Automatic Social Links are a recurring element of thePersonagames, butPersona 6could lead to a turning point for that tradition. Of course, Social Links are a concrete part of thePersonaseries at this point. It’s a virtual guarantee thatPersona 6will include a slate of Links just like the three games before it. However, following tradition doesn’t have to include every aspect of it. Automatic Social Links are a variant of the usual formula. While they’ve appeared in past games, there’s a real discussion to be had about their inclusion inPersona 6.
The return ofSocial Links inPersona 6is a given, and there’s a good reason for that. Social Links effectively provide the player with a series of smaller stories in addition to the game’s overarching plot, with each involving their associated character. These stories usually feature them overcoming some difficulty with the help of the protagonist. Most of the time they will also dive into their backstory, or provide some other kind of information that gives the player a better understanding of them. Social Links and what they bring to the story are a fundamental part of what makesPersona’s formula work.
Persona’s Automatic Social Links May Require a Reckoning Before Persona 6
Persona’s Automatic Social Links Don’t Require a Time Investment
The advantage of Social Links likeSae’s Confidant inPersona 5is that they don’t take up any space on the calendar. Time management inPersonagames is vital, and the player has to find time to fit in all of their Social Links. Automatic Social Links take away a bit of that obligation, giving the player Links that they will be able to reap the benefits of no matter what. Players do have to wait for the Social Link to rank up through predetermined dates rather than controlling it at their own pace, but they are guaranteed to max out by endgame.
Automatic Links Can’t Always Explore Characters As Much as They Should
One flaw that makes a good case for avoiding thisstyle of Social Link inPersona 6is its lack of flexibility. Since automatic Social Links are tied to story scenes and progression, they leave a lot less wiggle room to tell interesting personal stories. The best part of Social Links is the chance to really explore the characters in question. However, automatic Links tend to lack that, giving the feeling that the player isn’t building as much of a bond with the character in question as they do in other Links. This can make the end result feel disappointing compared to the others.
Non-Automatic Social Links Offer Much More Flexibility and Potential
There is a good compromise that can be struck ahead ofPersona 6. The fullparty ofPersona 6should have an automatic Social Link, just like in past games. However, it would be better if individual Social Links were not automatic. It makes sense for the party’s determination to grow as the adventure continues, but for individual characters, it’s more satisfying to tell a personal story. It might not be possible for all Social Links to follow this format due to time constraints on the in-game calendar. Even so, it would be best forPersona 6to be restrained regarding automatic Links.
Since automatic Social Links are tied to story scenes and progression, they leave a lot less wiggle room to tell interesting personal stories.
Automatic Social Links do have a place in thePersonaseries. At the same time, one big way forPersona 6to improve on its predecessorsis by giving more characters more meaningful Social Links. While the main way to do this involves more consistently high-quality writing, the format also comes into play. Automatic Social Links have restrictions that regular Links don’t have to deal with. As a result, while automatic Social Links shouldn’t go away entirely,Persona 6should make less use of them.
