Looking Back at the 1996 Release That Laid the Groundwork for Persona
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Polygon looks back at the 1996 release of the original Persona, exploring how a high school-focused spinoff transformed Atlus and paved the way for modern RPG history.
As players eagerly await the eventual arrival of Persona 6, it is easy to forget just how far back this massive franchise actually stretches. Writing for Polygon, Jason Venter explores the roots of the series, noting that the very first entry launched for the original PlayStation back in September 1996 under the title Megami Ibunroku Persona. Before that release, developer Atlus primarily focused on the much harsher and more sprawling Megami Tensei series, which kept players busy battling for the fate of the entire planet rather than navigating the complex social lives of teenagers.
The shift toward a more intimate setting actually began a bit earlier with Shin Megami Tensei If, a Super Famicom title released in 1994 that took place inside a demon infested high school. That smaller scale and focus on adolescent emotional struggles provided the blueprint for Persona, which traded traditional epic fantasy tropes for high school hallways, fortune telling games, and modern supernatural phenomena. While the original release in North America underwent significant localization changes and censorship, it established core mechanics like elemental combat and mythologically inspired adversaries that still define the series today.
Today, the original Persona is viewed more as a fascinating historical artifact than a game most modern players return to regularly, especially since the PSP remake released in 2009 offers a much smoother experience. Even though revisiting the 1996 original requires a bit of patience by current design standards, the entire modern landscape of stylish RPGs looks radically different because Atlus decided to take a gamble on a smaller and more personal sci-fi fantasy spinoff three decades ago.
Tags: Persona, Atlus, RPG, Retro Gaming, PlayStation
Original article: Polygon