Why Labrys is Peak Fiction | Persona

[@Commander9994]

Insanely well written character and story that shocked me especially for being in a fighting game.

[@expychristian]

That's the crazy part too: fighting games usually are too straightforward to really tell a plausible story, but the fact that Atlus blended both genres together to make Labrys is what makes both character and story phenomenal.

[@RavenGamingOverLord]

Well it’s still a Persona game

[@PhthaloGreenskin]

Throughout her entire story I'm thinking. "This is how you teach an android how to hate". I'm suprised she didn't go all Terminator on The Scientists. This is how you create someone like Durandal and Tycho from Marathon.

[@expychristian]

Exactly! There are only two ways that a sentient robot like Labrys will develop: through kindness or cruelty. Thankfully, she leaned into kindness to define the rest of her intention and character. I don't want to imagine how OP an Persona-wielding android would be as a boss for any Persona game.

[@floatingpasta8099]

I just like her ponytail and her accent, didn't know she was this deep

[@expychristian]

Persona has that tendency, y'know? And I understand that many games offer that immediate surface-level appeal through their characters. But I feel that Persona, SMT, even games like Mass Effect, do their best to provide depth and substance to their cast of characters. Surprising, eh?

[@xandergay3505]

if i dont see labrys as a tiny reminder in persona 6 like the rise poster in p5 ima be madddd

[@expychristian]

OR if we see her in the sky jet-packing with her rocket axe. Since she's not a public figure like Rise, it'd be cool to see like a background moment with her either moving around or fighting a shadow.

[@xandergay3505]

@@expychristian possibly in a PQ since the female protag was able to get in

[@expychristian]

@@xandergay3505 Hold on, you might be onto something 👀

[@xandergay3505]

@@expychristian heard it here first

[@GreenThunder121]

I am so happy to see this video on my recommended page today because Labrys is a character that doesn't nearly get as much love as she deserves. She is one of my favorite Persona characters period and is one of the main reasons I have for recommending the Arena duology to fellow fans of P3/P4. Arena at its core is her story, so watching her save the world in the P3 route of Ultimax feels correct to me even if the P4 route is most likely canon. Speaking of which, I take Teddie's route as my own canon for the first Arena because I feel like it's the story mode that is most centered on her. It's a story of two non-human entities who developed their own consciousness empathizing and understanding in each other's struggles. The vulnerability they show towards each other is one I couldn't see matched in Yosuke's. The equal partnership aspect as Teddie stands for Labrys' goals and well-being while making sure she always has the control she deserves is beautiful. It helped me fall in love with two characters instead of only one.

[@expychristian]

And I think that's the beauty of having a well-developed story and character like Labrys; it's creating more meaning and purpose for other characters within their narrative world. Example: Sho is one such character, not my personal favourite, but clearly he and Labrys are empathetically similar, giving Labrys a plot hook, but also an in-world relationship that explores more of her and Sho's character(s). No yeah, Labrys is underrated and deserves the recognition. P4 route might be true canon, but P3 route is the culmination of her then-character arc in Ultimax/Arena. Happy to help here, glad to hear that I was in the recommended haha.

[@Izanagi-Arsene]

Never had any doubt she'd be well written when the dream combination, atlus and arcsys worked together.

[@expychristian]

It is still astounding that they were able to make use of a fighting game scenario and create a good character story that still fits into the lore and themes of Persona 4, that's for certain.

[@ElEscolta]

hugely criminal we never got a full anime adaptation of the Arena games, i always been needing more of that bostonian accent cutie in my life...

[@expychristian]

I think it would be worth the time, especially if Atlus wants to make more "Arena"-type Persona games, especially with how popular Persona 5 got.

[@ElEscolta]

@@expychristian true that, and with the new p3 remake, maybe the need for more stories about them could increase...

[@expychristian]

@@ElEscolta Plot twist: Labrys is retconned to be a social link in the remake 👀 Don't know how they can do that with Arena and whatnot, but you never know.

[@akiren302]

Haven't even watched the video yet but it's wild to me how little appreciation Labrys gets considering how damn good of a character she is. She is genuinely one of the most heartfelt and interesting characters out of the 3-4-5 trilogy of games and is in my opinion probably in the top 5 or even 3 of characters in those games.

