Video Game Review: Persona 5 The Royal

On July 19, 2021July 18, 2021 By AllieS.In Video GamesLeave a comment

Persona 5: The Royal is an enhanced and slightly retooled version of Persona 5. Where you play as the protagonist who has been sent to Tokyo after being put on probation for assault and is attending a new school Shujin Academy. During his time there he gains the powers of Persona and uses them to traverse the Metaverse with other Persona users to destroy and change the distorted desires of different people and society. In the end you fight the main bad guy an evil politician, Masayoshi Shido, and the god of control. You basically defeat the god of control with the power of friendship.

I loved the original Persona 5 and I also love Persona 5 The Royal however one is not better than the other. Its just a different take and characters but ultimately the same basic story. If you liked the original, you will like Person 5 The Royal. However, with the amount of changes, new characters, and the third semester add on it couldn’t just be a DLC as it changes too many things in the base game. I will give a brief rundown of some of the changes but to really talk about Persona 5 The Royal I will have to get into spoilers and must assume that you know the main story of the original game.

So changes that have been made are: two new confidants, a new character in Mementos, and expanding Akechi’s confidant, a third semester with a completely new story, new locations and activities to do with friends, and multiple changes to palaces, battles, and Mementos.

In general, the main story is same as it was in the original with tweaks made to make Mementos and palaces more interesting. Such as new boss battle stages and Jose in Mementos who can change the cognition of Mementos so you can gain money, EXP, and items faster. The main story changes come with the new confidants: Kasumi Yoshizawa, a young gymnast who transfers to Shujin at the same time as the protagonist and Takuto Maruki, a school counselor who comes in after the actions of Kamoshida are brought to light. Also Akechi’s confidant mostly no longer advances as part of the game you must hang out with him to advance his story which gives us more insight into who he really is. To get to the third semester you must max their confidants before fighting Shido otherwise you just get the original ending.

On to the new story, as you befriend Kasumi you find out that she and her now deceased twin sister always planed to become world famous gymnast together and she has some guilt that her sister isn’t with her. She also awakens a Persona but doesn’t become a Phantom Thief and her confidant gives you better ambush abilities in the Metaverse. Maruki as the school counselor listens to all the problems of the main characters and has an interest in cognitive Psience, with his confidant increasing SP and allowing it to recover when low.

After you defeat the god of control, Sae will ask you to turn yourself in to help prosecute Shido however now Akechi shows up will to confess everything as he survived Shido’s palace. On January 1, when you are planning on a shrine visit with Kasumi when things start to change. These changes include Morgana being human, Futaba’s mother, Haru’s father, and Makoto’s father not being dead, and all the horrible things that have happen to the character never happening. Only the protagonist and Akechi know that this is not how the world is suppose to be. You find out that Maruki has a Persona and a palace. He is using his power and the information given to him during counseling sessions to stop all the bad things in the world from happen and make the world a “better” place.

While traversing Maruki’s palace you find out that the Kasumi that you knew is really Sumire Yoshizawa who blamed herself for her sisters death and decided that it would be better if she became Kasumi as Kasumi was better at everything and the one Sumire perceived everyone wanted. She doesn’t want the world to go back to how it was as she doesn’t want to be Sumire anymore. Its hard to say that this world is a bad ending since the events that made life horrible never happen however my issue with Maruki’s concept is why does Sumire’s wish to be Kasumi supersede what is most likely her parents wish to have both of their daughters back. In a world where nothing bad ever happens and no one struggles what is there to strive for.

If you plan to reject Maruki’s world you end up finding out that Akechi really is dead and defeating Maruki will return the world to what was meant to happen. So the protagonist will end up in juvenile dentation and Akechi is gone. However, the changes Maruki made caused our cast of characters to realize that they still can persuse their own dreams and its implied that Akechi didn’t die.

Ultimately, I love both the original Persona 5 and Persona 5 The Royal and I don’t feel like the existence of Royal makes the original a lesser game. The changes to the game added about an additional 30 hours of game play on Easy and I expect a little longer on a harder setting. I only thing I do like a little better with Royal is the determination of all the characters at the end to peruse their own paths and dreams while staying friends.

