Persona 5

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5569 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4,794 out of 5569
  2. Mixed: 212 out of 5569
  3. Negative: 563 out of 5569
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  1. Pooltwo
    Apr 11, 2017
    9
    Persona 5 is an addictive JRPG that will prove difficult to even put down the controller.

    The story follows you, a Tokyo High-Schooler that attends Shujin Academy. You have been accepted there due to you having a criminal record, be it false. The story is a key point in the Persona franchise, usually following this formula, you being a Japanese high schooler with supernatural powers    Persona 5 is an addictive JRPG that will prove difficult to even put down the controller.

    The story follows you, a Tokyo High-Schooler that attends Shujin Academy. You have been accepted there due to you having a criminal record, be it false. The story is a key point in the Persona franchise, usually following this formula, you being a Japanese high schooler with supernatural powers (With exception of Persona 2. The cast are actually adults). The narrative follows you and your other friends, who have Personas, and dubbed yourself the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. You go through palaces, otherworldly settings in the metaverse, where you can summon your powers. You 'steal' hearts from rotten adults, and when you steal the heart/treasure in the metaverse, they'll confess their sins in the real world.

    The RPG section of the game comes in the palaces, and another randomly generated palace of sorts called momentos. However, you also have to balance your everyday life and stay out of trouble, since you're on probation. Perform well in school, increase confidant levels, or social links, and improve your stats and buy/make tools to use in the metaverse. You can also hang out with friends you develop in the game.

    Personas belong to arcana, or a group of shadows (enemies in palaces) and personas that share traits. Persona may be grouped in an arcana due to physical appearance, mythology, personality, and/or stats. Hanging out with confidants improves the power level of persona's you can make in the arcana they pride in. This happens in the infamous velvet room, taking form as a jail now.

    In Persona 1 and 2, the Velvet room was just a room, with Igor, the boss of it, residing there. In Persona 3 it became an elevator, and in Persona 4, it was a limousine. The velvet room in Persona 5 is my favorite so far, since the fusion is done grimly yet stylishly.

    Speaking of style, this game is bringing all of it. It's beautiful, loud, and in your face (But in a good way). The game has hues of red dancing across it, and shades of white and black accompanying it.

    Characters in this game are amazing as well. They fall into some anime tropes, but have unique traits that pull them away from them, making it trouble to decide which story you want to learn first. The settings in this game are really realistic to modern day Tokyo, and immerse you into the metaverse, with an uneasy feel in them.

    The story this time focusses on freedom and oppression. I won't say anymore, because I made the summary above a little spoiler-y.

    Finally, the music is lovely, and it presents a cooler feel, with a calm, jazzy background. Truly, my only complain is the camera in sneak portions of the game, since it can be really gimmicky, and mess you up. All my game overs so far were due to the camera, delivering some frustration to me.

    Persona 5 is a Brilliant JRPG that any one remotely interested in should own.    … Expand
  2. ChojWaBom
    Apr 11, 2017
    10
    You don't need to read a review to see how good Persona is, I just come here to give it 10
    Plot: 10/10
    Music: 11/10
    My time and student life after playing P5: 0/10
    You can see Rise poster (P4) at the Station Square
  3. MistyFalls
    Apr 11, 2017
    10
    -This is by far the best Persona game I've played. It has the perfect balance of humor and mellow in it. P1, P2 and P3 has dark tones and melodramatic narrative. P4 went overboard with the humor and it's not necessarily a bad thing but it definitely felt like a different Persona game to me. P5 has a balance of both in terms of narrative.
    -The major and minor characters, most of them are    -This is by far the best Persona game I've played. It has the perfect balance of humor and mellow in it. P1, P2 and P3 has dark tones and melodramatic narrative. P4 went overboard with the humor and it's not necessarily a bad thing but it definitely felt like a different Persona game to me. P5 has a balance of both in terms of narrative.
    -The major and minor characters, most of them are likable and has good depth in them.
    -The aesthetic and visual of the game is superb. The colors are vibrant and the art style is beautiful. The dungeons are detailed and interactive. I'm super happy that they aren't as dull or bland as the previous ones (Tartarus comes to mind). The boss designs are also very good.
    -The soundtrack is absolutely outstanding. Shoji Meguro is a music genius. It compliments the narrative and game atmosphere very well.
    -The gameplay is magnificent. It has the same, familiar turn based combat of Persona games and they've added some new things to it as well. There are two new elements (nuclear and psi). Demon negotiations from the mainline SMT games are also added, making acquiring new personas a little challenging.
    -There are tons of content in the form of side quests, social links and collectibles.

