Atlus' iconicPersonagames have become some of the most recognizable titles in the JRPG genre, and have become incredibly popular with fans all over the world, especially in the past several years. EachPersonagame has surpassed the previous one, which isn’t an easy feat, but Atlus has been committed to innovating the JRPG genre while honoring its classics.
ThePersonaseries has continued to use a lot of traditional JRPG mechanics, including turn-based combat, a combination of spoken and text dialogue, and an emphasis on narrative. With a few small exceptions made for spin-offs, thePersonaseries has consistently included many of these traditional elements. Another feature that’s remained consistent inPersonaJRPGs is the silent protagonist.
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The History of the Persona Series and the Silent Protagonist
The originalPersonagame was released in 1996, which means the series will be hitting its25th anniversary this September. Atlushas promised a year-long celebration and teased seven new upcoming projects; obviously, many fans are hoping that one of those projects will bePersona 6.There are a lot of waysPersona 6could be different from its predecessors, but there are several traditions that the series has clung to, including the silent protagonist.
From the very firstPersonaprotagonist Naoya Toudou (also known as “Boy with Earring”) toPersona 5’sJoker,all of thePersonaprotagonistshave been primarily silent. In theory, the silent protagonist allows a player to identify closely with the protagonist and project their personality onto the character. These blank slate protagonists allow each player to have a unique experience.
There are a few dialogue options here and there that can help shape the character’s personality, and of course the story shapes them as well. For the most part though, players are supposed to make the main character their own. It’s debatable how well this works in thePersonaseries, especially considering the protagonists don’t change regardless of player behavior. For better or for worse, the silent protagonist has been consistent throughout thePersonagames.
Fans Have Always Been Divided on Silent Protagonists
Fan opinions on the silent protagonist idea are all over the place. For some, hearing other characters voiced and then not hearing anything from the protagonist is jarring, unnatural, and winds up ruining the immersion. For other fans, there’s nothing wrong with it and the execution of the silent protagonist has only improved with time.Joker’s popularity is evidencethat it can work, but some feel it would be cooler if Joker acted like the charismatic leader he’s billed as.
There are many other games that have silent protagonists, but it works differently in other types of RPGs. The protagonist inSkyrimis also silent, but the effect is different. InSkyrim,players have a ton of control over their character’s personality. The options are endless; the Dragonborn can be a ruthless mass murderer or adopt orphans - or both. The same is not true of thePersonaprotagonists, and it’s worth noting that even Bethesda chose to move to avoiced protagonist inFallout 4.
Most think it’s a good thing thatthePersonaprotagonistshave actual personalities, but the silent protagonist tradition makes it a double-edged sword. Developed characters are great for storytelling, but not quite as great for making the player embody the character themselves. It changes the feel of the game, and it might be time forPersonato finally make the switch to a speaking protagonist.
In Persona, the Silent Protagonist is Not a True Blank Slate
In the originalPersonagame, the protagonist was more of a blank slate. For silent protagonists to accomplish their purpose, being a blank slate is important. As the series grew, the protagonists began having specific personality traits. This started as early asPersona 2: Innocent Sinwith Tatsuya Suou. He’s a quiet, brooding, rebellious type, and his personality is a stark contrast to extreme optimist Maya Amano inPersona 2: Eternal Punishment.
The trend continued inPersona 3,where the protagonist became known for his dark sense of humor and aloof attitude. Yu Narukami, the protagonist ofPersona 4,is very different. Instead of being dark and brooding or overly optimistic, Yu is kind, reserved, and more mature than his fellow high-schoolers. Finally,Persona 5’sprotagonist Jokeris commonly characterized as a “trickster,” and is suggested to be flashy and charismatic. That’s great, but it doesn’t work quite as well when all he does is stand around and nod.
Having developed personalities for the main characters isn’t a bad thing, especially because the protagonists inPersonagames are the leaders of their groups. It doesn’t make much sense for a group to select the dullest person in their company to act as the leader. However, giving them a specific personality means that the silent protagonist tool stops working.
In third-person linear RPGs where the protagonist’s character traits drive the narrative, there’s no point in having a silent protagonist. The player doesn’t even have the option to impose their own personality on the character.Personais an incredible JRPG series, but by trying to help the player embody the protagonist while simultaneously attempting to flesh out the character,Personafails to successfully do either.
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Persona 6 Should Abandon the Silent Protagonist Tradition
It’s possible that fans will start hearing about the next installment soon, and if the previousPersonagames are any indication,P6’spopularity might even surpassPersona 5.It won’t be the end of the world ifPersona 6continues to use the silent protagonist, but considering it has the opportunity to take advantage of the PS5’s next-gen features and capitalize onPersona 5’ssuccess, it’s likely a guaranteed hit that should take a couple of risks.
Some have speculated thatPersona 6could be a genre-defining title for JRPGs, but Atlus shouldn’t play it safe. The nextPersonagame feels like it could be a turning point for the series and for the genre. The silent protagonist trope simply doesn’t work with the type of storytelling thePersonagames have done in the past. IfPersona 6lets the protagonistbecome fully fleshed out and actively lead the group, it could reach a whole new level of storytelling.
Persona 6doesn’t need to be “better” thanPersona 5,but it does need to do something to set itself apart and become special on its own merit. Doing away with some of the things that have kept the series from reaching its full potential is a great place to start. Having a half-developed character that players can’t really relate to isn’t working, but getting rid of the silentprotagonist inPersona 6could turn that trend upside-down.
