Support NeoGAF

[bwakh]

I hope the social links feature isn't cut back in any way rather more fleshed out than previous entries. Other than that, good news all round

 

[shiftplusone]

So can we just get a canon name for the protag before release?

Shit drives me nuts

Even more so when something like q happens where the "up till now" name doesn't fit the character limit

 

[Korigama]

Important Part:



Goodbye the boonies.

Shibuya? Thank God.

P4 was the odd one out in being set in the countryside. Every other Persona had a city setting, so there's nothing surprising about this.

 

[Hibiki Kurosawa]

Not surprise S. Links are in. It was pretty obvious to me that "Cooperation" was the replacement for them.

 

[Zareka]

So can we just get a canon name for the protag before release?

Shit drives me nuts

Even more so when something like q happens where the "up till now" name doesn't fit the character limit

Why do you need a name for a player avatar? His "canon" name is anything you want it to be.

 

[Bastables]

I know right! After playing PQ, the group events felt like a nice addition in lieu of the Social Link system - ideally, a combination of both would be great. There's also the issue that SLinks feel as if they take place in a vacuum, but who knows what they'll do with the resources they have.



Good, now go read about the Persona and SMT games and their use of firearms.

The one Persona game with adults with connections to/are the police, which more than ever is an outlier in the Persona series that focuses on high school kids in "contemporary" Japan . . .
Even in or by the time P3 rolls around the cop sold the protag a whole bunch of weapons and equipment and never handed out revolvers to the kids inspite of the cops understanding that the world seemed to be coming apart.

You do remember that SMT is set in pretty post apocalyptic settings pretty far removed from the Persona series direction right?

 

[dapperbandit]

In honesty I was a little worried Social Links had been removed or cut back as they weren't featured in the menu.

But then I figured if the HUD is telling you the time, date and weather then Time Management must still be a system and what else can you do with that other than work and form Social Links.

If anything the "Social Links will return in some form" may imply that the system has been expanded.

 

[Deraj]

Maybe it just means no real brand-name guns.

 

[koutoru]

There were some more details in the interview.

http://gematsu.com/2015/02/persona-5-protagonist-first-persona-detailed-famitsu

• The protagonist meets other two characters and cat creature in the trailer at the beginning of the game.
• The other two have their own life problems as well, and cat creature is mysterious, can transform, and is key to storyline.
• The characters sliding around in the anime bit in the trailer was suggested by the anime director. (Production I.G is confirmed to be the studio behind Persona 5‘s anime scenes.)
• The battle system is still turn-based, but is said to have a lot of changes to make it feel better to play and enjoy.

 

[Kurtofan]

They already had alice.

And Christine and the plant from little shop of horrors.

 

[flatearthpandas]

Try to look at it another way if at all possible. In a game where you have to fight a lot if you want to fuse and obtain the appropriate persona, hand-designed dungeons get tedious very quickly as you keep running the same layouts with the same loot and enemy layouts. I think randomized dungeons can work better in situations where loot hunting is the name of the day or when you know you'll be revisiting a dungeon over and over, so that the scenario at least feels moderately different each time you go back.

And now that there's a mix potentially, everyone wins!

The only reason we have to go into the dungeons twice is because of how horseshit the quest system is.

"Hey, now that you cleared the dungeon, I just remembered that me and all my friends need items dropped from enemies in there!"

If they keep random generation, I'd prefer they just call it what it is and send us to brand new dungeons for questing with non-essential bosses. At least then I wouldn't have to wonder why i couldn't be doing these dull fetch quests on my first time through the bland landscape.

Running through Persona dungeons never feels like winning to me. I think you would be better served with random battles if you really love grinding that much.
But I suppose there's no point in talking about it. I'm happy for you that you're possibly being catered to and disappointed that I will find less enjoyment as a consequence. It is what it is.

 

[sjack]

The protagonist’s seemingly docile nature is a profound ruse.

Mission fucking accomplished.

I really have to hand it to Atlus the way they deliberately designed the tone and pacing of the teaser trailer that came out last year and the one that came out a few days ago. Talk about pulling the rug out of our feet.

 

[Yu Narukami]

Where are these leaks coming from? I thought leaks were out tomorrow?

 

[dramatis]

The other two have their own life problems as well, and cat creature is mysterious, can transform, and is key to storyline.

Maybe need to switch from Tuxedo Mask to Sailor Moon.

Where are these leaks coming from? I thought leaks were out tomorrow?

The hype train makes people hungry, they'll be tearing at the magazine shipments to get anything earlier than even the usual time.

 

[Seth Balmore]

Even more so when something like q happens where the "up till now" name doesn't fit the character limit

THAT PISSED ME OFF SO MUCH, URGH.

 

[encephalon]

Hopefully they'll be able to escape the monotonous experience that P4 became in the latter half of the game.

