IfPersona 6does have two protagonists like some rumors imply, then it may be time to bring back a mechanic from aPersonaspin-off. So far, fans have little more than rumors aboutPersona 6to work off of, and many of those rumors may not end up being accurate. However, some of the ideas floating around could admittedly make for an interesting twist to the formula. The dual protagonist rumor is a major example of this for several reasons. If that rumor comes true, thenPersona 6could combine it with another way to shake up the status quo.
A prominentrumor aboutPersona 6’s protagonistis that the game will actually have two protagonists. Admittedly, it wouldn’t be the firstPersonatitle to do so, but other instances involved special circumstances. ThePersona Qgames were spin-offs featuring multiple parties, while thePersona 2duology consisted of two separate games with different parties in each, and therefore different protagonists. If the rumor holds water, thenPersona 6’s dual protagonists would likely represent a major shift in the formula. From there, it would be interesting to see how the protagonists were handled, and how they would shapePersona 6’s dynamics.
Sub-Personas Could Be a Perfect Compliment to Two Protagonists in Persona 6
Persona’s Protagonists Always Have the Wild Card Ability
It should be noted that, in addition toPersona’s protagonists using the Fool arcana, they also always have the Wild Card ability. The Wild Card is the trait that grants them the power to change their Personas and possess multiple Personas at once, unlike the other party members. Gameplay-wise, the Wild Card is the reason why collecting Personas is so important, since they are the reason why the player can use them in the first place, even though the protagonists always have starting Personas. However, if both ofPersona 6’s protagonists are Wild Cards, it could make them less distinct from each other, so a new approach may be warranted.
Adding Sub-Personas Would Dramatically Change Persona 6’s Party Setups
One way to work with dual protagonists would be to introduceSub-Personas inPersona 6. Originally appearing in thePersona Qspin-offs, Sub-Personas are effectively modifications to existing Personas. In those games, every party member’s Persona was fixed, including the protagonists', and they can instead equip Sub-Personas. Sub-Personas grant all of their known skills to the Personas that they are equipped to, making them a way to mix-and-match skills among the party. This approach would be a major formula change from other mainlinePersonatitles. At the same time, it would do plenty to helpPersona 6stand out in the series.
Sub-Personas also appeared as a mechanic inPersona 5 Tactica, so there’s recent precedent for them appearing again.
Persona Can Already Connect Multiple Protagonists With Sub-Personas
There is already an explanation ready in case Sub-Personas end up being one ofPersona 6’s new features. According toPersona Q, the ability to use Sub-Personas emerges in the presence of two Wild Card users, at the cost of the Wild Cards being unable to change their Personas as usual. While that game was a spin-off, the same explanation could work inPersona 6. The presence of two Wild Cards in its own right may require some extra explanation, considering how unusual it is for the series norm. However, it remains that there is a good way to explain such a gameplay shift.
Bringing back Sub-Personas could be a solid option ifPersona 6has two protagonists. In addition to bringingsomething new toPersona 6’s Velvet Room, it would provide players with a new way to approach the game strategically. By augmenting the same Personas rather than swapping them out, the metagame would change significantly. Not to mention, this would also let players edit their party members in ways that few otherPersonagames allow.Persona 6may be able to combine dual protagonists and Sub-Personas to create a winning combination.
