The characters of the Persona games have always been one of the series' strong points. While the series' JRPG gameplay is tried and true, it's the writing for many prominent characters that give the games their charm. Whether they be party or Social Link characters, good writing is key to making a character memorable.
Social Links are one of the biggest things that give Persona characters an edge over many other RPG franchises, since they provide arcs for many different characters, both in and out of the party. Many of the Persona casts have had stories that have been surprisingly effective for how small of a role they sometimes play. With so many party and Social Links to balance, it's surprising how often Persona characters end up hitting the mark so well.
With the Persona remasters coming out soon, it's appropriate to appreciate the series' best characters. Even with Persona's generally high bar for quality, a few manage to stand out as especially good examples. Each of them manages to be captivating in their own way, and both the skilled fighters and emotionally powerful figures deserve proper recognition.
Haru Okumura Is Persona 5's Best Late-Game Party Member
Haru is a very likable character who is often underappreciated due to debuting late in Persona 5. She is a sweet-natured, somewhat awkward girl whose main flaw is that she has problems standing up for herself. This leads to her struggling to deal with her controlling father and detestable fiancé. However, she has no problem throwing herself into the role of a Phantom Thief, and she shows a lively side in combat, clearly enjoying herself. Her development into a more confident person is a delight to see.
Whether or not one romances Haru in Persona 5, her sweet personality and excellent development make her hard to dislike. It's honestly a shame that she comes so late, because her excitable attitude towards fighting Shadows is quite fun. Her voice actress Xanthe Hyunh does an excellent job of portraying both sides of her personality. Hopefully the P5 remaster brings more fans to appreciate Haru's role in the story.
Shinjiro Aragaki Is Persona 3's Most Tragic Hero
Shinjiro doesn't take an important role in Persona 3's plot until later on, but he has a major impact regardless. He acts like a tough guy, and comes off as a bit rough around the edges before the player gets to know him. However, his rough nature hides an honestly noble and heroic man. His past is tied into Ken's, as he accidentally caused the death of Ken's mother and is guilt-ridden about it. It's a shame that Shinjiro isn't one of P4A Ultimax's playable characters, but P3's story sadly makes that impossible. In one of P3's most emotional moments, he sacrifices himself to save Ken from being killed by Takaya, leaving the rest of the party in shock.
Shinjiro benefits greatly from Persona 3 Portable, which gives him a Social Link with the female protagonist. Not only can this lead to a romantic relationship, but completing the link slightly changes the story so that Shinjiro survives. It's even possible for him to be the one that accompanies her during the final cutscene. For providing one of the game's emotional highs, Shinjiro deserves high praise.
Naoto Shirogane Is A Smart, Ambitious Character In Persona 4
In a unique twist, Naoto s Persona 4's plot well before she s the investigation team. She immediately proves her intelligence by having suspected Kanji as the next victim at the same time as the protagonists. Although her Social Link in Persona 4 is one of the toughest to start, it explains her motivations well. Naoto wants to be a detective, but she fears that since she is a woman, she will not be taken seriously due to societal attitudes at the time. Apart from her ambitions, she plays a very effective straight woman to the rest of the oft-wacky Investigation Team, adding an important element to the dynamic.
Persona 4 Golden was kind to Naoto, giving her persona access to several elements after previously only using the very situational Light and Dark elements. This gave her a useful role in gameplay as well as a fascinating role in the plot. As someone who was on par with the protagonists long before officially ing up with them, Naoto is a character that deserves respect.
Junpei Iori Is Persona 3's Surprisingly Deep Comic Relief
Junpei quickly establishes himself as Persona 3's comic relief character, and in a series with Shin Megami Tensei's often dark themes, that role is appreciated. Whether it's his wisecracking personality or the way he wields his sword like a baseball bat, he's a guy that brings plenty of good times. However, he also has some very emotional moments thanks to his surprisingly sweet relationship with Chidori, and the fact that FES added the ability to prevent her death by talking to Junpei adds to that. Despite acting jealous and immature early on due to his insecurity, he grows into an irable character, and his arc feels more complete than most.
Both of Persona 3's updates improved Junpei further. In FES' The Answer storyline, he comes off as one of the most reasonable and levelheaded of S.E.E.S., and Portable gives him an excellent friendship with the female protagonist in a new Social Link. While Yusuke should have been a P5 romance option, Junpei's Social Link remaining platonic is perfect for both him and the female MC. It would be fair to say that Junpei could be the Persona series' best comic relief, as he's able to pull off both funny and serious moments effectively.
Makoto Niijima Is A Brave Member of Persona 5's Crew
Makoto was trying to make a difference even before Persona 5's story started. The younger sister of Prosecutor Sae Niijima, she has a strong sense of justice similar to P4's Naoto. However, she lacks confidence and feels powerless to make any actual changes. ing the Phantom Thieves gives her the power to fix the world and protect people like she had wanted. Makoto's incredibly cool Persona that takes the form of a motorcycle, as well as her fisticuffs-and-revolvers-based fighting style only add to her appeal. It should also be mentioned that Makoto was a guest character in AFK Arena alongside Joker, giving her a higher profile than some other Persona characters.
Makoto's role in the story feels satisfying because it feels like the player is helping a good person make a difference. Even Makoto's Social Link revolves around her trying to save one of her friends from trouble. In a way, Makoto feels like she could have easily been the game's protagonist had Joker not existed. Out of all the Phantom Thieves, she feels like the most natural hero of the group.
Chie Satonaka Has More Energy Than Anyone In Persona 4
Chie is one of the first friends that the player makes in Persona 4, and one of the strongest personalities that they'll meet. An enthusiastic girl with a love of martial arts, Chie's infectious energy comes through in many scenes, adding a good amount of humor to the game. She also has access to one of the best ways to farm money and experience in Persona 4. Utilizing kicks rather than weapons, Chie gains access to the game's best follow-up attack, Galactic Punt, allowing her to instantly KO any enemy without question. Her enthusiasm helps her form a great duo with her more soft-spoken best friend Yukiko, another useful party member.
Tracey Rooney and Erin Fitzgerald both put in excellent performances as Chie, arguably the best voice acting in Persona 4. Chie's personality comes through in all of her spoken lines, whether she's in a dramatic scene or just casually speaking. She can be over-the-top when necessary, and serious when she needs to be. Chie's infectious personality makes her an easy character to like, and it's unsurprising that Persona 4 Golden broke Steam records with a partner as likable as her around.
Kanji Tatsumi Is Persona 4's Lovable Punk
Kanji makes a strong first impression in Persona 4, being a punkish guy that the party is afraid of. However, he is also one of the series' finest examples of being more than meets the eye. In truth, Kanji is a softhearted guy who cares a lot for his friends. He loves knitting and crafting, but his fear of being judged led him to create his tough delinquent persona, which only turned him into an outcast like he feared. As the team's resident bruiser, both in P4 as well as the recently rereleased Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, he more than makes up for his lack of magic power with raw strength and massive HP reserves.
Kanji combines a cool design with a frequently entertaining character and an honestly heartfelt story. Helping Kanji become comfortable with himself is one of Persona 4's more satisfying social links, especially since it also makes an already good party member even better. He stands out among P4's cast in every way, from his punkish look to his physical combat focus. Kanji is Persona 4's most likable party member, and one with a story that every player should experience. Although there is no set release date for Persona 4 Golden's new ports, Kanji should be a character that everyone looks forward to as soon as they release.
The Persona games have been creating great characters since the beginning, and they are one of the reasons the series got a foothold in the west. With so many likable party , it can be hard to choose who to keep on the team. However, each of the Persona series' best characters richly deserve the player's attention.
