I think part of my issue is that by continually adding more and more references, later games are just going to be weighed down by so much baggage. At some point all of the references and through-lines are going to snowball into something too big to be adequately resolved in a bunch of spin-offs. Maybe I'm being pessimistic, but I'm just imagining Persona getting to a point where all of the additional plot lines overshadow an individual game's plot years down the line. I think we're already getting there somewhat with the Shadow Operatives and (maybe) Elizabeth's quest it's grandiose in a series where half of the appeal is trying to live a normal life.
It also makes each game more approachable and frees Atlus up creatively. Just look at Kingdom Hearts as an example of how to make your series impenetrable to someone with a casual interest in 2015. I have more faith in Atlus, but I've just been repeatedly burned by Nomura's wild ride since I was 8 I don't want my relationship with Atlus to be that of a battered spouse.
An even better example of this is the Marvel Cinematic Unvierse, half of whose movies are continuity porn and advertisements for both upcoming movies and toys. Or really, just superhero comics altogether. The obsession with continuity and linking stuff together was pretty much why I stopped paying attention to them.
Fire Emblem Awakening is also a good example of bad continuity porn with random references to previous entries in the series for no reason whatsoever (see Lucina's Marth cosplay, Tiki appearing to do jack shit, Owain existing purely to spout off FE references, etc.). Frankly, the Persona spinoffs are as close enough to that as I'm comfortable with.
The stories should be self-contained because it's easier for newcomers to enter the series blind. I generally feel the more story focused a game is the more self-contained it should be. Playing P4 first the trip to Tatsumi Port Island was baffling. It made no sense. "What's with all these new environments? Who are all these new characters? Am I supposed to remember them? Is this some weird paradigm shift in the story? What's going on?" P5 doesn't need that.
The stories should be self-contained because it's easier for newcomers to enter the series blind. I generally feel the more story focused a game is the more self-contained it should be. Playing P4 first the trip to Tatsumi Port Island was baffling. It made no sense. "What's with all these new environments? Who are all these new characters? Am I supposed to remember them? Is this some weird paradigm shift in the story? What's going on?" P5 doesn't need that.
I don't think they'll go to heavy with references to the extent of the visit to Tatsumi Port Island, but I think it'd be cool to mention some of the other aspects of the Personaverse. Like if Teddie's visage appeared as the mascot for Junes, or buying a Risette CD or something like that.
P3 and P4 were always kind of meant to connect together, which is why the idea of the spinoffs weren't really all that surprising. Same universe, just a few years separating? Can't really imagine the P3 stuff in P4 being all the distracting, even to someone who never played P3, as it was handled well I think. The P4 stuff in P3P wasn't handled as well I don't think, but eh, 3 days as a fun diversion over the course of like 9 calendar months isn't that big of a deal.
Basically, what I'm saying is, I wouldn't expect anything as substantial in P5. As was said, maybe a Risette CD or something mentioned by someone, but nothing more than that. When P6 comes out, I wouldn't be too shocked to see P5 stuff akin to what we have now.
I want to, but it's hard when Persona is still a pretty niche franchise, most of the persons watching Sony conference would be "wtf is this ? show me some AAA FPS goddammit !". If we do get some new information at P5 though, it would be crazy to imagine Atlus announcing a P4G port to PS4 ? Like, releasing before P5, just to get people even more hyped for it, certainly would get the sales even higher.
I am half-expecting a TV Report in P5 discussing the Shadow Operatives, but with more subtlety since normal people know nothing about the shadows. Something like "a strange-looking official crowd" with just enough details to reference them.
Call me biased, call me a fanboy, i don't really care. I just want to see Elizabeth's Quest come to an end to send off P3.
And preferable when she free's P3MC's soul, it is within the time the P3 cast is still alive to say their final farewells to his soul. That's all i want before i can say i'm done wanting anything more out of P3.
I want to, but it's hard when Persona is still a pretty niche franchise, most of the persons watching Sony conference would be "wtf is this ? show me some AAA FPS goddammit !".
