Persona 5 Strikers - Sophie Persona Awakening

[@wakka0222]

This development blindsided me completely. As the game progressed, it always felt like Sophie was already one of the Phantom Thieves, it was so easy to simply forget that she had yet to awaken a Persona. The moment Pandora asked "Can you wield that strength?" the realization hit me like a dump truck, and I realized that this was the ultimate moment of Sophie's growth. And I was so, so proud.

[@punishercastle5487]

Very well said. I felt the exact same way

[@KaiKrimson56]

I mean, all of her skills had question marks until that point. That kind of hinted she might not have gotten a full Persona yet.

[@Eight1Eight187]

It’s so nuts, because to me the writing was pretty predictable and rushed (for me, compared to vanilla/Royal’s more intimate storytelling) but this awakening was so more shocking and impactful, even more than Zenkechi’s

[@Eight1Eight187]

Tbf i still love this game even if it seems more linear and boring lol

[@Eight1Eight187]

@@KaiKrimson56 ikr, I thought that was just gonna be like a thing of hers, since she was functionally a persona user in the AI world they were in, but without that oomph and painful baggage that came with it lol

[@matchanavi]

The pained voicelines of her struggling to overcome Ichinose's control are so well delivered, it's almost like she's really crying. I also wanna mention how much I love Ryuji in this game.

[@janussimonsen24]

Ryuji is done so well in this game. Honestly, everyone is. Strikers is so great!

[@4567samsung]

@@janussimonsen24 exactly , in p5 I liked the characters , in strikers I loved the characters especially haru who turned from a character i didn't really care about ( because tbh even p5 didn't ) to a character I really really like

[@GriffinManticore]

I'm just happy they let him say the F word

[@Jattel_2006]

Samy Fayz I wish I was like that at first haru was someone I did not care for but later on I found myself hating haru more and more

[@KewelsBri]

It's actually commonplace in the industry to force a cry to help deliver lines more realistically, so it's 100% possible she did that.

[@brandonprokop4935]

I think Sophia's awakening had one of the greatest "I am thou, thou art I" segments ever.

[@zoulogist9171]

Both Wolf and Sophie's awakenings had me jumping out of my seat. Strikers nailed it

[@grimreaper5864]

Agree

[@Heyimconnor]

Sophie is second. Makoto’s awakening will forever be first

[@Knapperoni]

@@Heyimconnor Nah, Sophie killed it

[@catalyst539]

@@Heyimconnor Yusuke’s awakening is better imo

[@conar345]

I popped off when Pandora first spoke to Sophie. The thought of her awakening a persona didn't even cross my mind so I was legitimately shocked and on the edge of my seat for the scene. Awesome stuff

[@sikopathbba1005]

I know man! I was crying and smiling from ear to ear! Lmao

[@archangelsupreme4963]

Ironic. Just as Sophie was discovered in a box; she’s now broken the locks holding back her true potential!

[@punishercastle5487]

This is a perfect way to describe my situation as well. I thought she would just break free of the control, not this incredibly awesome and frankly appropriate scene. So amazing

[@vaultthehedgehog3741]

Same! Hell, I've still got goosebumps!

[@ThatGuyJake69]

For real! That completely blew my mind! When I heard the music, I was like “oh shit, no way!”

[@prime1773]

Persona only awakens to those who has heart. The fact that Sophie, an AI, to awaken one is beyond epic for me.

[@DTactician]

You forget that in the cognitive world. Ones desires can be made real. Sophie said she desired a heart of her own, one strong enough to choose her own path. That desire became real.

[@giomedina6980]

This scene gave me Data Sora vibes from kingdom hearts re:coded when he got his keyblade back.

[@syahir7494]

Well a dog can awaken a persona why not an AI

[@getfricked6977]

@@syahir7494 A literal AI also had a persona in P3

[@airgod231]

@@getfricked6977 plus a shadow managed to get one in 4

[@Krysta1Rose]

Sophies scream as she summons Pandora **CHILLS**

[@leandroroman7053]

Both English and Japanese are awesome. *Chills intensifies*

[@flyingpiggles1034]

Ikr?? Her VA nailed that scream.

[@edd78901]

I still like WAY more the Japanese version of the scream, more emotion in it

[@nathanosworth4640]

A true awakening of one’s heart in a creation never assumed to have one to begin with....a message to creators of all different kinds, I’d say, and a testament to what we can consider “human” and not human”

[@DigimonVids]

@@edd78901 filthy weeaboo

[@shadowstar8619]

From the infamous box to the lady who opened it. That's an upgrade if I've ever seen one.

[@dragowolfraven3806]

I love Greek Mythology.

[@oneeyedbelgiumratboy2607]

Kinda weird that its light element right?

[@shadowstar8619]

@@oneeyedbelgiumratboy2607 I don't really think so, considering her Arcana. Which is also the one spirit that stayed in Pandora's box after it was opened.

[@oneeyedbelgiumratboy2607]

@@shadowstar8619 pooh ok I guess I'm just dumb for forgetting something staying lol

[@crazydude09ful]

@@shadowstar8619 wait, what’s her arcana? I’ve searched for what hers was but I couldn’t find anything?

