like I want or need more of. Hopefully Hashino feels the same way but who knows!
It's not just LotR. Here's some of the reading material Studio Zero have been getting into for this project:
He's been getting into a bunch of classics. While he was traveling with the staff earlier this year, he had been playing the GB Color version of Dragon Quest III every day on his GBA. He's stated explicitly that in order to make his own fantasy, he needs to understand and follow in the footsteps of the classics.
The main thing I want is for it to not be 100 hours long haha
For me the most interesting thing about Studio Zero is what will happen to the persona team with the leads on another project. My assumption is they will let some new talent have a chance. Question is are they going to make Persona 6 themselves, do an enhanced edition of 5 or create a new IP?
I think the concept art for the blond boy (the Fool) kind of gives away that he will be the main protagonist, or at least, the focus. He appears in the studio's logo and in this artwork you can see the "A Fool's journey begins" phrase, with the Fool being the Zero Arcana and all that. He kind of symbolizes the starting point for the new IP.
Maybe the Fool ends up being the dog and that's what they meant by an unique protagonist in a fantasy setting. Imagine a game in which you start up being a dog and have to pick up your party to save the world lol
It's not just LotR. Here's some of the reading material Studio Zero have been getting into for this project:
He's been getting into a bunch of classics. While he was traveling with the staff earlier this year, he had been playing the GB Color version of Dragon Quest III every day on his GBA. He's stated explicitly that in order to make his own fantasy, he needs to understand and follow in the footsteps of the classics.
That's more what I was hoping for. Understand what the genre is now and has been to, hopefully, make something that can occupy a different space than the classics do.
I definitely agree that evokers and P3 in general are pretty thematically shallow and I don't think it'd be a stretch to say it veers closer to "edgy" than well-done mature storytelling, but P5 gives me the impression that it's trying to be more earnest in it's social commentary. Suicide, sexual abuse, and political corruption are pretty serious issues and unless I'm mistaken the game gives me the impression it wants me to take these portrayals seriously. But then it also addresses them in an overall package that simplifies the issues and talks down to the player. The storytelling comes off as if it's at odds with itself as a result, whereas P4 and even P3 felt a lot more genuine and consistent to me. I didn't play P1 or P2 so I don't know how those are.
Also the way the game handles LGBT characters is fucking embarrassing and something needs to change already.
I wasn't aware of anything being revealed after the character art. Thanks for the thread. Subscribed. Will check out the official site and other art as soon as possible. Looking really good early on though!
A bit off-topic but man, what the hell happened to that project? It looked so cool when it was unveiled but then they changed it to a f2p model and never spoke of it again. I assume Capcom dropped it when things went south for them this gen?
It's not just LotR. Here's some of the reading material Studio Zero have been getting into for this project:
He's been getting into a bunch of classics. While he was traveling with the staff earlier this year, he had been playing the GB Color version of Dragon Quest III every day on his GBA. He's stated explicitly that in order to make his own fantasy, he needs to understand and follow in the footsteps of the classics.
P4 is about as conflicted as P5 is. It purports to be about pursuing one's true self but depicts conformity every step of the way. It's also partly a critique of Japanese TV culture, while being laden with otaku-oriented anime cliches.
- More nuanced relationship mechanics that go beyond "hang out with this person 15-20 times to make them fall in love with you". Maybe through more branching paths or conflict between party members that require you to choose a side.
- Better integrate the battle mechanics with the story. A fantasy setting is a great opportunity for this, since you could always have danger around the next corner.
- Maintain the character focus. Most fantasy RPGs focus on grand-scale worldbuilding and conflict. I'd love a fantasy game with an intense focus on a band of travelers who aren't out to save the world.
- More nuanced relationship mechanics that go beyond "hang out with this person 15-20 times to make them fall in love with you". Maybe through more branching paths or conflict between party members that require you to choose a side.
How about just take romantic relationships out completely unless they're actually written into the main narrative. They're bad and have *barely* improved in this decade of P3, 4, and 5. Focus on a sense of camaraderie with your party instead.
P4 is about as conflicted as P5 is. It purports to be about pursuing one's true self but depicts conformity every step of the way. It's also partly a critique of Japanese TV culture, while being laden with otaku-oriented anime cliches.
The thing with Persona that always makes me roll my eyes a bit is when they do have critiques....and then engage in the exact same behavior. P5 has a few spots of this and it's a huge bummer. I crave that kind of thematic consistency.
