I have seen quite a lot of people want a persona game in college. In regards to 5, based on the designs of most of the cast and mannerisms how they were written (i.e absent parental figures, seem kind of independent), and P5 Scramble has Haru and Makoto now in college, I could see this game working in college and it'd remove this games unfortunate aspects. The only block is the idea of corrupt adults/authority figures, but could still work in a college setting somehow with some tweaking?
Looking at Catherine, which is basically an adult version of Persona in all but RPG mechanics, why not? The choices regarding the setting in Persona are there to appeal to the the largest gaming group (teens and young adults) and drive sales.
It will work for the last year of college setting, where students are under pressure to land good jobs or look to others with envy. You can then easily fill villain roles with the jealous classmates, professor who desperately need funding, etc cliches.
JRPG and anime/manga writers salivate at the idea of getting parents out of the picture, and college would definitely offer a better excuse than "parents working abroad paying rent for their kid to live alone in Japan" or whatever other contrived bullshit they resort to
Also, you aren't considered an adult in Japan until you are 20; most people live with their families well into College, so needing a guardian wouldn't be a problem.
Life is already over by the time you're in college. How many college students get to Wake Up in Another World?
Not many. Kids are a much better choice because everything that matters happens to high schoolers. If you're older than that, you're probably the villain-kun, sorry bruh.
Haven't played 5. If it's close in themes/friendships like P4, then no. Hell no.
If it's closer to P3, yea. That game felt like they were already in college with the dorm, everyone felt sort of distant but with a strong camaraderie.
Persona wouldn't work with college age characters. The rigid structure and repetitive nature of high school life are fundamental parts of the Persona games. Move the setting to college and you have varying schedules for all the characters with no justifiable reasons for them to spend time together, nobody caring when the main character transfers in and really no reason for them to ever attend classes. Also you would have to deal with college age vices.
Even if the plot could work I'm not sure what people are hoping to achieve. Persona is never leaving high school. People love to jerk off Persona 2 Eternal Punishment but that was the second half of Persona 2 and the first half took place with a majority high school cast.
Japanese writers just can't look past the toxic "high school is the best part of your life" trope.
The series in general sure why not.
Just persona 5 i dunno. I feel like you would have to rework certain parts. like the first arc wouldn't make as much sense if it wasnt based around a high school.
Having just played Royale, yes easily. That goes for 3 & 4 as well. You would of course have to change some things but nothing to the point hat would make for a vastly different game. While the characters have some "school life" struggles, they're practically adults in all but age in so many of these games that it's kinda odd they still want to push that as the only setting Especially when the series has taken steps to older characters before already.
I think a big thing a lot of people miss is that in this day and age, so many people still don't know their place in society and who they are even when they're out of high school. I'm sure a lot of people here are 20+ and still unsure where their life is headed or what it's even all for.
The whole growing up and finding your place just isn't something only high schoolers go through.
Royale Spoilers
One of the most interesting aspects of Royale's new content is exactly that with Maruki and seeing how he took everything that happened to him and how he applied it to his ideals. Showing that there's more than just "those every adults" going on.
It fundamentally wouldn't have worked, because the instigating incident of the plot, where the MC is framed for assault by the Big Bad, would've led to him being tried as an adult and sent immediately to prison. The entire reason why he gets sent off to Tokyo on probation is because he's a minor and thus gets one last chance before the system cracks down on him.
And the themes of the game center around adults in positions of power abusing those positions on the most vulnerable people around them. Which means that there's another layer to it when the main cast are all minors, and thus in a much more vulnerable position than they would've been as adults. They have much fewer rights, and are inherently disbelieved simply because of their age.
All that being said, the romance options with adults are gross and should never have been added, for a similar reason. The inherent power imbalance in the relationships is extremely problematic at best, and they also undermine the themes of adults abusing their power over others.
An unemployed troublemaker in his early twenties has committed crime, and needs to do community work in Tokyo in order to avoid jail. While working as a janitor in a faculty, he meets another troublemaker who gets great grades but still a troublemaker, and the most popular girl in the faculty as well, they all try to change the academic dean's heart.
