in China, we have a famous meme for Persona 5: “P5 is the best in the world!” Then there’s a completely different game — Yakuza: Like a Dragon — which we nicknamed: “Your party is a group of tattooed, unemployed middle-aged guys, but it plays like a Persona game.”
The funniest part isn’t the translation of the Chinese title “Goddess Chronicle” (which is nothing like “Persona” as “mask”). It’s the contrast: The most serious yakuza faces performing the most chuunibyou turn-based actions — plus Ichiban’s afro. Perfect.
When I first played Yakuza 7, it felt weirdly connected to Persona 5. So I went to a Chinese forum and asked: “Is there a gender-swapped Persona 5?” People laughed and said, “Aren’t you asking on purpose?” I was confused for a few seconds, then we all burst out laughing.
(For Chinese speakers: I originally asked for “Male Goddess Chronicle” — ridiculous, I know.)
So my question to Western players: What do you think of this meme culture unique to Chinese players? Share your funniest thoughts.
I may be quite off topic but I really don’t get all the comparisons of Yakuza Like A Dragon to Persona series. It sure is an RPG but its battle system is so goddamn boring. There are aspects of building relationships with party member but it so mediocre I didn’t feel I have any impact on what was going on, as if I watched some plain cutscenes and there is no time management aspect. I really wanted to like this game but i ended giving it up halfway because I just wasn’t having fun.
“That’s a fair point. But maybe the real difference is: Persona 5 is about the confusion of being young, while Yakuza 7 is about the weariness of being middle-aged. Different vibes for different stages of life.”
That sounds pretty entertaining, reminds me of when DOOM Eternal and Animal Crossing New Horizons came out near each other and people made memes and fanart with both of them.
(art by third_cookie)
In China, you can casually buy super violent games like DOOM without any issue. But the cozy, wholesome Animal Crossing? You basically have to use secret signals or special methods just to get a copy. Some people started causing trouble and sharing inappropriate stuff inside the game, so Chinese online stores ended up banning it entirely. That’s why we Chinese players gave Animal Crossing a hilarious nickname: “Buff Dudes Picking Twigs.”
Haha, can you guess why we Chinese players call Animal Crossing “Buff Dudes Picking Twigs”?It fits so perfectly
I wish I could get into the persona games. It’s so intimidating seeing so many versions of it. It feels like there’s 20 versions of each persona game. I wouldn’t know which one to pick and which version of it.
There are only 3 games really. All these various versions are just cash grabs because Atlus loves selling same thing multiple times.
Go to Persona 5 Royaj for p5, Persona 4 Golden or the upcoming remake for p4 and for Persona 3 Reloaded or Persona 3 Portable for p3. It doesn’t really make sense to play multiple versions of these games, unless you are super invested in the mechanics, and installments 1 and 2 are quite different games.
Once you’re familiar with these and want to spend more time with the characters, you can try spinn-offs like Strikers or Tactica, but bear in mind they are quite different from the main series.
If you like collecting and fusing demons go to other Shin Megami Tensei games (I recommend SMT3 Nocturne and SMT5 Vengeance). If you want more supernatural high school drama, try PSP version of Persona 2. (Perhaps 1 too but i haven’t played it yet.)
Just start with Persona 5 Royal which is on Steam and is regularly discounted. Fanatical currently have it on sale.
While there is debate about which game is the best, if you don’t at least somewhat like P5R, you probably won’t like the series.
You’re not wrong.
On that note, I’ve seen poor Ichiban get betrayed in the worst ways, and then he just turns around and says “you betrayed me‽ Well, you just made a friend for life!” and everyone just rolls with it.