P4 is about as conflicted as P5 is. It purports to be about pursuing one's true self but depicts conformity every step of the way. It's also partly a critique of Japanese TV culture, while being laden with otaku-oriented anime cliches.
I thought the theming was done pretty well with the exception of it's mishandling of LGBT issues. Kanji learns to embrace his feminine side and stop overcompensating for it, Yukiko decides to take her fate into her own hands instead of hoping for someone to "rescue" her from her family's expectations, Naoto realizes she doesn't need to mask her identity to be a good detective, and so on. It's admittedly been a few years and I'm not as well-versed in Japanese TV culture as some others might be but while it isn't flawless I never felt like Persona 4's tone was as outright schizophrenic as P5.
I want the scale to be small and the stakes to be almost purely personal.
I want to simply get a glimpse of the backstories of the main party and have their mannerisms fill in the rest.
A direct, uncompromising theme about the life of adventuring, the good and the hard.
I want all scenes to be connected in some way to the main plotline either through exposition or thematically. Tight Pacing is key. Or if not this then, have the story be episodic and depict life as it is through various scenarios with game mechanics.
I want it to be 30 hours tops.
I would prefer it to avoid using the base SMT combat system and want it to use movement in some fashion for combat.
I want a focus on tightly designed encounters over JRPG standard battles.
Currently playing/watching the events of 11/21. This game has been all over the place. From having unrelated and mostly uninteresting (from a story standpoint) filler like cases within its first 70-80 hours to just doing crazy stuff and trying really hard to tie it all back together (which imo isn't working).
The main thing I want is for it to not be 100 hours long haha
For me the most interesting thing about Studio Zero is what will happen to the persona team with the leads on another project. My assumption is they will let some new talent have a chance. Question is are they going to make Persona 6 themselves, do an enhanced edition of 5 or create a new IP?
That's a very, very good question that I was actually just discussing with a friend earlier today. This was more or less what my friend and I agreed to be a reasonable estimation: If my understanding of Atlus' studio configurations are correct, Team 0 is on the new fantasy IP, Team 1 is Etrian Odyssey/SMT, and Team 2 is Persona team, or Persona/SMT. Team 0 is obviously accounted for, Team 1 is (I think) on SMT for Wii U, so Team 2 having just finished with Persona 5 is the team that will be handling another Persona game.
Assuming the team is planning another Persona game, anyways. If they are, then I think there are three options: Another spinoff like Arena and Q was to 4, or alternatively, a remake although the extent of the remake is questionable. Or finally, we could be jumping immediately into Persona 6.
Spinoff:
I don't think an in-house studio will be making followups to either Arena(made by an external studio) or Dancing All Night(also made by an external studio, at least partially) unless the current Studio 2 is currently too small to handle a game on its own, due to a lot of talent being shifted over to Studio 0 for that new IP. In which case it'd make sense to have them working together with an external studio for another sequel to either of these two games where most of the work would be handled externally. A sequel to Persona Q would likely fall under the Etrian Odyssey/Team 1 due to the game basically being Etrian Odyssey: Persona. The final left field option would be to create an entirely new spinoff game which is where(IMO) the possibilities get very interesting.
Our thoughts were there's two routes they could take on this. Thanks to Persona 4: Arena we still have several loose plot points that could make for interesting standalone games that take place in Persona's universe, such as (P3/Arena Spoilers)
Elizabeth's journey to save Makoto Yuki from the seal
, or
The Shadow Operatives' Bizarre Adventures: Aigis is Unbreakable
. Or alternatively, we can get a new spinoff title that's largely self-contained/does its' own thing much like Dancing All Night(I think. I never played it).
Remake:
HD Demons means HD Remakes and we all know Atlus is the Japanese king of remakes. Persona 3 and 4 are easy, easy targets to make money off of by remaking them in Persona 5's style as well as serving as a good field test for further Persona games being remade. Alternatively Atlus could get ambitious, and decide that the time is nigh for Persona 1 or 2 to be remade if they feel that it's too soon to be remaking 3 and 4 again
This is Atlus, so that'd probably be a cold day in hell but it's always possible...?
Persona 1 and 2 are very different games from 3-5, but also basically don't exist as Persona games to most fans today due to not playing them for a variety of reasons. If they want to remake them, now's a good as time as it'll ever get while Persona 5 is a media darling.
