If franchise trends continue,Persona 6is likely to have its own animal mascot character, and what it could be is worth considering. Granted, another mascot character inPersona 6is not as much of a guarantee as the return of the Social Link system or All-Out Attacks. However, it’s become enough of a patter that it would be more surprising if the game didn’t feature one.Personagames have already featured non-human party members in several different forms, so it’s something the developers clearly enjoy including. The question is what form the phenomenon could take inPersona 6.
The history ofnon-humanPersonaparty membersstarted inPersona 3, and it’s become a common trope for the series ever since. Most of these characters have been animals, or at least animal-inspired, including:
They may not be human, but all of them have their own Personas and can fight shadows alongside the rest of the party. Naturally, they’re always going to stand out among the party due to their uniqueness. However, it’s their individual traits that determine how well each of them hold up.
Persona 6’s Animal Companion Can Contrast From the Series' Previous Animal Mascots
Only One Animal Companion in Persona is Actually an Animal
The biggest detail aboutPersona 3’s resident animal Koromaruthat sets him apart from the other animal mascots in the series is that he’s actually an animal. Teddie, Morgana, and Lufel are all otherworldly beings that take on animal-like forms. Meanwhile, Koromaru is a regular dog that happened to develop a Persona. Ironically, Koromaru is also the least like a mascot, coming in about halfway through the game and not getting any special attention, while the others all show up early and are featured prominently. Ironically,Persona 6’s animal companion being an actual animal would do a lot to help it stand out.
Persona’s Animal Mascots Have Been Hit-and-Miss in Terms of Personality
Personality will be an important aspect ofPersona 6’s animal mascot, as it is for any party member. InPersona 3, Koromaru didn’t get to show much personality, but he was undoubtedly a good dog. However, Teddie and Morgana have more contentious reputations. Teddie’s jokes and personality could be rather annoying to some players, and Morgana was the most abrasive member ofPersona 5’s Phantom thieves. Lufel is a step in the other direction with his more calm, polite personality. However, as it stands, a more easily likable personality could be a defining factor that setsPersona 6’s animal mascot apart.
Persona 6 Can Try Something New With its Animal Mascot
The resident animal ofPersona 6could play with thePersona 6party dynamicin a way that the other games have yet to do. While Koromaru was effectively S.E.E.S.' pet, and Morgana was the first party member,Persona 6could come up with something of a combination of the two. PerhapsPersona 6’s animal companion could be the protagonist’s pet, or another animal that they’re close to, and the two of them awaken their Personas at the same time. That sort of preexisting connection isn’t the norm forPersonarelationships, and a pet could be a good way to introduce that dynamic into the game.
The protagonist’s pet dog was actually a party member way back in the originalShin Megami Tensei.
Some new ideas for an animal mascot could not only addnew ideas forPersona 6’s Social Links, it could be a big boost for the game overall. An animal companion will always be one of the most unique members of the party by default. Since they’ve become a tradition for thePersonagames, it would be good if the next iteration could do something really special to stand out.Persona 6’s animal mascot has the potential to be a positive, memorable asset to the game’s cast.
