What is there to say about Minecraft at this point? I can't really explain how much I adore it. I was one of those kids growing up in the late 2000's-early 2010's and while I haven't been playing Minecraft since it came out or anything, I've sure known about it. So much time spent watching YouTubers and Lets Players and machinimas and skits, it was only when the game was coming to the Xbox 360 that I got to play it since I never had a decent enough computer.

Of course, things changed and I now own Minecraft on PC and all. Minecraft will always be remembered as one of those magical games that helped shape me into who I am today.

I could say a lot about this game. A lot of good... and probably a lot of bad. This might be a long ass review btw.

I'm kinda torn. On one hand, the gameplay is the best in the series to me (that I've played, haven't gotten to 1 or 2 yet) and the QoL changes are incredibly welcome. Music is lovely as always. But I mean... then there's everything else. There's some good characters here, but all the ones I actually care for a lot are A. Characters added in for/expanded in Royal, or B. Side characters that are just optional confidants like Iwai. The actual main cast of characters we spend a lot of time on? I don't like them so much.

Same goes for the story, mostly. It starts off fairly strong, but everything after is of such varying quality to me. Forgettable or just a bit of a painful slog to get through. The third semester is undeniably the absolute best part of the story. Which is honestly CRAZY considering the fact that it was Not. In. Vanilla! And you have to meet certain requirements to experience it, so one may not even get to experience it!

Again, the story's quality is a lot more up and down than the previous games in this modern trilogy. I was left thankful when it was all over, where before I never wanted it to end Third semester the exception, of course. And, back to the characters now. To me personally, all of the main cast are fine individually, with an exception (cough cough makoto xd).

Like, yeah. I like Ann. Ryuji's cool. Yusuke's fun, blah blah blah. But when you put them ALL together, as one unit? It's just like there's no chemistry there, especially after coming off of Persona 4 Golden where there's so damn MUCH of it. They can be fun and fine in small groups. But again, all together? I dunno what happens, man. I wish the group didn't feel so bland and boring to me, but they just do, and it drags the story down even further.

I may have said the gameplay is the best in the series to me. I had a blast (even though complaints could be made about difficulty) but the thing is, story and characters are very important too. ESPECIALLY in this type of game. You're spending dozens of hours with these characters. If them and the story are leaving much to be desired? Well, the gameplay can't carry everything.

Now, I spent 118 hours on it. Yeah, 100 hours seems to be around the usual time to complete the game, but given I completed it at ALL I'd say it shows I don't hate it or anything. I like Persona 5 Royal, I just wish I adored it like the other games. I might revisit it in the future, but if I do it's most likely going to be strictly for the gameplay unless I'm in the very first and very last arcs.