Persona Team producer and director Katsura Hashino recently shared some thoughts on the latest trailer for Persona 5 and the game’s characters. He also talked more about the game’s theme and ideas in a brief interview with Famitsu.
Famitsu starts out by saying it’s been a while since a follow-up on Persona 5, and ask how development is going thus far.
“We’re just about getting an idea of the finishing point as far as the elements we’re putting into the game are concerned, and their quality, so right now we’re in the process of fleshing it out,” responds Hashino. “As we anticipate the release date, we’re all working hard towards our goal everyday while personally thinking ‘with this title, we’ll make everyone happy!’ so please wait just a little longer.”
Next, Famitsu asks if Hashino could share a little more about the theme of Persona 5.
“These days, I believe it isn’t uncommon for people not to know where they’re headed [in life] or to have various problems, be they big or small,” says Hashino. “Accepting the rules and values society deems acceptable isn’t a very fulfilling way to live—and yet, there are those that lack the courage to change the status quo, even as they’re held down by it.”
He continues, “This negative side of modern society is part of the backbone of this title. In the midst of all that, you have these rambunctious high school kids, who fight back against the things that might hold them down. If the game can give people the courage to face everyday life or even act as a trigger for positive change, I believe we will have accomplished our goal.”
Famitsu then asks for more details behind the heroes and the “phantom thief” appearance that they have adopted.
“What if we had a classic phantom thief like Arsène Lupin today—how would he charm people and change society? That is one of the questions that development began with,” explains Hashino.
“There are numerous novels and movies that depict the lives of phantom thieves, but in order to feel the experience of ‘personally’ creating a sensation in the world as a phantom thief, I believe that can only be done through games, and only through this game. Having the player empathize with these characters is the most important point of this title, and right now we’re focusing our efforts on that.”
Persona 5 is in development for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.
Published: Feb 5, 2015 09:53 am