    Persona 5 is a modern JRPG masterpiece that I would put in the same level as Chrono Trigger, Xenogears and FF6. It's definitely my favorite game for this year. It's an absolute must play for MegaTen veterans and for open minded new comers who'd like to try a modern JRPG.    … Expand
  4. Jamesshen
    Apr 10, 2017
    10
    Well, where should i start. Its definetely the king Jrpg of all time.
    Im so surprised and amazed by how high this game would get in its metacritic score.
    Its the best this year and the third best ps4 games of all time. I played for about 40 hours and absolutely loved it. Its so addictive and i have so much things to do. I played persona 3 and 4 before but honestly speaking persona 5 is    Well, where should i start. Its definetely the king Jrpg of all time.
    Im so surprised and amazed by how high this game would get in its metacritic score.
    Its the best this year and the third best ps4 games of all time.
    I played for about 40 hours and absolutely loved it. Its so addictive and i have so much things to do. I played persona 3 and 4 before but honestly speaking persona 5 is the best in its series.
    My favourite character goes to Makoto, such a sweet girl.
    Well its a 10/10 from me.    … Expand
  5. Olander
    Apr 10, 2017
    7
    Are you looking for a game that can put you to sleep, look no further than Persona 5!

    Persona 5 is a very niche game, it is a turn based combat system and a social/dating sim. If you don't like either of those, you will dislike this game a lot. Not to say the game is bad, it is a very good game, it just has to many flaws (you can easily tell the limitations the game has because it    Are you looking for a game that can put you to sleep, look no further than Persona 5!

    Persona 5 is a very niche game, it is a turn based combat system and a social/dating sim. If you don't like either of those, you will dislike this game a lot. Not to say the game is bad, it is a very good game, it just has to many flaws (you can easily tell the limitations the game has because it released on the PS3, instead of being a full fledged PS4 game using its hardware to the max) to be given a higher score than what I rated it.

    The story is like a roller coaster, it has its ups and downs. The game's story is at its best when you are doing the palaces, and the story that revolves around them. But when you finish them, there is such a long low part of the game where it is just dialogue for several hours doing all the mundane stuff, waiting for your next target. Which bored me so much, I was just skipping some dialogue that didn't have voice overs that weren't pertaining to the main story. Another thing I did not like, is that every party character had to go through their Persona identity crisis. It just felt like every party character you met just repeated itself.

    As for the game play, the turn base combat is fun and interrogating the monsters is a interesting concept to capture them to use their powers. It feels very much like Pokemon. The stealth part in the palaces can be somewhat wonky at times because of the issues with the camera, but overall is a solid edition to the game. The best part of the combat system is finding the weakness in each enemy, and then knocking them all down to do a flashy move that most of the time kills all the monsters in a single strike. The bad thing about the weakness system, it goes both ways. Monsters can strike you multiple times if they have the weakness of the person they are attacking. Which can easily lead to a single wipe on harder difficulty settings.

    The music and the art style of the game is amazingly done and are easily the best part of the game. The rock/jazz/electronic music fits very well with the theme. And the style makes up for the limitations that Altus had to hold back by still having the game release on PS3 in 2016/2017.

    In the end, if you are looking for a JRPG to play, look no further than Persona 5. It is the ideal JRPG and a great starting point in the Persona series. It is just not for everyone.    … Expand
  6. MrAptronym
    Apr 10, 2017
    10
    I am almost shocked at the attention to detail in this game. Persona 5 is easily the best Turn based RPG I have played since the PS2. It is among the best JRPGs of all time as far as I am concerned.

