omg they got the mafia lol

[rionaleonhart]

Glad that Makoto's now joined the team in Persona 5 Royal; I was missing her! Although, unfortunately, the aspects of the game that frustrate me also start showing up at around this point.

I love how much personality the protagonist has, despite communicating entirely through dialogue options. Delighted that he can run up to a shady recruiter and demand to be put in one of their porn videos.

'For the blond one, I can sense impending woman troubles. Or... perhaps it's something else?' It's man troubles, Chihaya. You're sensing that Ryuji's in love with the protagonist and is going to have an extremely hard time accepting it.

I can't believe I'm not suave enough for Akechi to spend time with me.

Ryuji's so endearingly awkward when he's asking Makoto about coming up with a new move together! I'm grinning extremely widely. (Ryuji's voice acting in this scene is a joy.) I already ship the protagonist with both Ryuji and Makoto; am I going to end up shipping all three of them?

To be honest, I'm not sure either Makoto or Ryuji would be particularly happy in an actual romantic relationship with each other. They have very different attitudes to life and planning that I feel would cause mutual frustration.

But Ryuji's friendship could be valuable to Makoto, if she can get over her 'you must be this smart to spend time with me' hangups. He's open and honest and compassionate in a way that I think Makoto, who's used to being devalued and manipulated, could really benefit from. I'm glad Royal added that conversation between them; I've never really contemplated the dynamic between Ryuji and Makoto before, and there's potential there!

'That dick ain't gonna stop us now that we've got our awesome new member.' Ryuji really admires her, and I think it's very sweet.

Goddammit, Makoto's so cute. I smiled all the way through her 'please take me to the arcade and teach me how people enjoy themselves when they're not just studying all the time' scene. There's a definite possibility I'm just going to end up romancing her again.

The new Akechi confidant scenes just let you flirt with him non-stop, and it's cracking me up.

Akechi's confidant is definitely much improved. His dynamic with the protagonist becomes more interesting if they actually spend substantial one-on-one time together. I love Akechi making a comment about shooting us and then going 'Only a joke.'

I'm still not a Mishima fan, but I'm hating him less fiercely this time around, perhaps because I've now met Teddie and realised it could be worse.

Ryuji invited me to a festival, and I'm annoyed that I didn't have the option to reply with anything more enthusiastic than 'Fine, fine.' There are points where the game just seems to assume that you don't like Ryuji! I love Ryuji and I won't accept these attempts to diminish our friendship.

Poor Kasumi. It's a shame, when she opens up to you about her loss, that you can't offer sympathy or express concern about the way she feels obliged to exhaust herself as a result; instead, your options are 'good work exhausting yourself' and 'have you considered exhausting yourself harder?'

My favourite thing I overheard after getting top of the class in the July exams: 'There's nothing scarier than a criminal mastermind.'

Comments

[pict]

I've never really contemplated the dynamic between Ryuji and Makoto before, and there's potential there!

Yeah, P5R made me stop and go 'hmm' at Makoto and Ryuji too! They're both quite hotblooded and their joint attack is very cute. He's also the most forgiving to her when she's making the group's life miserable, including basically throwing himself in front of moving vehicles in order to rescue her. Ryuji is such a sweet guy and Makoto needs someone to have her back! It can go in my ship pile. ♥

Man, there are parts of this entry I desperately want to remember for when you get further on-- but I know I won't.

Although, unfortunately, the aspects of the game that frustrate me also start showing up at around this point.

Do tell!!

[rionaleonhart]

Yes! Ryuji's so forgiving, and I think that's a quality that could really help Makoto, who's constantly under the pressure of high expectations with no room for failure.

Do tell!!

My main issues are that, around this point:

1) we start seeing the occasional jarringly mean-spirited interaction for the sake of comedy, clashing with the game's warm tone, and
2) Ryuji realises he's in love with Rei and, in an effort to cover it up, starts talking constantly about girls in ways that don't really fit with his established outrage at girls being manipulated and exploited. You can't introduce me to Best Boy Ryuji and then malign him like this!

[pict]

To be fair, Ryuji was always a bit inconsistent when it suited the plot. I think it only kicks off in earnest once his issues with Kamoshida are no longer part of the dramatic plot, but it peeks out even earlier. For example, when he's all ANN IS TOTALLY KAMOSHIDA'S PIECE one day and then points out—the very next day!—that she wouldn't do that, he's known her long enough to be sure what sort of person she is. Like, dude, it can't be both.

That said, I do agree with both your points. I think the story is strongest during the Kamoshida arc and after Haru shows up because there isn't time for "comedic" nonsense.

[runicmagitek]

I am 100% here for protag/Ryuji/Makoto. Yes good!

I've been lurking with your Persona 5 Royal posts, but I absolutely adore them and seeing your insights! I literally finished Persona 5 a month or so before Royal came out and was exhausted at the idea of doing all that again. I have had the Royal content spoiled for me and I'm not sure how I feel about any of it, so I'm curious to see your insights :3c

Also, your content in general around Persona 4 is tempting me to try it out ;D

[rionaleonhart]

When I started playing Royal, I wasn't expecting Ryuji-and-Makoto interaction to be the first thing it inspired me to write, but here we are! I've scribbled down a couple of hundred words about them bonding as they work on their joint attack, although I don't know whether it'll actually go anywhere.

I'm delighted that you're enjoying my Persona 5 Royal posts! I'm completely unable to shut up about these games, it seems, so it's good to know that someone is benefitting.

I'd definitely say that Persona 4 is worth a try! Like Persona 5, it has its issues, but I love it a lot. Great friendships! Great characters! mostly

I'd be interested to know your thoughts on Yosuke; I love that kid, for all his substantial flaws, but it's hard for me to judge whether you'd enjoy or dislike him overall. (I seem to recall you don't like Shu Amiguchi much, which makes me lean towards Yosuke not working for you - they're both basically well-meaning kids who can be pretty thoughtless - although Yosuke isn't such a flirt and is very easy to read as repressing his own attraction to the protagonist, which adds an interesting dimension to some of his flaws.) I feel reasonably confident in saying you wouldn't be a fan of Teddie, but I'm prepared to be surprised!

[runicmagitek]

Yeah, Shu's persistent flirting despite Yuki being like "Back off" really left a bad taste in my mouth (though I do like "Character A is wiggling their eyebrows and Character B is groaning about it" dynamics, but it's complicated, as are most interpersonal relationship). But if that's taken out of the equation, who knows! I like to say I have A Type, but if it's a good character with a good story, I'm bound to enjoy something about them :D

I know from looks alone, the girl with the long black hair in Persona 4 seems pretty cool, but I also know nothing about her or the game lol if Teddie is like Budget Morgana (or even Worse Morgana), I will absolutely hate Teddie. If I ever dive into Persona 4 (I know my boyfriend has it on his Steam account :3c so I have access!), I'll let you know.

[samuraiter]

I admit that I have never considered Ryuji / Makoto, especially with the bits and bobs of Ryuji / Ann that I distinctly recall from the vanilla game. But! Expanded editions exist to broaden our options, after all.

[rionaleonhart]

It really took me by surprise! Didn't occur to me at all in the base game, but suddenly I'm fascinated by their dynamic.