[@expychristian]

You said it first here, fam. I can think of a few reasons why she may have been "left behind": 1. Design can be considered "stereotypical" 2. Fighting game character originally 3. Visual novel story-telling in a fighting game, readable only through playing her actual route and the P3 side of Ultimax's story mode That said, I definitely agree; Atlus did a solid in creating her story and character; even more impressive is fleshing it out without using a social link like in all Persona games. It's intriguing that someone with so little time to be in the spotlight ended up having one of the more 'genuine' character arcs and development. Yeah Labrys DEFINITELY deserves more love. Share this video, speak this to the masses xd

[@philosospielvideogamephilo3736]

@@expychristian As someone who has briefly covered her myself in a podcast discussion (that has been converted to a KZbin video) . I can definitely say, she is the best written Persona AI character having only seen her background story chapter, as much as Aigis and Sophia also have great stuff with them (Sophia especially with her symbolism, but all have GREAT symbolism associated with them and I include Aigis' arc in The Answer). Also have not even seen this video, but I'll give it a watch.

[@expychristian]

@@philosospielvideogamephilo3736 Thank you for the support and the insight! I'll look into your video as well, curious now. Labrys definitely had a more "human" effect to her story; Aigis and others may have had that as well, but the fleshing out part and the way Labrys' story was told, it's simple enough to be a good story, but deep enough to explore more philosophy and other abstract concepts, especially with "humanity" and "machines." Which, for a fighting game character, is top-notch storytelling; heck top-notch even among Persona.

[@CyberLink70]

I was just writing some Labrys stuff on a fanfic with a friend and you come and upload this. Nice work.

[@flameindigo8035]

can confirm, am the friend. the video rocks

[@expychristian]

I'm no fanfic writer myself, but hope this little fan project of yourself ends well! Happy to help!

[@expychristian]

@@flameindigo8035 Thank you both for the kind words! Again, hope the story ends up well!

[@Quazex]

Labrys's story made me sob horribly and dramatically in a way I didn't expect from what I thought was a silly fighting game spin off. In the Ultimax P3 story epilogue when Aegis and Yukari went back to the overgrown lab, when they saw the sword in the ground, I knew immediately what it was and who it belonged to and I just started bawling, even before they pointed out the number on it.

[@expychristian]

I felt similarly. For a fighting game spin-off with an already ridiculous premise, them boys at Atlus ended up creating someone with more personality and storytelling than I could have expected, especially in the fighting game genre. Sure, the robots becoming human thing might be getting to a certain peak with a lot of other games, but it still felt so "Persona" and unique to Labrys. And I'm glad they added the epilogues to add some conclusion to these characters in this unexpected crossover.

[@rhyno39]

Really thought you were about to say "the real Labrys was in us all along"

[@expychristian]

Nah, I ain't Fairy Tail XD

[@24Nyome]

Watching this to make fanfic

[@sebavju]

It would be nice to have some kind of wink to labrys in persona 3 reloaded

[@expychristian]

It's only fair. Seeing as how shes influenced Mitsuru's motives, which are directly tied to the main plot.

[@My2Cents.iF7934]

I remember playing through Aigis's route of P4A a few months ago. After the first tournament was finished and the teams went their separate ways, Labrys and Aigis are talking in the limo. I don't remember what triggered it, but Aigis unlocks a memory that she inherited from Labrys. The one on the dock in Yakushima with Snowy, where she makes a wish that all of her predecessors are happy. Aigis then remembers her own experience in Yakushima, when she meets Makoto. Labrys's wish was fulfilled in the end. It was at this moment that I started crying. Properly just bawling my eyes out. And then it happened again when I watched both of the ASSW's ending scenes in the P3 Route of Ultimax. Which is why I am now writing my first fanfiction. Labrys is far and away my favorite Persona character of all time. And I truly do hope that we see her again in future games, but like you I'm perfectly content with her story being as open-ended as it is.

[@expychristian]

It's incredible that a game that is primarily a visual novel with tie-ins to the main series games can be written well enough to give new life to the cast, even the pre-existing characters. A lot of potential to unpack within such a short time frame. Here's hoping maybe P3Reloaded can reference or, by some chance, include Labrys.

