WithMetaphor: ReFantazioon the horizon andPersona 5graduating well into seniority, speculative interest about the direction of Atlus' next mainline entry into the critically acclaimed JRPG series.Persona 6, though presently unconfirmed, has a plethora of exceptional footsteps to follow, mounting to a general expectation for a rousing tale complete with relatable themes that tread some facets of the complex human experience. A conditional crux of thePersonaexperience surrounds the characters that the protagonist meets and forms bonds with along the way, the Social Links, a system that has persisted through the series and directly contributes to character skill and stat improvements. This system is all but guaranteed to return inPersona 6.
The Social Links have been tweaked as the series progresses (i.e.Persona 3does not grant direct skill improvements per increasing Social Link level as it does in bothPersona 4and5), but the appeal of the system has remained constant. Well-written NPC narratives that draw on empathy and understanding to inject life into the slice-of-life elements ofPersonaand complement other gameplay elements are a good and true staple. That extends to some of the recurring NPC tropes that Atlus is fond of recasting into new roles per entry, though not every trope stands to have a clear direction as the themes of the games mature and evolve. These tropes can likely be anticipated to appear inPersona 6for that very reason.
Shinya Presents a Different Way Forward for Kid Social Links
Across the series, there always seems to be a child that the protagonist meets out of the blue and elects to form a Social Link with. Though they are typically as well-written and deep as any other Social Link, there is not always an immediately apparent necessity to have them included alongside the main plot.Maiko fromPersona 3, for example, appears as an encounter at a shrine one odd day, requests food, and almost immediately ropes the protagonist into her parents' ensuing divorce. Maiko is a sweet, endearing child, but the initial interactions are slightly jarring. Her story does, however, fall in line with the overall themes of togetherness through difficult life circumstances.
Personadoes a fine job of depicting the interpersonal conflicts of various age groups, including children. During her character arc, Maiko’s actions are influenced by the belief that her parents are divorcing out of a lack of love for her, which is a rather rudimentary (and incorrect) perception of a tragic circumstance, though unfortunately not uncommon. Similarly, inPersona 4, a middle schooler Social Link, Shu Nakajima, a studies tutor, cheats on a test out of a skewed drive to impress his mother and thereby earn her affection. These children Social Links tend to address childhood traumas and woes withinPersona’s overarching narratives; it’s a fine point to include, if not occasionally uncomfortable.
Shinya Oda Pivoted the Kid Social Links
Perhaps the most unique introduction of a child Social Link into the game is withPersona 5’s Shinya Oda, who is encountered and bonded with through necessity towards the completion of a side mission. SincePersona 5’s Social Links provide skill boosts per link progression, the incentive for formulating these bonds is further enhanced in addition to enthralling and personal stories. Shinya’s Social Link arguably came off as the most well-implemented of the three, but altogether, the variety within this link trope alone makes it difficult to predict what direction Atlus could take inPersona 6.
What’s more, Shinya differs from the other child Social Links being that he is possessed of local notoriety and a peculiar skillset that sets him apart not only from the other kids, but also within the setting ofPersona 5himself as part of his story. His acumen for the arcade game ‘Gun About’ plays into the model gun mechanic utilized in combat by the Phantom Thieves, making him the most practically useful addition of all the child Social Links introduced thus far and optimizing a trope that was falling into a rather gray area. ForPersona, experimenting with the usefulness of Social Linkscould be the calling needed to elevate future titles.
Benefits of maxing out Shinya’s Social Link:
If precedent is to be respected, fans can anticipate another childSocial Link inPersona 6to somehow align with the game’s core theme. However, the induction of Shinya has set the stage for not only more practically useful child Social Links, but Social Links as a whole, and begs the question of how the system could be innovated to improve upon the standard set by one Shinya Oda.
Persona 3 Reload
WHERE TO PLAY
Step into the shoes of a transfer student thrust into an unexpected fate when entering the hour “hidden” between one day and the next. Awaken an incredible power and chase the mysteries of the Dark Hour, fight for your friends, and leave a mark on their memories forever.Persona 3 Reload is a captivating reimagining of the genre-defining RPG, reborn for the modern era.Experience the pivotal game of the Persona series faithfully remade with cutting-edge graphics, modernized quality-of-life features, and signature stylish UI. Fully immerse yourself in an emotional, gripping journey with new scenes, character interactions, and additional voiceover. Choose how to meaningfully spend each day through various activities from exploring the Port Island to forging genuine bonds with beloved characters. Build and command your optimal team to take down otherworldly Shadows and climb closer to the truth.