    Complaints? Occasionally the dialogue feels a bit stilted, and the cover system takes getting used to. Beyond that I believe they have really perfected the persona formula here. The themes    I am almost shocked at the attention to detail in this game. Persona 5 is easily the best Turn based RPG I have played since the PS2. It is among the best JRPGs of all time as far as I am concerned.

    Complaints? Occasionally the dialogue feels a bit stilted, and the cover system takes getting used to. Beyond that I believe they have really perfected the persona formula here. The themes and characters are solid, the dungeon and social aspects feel fully integrated and the pacing is on point. Everything in this game is overflowing with style, even the menus are a joy to look at.

    I was afraid they would just try and repeat the success of Persona 4, but Persona 5 has really gone all out to distinguish itself and the effort paid off. My only worry is how they'll be able to improve on things for the next entry.    … Expand
  7. buttman333
    Apr 10, 2017
    10
    Persona 5 is a phenomenal game, and could be praised for the way it fills its longevity alone. I found myself sinking over 24 hours into the game within the first 3 days with no apprehension. This game may very well take you over 100 hours to beat, but the time you spend rarely feels like padding.

    I love the characters, the story, the combat, but most of all the stylish design choices.    Persona 5 is a phenomenal game, and could be praised for the way it fills its longevity alone. I found myself sinking over 24 hours into the game within the first 3 days with no apprehension. This game may very well take you over 100 hours to beat, but the time you spend rarely feels like padding.

    I love the characters, the story, the combat, but most of all the stylish design choices. Everything piece of user interface is designed intentionally to fit the art style, and this is done with amazing effect.

    I am so, so happy this game finally came out. Roleplaying as a Japanese high school thief has never been more fun.    … Expand
  8. BelthazarBR
    Apr 10, 2017
    10
    The game is incredible and deserves all the praise it was given. Phenomenal story, amazing graphics and art style and all around great characters. Atlus really overdid themselves.
  9. PhantomThief
    Apr 10, 2017
    10
    Just beat the game so i decided to write a review, this review is coming from someone that has played all the persona games and every shin megami game that has been released in America. From the start Persona 5 pulls you into a beautiful setting, this game will touch you. I have cried countless times playing this since i can relate to the protagonist. Dont miss out on this fantastic game.
  10. Molerat619
    Apr 10, 2017
    10
    This is a fun, addictive game That you'll put hundreds of hours into and love the characters. Game of the year contender here. Time will pas by and is great for weekends or to blow away some hours
  11. Gwyndolin
    Apr 10, 2017
    10
    Persona 5 is the perfect JRPG - if you don't mind heavy dialogue and traditional turn based combat.

    If i'm to nitpick, then I'd say the dialogue in the game is a bit repetitive, just like persona 4 was. I find this in many JRPGs. People often repeat themselves. That's about it. Fusing persona, the strategic combat system, and the sim elements are all very addictive. Topped with the    Persona 5 is the perfect JRPG - if you don't mind heavy dialogue and traditional turn based combat.

    If i'm to nitpick, then I'd say the dialogue in the game is a bit repetitive, just like persona 4 was. I find this in many JRPGs. People often repeat themselves.
    That's about it.

    Fusing persona, the strategic combat system, and the sim elements are all very addictive. Topped with the most flashy and stylish aesthetic I've seen in a game... I can see myself playing this game for 200 hours at least.    … Expand
  12. coolmcdude
    Apr 10, 2017
    10
    I don't want to spoil anything so I will keep this short. The game is absolutely everything I have loved about the franchise and more. They have stuck true to the formula and improved it in ways that old fans will love. This game is a master piece with stunning visuals and a gripping story. Thank you Atlus!!
  13. Bertoflyingfox
    Apr 10, 2017
    9
    I'll start off saying I haven't beaten the game and am likely nowhere near done. So far, Persona 5 has a fun story and really great mechanics.

    I'm bored to death of the high school student story trope in anime/JRPGs, but somehow this one just completely sucked me in. Maybe it's because I too hung out in the "back alleys" of my high school with the less popular folks, I don't know.    I'll start off saying I haven't beaten the game and am likely nowhere near done. So far, Persona 5 has a fun story and really great mechanics.

