Is Persona 5 Royal Longer Than Persona 5? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, Persona 5 Royal is definitively longer than Persona 5. While the original Persona 5 generally takes players around 90-95 hours to complete the main story, Persona 5 Royal extends that experience to 100-120 hours, and sometimes even more. This increase in playtime is due to a substantial amount of new content, including an entirely new semester, additional characters, expanded story arcs, and enhanced gameplay mechanics. For players aiming for 100% completion, Persona 5 Royal can easily clock in at 140 hours or more, significantly surpassing the original game’s completion time. The added depth and richness of the Royal version make it a more immersive and time-consuming experience.
Understanding the Length Difference
The difference in length isn’t just a matter of a few extra cutscenes or optional side quests. Persona 5 Royal is essentially an enhanced and expanded version of the original game. It’s important to delve into the specifics of what contributes to this increased playtime.
New Content in Persona 5 Royal
- The Third Semester: This is the most significant addition. After completing the main story of Persona 5, players in Royal are treated to an entirely new story arc that takes place after the original ending. This semester introduces new characters, storylines, and challenges, adding around 15-20 hours of gameplay.
- New Characters and Confidants: The introduction of Kasumi Yoshizawa as a playable character and the expansion of Goro Akechi’s confidant arc offer new social links and storylines. The new confidant Takuto Maruki also plays a significant role in the new story arc.
- Expanded Areas and Activities: Persona 5 Royal includes new locations within Tokyo to explore, and new activities to engage in. This allows players to further immerse themselves in the world and spend more time developing their characters.
- Revamped Gameplay Mechanics: The battle system has been refined, with new enemy types, stronger Personas, and new combat options, which add complexity and time to battles. Mementos have also been expanded, with new areas and challenges.
How Difficulty Settings Affect Playtime
Choosing a different difficulty level in Persona 5 Royal can influence playtime. Playing on Hard or Merciless will require more strategic planning and grinding, potentially increasing the time it takes to complete the game. Conversely, playing on Safety or Easy might shorten the playtime, but the new content of Persona 5 Royal will remain the same. Regardless, the new content means that Royal will take longer, irrespective of the difficulty.
Persona 5 Royal: A Time Investment Worth Making
For fans of the original Persona 5, Persona 5 Royal offers a substantial reason to revisit the world and characters they love. The increased playtime and the addition of new content make it a worthwhile experience, providing a more complete and fulfilling story.
Whether you’re a newcomer or a veteran, the depth and richness of Persona 5 Royal make it a significant time investment that most players find incredibly rewarding. The game’s blend of social simulation, dungeon crawling, and compelling storytelling is enhanced by the new additions, solidifying its place as one of the longest and most engaging JRPGs available.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many hours does it take to beat Persona 5 Royal?
Most players report that Persona 5 Royal takes around 100-120 hours to complete the main story. However, this can vary depending on your play style and whether you engage with side content.
2. Is Persona 5 Royal a direct sequel to Persona 5?
No, Persona 5 Royal is not a direct sequel. It’s an enhanced and expanded version of the original Persona 5, featuring new content, characters, and gameplay mechanics. It’s akin to a Director’s Cut rather than a new installment.
3. Should I play Persona 5 before Persona 5 Royal?
It’s not necessary to play Persona 5 before Persona 5 Royal. Royal includes all the content from the original game, plus additional storylines and features. Playing Royal alone will provide a complete experience. However, if you have already completed Persona 5, experiencing Royal will offer a fresh perspective with its new content and changes.
4. What is the biggest difference between Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal?
The biggest difference is the inclusion of a new third semester in Persona 5 Royal. This adds approximately 15-20 hours of gameplay. Also, the addition of new characters like Kasumi Yoshizawa and an expanded story arc for Goro Akechi.
5. How many endings does Persona 5 Royal have?
Persona 5 Royal has five possible endings. There are three “bad” endings, one “good” ending, and the true canonical ending. Unlocking the true ending requires meeting certain criteria, such as maxing out specific Confidant ranks.
6. How many palaces are in Persona 5 Royal?
The number of Palaces in Persona 5 Royal remains the same as in Persona 5, which is 9. The structure of these palaces has been slightly altered with new collectibles and routes, and Mementos has been expanded with more content.
7. Is Persona 5 Royal harder than Persona 5?
The difficulty of Persona 5 Royal can be adjusted with various difficulty settings. However, due to the gameplay refinements and the addition of stronger Personas, the core game mechanics have been balanced. The new gameplay options give you more options for managing the difficulty.
8. What makes Persona 5 Royal so good?
Persona 5 Royal is highly praised for its stylish presentation, engaging story, memorable characters, and addictive gameplay. The added content and enhancements in Royal further elevate the experience, making it a must-play for fans of the JRPG genre.
9. Will there be a Persona 6?
Yes, Persona 6 is currently in development. Speculations point towards a possible release in 2025 or 2026. It is expected to be a larger and more ambitious project than Persona 5.
10. What are the longest cutscenes in video games?
Some of the longest cutscenes in video games include:
- Metal Gear Solid 4 (71 minutes)
- Star Ocean: The Last Hope (46 minutes)
- Yakuza 0 (42 minutes)
11. Is Persona 5 the longest game ever?
While Persona 5 Royal is one of the longest games in the Persona series, and one of the longest games ever made with over 110 hours of content, it is not the longest game ever. Games like The Longing and some MMORPGs can take hundreds of hours to complete.
12. How long does it take to 100% complete Persona 5 Royal?
To achieve 100% completion in Persona 5 Royal, you’ll likely spend around 143 hours or more. This includes completing all social links, unlocking all achievements, and exploring every aspect of the game.
13. Is Persona 5 Royal worth playing if I’ve already played Persona 5?
Yes, Persona 5 Royal is generally considered worth playing even if you’ve already played the original. The new content, characters, and gameplay refinements offer a fresh and enhanced experience that many fans find enjoyable.
14. What makes Persona 5 Royal better than Persona 5?
Persona 5 Royal is better than Persona 5 due to the addition of a new story arc, new characters, expanded gameplay mechanics, and improved quality of life features. These enhancements contribute to a more complete and fulfilling experience.
15. Can playing games like Persona 5 Royal help with learning and cognitive skills?
Yes, playing games like Persona 5 Royal can potentially enhance cognitive skills and offer learning opportunities. GamesLearningSociety.org has research that has shown to highlight that strategic planning, problem-solving, and social simulation can positively impact cognitive development and social understanding.