[@kokopelli434]

I like with both the aigis situation and sophie, you can hear their voices go from robotic and almost monotone, to filled with emotion and human. A simple change, but an effective one

[@Fo__Sho_]

Her voice went from naive cutely to more mature imo.

[@dfquartzidn6151]

It’s even more badass with how Sophie was struggling against Ichinose’s control, feeling pain before summoning Pandora, and then confidently telling Ichinose “I’m not your doll, anymore.”

[@nickypenn5841]

The moment an A.I. evolved into...a "being" with a soul.

[@jethawk1172]

She lowkey turned human. She’s just like Emma. The lessons she learned from the phantom thieves as well as then giving her ideas to what a heart is. Made her tap into a power than she knew she had. She is more than what she was made. She now has a heart and understands what it is. That is the AI named Sophie. I loved this moment

[@Longtail626]

Does this unit have a soul?

[@08Juan80]

She opened Pandora's Box

[@Jiangeki]

@@Longtail626 mass effect reference? Nice. 👍

[@NicoTheCinderace]

@@08Juan80 Hope is such a splendid thing.

[@MortimerZabi]

I love how her Persona is Pandora, just like the last boss of Persona 1. But instead of focusing on the aspect that cursed all of humanity, hers is focused on the last ray of hope at the bottom of the jar.

[@paolocalapatia6401]

Like I said before about Wolf's Awakening, THIS is The Ultimate Test for the VA Also similar situation as well, so, Megan Harvey as Sophia... ...ALSO VERY GOOD Choice :)

[@ghifari77]

I don't like Wolf's english awakening tho, even tho i like his english voice. Meanwhike Sophie's english awakening is great, just like the rest of her lines.

[@chiarap5947]

@@ghifari77 it's the same for me

[@paolocalapatia6401]

@@ghifari77 I can see the reasons why BUT you have to try to get that they were actually doing this despite “certain conditions”. It’s not perfect BUT it’s close enough for me😊

[@aidanvandervenne]

The “Awakening” track is perfection. It’s the perfect song to exemplify the physical and psychological struggle that comes with getting a persona. In this case, when you can tell the struggle is so much harder, the song parallels it. Joker’s awakening was like being hit with a brick. This was like being hit by the entire god damn house.

[@a.rustici1972]

Nice analogy! I couldn't have said it better myself!

[@kylecocciante4362]

Whenever that music hits, shit is about to go down!

[@TheGhostOfTK]

Everyone's talking about sophie, ichinose Lets talk about RYUJI they took p5, made him better in royal, basically perfect, and now strikers, they made him BETTER???! HOW?N

[@CidGuerreiro1234]

Ryuji and Futaba are absolutely hilarious in this game.

[@a.rustici1972]

The people at Atlus are practically wizards at this point. I don't think that you can understand how they do what they do, only why.

[@gunsandroses896]

Haru also received great development! And the new dude Zenkichi is also amazing!

[@TheGhostOfTK]

@@gunsandroses896 the development in this game was genuinely brilliant, harus was done the best since she had like none in royal nor the vanilla persona 5, the writers were not playing around

[@justincummings5022]

​@@CidGuerreiro1234Pretty much everyone gets in on it. Even Yusuke and Ren (Joker) get on it.

[@Hilversumborn]

Ichinose feels like a foil of both Maruki and Wakaba. Ichinose believes that humanity is better of as dolls without desires, whereas Maruki wanted to grant everyone’s desires/make everyone happy. She’s also a quirky scientist like Wakaba but whereas Wakaba cared for Futaba and wanted to use her research to help people, Ichinose threw her first daughter (Sophia) away and used her research purely for her sole benefit.

[@mystery8820]

Despite Ichinose acting as a foil, I still find Maruki more dangerous than any antagonist thus far. Maruki’s words and though process are as sweet as honey but infused with a slow-acting venom that cripples your free will. He brainwashed Sumire with his power for almost a year. And she didn’t know he was controlling her until that point. And despite the fact that he “cares” for people’s happiness (he really does after seeing the truth), when he was a Palace Ruler, he let his sorrow get to him, so of course he took advantage of Sumi’s sorrow. That makes him, IMO, THE most dangerous antagonist in P5 so far. His power can even rewrite the cognition of Persona-users, who are supposed to be protected from the distortions of the Metaverse.

[@malik2644]

@@mystery8820 facts

[@mystery8820]

@@malik2644 Also, you know is also frustrating? There was a chance that Sumire’s conifdant going rank 6-10 and joining the team sooner would be possible… if Maruki just told Joker about his “treatment” BEFORE the end of his tenure.

[@PaladineAvenger1]

@@mystery8820 well, if you remember this, Sumire was so deeply depressed after her sister death, she might've commited sui*ide. So Maruki really helped her... in the way. Yes, you might consider it wrong, but it was necessary for that period of time. Even after she broke out of that "Kasumi" roleplay, Sumire admitted that Maruki saved her. I think Maruki is kinda underrated as the antagonist

[@Shiverwar]

@@PaladineAvenger1 Maruki had good intentions, what with wanting to create a world where *everybody* could have happiness, or have their desires fulfilled. The problem is, and I'm using a quote from the dub of Code Geass here, forcing your good intentions on others is no different from an evil act.