    I'm bored to death of the high school student story trope in anime/JRPGs, but somehow this one just completely sucked me in. Maybe it's because I too hung out in the "back alleys" of my high school with the less popular folks, I don't know. Anyway, the story is good and dives into interesting commentary while providing a nice, crisp anime aesthetic.

    The mechanics shine through the most and is the main reason for my high rating. Some gamers swore that a turn-based RPG just couldn't be engaging in 2017 and yet Persona 5 exists, advancing turn-based mechanics in meaningful ways while all others adhere to fake "action" combat.
    Besides that mechanic is the whole social-link aspect, which really makes the game feel like you're living the life of a student by day and a master thief by night, balancing relationships and activities which will help your alter-ego/team in combat.    … Expand
  14. Keylos
    Apr 10, 2017
    10
    Persona 5 is one of the best J-RPG i've played.

    It takes everything that worked well on P4 and add some awesome features. The gameplay is really cool and dynamic, the story looks great (i'm at 30h, still far from the end). As usual, the soundtrack is just... perfect.
    Give it a try, you'll not be disappointed, the balance between fight and school life is well done
  15. Kenmei
    Apr 10, 2017
    10
    Ever since I finished Persona 4 on the PS2 many years ago, I've been waiting for this game to come out and my expectations for this game were astronomically high. And, while I would say it didn't live up to that, the game is almost as perfect as I was hoping it would be. There are a few very minor issues that keep it from reaching the perfect heights that I had hoped for but nothing toEver since I finished Persona 4 on the PS2 many years ago, I've been waiting for this game to come out and my expectations for this game were astronomically high. And, while I would say it didn't live up to that, the game is almost as perfect as I was hoping it would be. There are a few very minor issues that keep it from reaching the perfect heights that I had hoped for but nothing to keep this from being the best JRPG to come out for a very long time and one of the best games for the current console generation.
    It begins and ends with the Story and, while it takes literally hours upon hours of gameplay to finally pick up steam, it has a very satisfying ending and final boss. The dungeons are a big key to that too as they are handmade instead of randomly generated like previous games. While some of them drag on a little too much, (especially one of the ending dungeons), they really set the tone for the game at that point and the bosses were very well designed.
    The characters are also very well done. There are a few standout characters, including the new "mascot" character in this game, Morgana. However, I'd still say that, as a group, Persona 4's cast was a bit more memorable but that might only be from the amount of time I've spent with that game. The voice acting is superb and not just for the main cast. The side characters are really well done too but that's to be expected. I'm a bit disappointed that there wasn't more VO's at some of the more important parts of the game, especially a few scenes at the end, but there's hundreds of lines of dialogue already. That might be a good idea for any kind of remake that will hopefully happen in the future.
    The combat is the same but they've added two new types of damage: Psy and Nuke. They've also added new Personas in the game, but the bigger story might be that they left some of the most controversial monsters in the game. Google the Persona "Mara" and you'll know what I'm talking about. However it was really cool to see some regular Personas like Jack Frost and Pixie in 3D. Plus the new Personas are very cool looking and not just the main characters. The party members have some amazing new Persona designs and it's probably the best collection or Personas so far I think. Special mention has to be made for the music too. The Persona series has always had some of the best music in video gaming and this game was an excellent reminder of that. It's one of the few series I'd pay to buy the soundtrack of and listen to it over and over again.
    There's one big caveat that I want to mention for anyone playing this game: it takes literally dozens upon dozens of hours to complete and it's not an easy game. This is not a series for beginners or people who don't like RPG's. However, if you can deal with all of that, you'll find a game and a series with a ton of heart and promise. This game in particular, while it took almost a decade to be released, shows that the guys at Atlas still got it. And with the way things went with Persona 4, I imagine we will be seeing a few spinoffs and, hopefully, a bigger and better remake in the next few years. Till then I'll be going back in into this world, albeit at a much slower pace.    … Expand
  16. Jsnlng
    Apr 10, 2017
    10
    What makes Persona 5 great is its ability to make you live in an entirely different world, in which none of it is spent feeling pointless. This game is the king of JRPGs. It encompasses everything that makes a role-playing game fun and puts it into an emotional roller coaster life of a high school gang and their shenanigans against society.

