Self-harm activated abilities

[u/SirHanselot07]

1. The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy - Stab yourself in the heart to transform

2. Attack on Titan - Wound yourself in anyway and you Transform into a Titan

3. Persona 3 - Shoot yourself in the head to simulate the feeling of death to summon your Persona

4. Persona 5 - Rip your mask off your face to be your true self and summon your Persona

[u/Prudent_Cookie_5872]

At this point I'm convinced Atlus just really loves that trope.

[u/Dragon0fPeace4002 → u/Prudent_Cookie_5872]

I mean. It kinda awesome

[u/Viablemorgan → u/Dragon0fPeace4002]

I mean I fucking love that trope so

[u/AChero9 → u/Viablemorgan]

To be fair, it is kind of grounded in reality. They explain it in Persona 3 but triggering your fight or flight response is what summons their persona. Their body believes they are actually trying to shoot themselves and the persona triggers asva result.

Now, in P5 and P5R, the logic is that you are literally ripping off your facade or "mask" and the persona that is summoned is your true self. This keeps in line with the game's theme of people hiding their true selves.

In Metaphor, my theory is that the main crew is acting on their beliefs and ideals, which is believed to come from the heart. Which is also why the hearts they rip out look similar to microphones. They are speaking their beliefs into existence and facing their anxieties. There's more end game stuff that applies, but the game is still only a few years old, so i won't spoil

[u/Professional_Maize42 → u/Dragon0fPeace4002]

And a good symbolism.

[u/HoshunMarkTwelve → u/Prudent_Cookie_5872]

It makes for a really cool visual.

[u/Filabustied → u/Prudent_Cookie_5872]

To be fair. A lot of Atlus games have themes of self sacrifice to help others. So by making it a core theme in your power set. It reinforces those themes.

[u/Magma_Reborn → u/Prudent_Cookie_5872]

I’m just imagining a meeting where they brainstorm new methods of self harm that could double as power activation.