When I say a game is “one of the best of all time”, you should know I mean it. When it comes to me, I rarely put a game at such a high level. In fact, I am bold enough to say this is one of the defining pieces of media of our generation. It’s hard to review Persona 5 Royal without repeating things I’ve already said about Persona 5, but for once in a lifetime I am not annoyed by having to repeat myself. The game is excellent. I should start with the visual style, which is hands down the most appealing in any game I’ve ever played.

All of the menus, even the most insignificant ones that some players could miss are filled with detail and have a unique flow to them. If you need weapons, you visit the Untouchable airsoft shop and the menus explode in green and yellow flare with a military flare. The menus are simply excellent and if these menus weren’t so good, I wouldn’t even be talking about them. Persona 5 went above and beyond what an average game would do with menus.

The music is some of the best I’ve heard in a video game, with vibrant jazz and rock when you battle as a Phantom Thief, and funky beats when you’re living your daily life. The new tracks added into Royal are excellent, with new battle themes that change depending on your approach. In a regular battle, the iconic Last Surprise will play, but if you ambush an enemy, you get the brand new Take Over. Every piece of music sets the mood and fits perfectly in every scene. I cannot praise Shoji Meguro and his team enough. The amazing visuals and foot tapping music come together to give this game one of the most unique styles ever.

The gameplay is split into two sections: Daily Life, in which you live like a normal student. You can go to the movie theater, work a part-time job, go hangout with your friends or even study. The other section is Thievery, in which you infiltrate the Metaverse as Phantom Thieves to fight turn-based battles and use Persona powers. Time plays a very important role, as you can’t repeat any days and you have to plan your use of time accordingly to not miss deadlines that can cause a game over. What Persona 5 does incredibly well is balance these two completely different phases, yet everything you do contributes to your progress. This liberty that Persona 5 gives you is reassuring that games should let the players explore and decide what they do in the world. The story of this game is perfect. It is a picturesque, excellently written perspective on the metaphorical chains holding down the main characters from freedom. Every character evolves naturally, with potent character development that is in some characters even stronger than others.

The new third semester introduces a final palace and story arc to be resolved, with a new ending and a definitive conclusion to the story of Persona 5. I won’t spoil anything in this section, but the new arc is the best in the entire game. The writing just improves across the board and the brand new palace is my new favorite, with absolutely stunning visuals and THE most emotional moments in the whole game. We’re also introduced to new characters way before this, though, with Kasumi Yoshizawa and Takuto Maruki. These two are an incredible addition to the story of the game. Kasumi is an extremely likable, fun character to play as with badass abilities and a good backstory. Takuto Maruki’s growth and personality are so realized and well written that I am confident in saying he’s one of my favorite characters in any game ever. Goro Akechi’s story is rebuilt, which makes him a more likable character with more development. The new Thieves’ Den, in which you can view and interact with many collectibles that document the history of Persona 5 in its entirety, is a very special new area for me. This being a place in which you can reminisce about the game, it made me very emotional as I rewatched cutscenes, interacted with character models and just remembered how much fun I had along the way. Royal pulls no punches and everything it changes, like balancing things and palace redesigns, feels improved upon. Every new thing makes it better and every retouch improves on the experience.

Persona 5 Royal so meticulously expands on what Persona 5 had done before that I don’t think I can ever go back to the original. Every old thing retouched is improved upon to masterclass standards and every new addition is equal to the mastery of the rebalancing. Anyone can have a different opinion of the game, but personally, this game had a potent impact on me and is a gaming experience that I will certainly never forget. This is the definitive way to experience Persona 5 and one of the most enjoyable journeys I've embarked on with a game. I enjoyed it so much, it led to what is perhaps my longest review I've written with near cringe-inducing levels of praise, but what can I say? Persona 5 as a whole changed my life and I feel like I grew up with the characters as the story developed. What an unforgettable experience.