Persona 5: What Have I Started?

I have never played a Persona game, but after I became invested in the Danganronpa series I had many people recommend I check the series out. And then I didn't because damn do I have a game backlog to work through. When Persona 5 came out earlier this year, the majority of my social circle played it and raved continuously about how much they loved it. They've continued to talk about how great it is, and with it being up for Game of the Year I can't resist any longer. A wonderful friend has let me borrow her copy of the game so I can see what all the hype is about.

Since I am late to this party and have never played a Persona game before, I thought it would be fun to share my thoughts and reactions to the game as I progress through it (since I can't stream it either, thanks Atlus*). What follows is a summary of what I've thought of various stages of the game. Warning that there may be light spoilers, though I will try to keep it as spoiler-free as possible.

*I know you can stream it up to a certain point but not being able to finish what I start is something I just can't bring myself to do.

The Beginning:

• Wow these controls feel clunky. My character moves too quickly for the space he's in. Precision in movement is impossible.
• I seem to be an arrogant petty thief. I want this to make sense later but right now I think I'm an asshole. Not exactly winning me over.
• Oh good I got what I deserve but also this seems like an overkill reaction to a dude stealing a briefcase's worth of stuff from a casino.
• Alright something else is going on here because that list of charges against me is ridiculous. This some bullshit.
• Hey lawyer-lady you just acknowledged I have been beaten and drugged can you calm down with your questions.
• Of course we're pulling a Tarantino and going back some period of time to see how I ended up here. Starting our cliche game off strong here.
• Animation is all over the place. We've got straight up anime cut scenes, then in game cut scenes that are also inconsistent. Some are smooth, some are just as clunky as when I'm controlling the character.

4/9:

• Well that flashback was messed up. It is now my personal mission to find that jerk and cover his floor with LEGOs and steal all of his shoes.
• Jesus I'm lost. Physically, on the map. Not emotionally. Although I'm sure that's not far behind.
• How am I still lost?
• God damnit I was in the right spot but because of the imprecise controls I wasn't in the right hit box to click on the door.
• How did this dude get roped into letting me live with him? Does he owe my parents money or something? Also eff this guy for knowing exactly what happened in that flashback and deciding that I deserved it. I don't like you either. You will also find LEGOs on your floor with no shoes to protect your feet.
• Man my room is huge. This will be awesome as soon as I clean it.
• Let me clean my room more.
• Why won't you let me clean my room?! Fine I'll go to bed.
• In case the initial flashback wasn't good enough I am now playing the scene. Just to drive the point home.
• Okay wait. I got arrested in said flashback, and now I'm in jail. But this jail is not from being arrested it's a dream jail from me sleeping. That...probably should have been clearer. Maybe don't do those things next to each other. And maybe that was the point but it just felt weird and I spent more time going "wait what" than paying attention to creepy 'I don't move my mouth when I talk' dude who has two little girls working for him like that's not weird.

4/10:

• Thank goodness I woke up because that went nowhere.
• Oh yay my new teachers are already super prejudiced against me. Which granted I sort of get based on the minimal information it sounds like they have. But still. Also I don't know why but I already don't like this volleyball coach guy. He's...off.
• Whoa subway dude what was that.
• Oh a diary? Cool. Yes sir I will write in it.
• How do I write in it? Maybe I have to clear the desk.
• I can't clear the desk. Maybe the table?
• HOW DO I WRITE IN THE DIARY?
• He made it very clear I'm supposed to do this I don't want to go to bed until I figure out how to do this.
• I am going to throw this game out the window.
• WHY WAS IT NOT MADE CLEARER THAT HIM GIVING YOU THE DIARY WAS JUST SAVING BECOMING AVAILABLE.

4/11:

• I personally don't know how I feel about curry for breakfast, but if this cranky dude is going to offer any semblance of kindness I'm going to jump all over it.
• Jesus Christ how do I get to the other train line. I can't read any of these signs. This seems to be an oversight.
• This girl reminds me of Junko Enoshima from Danganronpa and that makes me uncomfortable.
• Volleyball Teacher is back and with the facial expression of not-Junko I am now a firm believer he is absolutely an ass and I can't wait to find out how.
• "Vulgar Boy" reminds me of Sun from RWBY. Loud, blonde, and probably trouble, but also oddly endearing and I think I like him.
• Ah yes the old "hallucinate that your school is an evil creepy castle" bit. Of course. I'm sure we'll be captured immedi--oh yeah there we go off to the dungeon.
• Still not sure what's up with Volleyball Teacher but him being king here does not surprise me.
• IS HE NAKED? I THINK HE IS NAKED.
• Okay not naked but very mostly so and I'm very uncomfortable. Also he needs to tone it down on the evil. Bring that 10 down to a 6.
• I...what? I'm somehow not going to question where a lot of this came from but why in god's name was my first reaction to this mask showing up on my face in a pretty permanent fashion to VIOLENTLY RIP IT OFF.
• This game is not good for explorer people like me who are used to games that hide stuff in nooks and crannies. There is nothing here. I've seen enough to know nothing is here. Is that stopping me from going out of my way to attempt to investigate every crate, barrel, and cell? Nope.
• I have a talking cat that isn't a cat but is totally a cat. I'm waiting for my Sailor Moon style transformation now thank you.
• The fact that Volleyball Teacher recognizes me despite not having met him outside of nightmare-castle concerns me. Maybe it's from offering me a ride but I kind of doubt it.
• God damnit Igor please start making sense.

This is far from the end of even my first play session of the game, but damn this is starting to get long. Obviously there's a lot happening at the beginning of this story, so there's a lot of thoughts and reactions to have. You can expect another one of these soon with the next back of "wtf" thoughts! <3