As fans of the Atlus JRPG series await aPersona 6, most of the existing entries within the franchise have been receiving new content regularly.P5’s success has extended into several different spin-off titles, while the recent success ofPersona 3 Reloadhas proven its mass appeal beyond just historical value. With rumors of more remakes set to come in the future, this trend could continue for years to come as Atlus goes through each title. While it’s most likely thatPersona 6will arrive before another one of these, there may still be an opportunity to connect the series' next entry to its beginning through these adjacent releases.
Arguably, the first two Persona titles that started it all would realistically benefit far more from being enhanced or completely remade. A known leaker statedremakes of the oldPersonagamesare already in production, leading to speculation concerning how Atlus will handle updating these visibly dated titles. Most players would probably be more excited if these games could be brought up to the standard ofReload’s style despite the changes this might require, and this could even make it easier to tieP6into these releases.
Remakes of Older Persona Titles Would Need to Navigate the Franchise’s Evolution Since
The Franchise Reset Under Soejima
While many gamers who have even casually seen art fromPersona 5are certain to be familiar with the distinct art style of Shigenori Soejima, his direction wasn’t always what formed the character of the series.Kazuma Kaneko, the artist who definedSMT’s aesthetic over several years and helped to establish Atlus as it is known, was responsible for the first twoPersonaentries. These featured a noticeably darker look which more closely resembled their parent franchise at the time, and this entire style has been technically replaced at the company for years now.
Persona 2 is a Rarity in Terms of Mature Subject Matter
Not only did the earlierPersonagames have different visuals, but the second one explored topics that the more recent games haven’t touched.Persona 2was a duologythat saw one half never released outside of Japan until 2011, and the title that did make it to other countries remains the biggest outlier in the series.Innocent Sinfeatured a familiar high school setting despite grappling with an edgy serial killer cult-related plot that might explain its lack of localization, whileEternal Punishmentput players in the shoes of the franchise’s only adult protagonist.
Why Persona 6 Tying into New Remakes Makes Sense
Reviving Abandoned Concepts Originating Before Persona 3
It could be said thatReloadupdatedP3into the sleek style thatPersona 5perfected, but these games were naturally connected under a similar art and narrative direction from the start. While the series' current state feels like it was built off ofPersona 3, the first two games feature concepts and lore that haven’t been seen or referenced since.
Philemon used to be a keyPersonacharacterwho represented the titular concept itself and helped the player along their journey, but he’s only been seen in cameos of a blue butterfly ever since his last appearance as a secret boss inEP.Persona 6is likely to tread new ground as it establishes its own identity, but revisiting elements like Philemon could serve to bring it full circle while priming players for newly relevant remakes.
The First Persona is a Logical Next Step
There’s not only a challenge associated with handling thePersona 2duology’s structure in a remake but also makingInnocent SinandEternal Punishment’s divergence from the other titles fit naturally.
While some have speculated that amore mature vision forPersona 6could be coming, the controversial nature of several different characters, such as the forms of Nyarlathotep and Joker, are difficult to imagine in the modern climate of gaming. The firstPersonais a far safer bet apart from its unrelated nature to the current series, and introducing it to a new generation might just be the perfect follow-up if it’s referenced inP6or if its lore can somehow be connected and made relevant.
Persona 5 Royal
WHERE TO PLAY
Don the mask and join the Phantom Thieves of Hearts as they stage grand heists, infiltrate the minds of the corrupt, and make them change their ways! Prepare for the award-winning RPG experience in this definitive edition of Persona 5 Royal, featuring a treasure trove of downloadable content included!Forced to transfer to a high school in Tokyo, the protagonist has a strange dream. “You truly are a prisoner of fate. In the near future, ruin awaits you.” With the goal of “rehabilitation” looming overhead, he must save others from distorted desires by donning the mask of a Phantom Thief.Explore Tokyo, unlock Personas, customize your own personal Thieves Den, experience alternate endings, and more. Become the ultimate Phantom Thief and defy conventions, discover the power within, and fight for justice in the definitive version of Persona 5 Royal.
