Persona 5 Royal Review: The Perfect JRPG for the Switch 2 Era?

Hello everyone! I'm your old friend, a veteran gamer who's been around the block for over a decade. Today, we're going to talk about a JRPG masterpiece that has captivated my soul – Persona 5 Royal. This game is not just an excellent RPG, but also a visual and auditory feast full of youth, friendship, rebellion, and awakening. I will deeply analyze Persona 5 Royal's performance on the Nintendo Switch from multiple perspectives, and give some of my thoughts combined with the Nintendo Switch 2 that everyone is very concerned about now, and attach a detailed walkthrough, hoping to help you better experience this masterpiece.

1. Introduction to the Game: Welcome to the World of the Phantom Thieves

Persona 5 Royal is an enhanced version of Persona 5 developed by Atlus. This work adds new characters, storylines, dungeons, and combat mechanics to the original, making the game content richer and more replayable. Players will play as the protagonist, a high school student who transfers to Tokyo due to certain circumstances. He discovers that he has the ability to infiltrate the mental labyrinths of others—"Palaces"—and forms the Phantom Thieves with a group of like-minded friends, dedicated to exposing the dark side of society and stealing the source of evil.

2. Persona 5 Royal Game Review: A Charismatic JRPG Masterpiece

2.1 Gameplay: The Art of Turn-Based Combat

The core gameplay of Persona 5 Royal is still classic turn-based combat, but with many innovative elements added.

• Persona System: The protagonist can have multiple Personas, each with different attributes and skills. Players can switch Personas according to the enemy's weaknesses, deliver "One More" attacks, and finally launch a All-Out Attack, instantly turning the tide of battle.

• Cooperation and Showtime: In the game, players can develop bond relationships with teammates, increase the cooperation level, and unlock more skills and effects. Specific combinations will also trigger gorgeous Showtime attacks, with explosive visual effects.

• Palace Exploration: The design of the Palaces is full of creativity. Each Palace represents a twisted mental world. The puzzle design is clever and requires players to use their brains to solve them.

Cons:

• The initial tutorial is a bit lengthy, and novice players may need to spend some time to adapt.
• The dungeon design of some Palaces is a bit repetitive.

2.2 Graphics: A Fashionable Art Style

Persona 5 Royal's graphics style is very unique, using bold colors and lines to create a fashionable atmosphere. The UI design is even more amazing, simple and clear, and full of dynamism.

Switch Version Performance:

• In handheld mode, the image sharpness is reduced, but still acceptable.
• In TV mode, the image performance is better, but still not as good as the PS4 version.

Improvement Space: Considering the upcoming hardware upgrade of the Nintendo Switch 2, if Persona 5 Royal can be optimized for the performance of the Nintendo Switch 2, increasing the resolution and frame rate, then the image performance will be even better. Especially in the smoothness of the UI, I hope there will be greater improvement. I believe that as some information mentioned in the nintendo switch2 first look is gradually released, we can also have a clearer judgment on the optimization direction of the game.

2.3 Sound Effects: Soulful Music That Ignites

Persona 5 Royal's music is composed by Shoji Meguro, blending various elements such as jazz, rock, and soul music. Every song is explosive. The battle music, scene music, and cutscene music are all just right, greatly enhancing the game experience.

Sound Effect Details:

• The character voice acting is excellent, perfectly interpreting the character's personality and emotions.
• The environmental sound effects are also very realistic, creating an immersive feeling.

2.4 Plot: Deep Themes and Moving Stories

The plot of Persona 5 Royal is profound and moving, exploring themes such as justice, courage, friendship, and social responsibility. The character development is also very successful. Each character has their own personality and story, leaving a deep impression.

Plot Highlights:

• The addition of the new character Kasumi Yoshizawa adds new colors to the plot.
• The new third semester plot delves deeper into the inner world of the characters.

Plot Analysis: The game's plot not only tells a story about teenage rebellion, but also deeply analyzes social problems. The "Palaces" in the game represent the distortions and desires in the hearts of different people. Players need to steal their "treasures" to change their cognition and let them start over. This setting is very symbolic and thought-provoking.

2.5 Operation Feel: Smooth and Comfortable Control Experience

Persona 5 Royal's operation feel is very smooth and comfortable. Whether it is movement, combat, or menu operation, it is very convenient. The Switch version's operation method has also been optimized for handheld mode, and players can easily get started.

Switch Version Operation:

• You can use the Joy-Con controller or Pro controller to play the game.
• Touch screen operation is also very convenient, allowing you to quickly select menu options.

2.6 Overall Score: 9.5/10

Persona 5 Royal is a near-perfect JRPG. It has excellent gameplay, exquisite graphics, explosive sound effects, a profound plot, and a smooth operation feel. Although the Switch version has some compromises in image performance, it is still a masterpiece worth buying.

