Persona games don’t get direct sequels. Each main game is its own story with only a few shared ideas and small references to the others.
Even though the main games don’t get a lot of sequels each one has its own spin-offs and extra stories. After Persona 4’s big ending. fans can still hang out with the Inaba crew in a fighting game a dancing game and two crossover games called Persona Q.
As much as I enjoy and I like the spin-offs especially Persona 5 Strikers and Tactica but they feel like cheap replacements for what fans really want. If Atlus wants to continue the stories I wish they would just make real main games instead.
Spin-Offs Can Be Just as Valuable as Main Games
I don’t mind spin-off games. It’s fun to see familiar characters trying out new things. It lets the studios have some fun and be creative. For example Mario and Bowser might be enemies but they also play on the same baseball team. And instead of facing the tough Elite Four in Pokémon why not take a break and drive around in the Popemobile snapping pictures of the Pokémon?
I feel the same about Persona spin-offs. The genre usually makes sense for why the characters are doing something different from their usual turn-based battles. Music is a big part of the series feel so why not relax and dance for a few hours? Plus these kids have a lot of anger so putting them in a fighting game makes sense too.
I don't hate the spin-offs I just don't think their stories are strong enough for a full game. Take Persona 5 Strikers for example. It's a direct sequel to Persona 5 taking place in the summer after the main game. The characters have grown and the player gets to see where they are now while the Phantom Thieves travel Japan saving the world.
The stories in games like Persona 5 Strikers and Persona 4 Arena along with its sequel Persona 4 Arena Ultimax are strong enough that I wish they had the same gameplay as the main games. Turn-based combat is the best system in the whole series and its spin-offs.
Giving Persona the Time It Truly Deserves
I know people enjoy the gameplay of some spin-offs So I’m not saying they should all become JRPGs. But Atlus and other studios making Persona spin-offs clearly have lots of ideas for the characters. So why not do a fighting game a dancing game or a full sequel when they have a strong idea for the main series?
The Persona series is a spin-off of Shin Megami Tensei. Without Atlus giving spin-offs proper attention Persona wouldn’t exist. By using similar systems and mechanics as Shin Megami Tensei in its early days Persona became popular and even surpassed the main series.
I'm not trying to overload Atlus since they have a lot on their plate. I'm just saying that if they are already making Persona spin-offs they should go ahead and make a real sequel. It should be canon and include all the extra content and characters from Persona 3 FES Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Royal. And while they are at it they should also release Persona 6. Is that too much to ask?
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