Summary
Persona 6is set to carry some heavy ambitions on its shoulders thanks to the success of its predecessors. After humble beginnings as a linear RPG dungeon crawl,Personaquickly became more and more distinct thanks to the addition of social sim elements. The unique blend of flashy RPG combat and engaging social features defines the series as a whole, andPersona 6can take this trend further than ever.
Persona 5introduced a number of network features that allowed players to engage with one another online. Most of these were relatively simple, such as viewing what other players did on any given day. However, Network Fusion was certainly among the more involved mechanics.Persona 6isn’t likely to simply drop these mechanics, and should in fact expand on them if it wants to hit home.
Persona 6 Can Take Persona 5’s Network Fusions to the Next Level
Persona 5’s Network Features Are a Perfect Blueprint for Persona 6
Personahas carved a name among other RPGsby lending players more social features than almost any other series in the genre. Previously, these simply enhanced the single-player experience. Thanks to mechanics such as Social Links, going on dates can be just as important to progression as grinding in dungeons is, and the dedicated calendar system frames how players make time for both.
Personais also driven heavily by innovation, andPersona 5certainly never dropped the ball on that front. In regard to social mechanics,Persona 5allowed players to interface with one another online in a way that was completely unheard of for the series. While Network Fusion was perhaps the most ambitious feature added, even smaller scale additions heavily impacted the quality of life.
For example, viewing what other players did on any day of the game allowed one to make better decisions about how to spend their time. Likewise, viewing other players' answers to quiz questions practically solved the difficulty of test taking. Both of these helped guide players to a more stress-free experience, andPersona 6certainly can’t afford to drop these vital features. In fact,Persona 6can usePersona 5’s take on the Velvet Roomto take its online features that much further.
Persona 6 Could Turn Network Fusion into a Fan Favorite Feature
Network Fusion is most easily understoodby comparing it to itsPokemoncounterpart, Wonder Trade. With Wonder Trade, players can send one of their Pokemon out into the ether, and receive a random Pokemon back from another player online. The random aspect of this feature equally incentivizes generosity and trolling, and is overall a great way to make online interaction feel more involved.
AmongPersona 5’s other unique Fusion mechanics, Network Fusion stands out by allowing a player to fuse one Persona a day with someone online. This restriction makes enough sense, as the mechanic could otherwise let players access broken Personas far too early in the game. However, there are other ways thatPersona 6could improve on Network Fusion, and bring the mechanic to its full potential.
First and foremost, Network Fusion could combine with Special Fusion to create something truly special. Special Fusion allows players to fuse three or more Personas to create a truly powerful combination. Many of these potential Personas are understandably reserved for online, butPersona 6could make an improvement. Using Special Fusion as a base,Persona 6could allow more players to join forces in Network Fusion. Considering the result of the Fusion would be more powerful, this would create a much larger incentive to use the feature.
Network Fusion was a unique addition to the series, and one worth innovating on.Persona 6could allow more players to cooperate with this mechanic, or otherwise broaden its appeal. Perhaps it could add more Personas who are unique to Network Fusion, or simply up the ante on RNG to let fans roll the dice. Whatever the case, mechanics like this show howPersona 5 Royalhas paved the way forPersona 6’s success.
Persona 5 Royal
WHERE TO PLAY
Don the mask and join the Phantom Thieves of Hearts as they stage grand heists, infiltrate the minds of the corrupt, and make them change their ways! Prepare for the award-winning RPG experience in this definitive edition of Persona 5 Royal, featuring a treasure trove of downloadable content included!Forced to transfer to a high school in Tokyo, the protagonist has a strange dream. “You truly are a prisoner of fate. In the near future, ruin awaits you.” With the goal of “rehabilitation” looming overhead, he must save others from distorted desires by donning the mask of a Phantom Thief.Explore Tokyo, unlock Personas, customize your own personal Thieves Den, experience alternate endings, and more. Become the ultimate Phantom Thief and defy conventions, discover the power within, and fight for justice in the definitive version of Persona 5 Royal.
