Persona 5
(Atlus – PS4, PS3)
2017 Game of the Year Contenders
Persona 5 is all about getting into and changing the hearts of those who would do harm to others, which is fitting since Atlus toyed with our hearts for so long before the game was released. It had been years since Persona 4 was released on the PS2 and, sometime after, the Vita, and fans were eager to take control of a new rag-tag group of teens full of angst and a desire to save the world. When Persona 5 was finally announced, everyone was on board. The art style, the stealth action, the heist setup of each dungeon, and Morgana, an adorable cat companion, seemed like a recipe for success. But it kept getting delayed for one reason or another. Yet, when the game finally released back in April, we forgot all about how our hearts were aching and fell in love with the masterful JRPG put before us.
From its striking art style which perfectly captures the tone of each dungeon (called Palaces in the game) to the fact that it isn’t afraid to tackle some seriously heavy themes, Persona 5 is one of the best JRPGs we’ve seen in a long time. Thanks to an enjoyable cast of characters, a myriad of options, and an inviting world, it’s easy to get sucked in and lose well over a hundred hours in the game without batting an eyelash. Something only the best games are able to do to players. It offers just what fans of the series expected with a fresh new flair that is sure to provide a longevity that may even rival its predecessor. If that’s not game of the year worthy, I don’t know what is.
