The Ultimate Showdown: Persona 5 vs Persona 5 Royal
If you’re a fan of role-playing games, then you’re probably familiar with Persona 5 and its upgraded version, Persona 5 Royal. While both games share the same title and similar themes, they are not identical. In fact, there are quite a few differences between the two. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Persona 5 vs Persona 5 Royal to help you decide which one is worth playing.
Introduction
Persona 5 is a popular JRPG (Japanese role-playing game) developed by Atlus and released in 2016. It tells the story of a group of high school students who become “Phantom Thieves” in Tokyo’s hidden world to change society by stealing the hearts of corrupt individuals. The game was highly praised for its engaging storyline, well-written characters, and unique visuals. In 2020, Atlus released an updated version called Persona 5 Royal, which offers new features and story content.
Storyline Differences
The central plot of both games is the same, but Persona 5 Royal offers additional story content and characters. The most significant addition is the character of Kasumi Yoshizawa, a new transfer student to Shujin Academy, who has her own story arc. There are also new scenes, cutscenes, and dialogue, expanding on some of the existing characters.
Gameplay Differences
The core gameplay mechanics in Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal are the same. Players control the protagonist, Joker, and a group of friends as they explore dungeons called Palaces and fight monsters called Shadows. However, Persona 5 Royal introduces new gameplay mechanics such as the grappling hook, which allows players to access new areas in Palaces. There’s also a new location called Kichijoji, where players can engage in various activities like playing darts, fishing, or enjoying jazz music.
Visual Enhancements
While Persona 5’s unique art style was one of the factors that made it so visually appealing, Persona 5 Royal improves the graphics further. Atlus has remastered the game with higher quality models, textures, and animations. The new version also includes new Personas (monsters the player collects and uses in battle) and new costumes for characters.
Sound Enhancements
Persona 5 already had a fantastic soundtrack, but the developers added even more tracks in Persona 5 Royal. There are new songs, remixes of existing tracks, and the new battle theme, “Take Over,” which changes based on the player’s current situation. The English dub was also improved by adding new voice lines and fixing some grammatical errors.
Conclusion
So, which one should you play? Persona 5 Royal is the definitive version of the game, offering additional content, gameplay mechanics, and visual and sound enhancements. However, if you’ve already invested dozens of hours into Persona 5, it might not be worth starting over unless you’re a hardcore fan. Ultimately, it depends on whether you’re new to the franchise or a long-time fan. Either way, both Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal are excellent games that are sure to provide countless hours of fun and excitement.