May 2021 Fairyloot

On June 25, 2021June 24, 2021 By AllieS.In Book Box, FairylootLeave a comment

Fairyloot is a Young Adult book subscription box focusing on fantasy based out of the UK. Each month you receive a new Young Adult hardback book and 5-6 bookish goodies. Like most book boxes the hardback are special editions and the items are a combination of both practical things and more decorative items. May’s theme is Spellcraft.

The bookish items included this month are a Throne of Glass inspired tumbler, a wooden phone stand, Serpent and Dove foiled coasters, a Crave art print, the monthly tarot cards, and the TBR Game. The TBR Game came with a pad of number paper and a 20 sided die, you write down books that you are interested in and then roll the die to determine which one you will read.

All Fairyloot books come with exclusive covers and are signed by the author. This time the book also has stenciled edges, artwork on the revers of the dust jacket, and foiling on the hardback. This months book is Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart. This is a Jamaican inspired fantasy where two enemy witches must join each other to take out a common enemy.

June’s theme is Animal Companions.

May 2021 Illumicrate

On June 21, 2021June 20, 2021 By AllieS.In IllumicrateLeave a comment

Illumicrate is a UK based fantasy and science fiction book box that has monthly boxes or just a monthly book only subscription. Each box also includes a selection of bookish goodies some more practical, others more decorative set around a monthly theme. May’s theme is Change Your Stars.

The items included in this box are a Spinning Silver book sleeve, a Girls of Paper and Fire Dress enamel pin, a sketchbook, a Daevabad Trilogy inspired tea tin, an the new collectable item an enamel key.

Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and has a letter from the author. This months book is The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri which also came with a signed book plate, stenciled edges, and foiling on the hardback. The story follows Malini who has been imprisoned by her brother in the ancient Temple Hirana her maidservant, Priya comes every night to clean but she is hiding her true nature. When Malini sees Priya true nature their destinies become entangled and they will change the fate of the empire.

June’s theme is Out of the Woods.

May 2021 Wrap Up

On June 18, 2021June 17, 2021 By AllieS.In Wrap UpLeave a comment

In May I only read three books but I did start a new part time job recentlyke and I’m still getting used to going back to work. I also have been playing Persona 5 The Royal and I’m past the half way point in the game. I hope to finish Persona 5 sometime in the next month or so and post a full review for it.

Books:

Keeping Their Marbles: how the treasures of the past ended up in museums…and why they should stay there by Tiffany Jenkins is a museum nonfiction book about how museum collections ended up in museums, why they should stay in the museums, and a discussion of the place and purpose of museums. I really liked this book as it articulated many things that I personally believe but didn’t know how to best put it into words. This book is great for those in the museum field or those that want to better understand museums.

Five Nights at Freddy’s Fazbear Frights #6: Blackbird by Scott Cawthon is the sixth short story collection set in the FNAF world. The first two stories are not as connected to Freddy’s or the different characters from the Pizzeria but I like seeing different aspects of this world. Overall, I liked this collection more as less horrible things happened to people in the wrong place at the wrong time or dumb kids being kids. However, the small section of the story at the end that connects all the book did get a bit too ridiculous.

Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers is the third book in the Wayfarers series. This one focuses primarily on life in the Exodus Fleet that consists of the descendants of the humans who left Earth but never settled on another planet but just stayed in the Fleet. I love this series but I found that this book had too many perspectives of characters that I didn’t like. I ended up skimming some of the perspectives and think that I would have liked this story better if there had been less characters. I do plan on reading the next book in the series.

May 2021 OwlCrate

On June 4, 2021June 3, 2021 By AllieS.In Book Box, OwlCrateLeave a comment

Owl Crate is a young adult book subscription box where every month you receive one new hardcover book and an assortment of bookish goodies connected to the monthly theme. Some of these items are very practical and some are better suited as décor or for a pin/bulletin board. May’s theme is Expect the Unexpected.

Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. This months items include a Rule of Wolves scarf, a corduroy bag with a quote from Obsidio on it, a Gilded Wolves vinyl Sticker, a metal tassel bookmark with quote on it, and the second book tin is the series inspired by the Shades of Magic.

Every month Owl Crate has a new young adult hardback book that has an exclusive cover, is signed and comes with a letter from the author. The enamel pin that is in every box is also inspired by that months book. This months book is The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He which also comes with a foil design on the hardback. This book is being described as the YA thriller We Were Liars meets Black Mirror and add in a little Studio Ghibli which sounds really cool.

June’s theme is Go Your Own Way.

April 2021 Illumicrate

On May 24, 2021May 21, 2021 By AllieS.In Book Box, IllumicrateLeave a comment

Illumicrate is a UK based fantasy and science fiction book box that has monthly boxes or just a monthly book only subscription. Before I was getting the book only subscription but the extra cost of the full box wasn’t that much more so I have switched to the full box. Each box also includes a selection of bookish goodies some more practical, others more decorative set around a monthly theme. April’s theme is Dearly Departed.

The items included in this box where a Book of the Dead book pot (planter shaped like a book), a canvas book organizer inspired by Nevernight, a Mason jar drinking glass from Jacques restaurant featured in The Beautiful, a set of magnets inspired by Gideon the Ninth, and a sickle keyring.

Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and has a letter from the author. Every month there is also an enamel pin that is inspired by that months book. This months book is In the Ravenous Dark by A.M Strickland which also has stenciled edges. In the world of Thanopolis those who have magic are assigned undead spirits to guard them. Rovan has been hiding her powers but after the death of her father she finds herself trust into a world of intrigue and deception. To escape she finds herself connecting to a rebellious princes and a handsome spirit but to save them all Rovan will have to start a rebellion and find a way to trust those who might just betray her.

May’s theme is Change Your Stars.

April 2021 Fairyloot

On May 21, 2021May 18, 2021 By AllieS.In Book Box, FairylootLeave a comment

The bookish items included this month are a set of metal bookends inspired by Lord of the Rings, handmade soap, a tote bag inspired by Blood and Ash, enamel pins from the Daevabad Trilogy, and a set of bookmarks inspired by multiple series. The monthly tarot cards are inspired by Serpent and Dove. They also included the foil art print that was missing in the March box.

All Fairyloot books come with exclusive covers and are signed by the author. The box also includes an author letter for each book. This months book is The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni and also came with sprayed and stenciled edges, artwork on the reverse of the dust jacket, and foiling on the hardcover. In The Prison Healer we follow Kiva who has been the healer at a death prison with the only goal of staying alive. When the Rebel Queen arrives Kiva agrees to take her place in the Trial of Ordeal in hopes of saving both of their lives though no one as ever survived the challenge.

May’s theme is Spellcraft.

April 2021 Wrap Up

On May 7, 2021May 4, 2021 By AllieS.In Book Review, Wrap UpLeave a comment

In April I read nine books including two short stories, two graphic novels, and one audio book. Besides reading I have been playing Persona 5: The Royal and got through about 60 hours by the end of the month.

Books:

Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo are the second and third books in the Shadow and Bone Trilogy. I’m talking about them together as I don’t want to spoil anything that is in these books. In Siege and Storm I like how Alina grew as a character, and loved Nikolai. However, I absolutely hated Alina and Mal’s relationship and that made me not enjoy the book that much. Ruin and Rising I liked more but hated the ending and what happens to Alina. I didn’t think she would or even want her to end up with the Darkling but I her and Mal’s relationship is still very toxic. Though Nikolai made the ending better. I haven’t watched the Netflix show yet but I hope that some of the issues I had with the books have been fixed.

The Tailor was a short story at the end of Siege and Storm that tells some events from Genya’s point of view. I liked being able to see the world through Genya’s eyes and why she works for the Darkling. The Demon in the Wood was a short story at the end of Ruin and Rising that showed us some of the Darkling’s back story. I know the Darkling is the villain but his reasoning for wanting to expand the fold do make more since after this story.

