Persona 5 Royalmay have taken a step that could lead toPersona 6’s protagonist being drastically different from previous games. There are a couple of quirks regardingPersona 5 Royal’s Joker that make him different from pastPersonaheroes, although he still sits firmly in the same category as them. However, he does push the envelope more than otherPersonaprotagonists, which can be looked at as a way to test the waters of what aPersonaprotagonist can do. This may be a blueprint for what can makePersona 6’s future lead fit a different mold.
Much like otherPersonaprotagonists,Persona 5’s popular protagonist Jokeris a silent lead that acts as something of a blank slate. In the story, almost all of his dialogue is chosen by the player. The main exception to this is in battle, where Joker has spoken lines, primarily regarding his summoned Personas. This is nothing new forPersonaheroes, though. The heroes ofPersona 3andPersona 4were much the same. In fact, most of the time, the protagonists only have lines during social link scenes. It’s safe to say that silent protagonists with blank names is aPersonatradition.
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Persona 6’s Protagonist Could Be More Talkative Than Joker
Joker was given much more character than pastPersonamain characters. For one, whilePersona 5’s Joker is a silent protagonist, he has more vocalizations than past protagonists, giving players more chances to hear his voice. He is also more animated and shows more character, particularly when spending time with confidants. In addition, Joker has more of a backstory as well. WhilePersona 3’s Minato andPersona 4’s Yu were largely blank slates with minimal information known about them, Joker’s backstory shows his willingness to stand up for what’s right despite the consequences, leading to a criminal record that gives him an edge while inspiring hisPersonagimmick.
The extra personality of Joker could be a step towardsPersona 6having a fully voiced protagonist.Persona 6needs to do something new, and developing a protagonist with a distinct voice and personality would be one of the biggest ways to give the game a clear identity. By throwing off the trend of largely silent protagonists, the developers could makePersona 6’s hero feel like a bigger force in the story. Of course, the player would still have the same control over them as before, and this change could letPersona 6write them as more of an active participant in the plot than an avatar.
Another point in favor for this theory is howPersona 6would not beShin Megami Tensei’s only experiment in this direction.Soul Hackers 2’s protagonist Ringobroke the series' norm by being a character with a defined voice and personality. The game used this to solidly define her relationships with her allies, as well as her approach toward the mission. The end result was one ofShin Megami Tensei’s most interesting protagonists to date. WithSoul Hackers 2releasing so recently,Persona 6may want to attempt something similar with its protagonist when the time comes.
AfterPersona 5’s Joker,Persona 6’s protagonist could finally be a more vocal character. While the series' current formula for protagonists has been in place for its three biggest installments,breaking tradition inPersona 6could be beneficial for the game’s story. Featuring a fully voiced protagonist could not only make their relationships with other characters more effective, it could give their role in the story a lot more impact. Giving the protagonist a voice can bring alot of advantages, even if it’s a break fromPersona’s norm.Persona 5 Royalcould inspirePersona 6’s protagonist to be more outspoken, with all the benefits that brings.
Persona 6is currently in development.
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