    If you own a PS3 or PS4 this is probably one    What makes Persona 5 great is its ability to make you live in an entirely different world, in which none of it is spent feeling pointless. This game is the king of JRPGs. It encompasses everything that makes a role-playing game fun and puts it into an emotional roller coaster life of a high school gang and their shenanigans against society.

    If you own a PS3 or PS4 this is probably one of the best games you will play, but I put it at a 9 because turn based fighting is not everyone's cup of tea, and there are some issues with transitions between combat and exploration. To me though, this is what an RPG should be. I would say the only thing that may be missing is the ability to customize your own character and have preferences in that regard, but it's the best RPG game I've played in a while.    … Expand
  17. Multipleman
    Apr 10, 2017
    10
    Loved Persona 1-2. Unfortunately I missed the opportunity to play Persona 3-4. Persona 5 is a big step up from what I am used to the series being.. But unlike Final Fantasy 15, I feel Persona 5 does "growing up" successfully. The turnbased combat feels like a proper modern evolution of the genre. The music is superb. The characters are charming.. I truly feel like im in an anime playingLoved Persona 1-2. Unfortunately I missed the opportunity to play Persona 3-4. Persona 5 is a big step up from what I am used to the series being.. But unlike Final Fantasy 15, I feel Persona 5 does "growing up" successfully. The turnbased combat feels like a proper modern evolution of the genre. The music is superb. The characters are charming.. I truly feel like im in an anime playing the role of the main protagonist. It's a great feeling. Love where this series is going. I only hope we won't have to wait forever for Persona 6.… Expand
  18. chris247482
    Apr 9, 2017
    10
    I gave this game a 10 but its really more of a 9.6, initially I had rated it a 9.3 but having played about 25 hours are am bumping the score up a bit. Sadly it doesn't let me enter ratings that specific. I'm still coming across tutorials even after a couple of dozen hours, so there is a lot of depth to this game. The writing is very interesting and the art style is really cool. TheI gave this game a 10 but its really more of a 9.6, initially I had rated it a 9.3 but having played about 25 hours are am bumping the score up a bit. Sadly it doesn't let me enter ratings that specific. I'm still coming across tutorials even after a couple of dozen hours, so there is a lot of depth to this game. The writing is very interesting and the art style is really cool. The drawbacks? The camera is a pain when it comes to the stealth system. I hope this is something they can fix with a patch because it would make the game soo much better. The game is very linear but with the sheer length of the game I can honestly say that I do not feel like any of my time was wasted so far. Everything I do in the game in in furtherance of the storyline and building my character. Compare this to something like witcher 3 where you are free to go most places and do what you want when you want. The difference is in an open world game you can get side tracked and waste time without improving your character in some way. With Persona 5 since you are under time limits and the way all the activities contribute to your character's growth in one way or another, I feel productive after every gaming session. This game is not for everyone , but I was quite surprised on how taken I was with this game, I love western rpgs but this is my first jrpg and I was skeptical that I would enjoy the new playstyle, yet the writing and various systems make the game really enjoyable.… Expand
  19. toim22
    Apr 9, 2017
    10
    This is my first Persona game and I am really surprised how the game is awesome. I was "orphan" of a good JRPG and got this with low expectation, but on the first mission I was really impressed how you feel inside the story. It is really nice the way the game introduces you to the Personas and battle options and for me, playing Persona for the first time, feel like I have been playing thisThis is my first Persona game and I am really surprised how the game is awesome. I was "orphan" of a good JRPG and got this with low expectation, but on the first mission I was really impressed how you feel inside the story. It is really nice the way the game introduces you to the Personas and battle options and for me, playing Persona for the first time, feel like I have been playing this game since the first one.… Expand
  20. danielstellet
    Apr 9, 2017
    10
    For me, the best Persona from Persona franchise, it's awesome, i'm addicted to the game since the time i put the disc in my ps4, it's Worth the time that we waited
  21. vahn
    Apr 9, 2017
    10
    I love Persona and most importantly of all, I love the Shin Megami Tensei series which itself has plentiful of great RPGs, such as Devil Survivor, Digital Devil Saga, Strange Journey and my very first game, Lucifer's Call (or Nocturne). I'll be very biased but for good reasons!

