There a lot of games out there that add VR support to their games in helpful, meaningful ways. They use the VR experience to either bring a new way to play the game or they create a separate VR game based on the original IP.
Persona 5 does neither of things so the VR support makes no real sense to include. They have included it, however, so I will try my best to explain what it is and why they have done it.
What is Persona 5?
Persona 5 is a modern Japanese roleplaying game (JRPG) with a beautiful mix of anime cutscenes and frantic action. You play the Joker, a daring thief, and a crew of crazy characters that help you throughout the game. You collect "Personas" to help you in combat along the way, hence the name.
The game itself is really very good. The graphics are somewhat unique and blend the anime culture and cel-shaded video game art perfectly. It's a lot of fun and I recommend picking it up if you are a fan of Final Fantasy XV or if you have played any of the other Persona games.
So Persona 5 has a VR mode then?
Not really no. The game itself doesn't actually have a VR mode like we first believed. They have actually created a whole new spin-off game called Persona 5: Dancing Star Night. Dancing Star Night is a dancing game using the truly epic soundtrack to Persona 5 and the characters in the game.
You use the Sixaxis controller to make the characters dance and score points for timely button taps, like the dance games you used to play on the mats. The dancing game has the same vibrant color scheme and anime influences that Persona 5 has but the gameplay is completely different and not connected to the main game.
OK OK, so Dancing Star Night has a VR game mode right?
You would think so wouldn't you? Unfortunately, the VR mode is limited to watching the dancers dance, there is no gameplay for you to actually participate in. Called the VR character viewer, this mode essentially lets you see each of the characters in the game dance along to your favorite track from the game.
That seems to be all that is available for the VR mode in Persona 5 Dancing Star Night which is disappointing, to say the least. With almost zero input from you, the VR experience will be short lived and I think, quite dull.
Well I still want to try it. Where can I buy it?
And here is the 3rd catch, you can't. Well, you can if you live in the Asian markets but here in the US or European market Atlus, the maker of Persona 5 has no plans for a release. There are Japanese versions available on Amazon but no English version is due for release.
Conclusion
I'm really disappointed that this is being touted as a VR mode for Persona 5. With only a passing resemblance to the main game and having no interaction other than choosing the character to watch dance this feels like a complete waste of the PSVR and what it can bring to a game.
Of course, people being the way they are, there are already videos out there of why I don't want to see this game. The first video I saw of actual footage was of someone watching a Japanese schoolgirl from Persona 5 and the player was doing their best to look up her skirt. It immediately put me off the idea of this VR mode.
So yes, there is VR but don't rush out to buy the game based on that, the VR is pointless.
VR mode but not as we know it.
If you are a fan of the Persona series then you will enjoy the character tie-in to Dancing Star Night. The gameplay is fun and light-hearted but don't expect much of anything from the VR mode, its not great.