Non-montage games shown on stage at E3 2014's Sony conference:
Entwined
Let It Die
ABZÛ
No Man's Sky
Magicka 2
Why do we have to keep underselling Persona 5? Is the game's first preview trailer almost at 3 million views on Youtube for nothing? People know what Persona is now. Again, reactions when the name "Persona" was uttered at the PlayStation Experience 2014 keynote: https://youtu.be/vlRZ2UxAe0E?t=49m6s
It's not this little niche thing anymore, even if it isn't "mainstream." Its presence has grown significantly in the West over time.
Had no idea of this, you're probably right. Even them, if they're showing anything, should we expect new things, or just the translated version of the January trailer ? I would bet on the second option, but i'm a bit ignorant on these things lol.
I am half-expecting a TV Report in P5 discussing the Shadow Operatives, but with more subtlety since normal people know nothing about the shadows. Something like "a strange-looking official crowd" with just enough details to reference them.
Newsreporter: A group of vigilantes known as the "Shadow Operatives" have recently been arrested following the raid on their base of operations. It seems that they've been conducting illegal activities, in addition to the their vigilantism.
(cuts to Mitsuru and her gang being put away in a cop cars)
Mitsuru: Times are tough. We've had to turn to crime in order to raise money for the cause. It's an expensive endeavor. Newsreporter: What is the cause though? Mitsuru: I will say no more on the matter. Labrys: Mitsuru-san, I thought you said I'd be free! I don't want to spend the rest of my life in prison! Aigis: Sister! Labrys: Yes Aigis? Aigis: Please shut up!
Newsreporter: Next up, a young man from Inaba has supposedly has caught "homosexuality" from his classmate. What this means and more, after the break.
Had no idea of this, you're probably right. Even them, if they're showing anything, should we expect new things, or just the translated January trailer ? I would bet on the second option, but i'm a bit ignorant on these things lol.
I think at minimum, we will see an English version of the gameplay reveal. Realistically, I expect to see a modified version of that trailer with some new stuff.
I have full confidence we'll see Persona 5 at E3. Because I beeelieve~!
I think at minimum, we will see an English version of the gameplay reveal. Realistically, I expect to see a modified version of that trailer with some new stuff.
I'd agree that the minimum would be that an English version of the gameplay reveal trailer is put out there and they'd probably just slap a release date of some sort on the end, as I'm leaning towards a stage showing I expect a bit more than that.
When you guys say "English," what are you thinking, specifically? I think a "North American targeted" version of PV01 is very likely, but to that I'm only really confident that it would be the same thing as the teaser #2 trailer, which would mean an ESRB intro and an outro pointing to the English website or something. I'm not convinced it would mean English text.
I'm not expecting every game prior to be tied in with the plot of the new one, just have a few references for longtime fans. (iirc, the only references each main game has had so far is the one immediately preceding it)
As for each game keeping its own sense of identity, the new protagonist, teammates, and setting should be enough.
I guess I'm just surprised with how much bile Flux seems to have towards the idea of an overarching story. KH is as bad as I've heard, huh?
When you guys say "English," what are you thinking, specifically? I think a "North American targeted" version of PV01 is very likely, but to that I'm only really confident that it would be the same thing as the teaser #2 trailer, which would mean an ESRB intro and an outro pointing to the English website or something. I'm not convinced it would mean English text.
Hm, it would be neat to know they had a history of that, but are there just screenshot examples or are there trailers too? Since it seems they've only had Japanese text in most of their "pre-NA marketing" phase trailers.
Hm, it would be neat to know they had a history of that, but are there just screenshot examples or are there trailers too? Since it seems they've only had Japanese text in most of their "pre-NA marketing" phase trailers.
Think it's just screenshots. That particular one stands out because it clearly only has three character slots for names, which is how the Japanese version of Persona 3 (and almost all Atlus games after Soul Hackers) is like.
When you guys say "English," what are you thinking, specifically? I think a "North American targeted" version of PV01 is very likely, but to that I'm only really confident that it would be the same thing as the teaser #2 trailer, which would mean an ESRB intro and an outro pointing to the English website or something. I'm not convinced it would mean English text.
I'm still unsure but, thinking back, I'm a bit more optimistic about there being English text in an E3 trailer. Looking at another Atlus USA release with a potentially similar timeline from trailer to release. this Persona Q E3 trailer had English text, while the game was released in November.
