Kotone Shiomi, the female protagonist ofPersona 3 Portable, has been in two games as opposed to the male protagonist, Makoto Yuki. While Kotone gets featured insome official materials, she’s always portrayed as non-canonical. Even her appearance inPersona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, the only other game she appears in, is treated as an anomaly.
But Kotone’s inclusion inPersona 3 Reload, the upcoming remake ofPersona 3, would be a smart move. Herpersonality, dialogue options, cutscenes, and narrative additions inPersona 3Portablecreated a refreshing perspective and aviable alternative takeon the story. There’s still time for Atlus to bring this underserved protagonist in and create new dimensions toPersona 3 Reloadinstead of making a simple remake.
6More Character Customization Options
Atlusis protective of their characters and their look. Striking character design is important forPersona’s storytelling and staying power as a franchise. Every character has a distinct personality, and the same goes even for the series’ silent protagonists.
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That’s why the introduction of costumes that changed character models and portraits was a welcome change. With two protagonists, the potential forcostume-based character customizationdoubles. If Atlus expands it, it can even be a test run for whatever costume system they implement forPersona 6.
5Exclusive Persona Variations
Kotone’s version of Orpheus has a color scheme that complements her, just as Makoto’s Orpheus shares his. But with her inclusion, similar variations can be introduced for key Personas. Orpheus, for example, could be a start. Instead of having Orpheus, Kotone could have Eurydice. Aside from adding another layer of contrast between the main characters, unlockingOrpheus and Eurydicefor the Persona Compendium can add incentive for replays. It can even introduce a Persona trading system for players of the same level and game progression.
It’s also a brilliant way of introducing more demons from otherShin Megami Tenseititles that have not made their way toPersonagames. Old favorites fromPersona 1andPersona 2can also make their way back.
4Alternative Social Links
So far, it seemsReloadwill retain Makoto’soriginal Social Links. The diversity of his links’ demographics in terms of age, gender, and moral alignment made the original game interesting. But it also means extra legwork to make up for the Social Links lost by not including Kotone.
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Kotone’s Social Links include S.E.E.S. male members, something Atlus announced they will compensate for losing with additional mechanics. She can even remain friends with them if players don’t feel likewooing the boys, something Makoto could not avoid for any female option aside from Mitsuko and Maiko.
3Alternate Story Interpretation
ThePersonaseries is defined by its tough-as-nails fights,cosmic horror, and subversive elements.Persona 3continued the tradition, butPortablein particular added an alternative take on the main story. Makoto is aloof and antisocial at the beginning of the game. He is fundamentally changed by the relationships he forms and finds new meaning in life. By the end, he embraces death to protect humanity because he finally understands that while everyone will eventually die, the act of living has worth in itself.
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Meanwhile, Kotone is Makoto’s polar opposite in terms of personality, and her coping mechanisms. She is relentlessly cheerful, which is reflected in her unique Social Links and dialogue in shared links with Makoto. This is her mask, the persona she presents to the world, and without it, she and Makoto are mirrors who share the same trauma and hollow emotions.
Kotone’s positivity and Makoto’s apathy are perfect complements and valid responses to their phobia of losing people, depression, and trauma. Their struggle with grief, recovery from trauma, and contention with the concept ofmemento mori, or the inevitability of death, is different but ends in a place of hopefulness.
2Replayability
After the last point, it should go without saying that having a female protagonist will improvethe game’s replayability. New Game+ aside, a completely new take on the main story, along with exclusive Social Links and Personas, would extend the game’s shelf life.
Many triple-A titles havealmost no replay valuebecause everything could be accomplished in one go. But having Kotone around ensures players can go through the game again with fresh eyes. Bonuses from New Game+ will also eliminate or make tedious parts of the game easier, allowing the player to focus on changes to the story, character relationships, and the world.
1Maya & Persona 6
By re-introducing Kotone, Atlus can ease into the concept of having a female protagonist again. It can also bring Maya Amano andPersona 2back.Persona 2was radical and dark, and embraced transgressive topics in a way that would be lauded in modern games. Alongside thetasteful portrayal of Jun’s sexuality,Persona 2treated its male and female protagonists, Tatsuya Suou and Maya, with equal respect.
Maya is the first female protagonist of the series, and the only adult main character in the franchise’s 27-year history. She was also ahead of Kotone in providing the optimism that the male main character lacked. Maya was also criticalto Persona 2’s main plot for both its installments. Her story, role, and response to it can still strike a chord with modern audiences if rumor-riddledPersona 5’spopularity is any indication. In addition to Maya, bringing Kotone back can open the possibility of a femalemain character inPersona 6.
Japanese magazine Dengeki Playstation created apoll back in 2016for people who boughtPersona 5. Nearly half of the respondents who bought the game or 43.5% were women, while 52.6% were aged 20 to 29. It’s not inconceivable that Maya, or a Maya-type protagonist forPersona 6, could find a profitable audience.
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