Persona 6
Romances inPersona 6can be a step up from the series' previous romantic arcs if one aspect is changed. While romances are not core to the story of thePersonagames, they are still a recurring aspect of the series, and should be handled properly. Unfortunately, there are a few holes in pastPersonaromances that have yet to be ironed out, butPersona 6could set about fixing those issues. If the developers take a new angle with writing, then future romances could end up being a lot more meaningful than pastPersonalove interests.
Romances branch off ofSocial Links inPersonagames, and only for certain characters in each game. At a certain point in romanceable characters' Social Links, there will be a moment where the relationship can become romantic. InPersona 3, romantic relationships within the party triggered automatically, while the following games have the option to be either platonic or romantic. The player can max out social links either way, although the romantic and platonic paths provide different resolutions for the link. Overall, romances are not a big part of the story inPersonatitles, but they help to expand on each game’s cast and world.
Persona 6 Should Make Romances in the Game Feel More Special
Persona’s Romances Often Have Minimal Impact Overall
One downfall of theromance options in thePersonaseriesis how little they ultimately affect the game. There are a few bonuses that they can provide, such as the Christmas gifts and Valentine’s chocolates inPersona 5, which are admittedly useful. However, aside from that, they seem mostly superfluous. No one else ever acknowledges the relationship in-game, so it seems as though the protagonist and their partner are dating in secret. As a result, something that should be impactful is almost entirely in the background. This makes relationships seem like a superfluous aspect of the game compared to other mechanics.
Persona 6’s Romances Should Be Worth Talking About
Actually acknowledging romances more in-game would be a step forward forPersona 6. Theparty dynamic inPersona 6could see a significant change by having party members be more aware of the player’s actions, including whether they’re actively in a romance. Having some idle lines from time to time where party members, or potentially other Social Links characters, mention the protagonist’s partner would make the world feel a little more alive. It would feel like who the protagonist chose to date mattered in some notable way. Plus, it would have the added effect of making the protagonists' friends seem more interested in their life.
Romantic Connections Could Be Weaved Into Persona 6’s Story
Persona 6may want to chance going even further in regards to how romance affects the game. It wouldmakePersona 6’s romances more rewardingif players could get some dialogue and scene variants for certain cutscenes if they’re in a relationship at the time. This could be something as simple as them wishing the protagonist luck before a dungeon, or even an extra conversation at certain points in the story. A relationship should be important, and it should carry some degree of weight. Underscoring the protagonist’s romance in the story would give it more of an impact, making it feel as important as it should.
Actually acknowledging romances more in-game would be a step forward forPersona 6.
Making romances a more visible part of the game could prove a wise move forPersona 6. After all, one of theproblems with romance inPersonais that they ultimately have a small impact on the game. By making them a topic of conversation and providing more meaningful interactions,Persona 6’s romances can become a more emotionally-charged piece of the presentation. All it would really take is a few extra pieces of dialogue to do the job. Some more flavor could prove all the difference for makingPersona 6’s romances successful.
