Bibliographic Information:
Title: Persona 5 Royal
Developer: Atlus, P Studio
Release Date: March 31, 2020
Publisher: Atlus, Sega
Platforms: PlayStation 4
ESRB Rating: M for Mature
Genre/Format of the Title: RPG, Social Simulation / Video Game
Awards or Honors: "Award for Excellence" at the Japan Game Awards 2020
Plot Summary: The newest game in the Persona franchise, Persona 5: Royal (P5R), is a social simulation game revolving around the lives of teenagers. You play as a Japanese high school student who gets framed for a crime while trying to stand up for an innocent, defenseless person. As punishment, you get expelled from school and are forced to re-enroll at a different school, where you are told to keep a low profile, stay in line, or be sent to prison. As you go around making friends, you get to learn more about what exactly got you expelled and about the many corrupt authority figures making life for younger generations more difficult. The game explores complex themes and issues that teenagers go through during their journey in high school. P5R explores how a society run by adults can oppress youth both intentionally and unintentionally, especially as a country is going through dramatic social change. You don’t need to be a teenager in high school to appreciate the hours of fun gameplay this title has to offer.
Critical Evaluation: This is my personal favorite video game of all time. The music is amazing, the characters are complex and interesting, the story is relevant, and best of all, there is so much to do and explore in the game! The story is set in Tokyo, Japan where you (the main character) enroll in high school (my teenage dream!). The game’s plot involves you and a group of friends traveling to a different dimension in order to free society of evil, controlling adults. This different dimension allows you to wield your persona (a quality of your personality manifested into a monster partner) to “change their hearts” which forces them to change in real life. These adults serve as bosses throughout the game and highlight various ways in which adults can become corrupted. P5R also explores how this corruption has direct negative consequences on the future generations that are expected to keep the country moving forward. As the main character, you get to spend much of the game exploring different communities/areas of Japan and trying out various activities (Karaoke, shopping, working a part-time job, hanging out with friends, etc). I personally found the social simulation part of the game to be the most enjoyable – you learn a lot about the characters around you simply by chatting and spending some time with them (which strengthens your bond in game). This game was the perfect escape from the pandemic.
Creative Use for a Library Program: Each of the main characters has their own persona (alter ego) that they transform to when they enter the Metaverse; part of their costume is a unique mask. Teens will choose their favorite character from the group and print out their own 3D mask. Below is an example of 3D-print of Joker's mask!
Speed-Round Book Talk or Short Book Trailer: You've had a rough year: you were framed for a crime you didn't commit, threatened with jail time, expelled from school, and sent across the country to live with a stranger who will be making sure you stay in line during a year of probation. On your first day at your new school, you find a mysterious app on your phone and when you select it, you get transported to a new parallel world, where you can get a glimpse of people's desires ; people like creepy high school coaches, controlling mentors, greedy CEOs, and shady politicians. Now you and your new friends, the Phantom Thieves, have the chance to change people's hearts and make real changes in society -- can you steal the hearts before you get caught?
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation: The game features partial nudity, mention of suicide, violence, drug use, and sexual themes. As the game paints adults in a negative light, some parents may not appreciate the library having a game where teens are encouraged to rebel. I would argue that the message of the game is actually different, and if you play the game all the way through, the message becomes clearer. The game does have a message of individuality, breaking free from society's chains and thinking for one's self. It also paints most adults as the antagonist but there are a number of adults who really pull through for the main characters. I would also argue that [light spoilers] some of those adults that are main antagonists in the game are actually painted a bit more sympathetically at the end of the game; society's complacency is the real enemy.
Reason for Inclusion: The Persona franchise is incredibly popular with both critics and fans; you will have a hard time finding someone who dislikes P5R, it's that good. I really enjoyed the game's exploration of how society affects people and the strong messages of individuality and friendship. Interest in the series is still going strong, as Persona 5 Strikers, a sequel to P5R was just released in 2021.
Enhancements
Official Trailer for Persona 5
The Best Study Music
Cinematic Trailer