Persona 5: The Dark Reality if Phantom Thieves Never Existed

by

This article contains MAJOR spoilers for Persona 5 Royal.

Persona 5 is recognized for its engrossing journey through Tokyo and the Metaverse, and narrative that delves into the ethical dilemmas faced by its characters. The game centers around the Phantom Thieves, a team dedicated to “reforming” corrupt individuals, particularly those in positions of power, by altering their hearts for the better. Persona 5 has earned its place as one of the top games of recent times, with numerous spin-off titles further exploring moral themes within its expanding universe.

One intriguing aspect of playing Persona 5 is that it sets a time limit for players to vanquish a Palace’s ruler, which can transform the hearts of people in reality. This creates an intense atmosphere since failure on missions by the Phantom Thieves could result in severe repercussions. The world within Persona 5 would be drastically altered if the Phantom Thieves had never emerged to dismantle the Palaces in the Metaverse. Not only would this have catastrophic implications for the game’s overall society, but it would also significantly impact the lives of the Persona 5 characters.

Persona 5’s World Would Not Be the Same Without the Phantom Thieves

The Palace Rulers of Persona 5 Continue to Abuse Their Power

In summary, the core theme of “Persona 5” revolves around preventing corrupt adults like Kamoshida and Shido from exploiting their power, whether they are teachers or politicians. The Phantom Thieves play a crucial role in stopping them, as their actions help protect innocent people from harm. Among the antagonists, Kamoshida is particularly disturbing due to his history of harassment towards students, particularly girls such as Ann Takamaki. Without the intervention of the Phantom Thieves, he might still be teaching at Shujin Academy, unless proven guilty in the case of Shiho Suzui’s attempted suicide. Even if he is dismissed from Shujin Academy, his actions could continue to impact students at any future schools he may transfer to, unless he is held accountable for his misdeeds and sentenced to prison.

As a passionate fan, I can’t help but express my concerns about the potential impact of a character like Shido in real-world politics. Given his background as the founder of the Antisocial Force, a group backed by corrupt politicians, swindlers, Yakuza members, and other influential figures, he poses a significant threat to society if he were to become Prime Minister of Japan. His questionable methods, including manipulating elections through illicit means, could go unchecked without intervention from the Phantom Thieves.

If Shido were to seize power, he might rule with an iron fist, using his position to imprison or eliminate anyone who dares to oppose him. This chilling scenario includes Ren Amamiya, our beloved Joker from Persona 5, who was previously incarcerated under false charges. It’s a frightening thought that such a fate could befall our hero again if Shido comes into power.

Some Phantom Thieves’ Family Trauma Would Never Be Resolved

In various instances, the monarchs of the Palace are linked to the Phantom Thieves, frequently sharing familial ties. For example, art teacher Madarame crafted replicas of “Sayuri,” the final piece made by Yusuke Kitagawa’s mother prior to her death. Yusuke’s involvement with the Phantom Thieves played a crucial role in his discovery of the truth surrounding “Sayuri” and his mother’s demise, yet even without the group, he may have continued producing forgeries under Madarame’s guidance.

It is possible that if Futaba Sakura had not encountered Joker and his group, she might have continued to be a recluse, as her social anxiety and the grief from losing her mother had led her to isolate herself from the world. Her mother’s death weighed heavily on her conscience, causing her to blame herself, and without addressing this trauma, Futaba would not be able to take the steps necessary to live a meaningful life surrounded by friends.

Simultaneously, Makoto Niijima and Haru Okumura may persist in having tense relationships with their family members, each possessing a Palace of their own. Makoto might face the stringent regulations imposed by her elder sister, Sae Niijima, but could yet carve out a promising future as an outstanding student at Shujin Academy. Haru, by contrast, might find herself inheriting Okumura Foods or assuming a political role as part of her father’s corrupt schemes.

Goro Akechi Could Avoid Death

In the game known as “Persona 5”, Goro Akechi, also called the Detective Prince, makes a selfless move by sacrificing himself within Shido’s palace to ensure the safety of the Phantom Thieves. However, in the third semester of “Persona 5 Royal”, Akechi reappears after Maruki revives him. But upon destroying Maruki’s Palace, it is disclosed that Akechi was never truly brought back to life at all.

Even though players might find methods to ensure Akechi never perishes in order to achieve the True Ending of Persona 5 Royal, failing to encounter the Phantom Thieves could result in him escaping death altogether. He could then continue probing into Shido’s activities and other related criminal matters, eventually maturing into a seasoned detective as he grows older.

Read More

2025-04-20 19:08