Persona 5 Royal review on Nintendo Switch

Persona 5 Royal has made its way to the Nintendo Switch. As a member of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, you’ll break the chains of society by carrying out grand heists and infiltrate the minds of the corrupt.

In addition, you’ll encounter new characters and a brand-new story arc in this new chapter of the saga. Even if you’ve played the game before, this new entry in the series is a challenge that you won’t want to pass up. 

Persona 5 Royal Details

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch,Xbox Series X|S,Xbox One and PC 
Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch
Developer(s): P-Studio
Publisher(s):: Atlus USA
Genre: Role-playing
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: M (Mature 17+)

Join the Phantom Thieves of Hearts and infiltrate the minds of the corrupt

If you’re not familiar with the story of Persona 5, let me do my best to try and explain it. The game follows the story of a transfer student who is placed on probation after doing what he thought was the right thing by saving a woman from an attack by a well-known individual. In an effort to turn over a new leaf, he decides to start a new life at the Shujin Academy and move into Sojiro’s coffee shop. In addition to going to school, he picks up odd jobs to supplement his income and keep busy.

Adjusting to this new life isn’t easy. And, in a world filled with many, that because of his past, won’t trust him, he learns that he does indeed have the power to change their hearts and minds. Along with a group of misfits, he forms a group called the Phantom Thieves. He and his companions infiltrate the minds of the evil and corrupt people of the world through mental warfare. Where he stages grand heists and fights through a mirage of monsters.

Sounds weird, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, you’re not alone if you’re a bit lost. It’s hard to sum up what makes the concept of Persona 5 so unique, but the game does a great job of immersing you in its world. Through a combination of visual novel and cutscenes, the story unfolds in a similar fashion to that of an anime.

Reworked and expanded gameplay

Persona 5’s gameplay revolves around the concept of balancing the real world, where you are a high school student, with that of the “metaverse”, where you are a vigilante of sorts. Time in the game is broken down into a linear calendar system that has various cycles that can be set and driven by the plot, or you can open them for your own choosing. 

The combat system in the game allows you to choose from a variety of actions that each of your party members can perform which have been reworked and expanded. You can summon your powerful persona, attack with your weapon, or pass to another party member. Each member of your party has their own unique Person, which can be fused and upgraded throughout the game.

Persona 5 Royal is the definitive version of Persona 5 and it includes an expanded, more fleshed out story along with additional characters. It expands the game’s overall story with new content and comes with over 40 previously released downloadable content items, including various costumes and soundtracks.

Smooth visuals with a soundtrack that perfectly sets the mood

Persona 5 Royal runs fairly well on the Nintendo Switch, though there are some issues. The vibrant and clean design of the main UI is very well-designed, which makes it easy to read and navigate through. And, there are also a couple of buttons that allow you to access the various settings and menu features with ease.

I was expecting that the visuals of the game would get a bit of a downgrade when coming to the Nintendo Switch to keep things running smoothly, and that’s the case. When playing on a large screen TV, there are some muddy and slightly distorted visuals that are noticeable. However, playing on the Nintendo Switch screen, this is less of a problem. The game plays and runs incredibly well on the Nintendo Switch. The layout of the controls feels very natural to use, and they’re easy to adapt to.

Audio wise, the game’s soundtrack is a delight. From the muted, jazz-inspired background music that plays as you walk through Tokyo’s streets to the vibrant, electric sounds as you enter the battlefield, the music perfectly sets the mood for the entire experience.

Persona 5 Royal features a compelling story and challenging gameplay that perfect for on the go

Persona 5 Royal on Nintendo Switch is one of the best Switch ports to date. While it might not look as pretty on the big screen as the Switch’s own screen, it’s still mostly a visual delight. The game’s compelling story, rich characters and challenging gameplay along with the ability to play on the go make it a sure fire winner for Nintendo Switch owners.

+ A vast amount of new content and features
+ One of the best Switch ports to date
+ Compelling story, rich characters, and challenging gameplay

– Some of the later dungeons are frustrating
– No option to disable motion controls for minigames on Nintendo Switch

OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF PERSONA 5 ROYAL

Gameplay: 4/5
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 4/5
Lasting Appeal/Replayability: 5/5

Overall Rating 4.3/5 (86%)

Get Persona 5 Royal SteelBook Launch Edition for Nintendo Switch
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