With news of the next mainline entry in the Persona franchise yet to be revealed, many fans have been speculating what themes and setting the title might land on, especially with the overwhelming success of Persona 5 and its depiction of Tokyo's varied locations and people. Therefore, Persona 6 could stand to benefit from staying within Japan's capital, including references to its predecessor while showcasing the city through a fresh lens.
The massively popular Persona 5 featured a bevy of locations that Joker could visit throughout Tokyo city; from the cramped backstreets of Yongen-Jaya to the bustling Red-Light District of Shinjuku, there were plenty of diverse backdrops that helped to paint P5's slice-of-life simulation as a compelling one. This variation helped to hone in on the title's confidant focus, featuring side characters and their interests that became representative of Tokyo's environmental diversity. With Futaba's penchant for computers coinciding perfectly with a venture into Akihabara, for example, Tokyo felt like a backdrop conducive to P5's mixed cast of characters.
Persona 6 Could Explore More Tokyo Districts, Include References From Persona 5
Persona 5's use of hangout spots allowed for a glimpse into Tokyo's many districts, offering the best of both worlds in its depiction of serene and energetic locations. The title felt almost as expansive as the Kamurocho from Like a Dragon games, providing a sense of liveliness that transcended beyond the protagonist to make its setting feel more tangible to the player.
Given how vast Japan's capital is in real life, there's certainly potential for the city to be explored again in the series' next mainline game. Depending on Persona 6's treatment of its cast, Tokyo could be painted in a fresh light, offering a sense of newness through the lens of its characters.
With many fans hoping for Persona 6 to adopt a more adult cast, a grown-up view of Tokyo may work to showcase the city in a completely different way. Taking the series back to its roots through older party members, like those featured in Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, could allow for the re-use of P5's setting in a way that doesn't feel trite or repetitive.
Instead of P6's cast being centralized in a high school setting, it would be interesting to see party members who come to meet each other through all corners of Japan's capital. This could play into their archetypes while setting up certain character dynamics, helping to entwine the cast's motivations and developments within their environments.
One example of a character could be a salary man working for a large Tokyo-based company that gains a newfound vigor in life after meeting the rest of the cast and discovering his Persona; such a person could work as a foil to a different party member, perhaps an outgoing woman working in the fashion sector of Harajuku, helping to demonstrate their different personalities through setting and occupation. A formula like this could showcase characters from all walks of life throughout Japan's capital, aiding in the Persona title's sense of environmental design while giving players a look into its varying districts.
An additional benefit to the re-use of Tokyo in Persona 6 would be the ability to include even more references from past titles in the franchise, particularly with respect to Persona 5. Depending on when P6 takes place in regard to the series' timeline, the P5 crew might be well into adulthood, allowing for nods to their careers and societal influence that could pop up in players' traversals throughout the city.
Perhaps cameos could even be utilized to affect Persona 6's narrative, helping to hone in on how the city has changed since the events of the title's predecessor. Whatever the case, seeing Tokyo through the lens of a new protagonist and crew could be an interesting approach for the series' next iteration, working in tandem with its inventive characters and storytelling.
Persona 6 is currently in development.
