While working on the update that I accidentally posted early, I found out that there’s a minor kick in the dick in this game. It’s going to require a vote, so I’m going to put it up now so I have plenty of time before the next recording.
Persona 5 Royal adds a feature called “Network Fusion”, which is accessible.. soon. Network Fusion is the only way to get a number of very powerful skills, notably Almighty Boost and Almighty Amp. Unfortunately, as you can probably tell from the name, it requires you to be connected to the network to use. Connecting to the network requires that you have a fully updated PS4 and a fully updated copy of Royal.
The way Network Fusion works is that it fuses a Persona you upload to the network with a Persona someone else has already uploaded. This means you can potentially get a Persona with Victory Cry on it - Victory Cry is an upgraded version of Life Aid that restores all SP and HP at the end of a battle that is normally locked to a Persona not obtainable until New Game +.
Now, here’s the thing. While I refuse to update my PS4, I could - as far as I understand it - upload my save from my PS4 to my PS5. Doing so is a one-way trip: once it’s on the PS5, it can’t be ported backward unless you have a PS+ account and use the cloud (which would require updating my PS4 and that’s not happening).
If I do this, we would be able to not only access Network Fusion, but also the DLC. As it turns out, the “you have to re-buy DLC” bit was exclusive to Japan: in the US version, all of the DLC from the base game is free. This includes most of the cosmetic DLCs (basically, everyone but Kasumi gets them) as well as some very powerful DLC Personas. Let me make the case for and the case against doing this.
The Case For:
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If we choose to migrate, we would get access to all the cosmetic DLC and I could show that off.
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The LP would still largely be console-accurate to a PS4 Pro with an installed SSD. For reference, I am running an original (fat) PS4 with a stock HDD.
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I could use Network Fusion to make something with Megidolaon and the related boost/amp and destroy the rest of the game so hard we’d see the seams.
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The free DLC Personas aren’t really that overpowered, and I would refuse to buy the paid ones.
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I could (in theory) make a strategy that doesn’t involve any DLC Personas or Network Fusion for preservation purposes.
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I could immediately turn Joker into Jihei or Tatsuya.
The Case Against:
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Sony or Atlus (or a combination of both) could shut down the servers for Royal at any point, a point that’s become increasingly prescient with Sony’s planned shutdown of the PSP’s online service (and the since-cancelled shutdowns of the PS3 and Vita). That means that someone reading this LP and using it for strategy in 10 years might not be able to do the same thing, especially if I’m relying on Network Fusion as my strategy.
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The LP would no longer be hardware-accurate to a non-Pro PS4. This means that it could potentially change things like how much I can grind or where I grind because of the reduced load screens and faster room transitions. This is a bad thing because I want to ensure that my overall strategy works regardless of how you’re playing Royal.
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The game could potentially get “too easy” to the point where I’d be solving combat the way I did in Persona 1 - by spamming Megidolaon at everything. This could cause changes in how I commentate the dungeons that wouldn’t happen if I didn’t have an overpowered build.
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Even if Sony doesn’t shut down the servers, people in the future playing on a theoretical PS4 emulator or a hacked PS4 (when actual custom firmware or a hack that doesn’t require loading the web browser each time you boot the console is implemented) will not be able to connect to the servers, and thus any strategies involving Network Fusion would not be doable.
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We would probably never see Joker’s normal clothes again. Or anyone else’s, for that matter.
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I’m not sure if there’s any tech issues with the PS5 version that could cause me to need to take screenshots in a different resolution.
The Vote
Let me explain your choices here. Please read these carefully before voting, as many of them look similar but are significantly different.
Option 1 - No Holds Barred
Under Option 1, the game is migrated to the Playstation 5. All free DLC is allowed. Network Fusion is allowed.
Option 2 - Costumes and Network Fusion
Under Option 2, the game is migrated to the Playstation 5. Costume DLC is allowed, Personas are not. Network Fusion is allowed.
Option 3 - Network Fusion Barred
Under Option 3, the game is migrated to the Playstation 5. All free DLC is allowed, but Network Fusion is not.
Option 4 - Costumes Only
Under Option 4, the game is migrated to the Playstation 5. Costume DLC is allowed, Personas are not. Network Fusion is not allowed.
Option 5 - No Migration
Under Option 5, the game is not migrated to the Playstation 5. No DLC will be used, and by extension, Network Fusion will not be either.
Option 6 - Hacked PS3
Under Option 6, the game is not migrated to the Playstation 5. Instead, a blatantly cheated clear save is used on my hacked PS3 to show off the costumes from the base game, which are the same ones that are free for Royal. This would require me rushing through the game to September.
With that, please cast your vote.
- Option 1 - No Holds Barred
- Option 2 - Costumes and Network Fusion
- Option 3 - Network Fusion Barred, DLC Allowed
- Option 4 - Costumes Only
- Option 5 - No Migration
- Option 6 - Hacked PS3 Save