Summary
Persona 5: The Phantom Xcan be considered an expansion of the Phantom Thieves' adventure, even though it’s set in an alternate universe. Instead of Joker and the rest of the original cast,The Phantom Xintroduces a new set of Phantom Thieves led by protagonist Wonder, who are still driven by the goal of “stealing” and changing corrupt people’s hearts.
The great thing about having an alternate universe is thatPersona 5: The Phantom Xis not only able to create its own story, but it’s also able to rewrite it. This is whyGoro Akechi is a playable characterin the mobile game, despite being canonically dead in the originalPersona 5universe. Likewise, this could open doors for other characters to join the fray, such asPersona 3’s female protagonist, who didn’t show up inPersona 3 Reload.
Persona 5: The Phantom X Could Give Persona 3’s Female Protagonist the Spotlight She Deserves
Also known as “FeMC” by fans, Minako Arisato or Kotone Shiomi is the female counterpart ofPersona 3’s main protagonist, Makoto Yuki. She only appears inPersona 3 Portable, and because the game’s story originally focuses on Makoto’s experiences, FeMC’s story is considered non-canonical and occurs in a separate timeline. WhenPersona 3 Reloadwas first announced, many were hopeful that FeMC would make her much-awaited return, butAtlus decided to skip the female protagonist for the remake. Producer Kazushi Wada cited that it would be difficult to include FeMC inPersona 3 Reloaddue to the lack of time and costs, which is understandable, but many fans were still upset.
This is wherePersona 5: The Phantom Xcould come in, as it could jump on the chance to makePersona 3’s FeMC a playable character in the future. She is described as the polar opposite of the male protagonist with the same backstory, and herstarting Persona is also Orpheus, who is gold with red accents. Meanwhile, FeMC’s Social Links are slightly different, which at least gives fans a renewed experience after completing Makoto’s run.
Most ofPhantom X’s main characters are new, and the original Phantom Thieves also make an appearance in the game to help out Wonder and his peers. What this tells fans is thatPhantom Xcould be an effective platform to bring together differentPersonauniverses to create an exciting world that feels brand-new and, at the same time, familiar. The appearance ofPersona 3’s FeMC in the game could give her an opportunity to live a life that’s not exclusively tied to Makoto’s lore, and ultimately, resolve fans' complaints about not adding the female protagonist to the remake.
The Pros and Cons of Persona 5: The Phantom X’s FeMC
Perhaps the only caveat to this is thatPersona 5: The Phantom Xwould likely make the FeMC a limited banner character, just like Akechi. Similar to any gacha game,Phantom Xlaunches exclusive banner characters with Personas in every big update, allowing players to pick the ones they want on their rosters, especially when facing powerful enemies. Likewise, many players also invest money to complete their virtual collection of banner characters. While the feeling of playing with gacha mechanics can be addictive, it can also be seen as a potential challenge to fans who want to finallyplay asPersona 3’s FeMC. Still, it’s undeniable that fans would likely take the chance and pull for her if the opportunity presents itself.
WithPersona 5: The Phantom Xsoon getting a Western launchsoon, FeMC could be an interesting addition to the game’s roster, making the rollout even more special if she’s part of the limited-time banner. Likewise, the gacha game could help market Atlus' future games, such as the rumoredPersona 4remake andPersona 6, and include crossovers if possible.