Sequel:
I'm not so sure on this one because the big three are gone to Studio 0 for the near future. But it's always possible much like 4 quickly followed 3, 6 quickly follows 5. It'd make sense to do so now, due to having assets that are fit for current-gen, a team that's worked on 5 recently, etc.
We more or less agreed that the most likely scenario is a Persona 3 or 4 remake, as Persona 5 is too recent to be remade, one-off spinoffs will likely make less bank than mainline games, Persona 5 has brought more attention than ever to franchise so following up with a mainline game makes a lot of sense, plot continuations wouldn't make much sense as a lot of Persona's most recent fans probably haven't played 3 or 4, what with 5 was their first game, and remaking Persona 1 and 2 is A) Too much work versus remaking 3 or 4 and B) Atlus seems to have some weird hangups about altering the original Persona 1 and 2 past what they were originally intended to be, if recent history is any indication. And finally, Persona 6 is also a lot more work than cashing in on 3's Super Ultra Complete Edition, which may as well be a new game to about every other Persona fan that exists after 5's release and strong sales.
Both of you seem to have missed the official teases they have already made concerning the future of Persona. The 2017 consumer survey listing specific Persona spin-offs and remakes, for example, as well as the recent domains Atlus registered for them.
Both of you seem to have missed the official teases they have already made concerning the future of Persona. The 2017 consumer survey listing specific Persona spin-offs and remakes, for example, as well as the recent domains Atlus registered for them.
Basically, we're possibly looking at a Persona Q2, Persona 5 Ultimax, Persona 3 Dancing, Persona 5 Dancing, as well as a few unknowns (p5ag and p5r, the latter likely being something like Persona 5 Ruby or Rouge).
Reading the posts in this thread, some of them feel very nostalgic. I don't know how many remember this, but it's funny that a big percentage of stuff that people asked for in the below thread didn't come true with Persona 5, and now we are getting similar requests/wishes in this thread right now (especially in regards to social stuff that will most definitely be in this game as well)
Basically, we're possibly looking at a Persona Q2, Persona 5 Ultimax, Persona 3 Dancing, Persona 5 Dancing, as well as a few unknowns (p5ag and p5r, the latter likely being something like Persona 5 Ruby or Rouge).
If they are going with a fantasy setting, I wouldn't mind a turn based one. They've shown they can add spice to turn base that makes it interesting. And Final Fantasy titles have shown you can have something closer to more traditional fantasy with turn based playing just fine.
I hope that if they opt to do the interconnected map, that each bubble is fairly big with towns that feel actually alive. But I don't know their extent of their team's expertise with this.
I want the cast of characters to be varied. And honestly, I hope they keep the fuck away from any anime tropes. I already have Persona for those.Same for the soundtrack, make it something that fits the fantasy setting vs something more silly/modern like Persona. Make this distinct enough from your other properties. Seems like their heart is in the right place based on everything we've read but I literally have NO expectations as to what to expect for a title of this style from them in major consoles.
Hey speculation is always fun especially when it's about something significant to you! My personal guess is their first order of business will be to get a possibly enhanced version of Persona 5 onto Switch. There are early signs that Japanese games will do well on it so I think of it as a no-brainer.
Currently playing/watching the events of 11/21. This game has been all over the place. From having unrelated and mostly uninteresting (from a story standpoint) filler like cases within its first 70-80 hours to just doing crazy stuff and trying really hard to tie it all back together (which imo isn't working).
Finish the game first. If you still believe that the game doesn't know what it wants to communicate to the player, there is no way we have played the same game. It is absolutely clear how the Star arcana relates to the story once the credits roll.
Reading the posts in this thread, some of them feel very nostalgic. I don't know how many remember this, but it's funny that a big percentage of stuff that people asked for in the below thread didn't come true with Persona 5, and now we are getting similar requests/wishes in this thread right now (especially in regards to social stuff that will most definitely be in this game as well)
- More interesting dungeon designs, if they're still random at least have possible randomized events on each floor and make the overall geometry and tiling feel more natural. Take cues from western random dungeon crawlers in terms of how they handle asset design for randomization, and apply the Atlus touch to it. That'll make it way better.
- More cute mascot animal party members. Cute and cool Personas, more robots. I love robots. Maybe there can be a cat-dog thing which makes cute Japanese sound effects as it talks, and the Persona can be a giant floating fortress manned by robotic Neko-Shoguns. Would be fucking awesome. The missiles they fire would have dog heads on them too.
