Persona 5 Royal: Avoiding the Bad Endings and Securing Your Perfect Phantom Thief Legacy
Persona 5 Royal, the enhanced version of the critically acclaimed Persona 5, offers a rich and complex narrative with multiple endings. While a “good” ending and a true ending await those who navigate the game’s social links and story choices skillfully, several “bad” endings lurk for the unwary player. This guide will arm you with the knowledge to avoid those disappointing conclusions and ensure you experience the full, rewarding story of the Phantom Thieves.
The Path to Avoiding the Bad Endings
The key to avoiding bad endings in Persona 5 Royal boils down to a few crucial elements: managing your time, cultivating specific Confidants, and making the right choices at critical junctures in the story. Specifically:
- Complete Palaces within the Deadline: This is perhaps the most straightforward way to get a “bad ending.” Failing to send a calling card and secure the treasure route by the deadline will result in a game over and a return to an earlier save. Diligence is key.
- Answer Interrogation Questions Correctly: During Sae Niijima’s interrogation, certain answers will lead to a game over. Specifically, you must select the correct responses to the second and third questions when the story catches up to the flashback. The correct answers are typically the most truthful and aligned with protecting your friends.
- Reject Maruki’s Deal: During the third semester, Dr. Takuto Maruki will offer you a tempting deal to reshape reality according to your desires. Accepting this deal leads to a bad ending. You MUST refuse his offer to proceed towards the true ending. This requires resolving yourself to face the truth, no matter how painful.
- Max Out Key Confidants: The true ending hinges on reaching specific Confidant ranks with key characters before certain deadlines. These are:
- Takuto Maruki (Councillor): Rank 9 by November 17th.
- Goro Akechi (Justice): Rank 8 by November 18th. Note: Akechi’s Confidant is automatic up to rank 6. The remaining ranks must be actively pursued.
- Kasumi Yoshizawa (Faith): Rank 5 by December 18th.
- Say no to Igor: When Igor offers you a deal in the Velvet Room, you can get the true ending by refusing. Answering with “Very well …” will net you one of the bad endings. Persona 5 will end here, and you will not fight the final boss. Answering with “I refuse” will get you the true ending.
Following these guidelines will ensure you steer clear of the premature and unsatisfying bad endings, allowing you to witness the true culmination of the Phantom Thieves’ journey.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Persona 5 Royal Endings
Here are some frequently asked questions about the endings in Persona 5 Royal, providing more in-depth information to help you on your quest:
1. How many endings are there in Persona 5 Royal?
There are five main endings in Persona 5 Royal. Three are considered “bad” endings (or game overs), one is a “good” ending, and one is the “true” ending.
2. Is there a trophy or achievement for getting the bad endings?
No, there are no trophies or achievements specifically tied to obtaining any of the bad endings. The achievements are centered around completing the game and reaching the true ending. It is better to focus on the True Ending.
3. What happens if I fail to complete a Palace by the deadline?
Failing to complete a Palace by the deadline results in a bad ending. The Phantom Thieves will be arrested, or the Palace ruler’s desires will become fully realized, leading to disastrous consequences for society. The game will then return you to an earlier save, forcing you to replay the days leading up to the deadline.
4. What are the consequences of accepting Igor’s deal?
Accepting the deal offered by “Igor” (actually Yaldabaoth) will lead to a bad ending where the Phantom Thieves become famous but compromise their ideals and allow society to remain distorted.
5. Do I need to romance a specific character to get the true ending?
No, romancing a specific character is not required to achieve the true ending. Romance choices are independent of the main storyline and ending requirements. Feel free to date whoever you like (or even multiple characters, at your own risk).
6. What happens if I don’t max out Akechi’s Confidant?
While you don’t need to max out Akechi’s Confidant to progress, reaching rank 8 before the deadline is absolutely crucial to unlock the third semester content which is necessary for the True Ending. Failing to max out Akechi will mean that you miss some scenes with him and his Ultimate Persona will be locked out.
7. Can I still get the true ending if I make mistakes in the interrogation?
Making mistakes during the interrogation can lead to a bad ending and game over. You need to provide the correct answers during the interrogation to continue the story towards the true ending. Always choose the most truthful and selfless options.
8. What are the benefits of reaching max rank with all Confidants?
Reaching max rank with all Confidants unlocks their ultimate abilities, provides significant gameplay advantages, and enriches the overall story experience by deepening your relationships with the characters. Plus, it’s satisfying!
9. Is it possible to mess up my romance options in Persona 5 Royal?
While you can date multiple characters, there is no “break up” option in Persona 5 Royal. Dating many at once means your Valentine’s Day has an special scene in which your romances beat you up for dating multiple girls. This won’t affect the endings however, and you can continue on like nothing happened.
10. What is the significance of the third semester?
The third semester is an entirely new story arc added in Persona 5 Royal. It expands upon the original game’s narrative, introduces new characters and challenges, and provides the opportunity to unlock the true ending. Accessing it requires meeting the Maruki and Akechi confidant requirements.
11. Does the difficulty setting affect the ending I receive?
No, the difficulty setting does not affect the ending you receive. The ending is determined by your choices and Confidant ranks, not by the difficulty level you choose.
12. I accepted Maruki’s deal! Is my save file ruined?
If you accepted Maruki’s deal, you will get locked into the bad ending path. If you have any other saves available before the point of accepting the deal, you will have to reload from those saves.
13. Is Goro Akechi dead?
Near the end of the game, Maruki reveals that Akechi’s return was through Joker’s wish to save him. Wada and Ito intentionally made it so that Akechi’s survival depended on the player’s choice in the game, specifically certain choices made in his Confidant.
14. What happens if you fail a palace in Persona 5?
Not completing a Palace means the owner of it is still up and doing evil things. This will put the Phantom Thieves (and even some others) on edge, meaning they won’t want to hangout with you until you’ve stolen the treasure of the Palace.
15. Why did I get the bad ending in Persona 5 Royal?
There are lots of “bad endings” in persona 5, but really most of them are more like game overs. So the most common bad endings are the ones you get if you don’t finish a palace in time. You can also get a bad ending in Persona 5 Royal if you don’t get rank 9 in the confidant of Takuto Maruki.
Successfully navigating the world of Persona 5 Royal and avoiding the bad endings requires a blend of strategic gameplay and careful decision-making. By prioritizing the key Confidants, completing Palaces on time, and remaining true to your values during critical story moments, you can ensure that the Phantom Thieves achieve their ultimate goal and unlock the game’s most rewarding conclusion. Games Learning Society researches the kinds of learning that takes place through gaming, and how the games themselves can teach people important life lessons.
Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination, so enjoy your time as a Phantom Thief and strive for the true ending!
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