For now, I'll expect the only English text in that trailer to be a disclaimer reading 'Footage from Japanese Version'. If there's more, it'll make a nice surprise.
Newsreporter: A group of vigilantes known as the "Shadow Operatives" have recently been arrested following the raid on their base of operations. It seems that they've been conducting illegal activities, in addition to the their vigilantism.
(cuts to Mitsuru and her gang being put away in a cop cars)
Mitsuru: Times are tough. We've had to turn to crime in order to raise money for the cause. It's an expensive endeavor. Newsreporter: What is the cause though? Mitsuru: I will say no more on the matter. Labrys: Mitsuru-san, I thought you said I'd be free! I don't want to spend the rest of my life in prison! Aigis: Sister! Labrys: Yes Aigis? Aigis: Please shut up!
Newsreporter: Next up, a young man from Inaba has supposedly has caught "homosexuality" from his classmate. What this means and more, after the break.
Does Persona 4 Dancing only contain songs from P4 and P4G? Haven't been following the tracklist and was hoping for some Arena or P3 tracks.
As for P5 in E3, I expect a narrower release window announced (Holiday 2015) and an English trailer with some new footage released on or before E3 (Like Ultimax), but no dedicated stage time at the Sony conference.
Does Persona 4 Dancing only contain songs from P4 and P4G? Haven't been following the tracklist and was hoping for some Arena or P3 tracks.
As for P5 in E3, I expect a narrower release window announced (Holiday 2015) and an English trailer with some new footage released on or before E3 (Like Ultimax), but no dedicated stage time at the Sony conference.
Just finished P3P. What a fantastic game. Like most, I completely P4G first and enjoyed it so much that I bought P3P. It was very difficult adjusting to the lack of an overworld and cut scenes but it started to click during the summer period in the game and I've been enjoying it as much as P4G.
Never realised how many characters were referenced from P3 in P4. There's that
shy girl Chihiro who I remember seeing
when you went on the trip in P4G. I was also surprised to see
Margaret
. There might be more but I've probably forgotten. I also remember seeing
Vincent in the club during the epilogue
from Catherine!
P3P's main group of characters were more diverse and interesting than P4G imo. It's just a shame that a lack of social links means that you never really understand them like you do with all your friends in P4G. I was also happy how straight forward it was to get the good ending. I was jumping through hoops trying to get the true ending in P4G. I would've never been able to have done that without a guide. Hoping Persona 5 is similar to P3 in that respect.
I'd say looking back on it, I prefer P4G slightly and that's probably it being down to the fact that it was my first Persona experience and also because it was a more fleshed out game than P3P for obvious technical reasons. But I loved both.
I'm probably going to have to get Persona Q. But I'll leave it for a couple of months as I don't wanna get burned out.
P3P's main group of characters were more diverse and interesting than P4G imo. It's just a shame that a lack of social links means that you never really understand them like you do with all your friends in P4G.
Oh the social links are different? I remember reading that but I didn't think it would be for main characters. That's a bit annoying actually as I never finished the social links of Mitsuru, Fuuka and Aigis.
I don't really have the time to play on my console as much as I'd like to. I probably only get 1-2 hours in the evening and I'd rather spend that playing a game like Bloodborne or the Witcher 3. Also, I didn't think I'd be able to give up control of my party as that was integral to the way I played in P4G. I heard it would be a lot more frustrating without control so I opted against getting FES. However, looking back, I don't even remember dying once to a boss other than the Reaper.
Oh the social links are different? I remember reading that but I didn't think it would be for main characters. That's a bit annoying actually as I never finished the social links of Mitsuru, Fuuka and Aigis.
One third of her social links are entirely brand new characters (Akihiko, Ken, Shinjiro, Ryoj, etci), and another third (such as Fuuka) are the same character, but brand new events. She also has the honor of having a social link with every member of SEES too.
Ryoji's social link is only on the female route. It's automatically initiated when he joins the school. But you have to meet him at every chance possible, or it becomes impossible to rank up. For the most part, you shouldn't miss it unless you deliberately don't talk to him every chance you get. Three of his events are automatic, and another three come from accepting his calls/offers when presented.
