To read my first entry, go here
Day 2: June 5, 2017
Taking from I previously left off, my gaming time with Persona 5 continues, this time focusing more on the game itself rather than just making a preview of it. Mild spoilers may lie ahead though I'll try my best to not expose any crucial plot info in here.
Not long after beginning to travel to the game's first dungeon, where the basic of basics are slowly but surely explained, one of my biggest worries towards the game ceased to concern me: Persona 5's use of old gameplay mechanics from prior installments. The first glimpse that I had about this was the return to the use of weapons in battle. In Persona 1 and 2 such feature was a real life saver, and in Persona 5 is no difference, just that it has a limitation and a challenging accurate twist: your bullets cannot be reloaded, what you have is what you have.
Also, in terms of battling mixing both old and new, negotiations with demons are well done too. Not necessarily identical to P1 and P2 as it would be going back instead of forward, still It's good that talking with demons can grant you the opportunity to have them as your personas, make them give you items and money. Just be aware, their questions are tricky and any bad answers mean for a bad negotiation, hence the chance to talk to then again in the same battle is lost.
All out attacks are back and better than ever as now the game gives the characters who prompted it a nice wallpaper if the attack finished the battle. How awesome is that? The game sure knows how to be flashy and all without trying too hard nor putting too many times on the screen.
There are no more random dungeons layouts, but in response to that now Persona 5 has a big, let me make emphasis in that: BIG dungeon map at its disposal for players to get lost, challenge themselves and prove how good their stealth abilities really are. Grinding is going to be good in this game, I know it.
Gameplay wise aside, the story, oh my the story is already placing itself among the most realistic and daredevils I've seen in gaming. I beat Brother A Tale Of Two Sons a little way back (the game ending got me so hard) and my afterword is that a thought provoking game doesn't need to be all dark or violent, it just the strong and realistic approach to that the developers want to share. Well, Persona 5 goes all in since the first hours. Physical and sexual abuse? Tell me more. First, there was the TV Show: 13 reasons why in which I saw many current and real world problems abound, and now the same thing is happening in a video game. I'm sold.
Real life interactions (in the game, of course) got me struggling a bit since it has been what, 8 years since I played Persona 4? On a side note: I'm easily annoyed when texting, even more, when I'm busy and the game has that as well: texting when at classes. When talking to other people. When you are going to sleep. I mean, yeah it's a game, but what a sim it has become as to make me say: "This is so real, I love it but, in here too!?" kind of thing. Big cities, also an annoying thing for me and well, the game takes place in Tokyo with crowded streets, subways and practically most places outside dungeons are like that. Is this game, for any chance, showing me some of my pet peeves for me to overcome them or just deal with them? Persona 4 taught me many things and I'm sure P5 will do just the same.
In my grinding, I lost and had to stop playing.
Day 3: June 6, 2017
I came back fully prepared to continue grinding and to continue learning the rules of this game and to make the best out of my 1st playthrough. Since 2013 I've been playing games just once (I beat them and that's it) but I know for sure that with Persona 5 I will make an exception, and what an excellent exception it will be. I have trophies to come back to as well, so Persona 5 and I will have a lot of stories together. As Morgana (The cat who is not actually a cat) says: "the basic of basics" tutorials have been entertained enough If I must say so myself. Still, outside palaces time passes and with every new tutorial so does a period of the day, especially afternoons where most of the activities of the game are available. I know, I know, the game it just starting and it will just grant me permission to go and do whatever I want to, but seriously, why does a cat sorry, Morgana, has to be so imperative? "Let's make it a day" and puff, you automatically go to bed. Really, Atlus? Oh well, if this is part of the whole improved sim, I'm up to it. Just don't make it so repetitive.
Day 4: June 7, 2017
After some real world errands, I decided to come back to the palace only to lose again out of my desperation to beat stronger/higher level enemies. My bad. This day continued the same until I had too many tutorials and real-life activities all in one day. Gosh, my life outside gaming is so boring compared to this sim, but anyways, I'm having the fun I need in both so, it's fine. As long as I have a dedicated time to gaming (to be in the game, I have to say) and to follow my changing routines and post internships life, I'll be fine.
Persona 5 is quickly occupying most of my gaming time, may this mean something? It was the same with Persona 1, 3 and 4. These 10 hours have been really unique, and I'm happy about it.
Thanks for Reading.