'Persona 5' Release Details: Game Director Reveals More Information in January 2016 Edition of Game Informer
"Persona 5's" director Katsura Hashino revealed more information in an interview with Game Informer. Hashino shares several new details about the game's story, setting, and characters.
Game Informer's interview with Hashino was spotted by Persona Central by way of a digital download. The two-page article shared some juicy details about the game as follows:
Characters
The main protagonist is a high school student. He is unlike other "Persona" protagonists because he is more of a "roguish antihero" whose story revolves around heists.
Hashino also described the rest of the characters. Ryuji, the blond-haired guy in the group, is mischievous. Yusuke is a sensitive artist. Ann is isolated as she has spent some time in America. Morgana, the shape-shifting cat, is the group's adviser, but Hashino reveals she has her own secret goal.
Personas
Hashino also reveals that each Persona is based on a famous character from literature. For example, the Arsene Persona of the protagonist is linked to Arsene Lupin, the gentleman thief.
The characters' Personas, as well as their phantom thief costumes, reveal who they really are.
Story and setting
The story is set in modern-day Tokyo, particularly in Shibuya. The characters feel alienated in this society, but when they come upon an unknown world, they begin to strive for a common goal. Their goal is to "steal malicious intent from people's hearts" so that the society they live in might be reformed.
This world lies within the hearts of people. They call this The Palace where "mischievous sides, suppressed during their day-to-day school life, are released and visualized."
Hashino reveals that "The Palace" will have the same function as "Persona 3's" Tartarus or "Persona 4's" TV World.
Hashino's interview will be part of Game Informer magazine's January 2016 edition.
"Persona 5" is a single-player JRPG that will release to Sony's PlayStation 3 and 4 in summer 2016 in Japan and in North America in 2016.