- More extensive Social Link system. It'll be nice if they branched more, and actually had different possible conclusions both good and bad. I want relationships to feel more meaningful when you're dating, and more dynamic conflicts if you try to cheat on someone.
- Music by Lady Gaga. That's the only way to improve the soundtrack. Meguro is like a great DJ, and Lady Gaga is the voice and the creative injection the series needs to grow even more popular. Her style is a good mix for the Persona series anyway.
- More robust calendar system so you can plan activities better. It'll be nice to have a lot more possible activities in a given day too, to make it impossible to end up with days where you have "nothing" to do and just waste them away sleeping. Those are the parts of Persona where you start to feel it is filler. More meaningful activities would mean you don't feel that way.
Reading the posts in this thread, some of them feel very nostalgic. I don't know how many remember this, but it's funny that a big percentage of stuff that people asked for in the below thread didn't come true with Persona 5, and now we are getting similar requests/wishes in this thread right now (especially in regards to social stuff that will most definitely be in this game as well)
I wanted SL to branch more into the story but I guess adding new gameplay features behind them was fine too.
I also remember wanting better dungeons and better turn based gameplay and got those too. Pretty happy with how everything turned out.
Finish the game first. If you still believe that the game doesn't know what it wants to communicate to the player, there is no way we have played the same game. It is absolutely clear how the Star arcana relates to the story once the credits roll.
I've been playing just to get to these parts that make the story (and Joker as a leader) make sense. So I'm really curious to get to the end of Persona 5.
Other than Lady Gaga and S-links, you basically got everything that you wanted. You even got a cat mascot. So yeah, no wonder you are loving Persona 5, hahaha.
I want heavy pagan and occult themes, an all adult cast, human sacrifice, and a story that will drown my soul with tough morally ambiguous choices cause division between the characters and while also shaping the social and political landscape of the game's setting. Basically I want everything and the kitchen sink.
I want heavy pagan and occult themes, an all adult cast, human sacrifice, and a story that will drown my soul with tough morally ambiguous choices cause division between the characters and while also shaping the social and political landscape of the game's setting. Basically I want everything and the kitchen sink.
I've been playing just to get to these parts that make the story (and Joker as a leader) make sense. So I'm really curious to get to the end of Persona 5.
Other than Lady Gaga and S-links, you basically got everything that you wanted. You even got a cat mascot. So yeah, no wonder you are loving Persona 5, hahaha.
Dungeons and the cat were the only thing duckroll got. Admittedly dungeons are a big one. Certainly the calendar system didn't get much better even with the help of couple of slinks.
Personally with a couple of exceptions I have been disappointed by slinks and some dungeons overstay their welcome.
I've had so many thoughts on this subject since it was announced last year, but I've forgotten most of them now. Here's a few off the top of my head:
Keep the turn based combat.
Bring back the modern feel of Persona 3.
Have completed S Links referenced in non-S Link events. People should acknowledge who the player is friends with, dating etc.
This isn't really a fair want, but whatever - A return to form for the OST. Arena is much weaker than previous games and Golden is a genuinely poor soundtrack (excluding Snowflakes). I really hope Meguro can amaze me like he has in the past.
Tone down the herp derp tone from Golden. No flowery UI or dancing opening or any of that crap, please.
-gameplay akin to Soulsbourne/Dragon's Dogma. No Turn Based Combat
-different anthromorphic species and bestial ones
-Humans of all shapes, sizes and colors
-open world but with clear narrative focus
-mature aesthetic, realistic bodies/proportions
-no fan service
-gameplay that encourages experimentation
-wide assortment of enemy types
-bestiary
-weapons of all makes. Bows, Firearms, Bombs, Traps, Swords, Axes, Hammers, Shields, Spears, Mace, Morning Star, etc.
-expansive world with many different and distinctive biomes
-fantasy with influences from different mythologies and the inclusion of some sci-fi ideas. Think Final Fantasy XII or Escaflowne
-close combat, ranged combat and magic are equally viable and have depth. Think Dragon's Dogma/Bloodborne mixed with Horizon
-Larger creatures leave a footprint in the world, they'll topple structures and trees
-Lived in areas; you'll witness food chains in the world and see npcs hunting and going about their own lives
-Environmental Interaction; much like Zelda, I'd like to see environmental response to stimuli. For instance if lightning strikes in a forest, it'll create a wildfire. If a dragon spews flames, brush will ignite or bodies of water will emit steam
Maybe I'm asking for a lot but this sounds like damn near a perfect game to me.
