The role-playing game “Persona 5” has already come out in Japan this year on the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation 3. It has already sold well over 500,000 copies in both gaming platforms combined, making it one of Japan’s best-selling video game titles of 2016.
But the English version of “Persona 5” is still set for release in North America and Europe as well as other countries outside of Japan for Valentine’s Day next year.
What seems rather new from game developer Atlus and publisher Deep Silver is the recent revelation on the new game character known as Ryuji Sakamoto for the English release of “Persona 5.”
In a recent press release from Deep Silver, Ryuji Sakamoto is described as the most notorious misfit that would ever set foot on Shujin Academy. Although the academy is home to many high school delinquents, no one has ever seen the like of Ryuji Sakamoto, details Trusted Reviews.
He was a promising track star who tragically suffered a career ending injury due to overtraining by the sadistic coach Kamoshida. With no future in the sport he loves and experiencing first-hand the evil of shitty adults, Ryuji becomes a social pariah who rebels against a society he perceives as corrupt.
While he has the trimmings of a troublemaker, he has a kind heart and always puts the Phantom Thieves before himself. In short, Ryuji is a true friend that can always be counted on to have one’s back in a jam. Plus, having a tough guy with a skull mask in one’s crew is just awesome.
The composition of the Phantom Thieves
In addition to Ryuji Sakamoto, the other four main characters who composed ‘The Phantom Thieves of Hearts’ in “Persona 5” are the Protagonist, which is the main playable character, Ann Takamaki, Yusuke Kitagawa, and a cat named Morgana.
Other key characters of the game include Futaba Sakura, Haru Okumura, and Igor, who shall be making a return to help the gamers fuse and upgrade Personas.
The turn-based battles, exploration and social elements from previous games are returning with significant new features and improvements in “Persona 5.”
Just like the first four games in the series, “Persona 5” will take place across an entire school year, giving the gamer opportunities to make friends, pass classes, and pursue social links with specific characters.
Based on the game, the player shall be able to freely explore large portions of Tokyo in-between his time at school and raiding dungeons. Exploration will expand to entire city districts, letting the gamer take on part-time jobs alongside his studies to gain buffs in battle.
Making waves for the wrong reason
“Persona 5” has reportedly caused a controversy in South Korea over Ryuji Sakamoto’s sneakers, which features a rising sun flag logo.
The flag was used by the Imperial Japanese military during World War II, and because of such, most South Koreans and even the Chinese find the flag to be offensive.
The flag is considered to be so controversial that the Japanese were warned against brandishing the flag during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, so as not to offend South Korean and Chinese people, details Mobile & Apps.
While it has yet to make a comment on the issue, it is expected that game developer Atlus might do a tweak in the imagery to appease the South Korean audiences before “Persona 5” is launched there.
Atlus game director and team producer Katsura Hashino has previously made a couple of revelations regarding “Persona 5.”
Hashino said that the setting of the game will be a juvenile school and the premise will have a dash of romance too. He also made a brief comparison on how the story of “Persona 5” will differ from the previous titles of the franchise.