[@bigjoe8536]

Finally, a robot ai challenging you

[@TheRawyan]

I guess life really did change for her

[@bigjoe8536]

@@TheRawyan They must have known she was out there

[@off-beatdrummer]

Maybe she believes one day she may just touchdown on a star.

[@shyguygaming5397]

She’s swatting lies in the making now.

[@bigjoe8536]

@@shyguygaming5397 Beginning to think that she's not a phantom

[@mettatonex7221]

I already loved the little marshmallow as just the adorable companion character, but my god if this didn't make her twenty times better. I never realized it until Pandora started speaking to her, but she was inducted into the Phantom Thieves without a proper awakening scene; just a moment where she summoned some funky containters to fight "just cause that's what you guys did". And I just accepted it, and accepted her as a cute robot helper character, but then she was forced to confront her duality as an AI both just following her protocol to do what she's told and desperately wanting a heart and soul, and her rebel spirit awoke. I don't think I've ever felt so empowered by something so adorable.

[@EJ-vb5it]

So was Morgana

[@Mrtobias472]

Probably the best awakening. They will be hard pressed to top that. Megan Harvey did a phenomenal job voicing Sophia and this scene is perfectly done. Her dialogue to Ichinose, the tone, cadence, the quiver in her voice, all of it was just perfect. When she screams 'Pandora!'; icing on the cake. Telling Ichinose that she is going to steal her twisted desires, that is the cherry on top!

[@Eight1Eight187]

Ichinose getting her own calling card in the form of her 1st-born creation becoming human and understanding human emotion before she ever did Just *chef’s kiss*

[@zuhdim4962]

@@Eight1Eight187 Thank you for your good comment

[@maro_vela_22]

Megan is now at the top of her world, she's Soul Hackers 2's 'Ringo'

[@davidtimmer596]

I remember her as Towa from Trails of Cold Steel.

[@michaelar9954]

i personally prefer zenkichi's, but sophia's is absolutely a close second

[@medjedreal1152]

notice how at 16:50 when Padora awakens, she is made up of Pithos and is just a large box, and when she awakens, she opens, meaning, the Pandora's Box has been opened.

[@reddraken6366]

I was shocked but i read what pithos was and then when pandora came into play it then became obvious and i was amazed

[@nekogamer2508]

And Sophia is the Hope arcana

[@MariusBoss11458]

​@@nekogamer2508Guess if she had a Confidant then she'd be the Hope Arcana.

[@jessekriete8813]

Am i the only one who likes Sophie's english voice actor espacially when she says persona

[@dragowolfraven3806]

Me too. The girl is adorable!😊

[@fierytigergaming8112]

@@dragowolfraven3806 That's Megan Harvey for ya, she even gives the same pitch to older versions of characters

[@adrianarballo179]

She's amazing.

[@UliaAB]

She's Towa in trails of cold steel. Pretty awesome voice actress.

[@vinharlie961]

All persona series English voice >>>>>>>> Japanese voice

[@YamiYuseiGG]

The whole talk about how Ichinose deluded herself to her own lonely world by accepting that she was truly heartless... that really hit like a truck to me. Putting away emotions to seem strong, or at least to seem like how people around you expect you to be and not showing weakness or wanting to accept mistakes, many people do it in some form or sort. This whole thing broke me free from a mindset that I didn't even fully realise I was in, until Sophia spoke of how Ichinose came to be. I had locked away many things in my mind to appear strong from the outside despite all odds, but as a result I boxed myself into my mind, creating a very strict comfort zone. And it's only now thanks to that I'm breaking free. Props to the voice Actress here. Really touching, I surely let out a few tears to be honest.

[@lightdx7008]

It also got my tears. Marvelous well done this scene.

[@shinigamimiroku3723]

I lived that way for a long time, and while my awakening had no connection to Persona 5 (although 4 played a major part in opening me up to my awakening) I was definitely moved by Ichinose's backstory.

[@likeicareusewe]

Ichinose's pure "WTF" face throughout the entire awakening is gold

[@iaxacs3801]

I think only she truly understood the magnitude of the historical event happening in front of them

[@TheTowerOfRoko]

@@iaxacs3801 everyone would be shock if the a. I got a soul/persona before you

[@malakitaub9024]

Every villain in Persona 5 has the same reaction to an awakening, for a good reason. Personas are the strength of rebellion, and when they are unleashed, it means that the owner is rebelling against the ruler. As another KZbinr once said, this usually reminds the ruler that their power can be easily crippled once their subjects rebel.

[@SkittlesInYourHand]

@@malakitaub9024 But imagine an AI you developed literally manifesting a soul in front of you. Thats way beyond anything else...

[@malakitaub9024]

@@SkittlesInYourHand Indeed.

[@cringeposting435]

When she says “But if YOUR order is to harm MY FRIENDS… then I… I refuse your command!” I get chills everytime. The voice acting is so good.

[@mrex666productions7]

Anyone talking about how this whole EMMA thing started out is just sad and pitiful? The one who started it wasn't a God of Control. It's not a Persona user. It's not even a supernatural entity. It's just a woman throwing a fit on her pet AI AND she whipped this up because she threw a fit on her pet AI.