Also, you aren't considered an adult in Japan until you are 20; most people live with their families well into College, so needing a guardian wouldn't be a problem.
The series in general sure why not.
Just persona 5 i dunno. I feel like you would have to rework certain parts. like the first arc wouldn't make as much sense if it wasnt based around a high school.
Legally, yes. This doesn't really change that many people still live with their parents until late in college, if not until graduation. I am not sure if this policy has actually come into effect yet, though.
From what I understand, Japanese college life is stereotyped as being a four-year period where you can do fuckall or do some self-discovery. I don't know if this is actually true or not, but if that's the case, they'll have to find a way to fill the high school days with something just as consistent, unless they do a lot of timeskips. It would be interesting, though.
Having just played Royale, yes easily. That goes for 3 & 4 as well. You would of course have to change some things but nothing to the point hat would make for a vastly different game. While the characters have some "school life" struggles, they're practically adults in all but age in so many of these games that it's kinda odd they still want to push that as the only setting Especially when the series has taken steps to older characters before already.
I think a big thing a lot of people miss is that in this day and age, so many people still don't know their place in society and who they are even when they're out of high school. I'm sure a lot of people here are 20+ and still unsure where their life is headed or what it's even all for.
The whole growing up and finding your place just isn't something only high schoolers go through.
Royale Spoilers
One of the most interesting aspects of Royale's new content is exactly that with Maruki and seeing how he took everything that happened to him and how he applied it to his ideals. Showing that there's more than just "those every adults" going on.
And then the teacher thing wouldn't have been so extremely off-putting and disgusting. It still would of had an element of gross, but if she's grown and he's grown, like 21...then it wouldn't be so bad.
And the themes of the game center around adults in positions of power abusing those positions on the most vulnerable people around them. Which means that there's another layer to it when the main cast are all minors, and thus in a much more vulnerable position than they would've been as adults. They have much fewer rights, and are inherently disbelieved simply because of their age.
I guess if they were adults you could recast some of their problems through difference lenses; ethnicity, class, gender, disability, but I think you're right the main cast all being minors makes all their problems irreconcilable through legal avenues. If you take that away it wouldn't really be the same game anymore.
Joker's introduction requires some minor changes otherwise Persona 5 works fine with any age group. They all could as well be seniors living in a retirement home. There is not a single character's story that can't be tweaked to fit a 70yo.
Culturally in Japan, High School is considered the "best moment in life". As soon as you enter College, "it's over". This is why we often see stories taking place in High School setting. People want to re-visit (and re-experience) the good moments of their high school life.
So, even if Persona 5 would have worked in a College setting (I personally don't think it would), they will never do it in a Persona game unless the franchise gets way more western fans. (i.e. Persona 6 will, without a doubt, take place in high school again.)
I wouldn't be surprised to see it in a spin-off or new IP though (like Catherine).
The idea that Japan's view on college is what's stopping them is incredibly depressing when you know, they could address those issues in a Persona game. P5 would have easily have benefited from it to get rid of the "teenagers vs adults" angle that persists through it (I know that isn't the main idea of the game but it certainly comes off as it at parts).
The idea that Japan's view on college is what's stopping them is incredibly depressing when you know, they could address those issues in a Persona game. P5 would have easily have benefited from it to get rid of the "teenagers vs adults" angle that persists through it (I know that isn't the main idea of the game but it certainly comes off as it at parts).
Imo that's more a target demographic choice rather than anything else. There's plenty of stories about college life. They just tend to not be battle shonens.
If Joker was an adult he would have gone to prison I assume.
And a lot of the Phantom Thieves problems would also go away if they were legal adults.
I think there's a Persona game to be made with college age students but the specifics of Persona 5's plot don't work unless they're in high school.
I guess if they were adults you could recast some of their problems through difference lenses; ethnicity, class, gender, disability, but I think you're right the main cast all being minors makes all their problems irreconcilable through legal avenues. If you take that away it wouldn't really be the same game anymore.
I don't think so honestly because the characters being kids is what makes the initial pitch and the best part of the game (the first palace) work. Same goes for P4 with the whole "dumbass kids in way over their head" angle. P3 however I think would have benefited a lot from the characters being aged up.
