Even though it’s probably years away from release, the legacy of the Phantom Thieves already hangs overPersona 6. The next mainline installation in the series has to tell a story on the same par asPersona 5’s gripping story of teenage rebellion and individuality, introducing new characters who are just as compelling as the Phantom Thieves. At the same time, Atlus has to decide ifPersona 6will have a stronger connection to its predecessor than mostPersonagames do. AlthoughPersonagames generally stand on their own two feet, considering how muchPersona 5has done for the franchise,Persona 6might want to acknowledgePersona 5directly.
If Atlus does want to establish a narrative tie between the two games, then there’s one strong way to do that. Goro Akechi could appear as a supporting NPC inPersona 6,traveling with a new party ofPersonausers and teaching them about their powers while avoiding his own complicated past. Thanks toPersona 5 Royal’s true ending, Akechi’s reemergence in future games seems more likely than ever.Persona 6might be the perfect opportunity to examine his life afterPersona 5and celebrate the legacy of the Phantom Thieves in thePersonafranchise. With Goro Akechi’s help, the Phantom Thieves can leave a lasting impact onPersona 6’s story without taking control of the narrative.Warning:Persona 5 Royalspoilers ahead!
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Why Goro Akechi Could Return
Persona 5leaves Goro Akechi’s ultimate fate dubious but grim, butPersona 5 Royalsuggests something very different. In one ofPersona 5’s last Palaces, Goro Akechi sacrifices himself to save the Phantom Thieves from Shido’s minions, marking a sudden turn in his role as a traitor to Joker and his companions. While that’s meant to be the last players see of him, inPersona 5 Royal,he returns during the third semester to help Joker defeat Takuto Maruki andfree reality from Maruki’s control. Akechi disappears again at the end of this story arc, with Maruki having suggested that he brought Akechi back to life, but players who get the true ending see a post-credits cutscene that suggests Akechi is very much alive.
Since Atlus has already created the possibility that Akechi is alive, it simply has to figure out what he’s doing afterthe events ofPersona 5 Royalin order to integrate him intoPersona 6.It wouldn’t be surprising if Akechi is doing some soul-searching if he’s a free man, considering what he went through as a minion to Masayoshi Shido. Akechi has a lot of fans in thePersonafanbase, so they would certainly appreciate the opportunity to see Akechi grapple with questions of redemption inPersona 6.There’s still a lot of potential left in his character.
Aside from the character-specific reasons that Akechi is worthy of aPersona 6appearance, he’d be a convenient choice for Atlus. Since he’s more of a rival to the Phantom Thieves than a core member of the team, he wouldn’t makePersona 6aboutPersona 5’s main narrative in the same way that an appearance by Joker or any other Phantom Thief would. Akechi’s return inPersona 6would give the game a concrete relationship withPersona 5,attracting fanswho got their start in thePersonafranchisethere, but he’d be distant enough from the Phantom Thieves that it wouldn’t feel like a directPersona 5sequel.
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Akechi’s Potential Role in Persona 6
If Akechi appears, then he could be a valuable guide to the protagonists of the game. He has years of experience in the world of Personas and Shadows, meaning he could share his insight on how this world works with the new Persona users at the center ofPersona 6.While Igor andnon-human party members like Morganausually work together to fill this role, there’s rarely a human expert on Personas. Akechi could break that mold inPersona 6.His mortal and less than neutral perspective on Persona usage would contribute a very different tone to the protagonists' mission inPersona 6,which could go a long way in helping distinguish the game from previous titles.
At the same time, Akechi could contribute a valuable subplot toPersona 6.It’s possible that he appears in the game in disguise, and that his dark past as Shido’s right hand man and personal assassin only comes up later in the game. In the way, he could simultaneously discuss life’s questions withPersona6’s main characterswhile exploring his own crimes and whether he can be redeemed, or whether he needs redemption at all.Personafans have only ever seen Akechi during the darkest time in his life, but there’s a lot of potential in his character when he’s beyond Shido’s influence. Akechi’s troubled relationship with power, revenge, and justice make him a wonderfully complicated guide for thePersona 6party.
An Antihero for Persona 6
On the whole, it’s unclear if Atlus is actually likely to bring back Akechi inPersona 6.On the one hand, his reappearance would be a huge change in thePersonatradition of standalone stories, but on the other hand, it doesn’t seem like Atlus would’ve hinted that Akechi is still alive if it wasn’t considering telling more stories that involve him.Persona 5 Royal’s true ending strongly suggests that Akechi’s story isn’t complete, and that Atlus has more plans in mind forthe antihero of thePersona 5games. IfPersona 5 Royaldoesn’t get its own sequel, then maybePersona 6will be the next venue for Akechi.
Whether Akechi plays a central part inPersona 6or not, Atlus has to address the game’s inheritance fromPersona 5somehow. ThePersonaaudience is bigger than ever thanks to Joker and the Phantom Thieves, meaning a lot of players will usethe storiesPersona 5toldand mechanics it used as a reference point when getting into the next game. Atlus can entice these fans by repeating things thatPersona 5did well, but it can’t repeat the last game wholesale, or else it’ll alienate longtime fans who are used to everyPersonagame being a unique experience. Compromise seems likePersona 6’s potential saving grace, and a supporting role for Goro Akechi seems like a good potential compromise.
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