The aesthetics of Persona 5 had a significant influence on the visuals of Persona 3 Reload. The treatment of Persona 6 may follow the same formula.

It seems that the recent announcements of Persona 5 Tactica and Persona 3 Reload have set the tone for much of Atlus’ approach to the future. First, the trend of Persona 5 spin-off games seems to be ever-present. Secondly, the remake of one of the cult classics in the series, Persona 3, draws direct aesthetic inspiration from Persona 5, weaving its visual style into the game’s menu and combat HUD. Both of the company’s projects seem to cement the fifth mainline entry as the current standard for the franchise, which could backfire on the treatment of Persona 6.

Persona 5’s place in the series lineup is notable, as its success has helped to drive massive attention to the IP from audiences worldwide.

The acclaim came as no great surprise, reinforced by the title’s immersive SMT gameplay, rich character development and perhaps most of all, its visual aesthetic. The game’s inspirations were made clear by the reveal of Persona 3 Reload and the trailer for Metaphor ReFantazio. The latter is a collaboration between the greats of Atlus. Among others, director Katsura Hashino, character designer Shigenori Soejima and composer Shoji Meguro. All three lent their talents to the development of Persona from Persona 3 to 5.

Can Persona 5 serve as a model for Persona 6 narratively and aesthetically?

It can be said that the visual design of Persona 3 Reload seen so far points towards a possible continuation of the aesthetic of Persona 5. This, in turn, could impact the look of Persona 6 itself. Given the acclaim around Persona 5 and the treatment of the characters and story, this could provide further inspiration beyond the art style. Many hope that Persona 6 will take a different approach to Persona 2: Eternal Punishment with an adult cast. But the resounding success of Persona 5 means that the series can continue to stick to the high school formula.

In addition, Persona 5’s depiction of customised palaces could pave the way for the combat scenes of Persona 6, where the dungeon design could similarly focus on the game’s antagonists.

This could lead to a return to the cyclical nature of Persona’s stories. It could deal with a different manifestation of humanity’s struggles/desires, such as encountering the final boss. Such an approach has certainly worked in the series’ past. But it does beg the question of how Persona 6 will try to differentiate itself from its predecessors by taking a different path.

The success of Persona 5 has undoubtedly been good for the series. It helps to consolidate the IP’s popularity with new and old fans alike. That said, if the sixth instalment closely follows its predecessor’s aesthetics, it risks sacrificing its own uniqueness. Of course, there is a chance that the game could deviate significantly from Persona 5. However, how the title presents its story, mechanics, and visual style remains to be seen. As the development of Persona 6 continues over the years, hopefully, fans will get a glimpse of the project soon.

Source: TheGamer