 

[sjack]

Hopefully they'll be able to escape the monotonous experience that P4 became in the latter half of the game.

P4's best parts were literally in the latter half of the game. Now if you want monotonous experience, look no further than P3's last month.

 

[Lunar15]

Called it on them going with a literary thief or rouge for the MC's persona. I wonder if you live alone in the coffee shop or if your "Parents' Acquaintances" also live there.

 

[DNAbro]

Why isn't this game out now?

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

P4's best parts were literally in the latter half of the game. Now if you want monotonous experience, look no further than P3's last month.

especially P4G and all the added activities in the last months. Just so much going on.

P3 was miserable if you hadn't kept up with tartarus

 

[motorised mallard]

Why isn't this game out now?

Because there are 10x10^3 more cat puns to write. It takes time.

 

[Eudaemonium]

P4's best parts were literally in the latter half of the game. Now if you want monotonous experience, look no further than P3's last month.

I only played P4G, and I know they added some stuff, but I kind of found that the story had reasonably good pacing throughout until

Spoiler

you actually caught the murderer.

Everything after that just felt... well, not great, and I know they even added stuff to make it less jarring, so I dread to think what it would've been like in the original.

 

[Lunar15]

I only played P4G, and I know they added some stuff, but I kind of found that the story had reasonably good pacing throughout until

Spoiler

you actually caught the murderer.

Everything after that just felt... well, not great, and I know they even added stuff to make it less jarring, so I dread to think what it would've been like in the original.

In the original, it just skips to may after that dungeon.

 

[Metroidvania]

I'm curious on how the'll evolve social links.

I'm hoping for more fluidity (and relevance) in their acquisition, and their effects on the story.....but I don't think it'll necessarily get that far.

Also possible that they'll make some of the 'heists' or whatnot require certain social links to access.

Anywho, the change to the persona 'break' is interesting.

Bring on more leaks!

 

[Nap1400]

I only played P4G, and I know they added some stuff, but I kind of found that the story had reasonably good pacing throughout until

Spoiler

you actually caught the murderer.

Everything after that just felt... well, not great, and I know they even added stuff to make it less jarring, so I dread to think what it would've been like in the original.

That's actually the exact reason.

Spoiler

The bonus content came after you caught the murder. Previously the game would skip to March when you catch Adachi.

 

[Eudaemonium]

In the original, it just skips to may after that dungeon.

That's kind of bizarre. I guess it makes sense, though.

I'm curious on how the'll evolve social links.

I'm hoping for more fluidity (and relevance) in their acquisition, and their effects on the story.....but I don't think it'll necessarily get that far.

Also possible that they'll make some of the 'heists' or whatnot require certain social links to access.

Anywho, the change to the persona 'break' is interesting.

Bring on more leaks!

Since the Japanese went from Community to Cooperation, and reading the leak summary, I'm wondering if the English will stick with 'S. Links' but have the S. stand for 'Sympathiser' rather than 'Social'.

Will be interesting if the links have other direct gameplay benefits. If they're with the store owners, for example, doing things like lowering buy prices/raising sale prices. Things like that.

 

[Scipio]

Arsene?

Hahahaha.

Persona and Arsènal. Two of my favorite things combined.

 

[sjack]

I only played P4G, and I know they added some stuff, but I kind of found that the story had reasonably good pacing throughout until

Spoiler

you actually caught the murderer.

Everything after that just felt... well, not great, and I know they even added stuff to make it less jarring, so I dread to think what it would've been like in the original.

Oh yeah I agree. Post serial killer revelation P4 is the weakest part of the game, but the build up to it was pretty intense.

 

[Lunar15]

That's kind of bizarre. I guess it makes sense, though.

Personally, I dislike Golden's additions after that dungeon. Particularly that extra dungeon they added. Pads the game to an unnecessary degree. It was already a long game, and by that time the story feels mainly complete.

There's really not much to talk about after they catch the culprit, it was much tighter in the original.

 

[Cornbread78]

My lawd, is this game up for preorder at Gamestop in NA yet? This will consume my playtime for months...

 

[CHC]

Most exciting to me is the non-random dungeons. P4G, love it or not, had some really shit-ass execution of dungeons that could have been fantastic. I'd love to see some memorable rooms, vertical elements, set-piece areas, etc. That chandelier scene from the trailer looks perfect.

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

Personally, I dislike Golden's additions after that dungeon. Particularly that extra dungeon they added. Pads the game to an unnecessary degree. It was already a long game, and by that time the story feels mainly complete.

There's really not much to talk about after they catch the culprit, it was much tighter in the original.

one of the main complaints of P4 was a lack of character development outside of social links. G had so much during those months, and I really enjoyed the bonus dungeon. It was nice having something different than all the previous dungeons.