    Case in point, why is Persona 5 good? Well let's start with the graphics - HOLD ON, I know you might think    I love Persona and most importantly of all, I love the Shin Megami Tensei series which itself has plentiful of great RPGs, such as Devil Survivor, Digital Devil Saga, Strange Journey and my very first game, Lucifer's Call (or Nocturne). I'll be very biased but for good reasons!

    Case in point, why is Persona 5 good? Well let's start with the graphics - HOLD ON, I know you might think that graphics don't matter and I totally agree with you, however, Persona 5 has a unique style that makes the graphic stylish and very interesting to look at. The game's flashy, colorful, cel-shaded and incredibly well designed: the other game that just came to mind was persona 4 with its colorful environment, but persona 5 ramps it up to 11 and makes the game look beautiful, as well as stylish. I mean...just look at the intro, or at the choice option, at the menu screen: it reeks of "pop", something that reminds me of the 90s it's just incredible. Again, the only game that I felt this way was persona 4 and that game was already great in the visual ways.

    How's the gameplay? It's turn-based combat at its finest, a system that not many seem to like because "it's too old", but Persona 5 not only uses it yet again to show that it's still valid but improves it, expands it and includes elements from previous SMT such as the demon dialogues to recruit shadows and, most importantly of all, better and non-randomized dungeons (although the random dungeon still exists, it's just a sidequest). The combat controls are much more simplified and much faster too, making you switch persona on a whim, add the fact that the combat was simplified by removing "damage type" (there was slash, pierce and blunt) and also improving physical attacks (they do more damage than before and miss a lot less), the game really shines through with ease.

    Granted, I didn't enjoy how little the SP is and how quickly it runs out, and how hard it is to get items for recovering SP in general, but that's a nitpick at worst.

    And while I won't spoil the story, I honestly found it simple yet interesting, very interesting...to the point that "I just had to know what was going to happen". I kept wondering what was going to happen after the next dungeon was over and while the game hints with its flashback scenes - another nitpick because I highly despise flashbacks - I still wanted to know what was going to happen to the characters.
    Right the characters: I really love them, especially Morgana and how he's so sure of himself yet adorable at the same time. I won't lie: I didn't like Teddy in p4 for how "disgustingly" nice he was, but Morgana just felt more of a reliable character overall. The others are also pretty likable and very...relatable too: they're disliked by everyone, they're people who did big mistakes, they're people with difficult childhoods. In other words, they're misfits who struggle to get into the Japanese society and the MC has a criminal record too. It was very refreshing: unlike p4 and it's cheerful, the bright cast of super happy characters with no worries in their world, the p5 cast is yes cheerful and happy but has also to worry about their ranks and their place in society.
    And as someone who has a mentality far different from the country he currently lives in (I did live abroad for few years while younger), I can totally relate too.

    I want to add my nitpicks as well, with my biggest being them taking a lot from p4 in terms of time management: you can only go into the dungeon in the afternoon and do NOTHING at night "because you're tired", forcing you to plan far ahead of time. Doing the dungeon literally limits your daily routine in many ways: you can't study, you can't go out and do a bath, you can't create lockpicks (VERY needed), you can't even hang out with friends...nothing. So be ready to program your stuff!
    Secondly, the game map is very...confusing at first and I honestly got lost quite a lot before being able to quick travel to my locations. I guess it's because of the camera being free but I won't lie that I found myself wandering cluelessly for the first 10 hours.
    And third, the time for clearing dungeons is VERY SHORT: talking about 2 to 3 weeks tops and not only that, your time limit is shorter because you're supposed to do "something" BEFORE finishing the dungeon, which requires an additional day. Which means, DON'T REACH THE END ON YOUR LAST DAY, OR IT'S GAME OVER.

    And now for a bigger flaw: the game doesn't allow streaming and while it doesn't affect me, a friend of mine does and I thought to add this up for those who are hardcore streamers like her.