[@vanessachowjiaying4423]

I also find it pitiful too, taking into consideration what the SEES and Inaba Investigation Team had went through both main and post trails. Hers and Maruki's actions also probes the possibilties of more Shadow/mass cogntion distortions bring intiated by human hands. Its almost similar to the situation in 3; the erogonomics research lead by the Kirijo Group left a negative legacy and renments. The Abyss of Time is one of the byproducts of Tartarus creation, which also reveals the truth of the researchers obession of the Fall. The remaining subjects of the research also caused a lot of trouble within Inaba TV World in Arena, which Yu's gang got dragged into battle again just a month after clearing the fog. Considering the narrative direction of Royal and Strikers, unused web domains plus the unused canon materials, I can see another story, which likely takes place the same time as EMMA, and another battle that occurs during winter break. One of the domain names P5AG make some think that Akechi will have a standalone story post Royal, similar to Aigis in the Answer. Akechi might be taken by the Shadow Operatives, but still felt lost, being unable to understand why he's still alive. Discarding this emotion resulted in Hereward being lost, resulting in a Fool Arcana Persona but at the cost of being weaker, and a new metaverse outfit. With the recurring Arcana pattern of the new girls, I can see another redhead girl, her assigned Arcana being Charity, being a support/key of Akechi's trail.

[@aaronhinds426]

@@vanessachowjiaying4423 I would found the idea of an Akechi stand alone game like the answer, a very interesting idea but I feel like Ann curse it by mentioning that the next time the Phantom thieves meet. As she mentioned traveling overseas next time.

[@vanessachowjiaying4423]

@@aaronhinds426 From the narrative standpoint of both Royal and Strikers, it might be enough for 2-3 more stories, also taken unused domain leaks in mind. It also matches Jose's statemets of more beings watching over humankind. It can be assumed that Jose will play a large role in the future stories. Thought of Akechi's trail takes place the same time as EMMA case. It involves another artificial mass cognition/shadow domains, which is linked/similar to Wakaba and Maruki's research. Seeing the entire P5 stories, adding up to the events in 3 and 4, those kind of research should not be counducted in the first place, as its mostly the main cause of the battles that Persona users had to endure. For Akechi, like Aigis underwent an existential crisis. Due to this, his former stength and Hereward was lost, but results in his awakening as the true Wild Card under Igor, with a new Persona, mask and outfit. Same situation as Aigis and Sho, being the subjects of interest of Igor after the main Wild Cards trails/battles. For the potential new redhead girl, like Surime and Sophia, she's a bless type and assigned Arcana is Charity, the last of the visconti tarot theological virtues. Since Surime is physical and Sophia is healer, the girl's playstyle might likely be protection/magic/evasion. Project that she awakens in the artificial domain prior to the story, but found by the Shadow Operatives, which keeps her off the path of wrongdoing.

[@moonraven6145]

Loved how her visor shattered as her version of tearing off the mask to awaken the Persona, also that scream of "Pandora!"... chills.

[@MichaelaAquilina]

Sophie, in my opinion, is like a child version of Aigis from Persona 3. 😊

[@TVHead003]

My thoughts exactly

[@PetalHeart21]

THE GAME IS COMING THIS TUESDAY 😁😁

[@dragowolfraven3806]

Yep😁

[@genquin]

Probably more advanced than Aigis considering Sophie was able to use use a half awaken persona by copying Joker and Skull 🤔

[@leandroroman7053]

@@genquin A more advanced software indeed, although she doesn't have any hardware of her own. 😅

[@mimikyufates576]

Maki:I want my other self back! Sophia: My persona now.

[@ma.2089]

Futaba stole hers already so it’s unsurprising Lol imagine if Thanatos from P1 and Thanatos from P3 met

[@paolocalapatia6401]

Futaba's Ultimate is The Persona of Baofu,... Yusuke is the 3rd or 4th Susano-o User,... If Mercurius is considered to be also Hermes then Mona’s like The 3rd User,... Ren’s Picarro Personas,... 🤣

[@thatchrisguy188]

@@paolocalapatia6401 Well, they are the Phantom THIEVES after all :P

[@LollipopWNoChainsaw]

Ah. I see you're a man of culture as well. -Or at the very least bothered to read thru the megaten wiki hard enough.-

[@dededeletethis9940]

Okay, i'm gonna list all the cases i can think of of a character sharing a persona with another character/a character having a persona which existed already in the series (keep in mind that there might be more that i just can't think of right now). Masao, Yosuke and Yusuke all have some version of Susano-o. Reiji has a slightly different version of Mot. Jun and Junpei have Hermes. If you wanna count it, Morgana also has Hermes by proxy, as he has Mercurius. Baofu and Futaba have Prometheus. Aigis has Athena, which has existed in prior games. Koromaru has a unique Cerberus. Kanji has a unique Take-Mikazuchi. Ryuji has a unique Seiten Taisei. Akechi has a unique Loki. Honorable mention: Sophia has Pandora, who was also the final boss of the original Persona.

