Historically, thePersonafranchise has had a curious relationship with sequels. Occasionally, Atlus releases a follow-up game that acts as a sort of sequel, but doesn’t preserve the JRPG structure that thePersonaseries is known for. The action-heavyPersona 5 Strikersis a great example, as are thePersona 4 Arenagames. At the same time,Personafans still occasionally long for direct sequels to installations in the franchise. The games sometimes wrap up in a way where there isn’t a clear path towards a sequel, but the premise of the franchise actually establishes solid potential for sequels with a slightly different story angle.
If Atlus ever decides to make proper sequels for some or all of the modernPersonagames, it could focus on those characters' journey into adulthood, rather than exploring their high school lives a second time. Adulthood results in a lot of different experiences for all people, and thePersonafranchise themes of self-discovery and identity are perfect for sequels showinghow thePersonaprotagonists changeas they age. This premise is also great because it would allow Atlus to revisit a wide range ofPersonagames, rather than limiting it toPersona 5for recency’s sake. The time spent waiting forPersonasequels could make a game about adulthood even more meaningful.
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A Mature Take on the Persona Franchise
Although the details of eachPersonastory differ dramatically, each game tells a similar story about young people searching for their place in the world and their true selves. Each Persona user can only wield their inner self once they confront their fears, acknowledge their deepest desires, and commit to the principles that they hold dear.Persona’s stories about high schoolare therefore highly appropriate. After all, the years before adulthood compel all people to think about themselves and what they want out of life.
The process doesn’t stop after high school, however. On the contrary, gaining maturity in adulthood often moves people to rethink their lives, their past actions, and their goals. This is extremely fertile soil for a sequel to aPersonagame. Atlus could consider bringing a group ofPersonaprotagonists together,whether it’s the Phantom Thievesor the Investigation Team, and have them return to the world of Shadows and Personas in adulthood. The protagonists may need to confront their inner selves and awaken to their Personas a second time after the concerns of adulthood sway them from the convictions they once held.
Personaprotagonists in adulthood would benefit all sides ofPersonagameplay. Playable characters and NPCs alike who have aged a few years could spawn unique dungeons in the Shadow world, inspired by fears about their careers, families, and legacies, as well as memories of previousPersonaadventures.New Confidant and Social Link storieswould also greatly benefit from the change of pace. These social sim elements usually result inPersonacharacters committing to a certain life goal or a change in outlook;Personasequels could turn those established goals on their heads, with characters either reconsidering their previous choices or recommitting to paths that they strayed from. All in all,Personasequels about adulthood seem like they could be very refreshing.
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Persona’s Generations are Ready for Sequels
If Atlus decides to make a traditionalPersonagame sequel,Persona 5seems like a natural candidate.Persona 5 Strikershas already offered a glimpseat what such a sequel might look like, examining how the Phantom Thieves' experiences lead them to help others in the physical world and see their enemies differently. A directPersona 5sequel taking place a few years afterPersona 5 Strikerscould see the Phantom Thieves grapple with the long-term impact of their actions while showing how vigilante justice affects their lives differently as they mature.
Atlus doesn’t have to limit itself to a sequel toPersona 5,however; on the contrary,Persona 4is fertile soil for a direct sequel.The PC remaster ofPersona 4 Goldenhas been a massive success so far, reigniting interest in the previous generation ofPersonagames and the Investigation Team’s story. Atlus has kept these characters relevant enough to justify revisiting them long after the originalPersona 4’s release. There’s definitely something to be said for bringing the Investigation Team back together in Inaba to face a new threat in the Midnight Channel while using their time in the countryside to reflect on the directions of their lives.
EvenPersona 3isn’t entirely out of the running for a sequel, in spite of its 2006 release date.The long-rumoredPersona 3remastermay not have reared its head just yet, but 2018’sPersona 3: Dancing in Moonlightproves that Atlus isn’t afraid to releasePersona 3material long after the original game’s time has passed.Persona 3’s heavy themes would definitely still hold weight even as they take on a different light thanks to an older cast of characters.
Hope for Persona Sequels
Personamay not have a reputation for frequent sequels, but Atlus has become increasingly unpredictable in recent years, often surprising fans with ideas likePersona 5 Strikers.What’s more,ifDevil Summoner: Soul Hackerscan get a sequelafter 20 years, there doesn’t seem to be anything stoppingPersona 3and its successors from getting follow-up games in the future. Interest in all three recent corePersonagames has only gone up in recent years, so Atlus has plenty of reason to consider revisiting any and all of these games.
For the time being, aPersonasequel probably isn’t on the horizon, sincePersona 6has started production. Atlus may find it more practical to focus on makingPersona 6the best game it can be, rather than trying to juggle a variety of majorPersonaprojects. Still, until Atlus officially confirms that it’ll never produce sequels for these games, there’s still a slight possibility that sequels will crop up.Personasequels about aged-up protagonists have a lot of potential, and Atlus has shown little fear of releasing sequels and spin-offs long after a game’s time. Fans will just have to keep their eyes onPersona 6and hold onto hope that Atlus will surprise fans with sequels forPersona 5and its peers one day.
