Persona: How A Spin-Off Game Series Can Impact The Original

For some players, popping colors and flamboyant animations may be a motivation to buy a video game; let’s start off by saying the Persona series delivers on that perfectly. With its vibrant colored user interface to its orchestral J-Pop background music, however, in comparison to Shin Megami Tensei, the spin-off series known as Persona as a whole fails to deliver the fun of playing the game driven by its mechanics, not the aesthetic.

The Persona Series’ Stunning Visuals Eclipse SMT’s Aesthetic

We can put it out in the open that a video game should be pleasing to the eye; however, at roots, the core purpose of it is for the player to enjoy a title, not only look at it. Persona series hyperdrives on its optical display and have colours associated with the game that overshadows Shin Megami Tensei’s aesthetic, which can look bland in comparison.

The battle encounters in the series are too short for the player as the enemies are much weaker than the foes of Shin Megami Tensei when compared. The game feels too easy and makes out to be effortlessly uncomplicated. You get high personal damage throughout the whole game while the difficulty or the level of the enemy stays low, making the game feel like a simulation. A piece of art is more to watch and less to play. Persona 1 and 2 had sluggish combat, compared to those the games have progressively improved. 

The Boss Encounters In The Persona Series Feel More Like A Barrier 

The boss encounters in Shin Megami Tensei made the game more immersive as you had to be calculative and careful, to actually come up with a strategy to beat the boss, fusing the right demons and choosing the right affinities. In the Spin-Off series, the bosses feel like a piece of cake. Let us take the example of one of the hardest bosses in the Persona series, Lavenza from Persona 5 Royal. The time taking to prepare for Bosses in Shin Megami Tensei is really intensive and that is what makes it harder compared to Bosses in Persona series.

She is considered to be the hardest boss in Persona 5 Royal, yet she is not that difficult to deal with. She jumps around changing affinities, and with just the right set of moves, you can exploit this boss effortlessly. In comparison, let us take Demi-Fiend, an optional secret boss in Shin Megami Tensei V who can one-shot you if you don’t play the right moves, you have to deal with his little demons every three turns, or else he will use a blistering powerful move that deals 10,000+ damage to your whole party.

The Life Simulation Aspect Of Persona Makes It More Casual

In the spin-off Persona series, you get to manage your character’s life as you take them on dates, create social links, go on trips, and do a whole-life simulation in the game. You get the idea. This may be fun for some players, but keep in mind that Atlus designed these games to be combat-driven; if you want to play the game for its simulation, then just play other games that do it better, like the Animal Crossing series.

The life simulation aspects of the Persona series deviates the game from a hardcore RPG, the western audience surely demands a light hearted experience which is fair, my take is that the game, if blended with the combat system of Shin Megami Tensei would be a sight to look at, pehaps Atlus’ best game to date. This casual approach is what appealed the western audience, they had the freedom to date whoever they want. Roam freely and have a game to relax too and not always be adrenaline pumped.

Unpopular opinion : i love SMT but i hate Persona so much
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In Shin Megami Tensei, you are left stranded in a semi-open world of sorts, making you explore dungeons on your tippy toes, knowing that any second, you can encounter an enemy who can knock you out if you don’t fight them with the right approach. In my opinion, Persona series is a beauty to look at, however I hope that in future they amalgamate the difficulty of Shin Megami Tensei into these titles aswell.