Reference Score:

• IGN: 9.5/10 (Reference link: https://www.ign.com/articles/persona-5-royal-review)
• Metacritic: 95/100 (Reference link: https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/persona-5-royal)

Reasons for Scoring: The reason for deducting 0.5 points is that the Switch version's image performance is not as good as the PS4 version. If an optimized version can be launched on the Nintendo Switch 2 in the future, I will not hesitate to give it a full score.

3. Beginner's Guide: The Survival Rules of the Phantom Thieves

3.1 Initial Persona Selection

• Izanagi-no-Okami: Possesses powerful Almighty attribute attacks and can quickly clear mobs.
• Arsene: The protagonist's initial Persona. Although the attributes are not high, it can be used to synthesize stronger Personas.

3.2 Time Management

• Arrange your time reasonably, balancing schoolwork, part-time jobs, social interaction, and Palace exploration.
• Use subway and bus time to read books and improve attributes.
• Prioritize increasing cooperation levels to unlock more skills and effects.

3.3 Combat Skills

• Use the enemy's weaknesses to attack and deliver "One More" follow-ups.
• Make good use of defense to reduce damage taken.
• Reasonably match Personas to deal with different enemies.

4. Advanced Skills and Strategies: Become a True Phantom Thief Master

4.1 Cooperation Guide

• Each cooperation character has different tasks and requirements. Completing tasks can increase the cooperation level.
• Choosing the correct dialogue options can increase the cooperation level faster.
• Some cooperation characters need to trigger events at specific times or locations.

4.2 Palace Guide

• Each Palace has different maze structures and puzzles, which require players to explore carefully.
• Pay attention to collecting treasure chests to obtain valuable props and equipment.
• Be well prepared before the Boss battle, carrying suitable Personas and props.

4.3 Money Guide

• Earn money through part-time jobs, selling props and Personas.
• Use tasks in "Mementoes" to farm money.
• Look for high-value treasures in the Palaces.

5. Nintendo Switch 2 Outlook: The Future of Persona 5 Royal

With the upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch 2, we have reason to expect that Persona 5 Royal will perform better on the new console. According to current information, the nintendo switch2 price will be higher than the current Switch. If the configuration is upgraded, then the graphics, frame rate, and smoothness will be significantly improved, and even native 4K resolution and smooth operation at 60 frames can be achieved. In addition, the Nintendo Switch 2 may adopt a new controller design, further improving the operation feel.

If Atlus can launch an optimized version of Persona 5 Royal for the Nintendo Switch 2, then this game will shine with new brilliance. Considering the nintendo switch2 compatibility, perhaps veteran players can directly inherit the save and continue the experience, which is undoubtedly exciting.

6. Best Equipment and Skill Combination Recommendations

6.1 Protagonist Equipment

• Weapon: Weapons that increase attack power and attribute damage.
• Armor: Armor that increases defense power and attribute resistance.
• Accessories: Accessories that increase attribute and skill effects.

6.2 Protagonist Skill Combination

• Almighty Attribute Attack: Deal with all types of enemies.
• Recovery Skill: Guarantee the team's survivability.
• Assist Skill: Increase the team's attack power and defense power.
• Status Ailment Skill: Control the enemy and create output opportunities.

6.3 Teammate Recommendations

• Ann: A powerful fire attribute attacker.
• Ryuji: High physical attack and defense power, suitable as a tank.
• Makoto: Excellent ice attribute attack and recovery ability.
• Yusuke: Powerful physical attack and assist ability.

7. Speedrun Skills and Hidden Element Guide

7.1 Speedrun Skills

• Skip unnecessary plots and dialogues.
• Prioritize increasing the protagonist's level and Persona ability.
• Reasonably use tasks in "Mementoes" to farm levels and earn money.
• Be familiar with the enemy's weaknesses and defeat the enemy quickly.

7.2 Hidden Elements

• Collect all Personas.
• Complete all cooperation tasks.
• Unlock all trophies.
• Explore all the hidden areas of the Palace.

8. Game Recommendations: Games Similar to Persona 5 Royal

• Persona 4 Golden: Also a classic JRPG with a deep plot and unique characters.
• Dragon Quest XI S: A traditional Japanese RPG with a huge world view and rich game content.
• Xenoblade Chronicles Series: An open world JRPG with magnificent scenery and refreshing battles.

9. Conclusion: A Must-Play on the Switch, Promising Future

All in all, Persona 5 Royal is a JRPG masterpiece that cannot be missed. It still exudes its unique charm on the Nintendo Switch. Although there are some compromises in image performance, it is still a masterpiece worth buying. With the upcoming arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2, we have reason to expect that this game will perform better on the new console. I believe that in the near future, we will be able to experience a more perfect Persona 5 Royal on the Nintendo Switch 2. Thank you for reading, I hope my review has been helpful to you. If you have any other questions about Persona 5 Royal, please leave a message in the comments section, and I will try my best to answer them. I wish you all a happy game!