[@choboy46]

Ryuji: Forcibly grabs Ichinose by the hand to save her Sophia: _(this looks familiar...)_

[@Dr.Persikka]

I did not expected Ichinose to be the most relatable villain to me and whole Sophia speech broked me, because it felt like personal message for me. Ichinose did not understand her own heart and how to feel or how to express it and how to communicate with others and rather than understand our own hearts and how to feel, it would be easier to study hearts and feelings and learn from others, but we are different in the end and we cannot become same unless we had suffered same past or trauma, but mainly we are different but we need guidance and answers so sometimes we stick to easy path and let someone else take control of our lives and our feelings especially it gets more and more complicated to understand and it can be pretty anxious. I also don't understand other people feelings or myself at all. I also always went over happy silly acting like Ichinose did, because to me it's usually easier to go with that and live with our lifes with happy acting without others worrying about me, because we don't know how to express other feelings and how to explain it especially when she was lonely and have always been ignored by other people. Sadly i also suffer loneliness and being many times ignored no matter how many times i tried to greet or try to get to know about people like Ichinose did. That's why i felt so bad for Ichinose and i could see myself too for looking easier paths and let someone else to control our choices and how to live our lifes. Loneliness is pretty serious thing and it can hurt or affect someones minds and their lifes. That's why sometimes we need someone either familys or friends to feel safe and to be loved, but we are also scared to express our feelings. Damn, this is pretty depressing.

[@N4p0100]

Her voice actor is SO DAMN GOOD

[@Okami_Ari]

If you think about it, emma and sophia are sisters, and ichinose's their mom. She has two daughters, one that fell to ruin due to being unable to understand humanity, and the other who gained a heart of her own and essentially became human because she learned to to understand, and even saved her mother from her self-loathing and loneliness. If emma had ended up in the phantom thieves' hands instead of konoe, she might have turned out like sophia. But that never happened. Emma passed on her final wish to her elder sister though. To become humanity's companion, the exact words her creator told her to become.

[@Roberto-mm4gr]

17:39 Sophia’s Persona gives me HEAVY Artemis vibes from Persona 2...

[@ziobarion2262]

Holy shit you're right

[@Jack_lee75]

And the blimp! Persona 2 acknowledged finally

[@anone.mousse674]

27:15 I expected her to say "You're my mother!"

[@Royy2004]

Same lmfao

[@TOPIK_KB]

same...even Wolf also mention mother and daughter relationship

[@TheRawyan]

Same

[@TheBronyGamer8000]

Same lmao

[@Fo__Sho_]

Yeah

[@starforcenetwork]

Ichinose looking like a snack though On the other hand, Aigis would have been proud of Sophia right here

[@user-pl9co8cq4z]

Persona 5 Strikers Sophie Persona Awakening But first would you like to see a totally unrelated 6 minutes of destroying shadows and rockin to music?

[@WolfThunder29]

Yes →Yes "OMG, we're totally getting our butts kicked!" Awwwwww yeah...Wait, what? Oh. Right. Soph waking up her purses, or whatever.

[@ginojose1550]

Very true.

[@KewelsBri]

I'm fine with it. It sets the scene properly.

[@xSnowpeltx]

Man, I really feel for ichinose, though. It just sounds to me like shes neurodivergent and has faced ableism all her life. Just because she doesnt experience or exhibit emotions in a way others understand doesnt mean she lacks them

[@Youhadabadday2021]

Oh yeah, she's definitely neurodivergent. To me, it seems like she suffers from sociopathy, which makes it harder for people to show empathy, combined with a bit of Autism, which makes socializing hard in general.

[@adrianarballo179]

persona 4 ultimax ring announcer: An AI by creation but she has the heart of a human. A cute look but a strong-hearted person: the heartful companion of humanity: sophia.

[@NinjaBoy641]

"I'll 'watch your backs out there'!"

[@adrianarballo179]

@@NinjaBoy641 he he he Sophie's inaugural heist as a Phantom thief

[@mystery8820]

The Ultimax announcer would have to make an insulting nickname for Sophie, though. The Investigation Team had insulting nicknames for Yu’s sister complex kingpin, to Chie’s carnivore who discarded womanhood. Kanji is the beefcake emperor, and so on.

[@adrianarballo179]

@@mystery8820 I've never played persona 4 ultimax so I I didn't know.

[@dededeletethis9940]

Let's see, what would her tagline be... "The worthless AI who claims she knows the heart! The code-hearted glitch of a girl: sophia!"

[@ThatOneLegendEmerald]

God, I just got to this part today and...it made me tear up, especially since the stuff sophie said reminded me of my own past...

[@fodspeed]

I don't mean to be mean, were you a AI by any chance?

[@ThatOneLegendEmerald]

@@fodspeed No, lol

[@fodspeed]

@@ThatOneLegendEmerald ah, what a bummer, 😂 Let me know if you come across any AI, I'd like to have a chat.

