Can We Fix Atlus' BIGGEST Problem?

Why do Atlus games start so slow? Whether it’s Persona 3, Persona 4 Golden, Persona 5 Royal, Shin Megami Tensei V, or Metaphor ReFantazio, fans often say the same thing: “The writing is slow.” “The pacing drags.” “It gets good later.” Slow openings have become one of Atlus’ biggest challenges. But why do they struggle to hook players right away, and what can we learn from it? In this video, I take a deep dive into the openings of Atlus games and JRPG storytelling, exploring how narrative pacing, character setup, and player investment shape the early hours. I’ll break down what makes a strong opening work, analyze one of Atlus’ best examples, and discuss how developers could improve early-game pacing without sacrificing depth or worldbuilding. This isn’t about tearing down Atlus or Persona — it’s about understanding why their stories feel the way they do, and what that says about the design philosophy of modern JRPGs. Discord:   / discord   Twitch:   / dogmasdomain   Socials: https://bsky.app/profile/dogmasdomain...   / dogmasdomain     / dogmasdomain     / dogmasdomain   Channel Logo by SpellKnight:   / spellknightt     / spellknightt   Sources: https://screenrant.com/metaphor-refan.... https://gamerant.com/metaphor-refanta... https://www.thegamer.com/metaphor-ref... https://steamcommunity.com/app/267946... If you'd like to support the channel, all donations are greatly appreciated: https://streamelements.com/dogmasdoma... Thanks for checking out the video and hopefully you enjoyed! Feel free to check out the rest of my channel and I'll check in with y'all later! Business Inquiries: [email protected] Timestamps: 0:00 Atlus' Opening Hours are ROUGH... right? 1:26 Unique Challenges for Video Games 6:27 Metaphor Opening Analysis 17:32 So, What Makes a Good Opening 23:08 Atlus Have Made Plenty of Great Openings 26:09 My Apology to Atlus 29:14 I'm Broke and Homeless!