PERSONA 5 TIPS: HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF THE SOCIAL SIMULATOR, DUNGEON CRAWLER HYBRID

After a couple of delays, Persona 5 has finally been released into the United States on April 4.

For both fans of the long-running Japanese RPG franchise and newcomers to the series, here are some tips on how to make the most out of your Persona 5 playthrough.

Always Save
Stay As Long As You Can In Dungeons
Save SP
Use Your Sense Skill
Spend Time With Confidants
Accept The Fact That You Will Not Achieve Everything
Enjoy The Game

As with any RPG, saving as often as you can could spell the difference between an enjoyable playthrough and a disastrous one. Fortunately, chances to save in Persona 5 are plentiful, and it is best to do so just in case you mess up something such as making a poor decision or fusing away one of your favorite Personas.

It is also recommended that players create multiple saves, so that there is an option to go back at a certain point in the game in case things are not going well in the current save.

Every day counts in the calendar system of Persona 5, so once you decide to enter a dungeon, make sure that you stay as long as possible to maximize the day.

Dungeons, or "Palaces" as referred to in the game, are always best tried to be completed long before the deadline, as trying to complete one on the last possible day and failing will lead to a game over screen. Staying as long as possible in dungeons to progress as far as possible on each visit will prevent such a thing from happening.

One of the ways that players can stay long inside Palaces is by conserving their SP, which is what is used for casting magic. Players who burn all their SP right away by spamming magic right from the start of a dungeon will find it more difficult to make considerable progress.

While reducing reliance on magic and increasing dependence on physical attacks will likely lead to more HP lost for the player's characters, there are many more items and magic that can cure HP compared to those that recover SP.

The Sense skill, which can be activated by holding the L1 button, shows players specific paths that they can take in each Palace, as well as items that can be acquired and later sold.

The Sense skill is not only useful in dungeons though, as when used in the real world, it will highlight the places that the player can visit and the people that they can talk to.

Persona 5 is not just a dungeon crawler, but also a social simulator. Spending time and building up relationships with confidants, referred to as Social Links in previous Persona games, will make Personas stronger and unlock unique skills.

The recommended confidants to focus on are the other members of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, namely, the Lovers, Chariot, Emperor, Priestess, Hermit, and Empress, as well as Temperance, Death, Sun, and Moon.

Persona 5 may seem like an overwhelming game at the start, especially for players who think that they could have a perfect game that includes maxing out all confidant levels, acquiring all Personas, reading every book, completing every request, and more.

While the feat is statistically possible, doing so will require a strict formula that will be very difficult to stick to, and will likely get in the way of the last tip.

The massive content offered by Persona 5 is not there to overwhelm players, but to offer near countless possibilities. As such, perhaps the best tip that can be given for gamers is to simply enjoy the spectacle that is Persona 5, and worry about the details much later.