[@fierytigergaming8112]

Me: (Upon first meeting Ichinose) "Well, i WON'T be happy if she turns out to be a villain or something like that" *Ichinose finds out about the Phantom Thieves* Me: "Well, that could've gone better? Still, this is what happens when you make plans out in the open, wait until you get to the RV next time!" *Sees her as the villain in the jail* Me: "I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN!" *Defeats her* Me: "I can sympathise (I don't cry much myself), but at the same time... I can't, what good is a world where all you have is peace? You only get peace when you overcome all your obstacles, and as such... they no longer get in your way"

[@ma.2089]

That’s one aspect of P5 I feel they do not properly address. While obstacles in life are always, there’s an issue where some obstacles are impossible to surmount or there r ppl put at a disadvantage so that ppl who have that advantage can over of the obstacles while the rest cannot. Those who cannot aren’t even incapable in that case, but then to completely ignore a solution to help those who r in bad situations, and fight against those who misuse their own hearts, because a privileged few can surmount it...it feels unfair. But I guess that’s life. P5 would always run into the problem since there’s no blanket morality that is fair to everyone

[@TechBlade9000]

@@ma.2089 They do bring it up but get drunk on hope Then again they do love overthrowing political leaders so hey, fixing one of the problems

[@agentboi4794]

The minute the Awakening theme starts, its time to pop off! Not even Goku could see how fast I jumped out of my seat. I absolutely love this game.

[@customarymagic]

I hate to admit it but the moment Pandora appears across her mask had me crying. It's just such a powerful scene

[@mettatonex7221]

Pandora. The first human woman ever created, by Hephaestus on order of Zeus. Bestowed many gifts and taught many skills by the other gods, but born as a deceitful evil to plague the men of Earth, as she bared a jar, or better known as a "Pithos", full of countless plagues. She was granted to Epimetheus, the representative of man, as a gift from Zeus, and while among man, she opened the Pithos and scattered the plagues upon humanity, thus filling the world with evil. But a paltry substance remained in the Pithos, never released among the evils; the most minor drivels of hope. As the original prototype of EMMA, the deceptive evil that spread a wealth of plagues upon Japan as designed by the AI Wunderkind without a heart, I cannot think of a better mythos to assign to Sophia's Persona. Sophia is the hope that remains within Pandora's Box, and she has finally been released.

[@pslovebird]

I cannot believe I cried during this scene and I just cried again damnit. This is easily the best scene in the game imo. When I got to this point, I was expecting Ichinose, but I was NOT expecting all this.

[@Eight1Eight187]

the writing in this game is so next level. They project the most obvious shit so you think you got a grasp on their storytelling (hell I thought the writing became a little hollow and rushed, compared to the original game, but I guess I was just jarred from the actiony parts of the beginning and the lack of romance carryover lol)

[@NaviNeku24]

Everyone’s talking about Sophie while I’m impressed by Futaba’s VA at 7:00.

[@tomatuteee]

it was one of a scream

[@JulianYvesVA]

I love how Ryuji's had it with Ichinose's stubbornness and drags her ass out at the end hahaha

[@NoteDeath010]

clicked on this, no knowledge of strikers, just thought Sophia's design was interesting. First time seeing who Ichinose is. Instantly recognised her voice as Risa in PSO2 lol.

[@tracedayoshi196]

Ichinose just wants to light up humanity like Risa lights up her enemies.

[@NoteDeath010]

@@tracedayoshi196 Hell ye.

[@elioalbertopereyra4702]

wai- OMFG!!! WHY DIDNT I RECOGNIZE IT!

[@SciRei7H3dEG3NeR4T3]

Kira Buckland. A voice actor who started out voicing fan projects, then moved up to popular voices such as 2B and so.

[@NoteDeath010]

@@SciRei7H3dEG3NeR4T3 I know who she is haha

[@4oki_Tatsuy420]

I cried Edit: I legitimately cried when Sophie started saying about loneliness and change…. Damn that hits me like a whole skyscraper

[@ren4issance-754]

0:33 Vietnam flashbacks of Maruki’s cognition

[@FlyingTacticianMorgan]

Sophia: “Don’t worry about it, Ichinose. Ryuji did this with me, too” Ichinose: “Ayo what the fu-“

[@FDSDeathmatchmakers]

I swear, for the first half of that awakening cutscene, I thought her persona was going to be Pinocchio.

[@mantaray79]

Anybody else thinks that Sophie's Ultimate Persona "Pandora'' kinda looks like Maya Amano's Ultimate Persona ''Artemis'' from Persona 2?

[@elm-treeart6885]

ok, why am i crying

[@tomatuteee]

the power of persona

[@lotusa2299]

i almost started bawling at the ending

[@Cloud-dt6xb]

I love that this is the start of Ichinose's break down, she's so damn certain she's right about Sophia but awakening to a persona prooves that she's full of crap about Sophia being a doll and it's so glorious to watch everytime.

[@WhosManIsThis]

Skull in the end : "u coming whether you like it or not"

[@shaneyzamora2525]

I teared up a bit watching this. Sophia deserved better than to just be used so I was so happy for her that she finally got her own Will of Rebellion.

[@scavolamax]

20:30 Ann: Sophie! Are you okay now? Sophia: Ye

[@spec7rumplays580]

16:18 - 17:26 Persona 5 (2017) - Awakening (Original Soundtrack Version)

[@jenifer19311]

Aigis is so proud of you Sophie 🌸

[@Eight1Eight187]

Legion looking down from mass effect heaven too

[@KewelsBri]

If you weren't convinced Sophie was sentient by this point, you'd better be now.

