Never in my life did I expect to even dare play through a game like ‘Persona 5’. I always found RPGs of this ilk to be daunting due to their obscene lengths and absurd content density. So obviously my decision to play through it was a bit more conscientious than when I usually pick out a game to play. Throughout the first six to ten hours or so I was genuinely underwhelmed. I was able to appreciate the distinct style within its visuals, music, and overall presentation. The vigorous black and red color pallet gave the world a comic-like esthetic, and the music backing it up maintained its groovy, rock melodies throughout. That being present didn't change how I viewed the slow introduction. It was far too linear and constrictive for my tastes, but in a way it was necessary. Taking its time to build upon its core mechanics with social links being formed between your friends and the way the turn-based combat worked made for a comprehensive experience. Due to the absurd amounts of content I mentioned, it made sense why the game wanted to slowly spoonfeed information. Still, it didn't make those dull hours anymore enjoyable, but it ultimately led to the absorbing gameplay loop. That loop of both fleshing out your relationships and fighting off supernatural beings within the hearts of corrupted adults was unlike any circuit I've partaken in before. It was never constantly good (let's face it, with a narrative this long there were bound to be noticeable dips in quality in terms of writing) but even the terrible drivel that showed up gave way for hilariously awkward moments. Though I'd argue there were more moments of sincerity and genuinely enjoyable conversations between your friends. My favorite moments of gameplay came from simply talking with my buddies and partaking in the several activities around the cities to boost my social stats. The dungeon crawling and turn-based combat was surprisingly fun and linked well to the social link mechanic with combat upgrades present within them. From my initial playthrough, I did enjoy my time with it. It had glaring flaws narratively, but I'll be more comfortable digging into them upon a second playthrough. As far as first impressions go, this one somehow managed to capture me despite its ninety-hour run time.