Phantom Thieves steal the show
Standout JRPG Persona 5 finally launches
PART DARK SCHOOL DRAMA, PART SLICK DUNGEON-CRAWLER, IT’S DELIGHTING FANS – AND WINNING OVER SERIES NEWCOMERS.
It took four years, but as our 10/10 review last issue proves, some things are worth waiting for. April 4 has arrived, and Persona 5’s Phantom Thieves are pilfering hearts on PS3 and PS4. Part dark school drama, part slick dungeon-crawler, it’s delighting fans – and winning over series newbies. We ask game director Katsura Hashino: how do you reach a global audience?
“We knew we had to find a theme that would resonate with everyone,” Hashino-san tells us. “Whether they think, ‘Maybe this has something to do with me’ as they play. These days, people of all ages navigate social media in their everyday lives.
“When I see people refusing to change their perspective, it leaves me uncomfortable. The ease with which we’re manipulated — our hearts swayed — is more prevalent than ever. I thought, I might not be alone, feeling this way. If I can convey it clearly as a narrative concept, perhaps others could relate, too.”
But we’re not all Tokyo teens – so why does Persona 5 feel relatable? “At the beginning, when you don’t have much money, you’re limited to places like a karaoke studio, a cheap restaurant, and library. I think being broke high-school students is a universal experience shared across the globe,” he notes. “All teens are familiar with finding fun for cheap.”
ABROAD APPEAL
What about writing a relatable cast? “We flesh out the ending, then work backward, figuring out what kind of characters the player needs to lean on and how they complement one another. We give them weaknesses and troubles they can’t solve alone.”
We may even have the advantage over Japanese fans, says Hashinosan. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Westerners empathised more with the protag. They can better relate to being a stranger in a foreign land.”
Has Persona 5 taken over your life? Tweet us your impressions @OPM_UK.