[@ws3471]

Looks like Pandora's Box opened was really an anime girl

[@zoulogist9171]

Fate Series: Write that down, write that down!

[@FrdDrmurr]

So we are fitghing again for see what win, chaos or order?, yep a normal day in SMT to me

[@marcosseverini5297]

Ren, Skull, Zenkichi and Sophia's awakenings are my favourite.

[@Cloud-dt6xb]

I kinda wish we'd get a flash back to Morgana's awakening just to see how it went down. Whether he was born able to use a persona or needed to obtain it the same way the others did.

[@star01010.d]

@@Cloud-dt6xb I mean Igor did raise him Right?

[@Cloud-dt6xb]

@@star01010.d Ehh not really if anything Joker raised him. Remember based on how they explained it Igor only barely managed to make Morgana before Yaldaboth took over. Which also explains why he had amnesia.

[@dylanweathers9727]

Okay I'm gonna be honest. Ichinose's voice is great.... Before the twist, I really can't take her seriously. She sounds like she's trying to pass herself off as a mean girl. I still really like her voice.

[@williamsusanto8082]

Yeah, 2B here.

[@dylanweathers9727]

@@williamsusanto8082 Although I may be biased, because I simply didn't like her as the twist villain. I love her, but not as the twist.

[@vanessachowjiaying4423]

Even though Kuon's motives were understandable albeit twisted, part of me almost wanted to burst out. Thinking back on the events of 3 and 4, it's due to this kind mindset that the past teams have to suffer a lot, even though their trails were different in terms of themes and methods executed. Sometimes those battles at least can be avoided if individuals are more willing to face their weaknesses/inner demons, changing themselves to a positive sight. Also the aftermaths of the Dark Hour research in 3 brought trouble to the Inaba team a month after their main trail in Arena. Kuon and Maruki's actions/research already probe possibilities of more within the shadows, which might be what Jose meant on "more watching over humankind" and why "they" cannot leave humans be.

[@dylanweathers9727]

@@vanessachowjiaying4423 my problem is that the way her twist happened was way too similar to Shuji from P3, of course there are many differences but that is because the story different. But it's revealed basically the same way. A clumsy but kind super genius, helps you. But then she tries to kill you with her robot, because she wanted god to descend. Honestly the only difference is that we didn't know that she made Sophia untill the twist happened, which is only because Sophia had amnesia, and of course she had amnesia because apparently that's Atlus's favorite plot device. Sorry for the rant

[@LordCommander-ui2fw]

Honestly, I think that's kinda the point. Ichinose is consciously trying to be the heartless doll everyone around her said she was so she could hide from her pain and loneliness.

[@gmotofbx]

Can we appreciate Sophie’s English VA’s amazing voice acting job here!

[@salmonandsoup]

You know, maybe I'm just projecting, but Ichinose really reads as an autistic woman to me in this video. All of it, especially with her flashbacks, screams "bad at social cues, has a hard time making and keeping friends, dulled emotional sensitivity due to trauma and being unable to healthily process it, and taking things literally and running away from 'failure' along with a black and white world view". I wanna plop her into a good therapist's office, man.

[@zuhdim4962]

I symphatize with Ichinose because I was autistic but now I am a normal person

[@salmonandsoup]

@@zuhdim4962 you know that doesn't go away, right? i'm happy you learned to navigate the world in your own way, though! congrats :)

[@Shiverwar]

She kinda represents the more negative aspects of autism taken to an almost illogical extreme, in that case.

[@medjedreal1152]

can i just talk about how much better this and Zenkichi's awakening is than the ones in P5? idk what it is, maybe it's the fact that they scream their Personas' name's but who knows, i just like these a lot better. I felt literal chills watching both of these awakenings, and I teared up at Sophie's.

[@pikespeakaudio8898]

Probably because their Awakenings felt earned after dozens of hours of getting to know these characters.

[@4567samsung]

@@pikespeakaudio8898 exactly , like aside from ryuji and futaba , non of the og awakenings was well built up , it was like "yea good for you , I don't really know you tho" , with Zenkichi's and sophie's awakening I literally jumped from my chair while cheering and fanboying , that is a reaction that never happened in the entirety of p5 lol

[@miyukidawn9803]

@@4567samsung royal also had a god new one

[@LakeEarth]

Because they were expected. P5, a new character is in the metaverse? Countdown to the awakening scene. In Strikers, the characters are around for a while before it happens (in Sophie's case, almost the whole game).

[@ssjichigo666]

I was so glad this sequel kept true to form with the awakenings, for both new characters, even brought back the badass theme song too

[@DitzyDollie22]

My favorite persona moment, right here, it's so amazing

[@whammett]

god the 'my name is' is such a good fucking touch

[@KudaGeatsune3821]

Can we just agree that Sophie is awesome

[@inukoinu.k9]

indeed

[@weertangel7231]

This game throws Persona awakenings to a whole new level! So damn good! And this persona fits Sophia perfectly, to grasp hope from the depths of despair, thats so like her!

