If Joker Is Your Favourite Persona 5 Character… Why?
Joker won a recent poll, but I can’t understand who voted for him
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A recent poll for Persona 5’s fifth anniversary saw Japanese fans rank their favourite characters from the Phantom Thieves. Ryuji came last, which feels like a huge injustice, while Ann came second last, which feels like a huger injustice. The whole list, in fact, was wrong. Most interesting though is that Joker was top. I have several questions. Number one, how dare you?
For the record, the full list was Joker – Makoto – Akechi – Futaba – Yusuke – Morgana – Haru – Ann – Ryuji. The correct order is Makoto – Ann – Ryuji – Futaba – Haru – Joker – I no longer care. Morgana – Yusuke – Akechi, I guess. You might be thinking “that’s just your opinion.” Nope. It’s a fact. Anyway, while I could pick holes in the entire list, the fact remains that Joker is top. Clearly, that’s the most pressing issue to be tackled first. Just what is going on there?
Persona 5 is a great game. Just last week, on the day it turned five, I wrote about why it’s a modern masterpiece. Joker is an important part of that – he nestles into the group dynamic well and works effectively with the characters around him. But the best character? Not even close.
Joker is an Everyman – he exists for you to project yourself onto. It’s like saying your favourite Resident Evil character is Ethan Winters, and Joker doesn’t even have hilarious hands. Is your favourite Harry Potter character Harry? Your favourite Star Wars character Luke Skywalker? Your favourite President Gerald Ford? Actually, they probably are, aren’t they? They’re just people who do stuff while more interesting things happen around them, so they’re basically just the Jokers of their own story, right?
Joker is meant to be you. Who’s your favourite Persona character? Me. I am. Myself. Joker has something of a personality – he’s a bit of an idiot – but he’s a deliberately flat character who exists for you to insert yourself into the story. To say he’s your favourite misses the point of the character completely.
I could argue that Makoto deserves to be top, or go to bat for Ryuji or Ann, but despite my little joke earlier – that’s right, it was a joke, gamers – I understand that different players will have different reactions. I find Yusuke dull and Acheki obnoxious. I find Haru endearing and can’t fathom how anyone can play Persona 5 and not come away from it firmly believing Makoto to be the game’s best character. But it’s fine that we disagree on that. With Joker, I just don’t get it. Just… why? What is it about a character deliberately designed to have as little personality as possible that you find endearing?
I don’t personally like Yusuke much, but he has a clearly defined personality. He’s artistic, sensitive, and a deep and soulful thinker, though easily distracted. Likewise, I find Ann charmingly spiky, to the point where I think she should be the protagonist, and respect the layers she has beneath the 2D portrayal she is often restricted to along the main path – but I understand why some dismiss her. It’s difficult to get to know Ann, as the game often hangs her out to dry, and because she often bickers with the rest of the group she doesn’t seem instantly likeable. We can disagree on this and still be pals. On Joker though, I’m just confused.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. If you enjoy Persona 5 because you connect with Joker so much, more power to you. Date your teacher as Joker for all I care. But forgetting that Joker is there feels so crucial to enjoying what Persona 5 is about at its core. It’s a friendship simulator, turning into a road trip simulator with Strikers. You are supposed to immerse yourself in the experience by becoming Joker, not sitting back and admiring him. Picking him out as your favourite seems to miss the point on that.
Link Source : https://www.thegamer.com/joker-favourite-persona-5-character-why/