SweetieGames

Back in April 2017, there was an unusual trend spreading across the internet; anime characters, celebrities and more edited with an unusual looking menu behind them and funky music playing. I had no clue what this was referencing until I actually saw a clip of the game it was taken from; it was the battle UI and music from the recently released Persona 5, back before it was on any console other than PlayStation 3 and 4. I, like many people, didn’t have the console to experience the game for myself and settled for watching JohneAwesome play it on YouTube. His passion for the game, and all things Atlus made me want to play it for myself, and that summer I worked hard at a summer job to be able to afford the console and the game.

Over 9 years later, Persona 5‘s expansion, Royal, is probably my favourite game ever. I even talked about my favourite character in that game in my first ever article written here! But what was it about Persona that kept me so hooked after all these years?

I finally got to play Persona 5 for myself in September 2017. I had been out of secondary school for a year, was entering my second year of college and was surrounded by people I didn’t know well. I was extremely shy, and would use the opportunities to do what I liked on my free periods to just go home. I was around the age of the characters in the game and had also recently experienced a new start of some kind, so it felt like the game came at just the right moment for me.

I played Persona 3 Portable at a time when that game’s message felt relevant to me as well; dealing with grief and a big period of change made the story really hit close to home. I thought for a while that maybe these games are special to me just because they coincidentally come to me at a time when I need them in my life, or that they’re just that good, but I think there’s something more to it.

As an autistic person, I have a way of thinking which is actually quite common among other autistic folks; a strong sense of justice. It feels so overwhelming to feel powerless against the way society is leaning; more far right individuals, less inclusivity, rapidly escalating climate change, a lack of punishment for those who are powerful enough… it feels as though I’ve been thrust in to a society that’s crumbling from the pressure of generations before me and I’m left to pick up the pieces. Especially when I was a teen, I loved seeing the Phantom Thieves of Persona 5 stand up to fight for a better future. Even 10 years from its original release in Japan, its message and plot of overthrowing corrupt politicians and public figures is extremely relevant, perhaps even more relevant that when it first released.

I recently started playing Persona 4 Golden in anticipation for its remake soon, and even the beginning of the game reminded me why this series is just so cool. It’s not just the curated aesthetics and fun characters, but they really demonstrate that no matter what background you come from, no matter how young you are, you can make a difference. Even as a young adult, it still inspires me. Are Persona games super realistic? No, but I still feel empowered by them. As cool as it would be to have a Persona game which features adult persona users, I can see why every cast is a group of teens. I hope future generations can continue to be inspired by them!