    With that said, go get this game if you miss the old JRPGs, those with turn based combat, great stories and rewarding system. It's not perfect by any means it sure is close to being it!    … Expand
  22. Azeriel
    Apr 9, 2017
    10
    Persona 5 will steal your heart, and it wasn't hard as you will be giving it willingly.

    This is the game that will redefine JRPG for years to come. I might be slightly biased on this game because I've been a Persona fan ever since it was just called Shin Megami Tensei and not widely known as Persona. But just when I thought they could not perfect the game anymore after P4 and P4 Golden,    Persona 5 will steal your heart, and it wasn't hard as you will be giving it willingly.

    This is the game that will redefine JRPG for years to come. I might be slightly biased on this game because I've been a Persona fan ever since it was just called Shin Megami Tensei and not widely known as Persona. But just when I thought they could not perfect the game anymore after P4 and P4 Golden, they came out swinging with P5.

    It's difficult to make turn based combat amazing, but P5 managed to make that a realization. One of the common complaints we had with P4 and P4G was the dungeon crawler parts could be a drag. That has been improved with P5 as well. The dungeons now are even more thematic and even more fun.

    The social links (they are called confidants now) are coming back in P5 and with a much bigger emphasize on it this time. Atlus has realized that the social activities and links are the major selling points for Persona games and it has been given the love and respect it deserves. An improvement from P4, your social links are actually bigger, have more impacts and you will have a bigger area of Tokyo to explore and do activities on.

    Old school Shin Megami Tensei fans will be happy to learn that Persona Chat feature is back in this game. If you remember, this feature has been missing since Persona 3 and I could not be happier that they're back.

    The entire UI and game interface felt like an experimental art by Atlus, but by god, they work wonderfully. Even the transition phase between screen has been done in such a masterful way that I can't help but smile watching them.

    One thing that I do have to mention that this game wears its Japanese culture proudly. They are still a very conservative country that still mocks homosexuality and other things that they feel outside of the norm. The best part? Persona doesn't feel like they need to change that just to suit the justice warriors of the west. So, if you are easily offended by things that actually wasn't real (a.k.a this game), skip it. Even the game disclaimer will mock you about it. This is a game that was not afraid to push the boundaries of what the soft western society will view as unacceptable. Trust me, this game will drag you through the depth of human's darkness and deepest desire while you're kicking and screaming. Again, if you're too sensitive for those things like most are these days, skip it. Persona will not change to suits your new western standard.

    Persona 5 will do to JRPG what The Witcher 3 did with open world RPG, redefines the genre and set a new gold standard on it.

    If you're an old Persona players, or even just started with P4 or P4G, this game is absolutely a must buy. Everything that we loved about P4 has been improved and everything that we hated has either been reworked or removed.

    If you're new to Persona or even a JRPG in general, there's no better game to get your hand on.

    Well done, Atlus.    … Expand
  23. aoukoa
    Apr 8, 2017
    10
    By far the best game in the Persona franchise. It stomps all over 3 and 4 in terms of gameplay, (so far) story, and aesthetic. It's flaws are so minor (a long yet enjoyable tutorial section, slightly cheesy dialogue) that it does not affect my score.

    also **** anyone that says turn based games have no place in 2017.
  24. matthewsvu
    Apr 8, 2017
    10
    I've had the game for 1 day and already put 15 hours in and I've barely finished the first boss. Wow. Just wow. The game's style and art is eye-catching and polished yet the game play matches it in every possible way. Combat is simple and complex, while the phantom thief mechanics makes it contain lots of depth. Confidant links are extremely engaging thus far, however the time managementI've had the game for 1 day and already put 15 hours in and I've barely finished the first boss. Wow. Just wow. The game's style and art is eye-catching and polished yet the game play matches it in every possible way. Combat is simple and complex, while the phantom thief mechanics makes it contain lots of depth. Confidant links are extremely engaging thus far, however the time management is intimidating, so I copied a spreadsheet off the internet to help organize.

