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What is the point of NG+ Persona 5 Royal?

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Unlocking the Ultimate Phantom Thief Experience: The Point of New Game Plus in Persona 5 Royal

So, you’ve conquered Mementos, stolen the hearts of corrupt adults, and saved Tokyo from ruin in Persona 5 Royal. Congratulations, Phantom Thief! But the journey doesn’t necessarily end there. The allure of New Game Plus (NG+) beckons, offering a chance to revisit the world with new possibilities. But what exactly is the point?

The core purpose of NG+ in Persona 5 Royal is to provide an enhanced and more streamlined experience. It allows you to carry over significant progress from your initial playthrough, enabling you to max social links more easily, experiment with different choices, explore previously missed content, and ultimately, achieve a more complete understanding and enjoyment of the game. Think of it as a victory lap, but one where you’re now equipped with insider knowledge and advanced tools. You can finally focus on the aspects of the game you enjoyed most or tackle the challenges you might have missed the first time around. It’s about mastering the game on your terms.

Deep Dive: What Makes NG+ So Compelling?

NG+ in Persona 5 Royal isn’t just about starting over with a power boost; it’s about redefining your relationship with the game. Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

  • Social Link Domination: The first playthrough often involves careful planning and resource management to level up your social stats (Knowledge, Guts, Proficiency, Kindness, Charm) and max out Confidants. NG+ alleviates much of this pressure. You’ll already have a head start with carried-over social stats, and you’ll receive items from maxed-out Confidants that grant their abilities from the start. This allows you to effortlessly spend your time on Confidants you missed or want to deepen further, making it much easier to achieve a full Confidant completion and experience all the stories the game has to offer.

  • Experimentation and Freedom: Without the need to meticulously grind social stats or worry about optimal dungeon strategies, you’re free to experiment with different choices in dialogue and gameplay. Want to romance a different character? Go for it. Want to try a different party composition? The world is your oyster. NG+ provides a sandbox to truly explore the nuances of Persona 5 Royal. You can embrace the freedom to follow a new path.

  • Content Completion and Unlocks: Missed a specific ending? Didn’t quite manage to fuse that ultimate Persona? NG+ grants you the time and resources to complete the game to your satisfaction. The carried-over equipment and Persona compendium make it significantly easier to acquire powerful Personas and tackle challenging encounters. Furthermore, unique accessories accumulated from defeating NG+ bosses persist, allowing you to have one for every party member.

  • Story and Character Appreciation: Having experienced the core narrative, NG+ allows you to appreciate the nuances of the story and characters on a deeper level. You’ll notice subtle foreshadowing, understand character motivations better, and have a richer understanding of the world of Persona 5 Royal.

  • Challenge and Mastery: While NG+ offers advantages, it doesn’t make the game a cakewalk. The increased power level allows you to tackle the optional challenge bosses and difficulty settings more effectively. It’s an opportunity to truly master the game’s combat system and push your skills to the limit.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Persona 5 Royal’s New Game Plus

Here are some of the most common questions players have about starting a New Game Plus in Persona 5 Royal:

  1. What exactly carries over into New Game Plus? Your money, playtime, equipment (weapons, armor, accessories), Persona compendium (including registered Personas), social stats, skill cards, and special items received from maxed-out Confidants all carry over.

  2. Do Confidant ranks carry over? No, Confidant ranks reset to 1. However, if you maxed out a Confidant in your previous playthrough, they will give you an item that unlocks certain abilities associated with their Confidant from the beginning.

  3. What doesn’t carry over? Story progression, key items, and your current location in Mementos do not carry over.

  4. How do I start New Game Plus? After completing the final boss and watching the ending, you’ll be given the option to save your clear data. Load this save file from the main menu to begin NG+.

  5. Is it worth playing Persona 5 Royal without doing a New Game Plus run? Absolutely. The first playthrough provides a unique and engaging experience. However, NG+ significantly enhances the game’s replayability and allows you to experience content you may have missed.

  6. How many times can I play New Game Plus? You can play NG+ multiple times, carrying over your progress from each subsequent run.

  7. Are there any new Personas or items in New Game Plus? While there aren’t necessarily new Personas exclusive to NG+, the carried-over Persona compendium makes it easier to fuse powerful Personas early on. Also, remember the unique accessories that are rewarded after defeating NG+ boss battles.

  8. Does the difficulty change in New Game Plus? No, the difficulty settings remain the same. However, your carried-over equipment and Personas will make the game easier initially.

  9. Which Confidants should I prioritize in New Game Plus? Temperance (Sadayo Kawakami) and Fortune (Chihaya Mifune) are excellent choices because their abilities can save you time on social stats and Confidant progression.

  10. Can I still max out all Confidants in New Game Plus? Yes, it’s significantly easier to max out all Confidants in NG+ due to your carried-over social stats and the availability of Confidant abilities from the start.

  11. Will my Royal exclusive content still be available in New Game Plus?

Absolutely, Persona 5 Royal’s extra content carries over along with the rest of the features.

  1. Does the true ending only trigger in NG+?

No, the requirements to trigger the true ending in Persona 5 Royal are the same in the first playthrough and NG+.

  1. Is it possible to romance multiple confidants in the same playthrough?

Absolutely. With the right choices, you can romance any number of confidants during the same playthrough.

  1. How long is 100% Persona 5 Royal? A 100% completion of Persona 5 Royal can take roughly 143 hours, considering the vast content in the game.

  2. Are Persona 5 Royal and Persona 4 connected? Although from the same franchise, Persona 5 Royal and Persona 4 are very different games.

Beyond the Gameplay: The Educational Value

While the focus is on entertainment, games like Persona 5 Royal, especially when replayed in NG+, offer valuable learning opportunities. The game encourages strategic thinking, resource management, and relationship building. Exploring different choices and outcomes in NG+ can foster critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the consequences of your actions. It also facilitates emotional intelligence, as you empathize with the characters and navigate their complex relationships. For more on the educational aspects of gaming, explore resources at the Games Learning Society GamesLearningSociety.org.

Final Verdict: Embrace the NG+ Experience

Ultimately, the point of New Game Plus in Persona 5 Royal is to enhance your overall enjoyment and mastery of the game. It’s an opportunity to refine your skills, explore the narrative in greater depth, and achieve a sense of completion that might not be possible in a single playthrough. So, embrace the power of your carried-over progress, don your mask, and prepare to steal even more hearts in your NG+ adventure!

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