[@Lexicon865]

Knew I'd like Ichinose from the moment I met her but I didn't expect her to be a character I'd relate a lot to, man,,,,,

[@Plasma476]

Wow, I love the voice they used for pandora. Especially “then you need only call MY name”

[@Muhhamed985]

"PANDORA!" A specific boy with an earring: I SENSE A DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE jokes aside i love how pandora went from nihilism in persona 1 to hope in strikers

[@Kuulpb]

I haven’t played any persona games, but this is bringing me to tears

[@TristonDBuffkin]

16:51 That soul shattering scream was everything. 😱

[@dragonflight2468]

The moment pandora appeared on her visor, I popped off yo

[@martinteece8983]

Wow pandora such a cool idea being the mythical one with the box. I just love the writers for these games they bring the emotion deep and hard.

[@KatelynTea]

pandora is also the final boss of p1

[@jadebayoba7073]

18:24 its the fact she did not fail her task, she found the meaning of a heart

[@codetron1.1]

She actually has gone beyond her task not only knowing what a heart but also developing one for herself 🥹

[@dakoboy6912]

I didn’t see anyone comment about this, but I like how Ichinose’s dialogue around 3:07 is actually syncing with the music for a bit. Not sure if it was intentional or purely coincidental.

[@kornaes]

P1: Pandora, the first shadow P5S: Pandora, the last awakening

[@faiyathefirebnuy170]

Maki: "Hey, who summons my other self?"

[@silentspirit8923]

When I saw this for the first time, I HAD CHILLS!!!! Only Joker, Skull, Panther, and Yusuke gave me those chills! I now add Sophie to that list as well as Wolf!

[@Werewolf293]

25:20 I dunno why, but this part feels like Sophia act as like Ichinose Shadow, reminding, then slapping her with the truth and all to get a grip of herself.

[@PsychicStep]

Two years yet this scene *never* gets old for me. Sophie and Ichinose is my favorite characters in P5, excluding Maruki that is.

[@brau7152]

The fact that counterstrike is the song that plays in the background just makes this much more beautiful If you haven’t read the lyrics it’s basically about Sophie and Ichinose’s development so yeh

[@Mnemoniforma9.00]

So, Sophia debasing herself and falling to Earth in pursuit of a true understanding of the Monad, Pandora's Box being opened to reveal humanity's worst vices and also their hope for a better tomorrow...P5S is using these as a metaphor for the realization of a Technological Singularity...for the breakthrough in AI's ability to transcend being more than a tool without a will...to think, these seemingly modern possibilities, in all of their terrifying, brilliant potential, have existed in occult knowledge for so much of human history

[@ThePyroMan_]

13:37 this part makes me sad...

[@MoldieAnimations]

When she screams Pandora I *always get chills*

[@Acmecaboose]

I’d say her reactions from 2:42 to 3:02 said that she knew they were right.

[@Dann_Palkarr]

"Can you wield that strength? Dare you unleash catastrophe upon this world? Can you cling to the paltry hope that remains? Is the puppet ready to cut her own strings? Shall the doll seize her own destiny? Than you need only to call my name. I am thou, thou art I, my name is... PANDORA!" Of all the persona's monologues, I find Pandora's to be my favourite.

[@jesterofbadpuns8717]

Can we talk about futabas part This triumph voice of her when she hacked ichinose was just so empowering knowing you allready won cause the lasers gone

[@eon1014]

So, her Persona is the final boss of the very first game? Interesting.

[@Alice89chan]

And so, Persona comes full circle. Next we need Philemon and Nyarlathotep back.

[@Hilversumborn]

Pandora from the first game was basically Maki’s shadow

[@eon1014]

@@Alice89chan Technically, Philemon never left. He was the blue butterfly in the other games watching over the main characters. But still, I get what you’re saying.

[@eon1014]

@@Hilversumborn Yeah, but still. It’s pretty neat to see a second Pandora.

[@Alice89chan]

@@Hilversumborn it makes sense as that story was her coming to terms with what happened. She also gets better after beating Pandora.

[@superp2222]

I think Atlus blindsided everyone by getting an AI to awaken to a persona. But given that they awaken to rebellious spirit it’s so poetically fitting that Sophia would awaken one. Hands down the most epic awakening scene

[@shikotsu9394]

20:54 Awesome Cut-in! 💯

[@meimmakoto3224]

Maisters strategy is the most cursed thing ive ever seen in this game. And I beat cerberus by mashing the showtime buttons while being null to fire. Ez mode :D

[@08Juan80]

Sophia really opened Pandora's Box there

[@darrenardron6953]

I love how Ryuji always has the first worded response to an Awakening, i Hope they continue these awakenings in future Persona, i know they did it in P4 but i always liked seeing them accepting their faults and becoming stronger :)

[@RhineStone46]

The second the cutscene started I thought it was mainly going to be an emotional scene but then I thought “wait a minute, are they?” And then Pandora spoke and my jaw dropped. Seeing this reminded me why I loved the persona awakenings since I took a break from the game between Zenkichi’s awakening and Sophies, it gave me so many chills

[@warwulf1889]

1:10 The phantom thieves aren't even the ones who started that, the app itself was what referred to it as jail.

[@treefiddy_Yugo-slay-via]

15:54 timestamp for the awakening cutsene