    This is my first Persona game, so if that tells to how accessible the game is, then I don't know what.    … Expand
  25. Shadowsoal
    Apr 8, 2017
    10
    Only a short way through but very happy with all i've seen so far and there's clearly a hug amount to discover.
    Fair warning, this game only tutorialises you to a point. It tells you many things only once.
    From reading the low reviews it seems some are, perhaps, just following the daily repeat and not exploring options!
  26. paxcaz
    Apr 8, 2017
    10
    Persona games have always been amazing and this one raises the bar. There are so many things to do and the game looks so artsy and cool. The fighting system has also been improved and goes by faster. Love It!!
  27. Perplexityman
    Apr 8, 2017
    10
    Before playing Persona 5, the only other Persona game i had played was 4 Golden. So while I'm no serious veteran, I did know generally what to expect. I loved Golden 4 for it's slick combat, lovable characters, flawless story, catchy music, and super unique social link system. Persona 5 takes all of these elements and more from the template 4 Golden left to create a marvel of an adventure.Before playing Persona 5, the only other Persona game i had played was 4 Golden. So while I'm no serious veteran, I did know generally what to expect. I loved Golden 4 for it's slick combat, lovable characters, flawless story, catchy music, and super unique social link system. Persona 5 takes all of these elements and more from the template 4 Golden left to create a marvel of an adventure. Persona 5 stole my heart in a matter of hours and quickly became my favorite PS4 game (Even going as far as to beat out 4 Golden some ways). Every element I mentioned earlier has been overhauled to an impressive level making it one of the most entrapping video games I have ever played!… Expand
  28. marvs869
    Apr 8, 2017
    10
    if there was one thing you can always count about Atlus, it's the fact that they always leave you questioning yourself. I didn't think the Persona series could get any better but after spending 70 hours or so, I'd have to say this is one of the best JRPGs i have ever played. It easily sits right up there with Xenoblade. The characters, setting, gameplay and all the other elements combinedif there was one thing you can always count about Atlus, it's the fact that they always leave you questioning yourself. I didn't think the Persona series could get any better but after spending 70 hours or so, I'd have to say this is one of the best JRPGs i have ever played. It easily sits right up there with Xenoblade. The characters, setting, gameplay and all the other elements combined will give you such a surreal experience.… Expand
  29. dodgeball_ninja
    Apr 8, 2017
    10
    I never thought I'd ever love any game half as much as Persona 3. This game improves upon it in every way, shape, and form and quite frankly, it's perfect. Persona 5 is a triumph in every way and deserves all of the accolades it's receiving.
  30. kei0079
    Apr 7, 2017
    10
    P5 Has revolutionized Turn-based JRPG's every element of the game has been crafted with passion its style is parallel to it's depth.
    The world that P5 builds is rich in detail & keeps on offering more content as you progress through the story keeping things fresh & varied I've not had dull moment while playing.
    The Japanese & English VA Cast both did an excellent job along with art    P5 Has revolutionized Turn-based JRPG's every element of the game has been crafted with passion its style is parallel to it's depth.
    The world that P5 builds is rich in detail & keeps on offering more content as you progress through the story keeping things fresh & varied I've not had dull moment while playing.
    The Japanese & English VA Cast both did an excellent job along with art designers bringing the world to life,Persona catching/fusing allows for customization for you abilities.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best PS4 Game of 2017
4
#4 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2017
2
#2 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 98 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 97 out of 98
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 98
  3. Negative: 0 out of 98
  1. Cubed3
    Jun 4, 2019
    90
    Persona 5 is an absolutely amazing game that convinces with its art style, music and story. It has anything one could ask for such a game and more. The turn-based battle system offers a wide array of opportunities. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea, it is definitely recommended to give it a go.
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  2. PLAY! Zine
    Feb 22, 2018
    90
    Persona 5 is a great example of quality jRPG game, with a good story, great battle system and fabulous artistic style, this is a must have for the fans of the series and the genre.
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  3. Power Unlimited
    Oct 19, 2017
    93
    Persona 5 beats every other turn-based RPG in terms of production values, combat, story, symbolics, character design, music, pace and variety. 2017 is a great year for gaming and Persona 5 confirms this with a load of unmatched swagger.
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