Persona 6’s Shocking New Direction: Is Turn-Based Combat Dead?

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In recent times, Atlus has proven tough to beat, and it’s anticipated that “Persona 6″ will carry on this tradition of excellence. The intriguing narrative focused on characters, distinctive world-creation, and thoughtful, subtle social simulation mechanics have made series such as “Persona”, “Shin Megami Tensei”, and now “Metaphor Refantazio” more significant and refined than ever before. This should fill Japanese Role Playing Game (JRPG) enthusiasts with optimism for the future.

In essence, the design philosophy behind the “Persona” style of gaming is supported by several crucial elements such as social interaction/time management, turn-based battles, construction and crafting, among others. The game “Metaphor Refantazio“, however, introduced significant modifications to this blueprint, enhancing the flow of progression and simplifying combat, while also introducing a captivating novelty: real-time combats. Although it’s not as intricate as “Devil May Cry“, the combat in “Metaphor” is fast-paced, with basic moves and a dodge, which adds an exciting dynamic to enemy encounters, encouraging players who can stun enemies before engaging in longer, turn-based battles. Notably, the upcoming game “RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army” is purely an action-RPG, and along with “Metaphor“, it may provide clues about Atlus’ plans for “Persona 6” and future installments.

Persona 6 Should Include Action-RPG Elements

Metaphor Refantazio and RAIDOU Remastered Show How Real-Time Combat Benefits Atlus Games

RAIDOU Remastered shares little resemblance with games like Persona, yet it still retains key elements typical of Atlus RPGs, such as a non-high fantasy setting, a focus on mystical creatures, and lengthy dialogue sequences. Real-time action RPG combat adds a layer of intensity to the storyline and enhances the experience of being both a detective and a devil summoner. Essentially, the real-time combat shifts the player’s connection with the game world, making it feel more immediate and grounded in the present.

Under the title “RAIDOU Remastered“, you’ll find an updated edition of the 2006 game, “Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha“. Despite being a remastered version, its emphasis on real-time combat suggests that Atlus could be open to incorporating such mechanics in their contemporary titles.

A standout game compared to RAIDOU Remastered is Metaphor Refantazio, where its less extensive action-RPG components still make a substantial impact. The dungeon navigation experience, familiar to fans of SMT and Persona, becomes more interactive and immersive in Metaphor thanks to these straightforward hack-and-slash mechanics. Instead of just avoiding conflicts and engaging strategically, exploration now serves as a skill test that significantly influences the broader combat experience.

How Persona 6 Can Double-Down On Action-RPG Gameplay

It’s unlikely that Persona 6 will adopt the RAIDOU approach, focusing heavily on action-RPG combat, and this could be beneficial: turn-based combat is a key feature of the Persona series. However, it doesn’t mean that the game can’t incorporate elements from this apparent shift towards action-RPG mechanics. In fact, it might offer players occasional bursts of real-time, interactive combat alongside the primary servings of turn-based battles.

As a dedicated fan, I believe treading in the footsteps of Metaphor Refantazio, much like Metaphor itself, could be an effective strategy for Persona 6. The real-time combat in Metaphor is straightforward, engaging, and fulfilling, making it a seamless addition to the overall gameplay experience. However, after countless hours of hack-and-slash, its simplicity can become repetitive. With this in mind, perhaps Persona 6 could adopt the fundamental principles of Metaphor’s real-time combat and build upon them.

Introducing elements such as an alternative or heavy attack, or possibly more specialized advancement paths for real-time gameplay, would significantly enhance Metaphor’s action-RPG style without compromising its simplicity. By doing so, Persona 6 could become mechanically richer and more robust, all while staying true to Atlus’ growing action-RPG trajectory.

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2025-04-12 17:11