[@carbinecryo30716]

This is a pretty great video... Now do one about Sho. This is a THREAT. (No not really I just hope people learn about him because he's really cool too)

[@Myrmiddonn]

Finally, some Arena appreciation!

[@expychristian]

Yessir, underrated titles in the whole franchise (besides the first two Persona games)

[@Myrmiddonn]

@@expychristian Haha..... you should totally do other Persona characters... that would be so cool...

[@expychristian]

@@Myrmiddonn I already have one planned for next year 🧐🫢

[@plushboat]

what an awesome video about labrys' story and character. subscribed :D

[@expychristian]

Aw, thank you! Appreciate the comment ♥ Feel free to check out the other videos on the channel! Got more stuff in the works 😄

[@carhighh]

It's so satisfying to see people uncover the hidden gems of this series, especially when it's from smaller channels like ours. Great video!

[@expychristian]

Hey, thanks for the comment! Characters like these wouldn't be gems if they weren't precious! Whole lotta stuff deserves recognition, even beyond Persona.

[@carhighh]

@@expychristian I comepletly agree, I hope ATLUS tries to explore a lot of their smaller stories like this in the future. Their catalog is so rich.

[@expychristian]

@@carhighh I mentioned it in response to another comment here, but a full animation adaption of Arena would be nice. Heck, they could even make Labrys' battle simulations a stage in Persona 5 Tactics; maybe in the near future of whatever next Arena game they come up with, we could see more progression from the characters we've seen before, like Marie, Labrys, and or the Phantom Thieves should they be included. Their catalog is deep, I hope they don't show only the mere surface of it.

[@carhighh]

@@expychristian I agree, there’s plenty more to be explored and I hope they take advantage of it. Take my money!

[@expychristian]

@@carhighh Amen amen amen, good sir.

[@MetatronsRevenge613]

2:50 Wicks persona is.Baba Yag

[@expychristian]

OOOOOHHHHHH, I like THAT!

[@michaelmcdonald1983]

I played this gane for the first time when it ccame out on ps4 and i immediately fell in love with her character. Everything about her is great, and with ma boi yosuke as the first route i did. I ship them both. Fight me on that!

[@expychristian]

I MEAN- The Manga made Yosuke's route canon soo... But besides that, she's an underrated character. I know Atlus is going the remaster route right now, but it'd be cool to see Labrys and even some other characters appear again.

[@michaelmcdonald1983]

@expychristian630 I agree. I just wish we could get that triple crossover of 3, 4, and 5. I just know there's alot of ppl wanting that. Maybe have it like strikers or go full Muso style. With labrys as dlc.

[@expychristian]

@@michaelmcdonald1983 PQ2 lacked not including Labrys and others in. Tsktsk. Here's hoping!

[@cimbo8674]

Amazing video but could you turn the audio up a little? It's quieter than other videos for some reason

[@expychristian]

Thank you for the feedback! Do you mean audio for my voice or for the background music?

[@cimbo8674]

@@expychristian I feel like if the overall audio of the video was doubled it would be just perfect (Im comparing the audio to other youtube videos)

[@expychristian]

@@cimbo8674 Okay, thank you for pointing that out! I try not to make it so "overwhelming" with either voice or BGM. It's a balance I've been working on, so I appreciate the feedback; helps me get closer to 'perfecting it' if you may.

[@zacharygate9842]

Labrys is 3rd best girl in the series after Makoto and Hifumi.

[@expychristian]

@zacharygate9842 I can vibe with that. I really thought Hifumi should've joined the thieves in 5, though. She was so coded to be part of the team at some point, but alas it was not to be, sadly.

[@zacharygate9842]

@@expychristian Imagine if P5 Phantoms was a game where instead of original characters, it's the Confidants as Persona users. That would've been awesome.

[@expychristian]

@zacharygate9842 That'd be interesting. It'd be a shift in seeing how and which confidants would want to helm the fight in the Metaverse.

[@noelcactus9178]

banger video

[@expychristian]

Thank you, I rock wit your pfp 😯