 

[Eudaemonium]

Personally, I dislike Golden's additions after that dungeon. Particularly that extra dungeon they added. Pads the game to an unnecessary degree. It was already a long game, and by that time the story feels mainly complete.

There's really not much to talk about after they catch the culprit, it was much tighter in the original.

I'm assuming they mainly added the stuff to make the

Spoiler

True End

seem slightly less abrupt and out-of-nowhere.

Though, honestly, to me it still felt really abrupt and, while not out of nowhere, poorly paced and a generally bad reveal.

 

[Gbraga]

So can we just get a canon name for the protag before release?

Magician's Red

There were some more details in the interview.

http://gematsu.com/2015/02/persona-5-protagonist-first-persona-detailed-famitsu

Anime director confirmed godlike then? Best part of the trailer imo.

 

[sjack]

one of the main complaints of P4 was a lack of character development outside of social links. G had so much during those months, and I really enjoyed the bonus dungeon. It was nice having something different than all the previous dungeons.

I haven't quite gotten to the bonus dungeon yet, but all the events such as the beach trip and fireworks festival are tied in pretty well with the original and add nice bits to the characters as well.

 

[Gbraga]

.

 

[bemusedchunk]

So can we just get a canon name for the protag before release?

Shit drives me nuts

Even more so when something like q happens where the "up till now" name doesn't fit the character limit

Charlie Tunoku

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

I haven't quite gotten to the bonus dungeon yet, but all the events such as the beach trip and fireworks festival are tied in pretty well with the original and add nice bits to the characters as well.

oh, yea, its easy to forget which events are from golden. It makes the original so hard to stomach with just how much more there is

 

[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

I think the added P4G material was mostly alright. Although

Spoiler

the forming a band part

was pretty lame. Also I felt like the added ending should have been after the credits.

 

[Eudaemonium]

I haven't quite gotten to the bonus dungeon yet, but all the events such as the beach trip and fireworks festival are tied in pretty well with the original and add nice bits to the characters as well.

If these were Golden additions, they were pretty great. Honestly, a lot of the social stuff was really well done and made the characters feel more vibrant.

I suspect how much you like the late-late game content will depend on things like how much you liked Marie (I was relatively indifferent) and the ultimate plot revelations in general (which I generally found to be poor in comparison to the rest of the game).

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Glad to have confirmation that not all dungeons are random. It'd be nice if none of them were, but even still this is an improvement.

I wonder what the changes made to social links are. Hopefully those will be revealed soon.

 

[pixxxelz]

There were some more details in the interview.

http://gematsu.com/2015/02/persona-5-protagonist-first-persona-detailed-famitsu

• The battle system is still turn-based, but is said to have a lot of changes to make it feel better to play and enjoy.

I'm praying to door Jesus that this means they brought back the press-turn system from nocturne.

 

[sjack]

I
I suspect how much you like the late-late game content will depend on things like how much you liked Marie (I was relatively indifferent) and the ultimate plot revelations in general (which I generally found to be poor in comparison to the rest of the game).

Well, then i better be mentally prepared to hate the dungeon because I can't fucking stand Marie.

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

I'm praying to door Jesus that this means they brought back the press-turn system from nocturne.

Im glad 1 company is still doing turn based at least. The "WOOOO 2015 IS THE YEAR OF THE JRPG" thread made me depressed

 

[Nap1400]

I'm praying to door Jesus that this means they brought back the press-turn system from nocturne.

As good as the Press Turn system is I doubt this is what they're doing.

 

[Hot Coldman]

So can we just get a canon name for the protag before release?

Shit drives me nuts

Even more so when something like q happens where the "up till now" name doesn't fit the character limit

you need to be more creative, like me

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

Well, then i better be mentally prepared to hate the dungeon because I can't fucking stand Marie.

ShutupIhateyouyoustupidjerk

I love marie...even so its quite possible to enjoy the dungeon without liking marie. It is about her, but its about *minor spoilers*

Spoiler

her real side, and it helps make more sense of the true ending.

 

[Phantasmal Repose]

I'm praying to door Jesus that this means they brought back the press-turn system from nocturne.

As cool as that would be, I wouldn't hold my breath.

you need to be more creative, like me

If he's John Cena then why can Yosuke see him? Fraud detected.

 

[Lunar15]

Interesting that they say some randomly generated elements are in the game. Interested to see what that means.

 

[sjack]

Interesting that they say some randomly generated elements are in the game. Interested to see what that means.

I'm probably guessing it will be something in the vein of P3. Unique dungeons that you only visit once in the story and have a gimmick to them (e.g. the love motel with the illusions and mirrors) and the core dungeon where you can visit whenever you want and will have randomized aspects to it (i.e. where you grind and get your main pool of exp like Tartarus)