Summary
ThePersonaseries isa fantastic JRPGcollection focusing on users of Personas, manifestations of their psyche that can be called upon to combat the shadows, dangerous creatures that pose a threat to modern society. But along with monsters, players need to balance out the life of an ordinary high school student, which involves school, clubs, part-time work, and socializing with their friends.
The two sides of this game are the reason thePersonaseries became so popular, with it continuing through till today. From start to end, these games always wow their players with fun gameplay and engaging stories that, like all good things, must come to an end. Thankfully, many of the entries stuck the landing and offered satisfying conclusions. That said, somePersonagames feature much better endings than others.
Persona 5’s Persona users dubbed themselvesthe Phantom Thieves, a fitting name for a group of thieves who infiltrate the minds of societies' most corrupt people to steal their hearts and change their wicked ways. Though they are doing a great deal of good for Japan, they still find themselves in the crosshairs of the police, who seek to stop their machinations.
But after all their good deeds, players don’t see them sitting in jail cells, but rather out on the open road for one last road trip altogether. It’s a simple ending compared to other games, but it’s one last well-deserved hurrah for the Phantom Thieves who have found friends for life with one another. Though Joker will have to return home before long, he at least gets to spend some time with his found family.
Persona 4 Goldengained anew lease of lifeback in the summer of 2020, releasing on Steam to introduce a new slew of fans to the murder mystery gameplay and story. When the quiet town of Inaba sees a string of gruesome murders with no clear culprit, the Persona users literally step inside their TVs to visit the other world in hopes they can bring the truth to life. In this game, players have the chance to unlock one of seven endings, some of which were good, others considered bad, and then there’s the Golden ending, which is considered by many as the true ending.
Though the prerequisites can be tough to fulfill, as players will need to visit locations and characters in the correct order, it unlocks bonus content so that players who have enjoyed their time in Inaba don’t have to say goodbye prematurely. Players who achieve the Golden ending will be treated to one bonus dungeon known as the Hollow Forest, and the final boss-fight Izanami-no-Okami, both providing a unique challenge for players to enjoy with their fellow Persona users for one last time. What’s more is that gamers will be treated to a scene in which they get to enjoy a peaceful meal with all the friends they have come to know and love.
Part two of thePersona 2duology,Eternal Punishmentpicks up whereInnocent Sinleft off, with Tatsuya’s failed attempt to put a stop to Nyarlathotep’s evil machinations. Maya is tasked with writing a story about a rumor circling called the Joker phenomenon, which states that if one calls their own number, they will summon the eponymous Joker to answer a wish at the caller’s request. Maya soon discovers that there might be some truth to these rumors when she encounters the Jokers that plague the Persona users for the rest of the game.
The players are rewarded with abittersweet parting at the endofEternal Punishment. Maya makes the choice to move on instead of speaking to Tatsuya, whom she spots on a motorcycle. After all they went through, the two simply part ways instead of talking to one another. Though there is no definite romance between the two of them, they have endured the events ofInnocent SinandEternal Punishmenttogether, creating a strong bond between the two. That makes Maya’s decision to allow the two of them to part at the end that more tragic.
The spin-off titlewas released for the 3DS and, as such, might have been passed up by most fans. This is unfortunate, asShadow of the Labyrinthis a solid entry in thePersonafranchise. It sees party members from bothPersona 3andPersona 4encountering one another in Yasogami High after hearing mysterious chiming sounds. Their memories are wiped, but they must find a way to return the world to its original state.
The ending showcased inShadow of the Labyrinthmostly revolves around Zen and Rei, two mysterious characters they meet. As it turns out, Zen created the world and kept Rei in this construction, but he intrigued her so much that he erased both their memories and gave them aliases. The two pass on to the afterlife together, as the Persona party members are returned to their words. It is a satisfying ending that is happy for all.
Persona 3 Reloadrevitalized the experience ofPersona 3, where thePersona squad known as SEESexplores the shadow-infested tower known as Tartarus and battle with strong boss shadows each full moon. Like allPersonagames, when not fighting, the characters will spend their time doing ordinary everyday things like making friends, going to the movies, or studying.
There are two possible outcomes to the game, with the true ending being the best. Players will befaced with a choice, and depending on their decision, they can achieve this ending. The protagonist will ultimately die at the end, surrounded by their friends. It is a sad ending to be sure, but it’s powerful and impactful, carrying on the theme of sacrifice that is present throughout the game. And even when realizing these are the final moments, the protagonist still smiles because he knows he succeeded in saving the world.