Labyrinth Coronation 2 and 3 are the last volumes in this short graphic novel series. I like how this series show how the Goblin King became who he is and how his story connects to Sarah’s. I loved the ending and how everything turned out all right in the end. If you are a fan of the Labyrinth movie I think you will like these graphic novels.

You are a Badass Everyday by Jen Sincero is a self help book companion to Jen Sincero other books and is more a set of tools to help you live your best life. I’m listened to this as an audio book and liked it well enough. After I finished it I felt more motivated to do some things that I’ve been putting off. Good for those looking for motivation or self-help books.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is Andy Weir’s newest science fiction novel. I received an early review copy from NetGalley and have a full review posted. In Project Hail Mary we follow Ryland Grace the only survivor of a space mission that’s goal is to save all life on earth. However, he doesn’t remember that but he’s earth’s last hope. After gaining an unexpected ally, Grace might be able to figure out what’s going on and how the save everything. Great for fans of Andy Weir’s other work and those who love hard science fiction.

The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm by Christopher Paolini is a short story collection with stories taking place after the events of the Inheritance cycle. I liked being back in this world with character that I love but I do think that I would have enjoyed these stories more if I had reread the series first.

April 2021 OwlCrate

On April 30, 2021April 27, 2021 By AllieS.In Book Box, OwlCrateLeave a comment

Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. This months items include the Et Cetera Card Game to play with friends, cinnamon hazelnut coffee, a Hamilton inspired phone wallet, a Nevernight inspired pillow case, and a chopstick set inspired by These Violent Delights.

Every month Owl Crate has a new young adult hardback book that has an exclusive cover, is signed and comes with a letter from the author. The enamel pin that is in every box is also inspired by that months book. Lately OwlCrate has also been getting other customizations which for this month are foiling on the hardback and artwork on the reverse of the dust jacket. This months book is Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart. The story follows two rival witches that end up working together to take down their common enemy and nothing but the lengths they will go to are certain.

May’s theme is Expect the Unexpected.

Book Review: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

On April 23, 2021April 20, 2021 By AllieS.In Book ReviewLeave a comment

Project Hail Mary is a new hard science fiction novel by Andy Weir the author of the Martian. I received an early copy through NetGalley. The story follows Ryland Grace the only survivor on a mission to save Earth and humanity and he is the worlds last hope. However, he doesn’t know that because he doesn’t remember his name or what he’s supposed to do on this mission. But its up to him and an unexpected ally to find the solution to an extinction level event that threatens all life on Earth.

Project Hail Mary is very had to talk about without spoiling some aspects of the plot and story. I really like book though most of the science went over my head. Ryland Grace is much more of a Mark Watney style character so if you liked the Martian I would recommend this book. At this point to say anything else I will be getting into spoilers so stop reading if you don’t want to know anything more.

The story is told through Ryland Grace’s perspective but switches between current events and the memories of his past that tells the read who he is and why he is on this mission. Because he doesn’t have his memories we are thrown into the story and learn with him what is going on. Through the flash backs we learn that something is causing the Sun of get dimmer and if not stopped then it will cause catastrophic problems on Earth. It is soon determined that this is happening because of an organism called Astrophage is feeding on the energy of the Sun. I’m not going to discuss any of the science of the book because that is one aspect that I had trouble understanding but I got the overall plot, relationships, and emotions of the characters. Grace determines that he is on this space ship because they were headed to the one location that the Astrophage do not seem to be affecting.

Shortly, after waking up and remembering what he is meant to do Grace sees another space craft that he knows can’t be from Earth. He ends up communicating with the other space craft and meets an alien life form that is very different from humans. Grace calls him Rocky. They learn how to talk to each other and together the figure out how the Astrophage work and how to stop them. As they figure out what they need to do Grace finally gets back all of his memories and why he is on the ship which he now knows is a suicide mission. I don’t want to spoil the whole ending but together Grace and Rocky save their planets and Grace gets to do what he’s best at in the end.