Persona 5 Royal (Nintendo Switch) Review

The pure excitement of pressing 'Start' on this, frankly very cool, game is still indescribable. For those who enjoy the portability of the Nintendo Switch console, being able to play Persona 5 Royal on it is a dream come true. The first impressions are promising - the introductory cut-scenes look acceptably well adapted, the loading screens are not scarily lengthy, and the gameplay looks not too shabby overall.

There are some definite downgrades in graphics, which was to be expected, but it hardly takes away from the overall gameplay, which is a relief. When it comes to sound, it seems to be rather compressed, which is most likely due to the limitations of the Switch's speakers. Using headphones makes a big difference, but it is still not to the same level as when playing the PS4 version.

Persona 5 Royal itself is not exactly a new title; the story is the same as in the PS4 version. The story is, of course, superb, and will not be given away here. Any in-game mechanics stayed the same, including the turn-based battle system with its little tricks and perks.

What is probably most important is that playing in handheld mode does not take away from the experience in the slightest, and just furthers the notion that a handheld version of Persona 5 Royal has been needed desperately for a long time. Another advantage is that the battery of this reviewer's Nintendo Switch Lite did not drain nearly as fast as had been expected, allowing for a good amount of gameplay before needing to recharge.