Is it a sandbox game? I only play sandbox. I tried Call of Duty (some number or another) and quit because I hate being led down a path I cannot divert from.
Strictly no. They are like FF10 in the sense that you can go places on your own at will for the most part but you are still playing a linear game ultimately.
Yea I’m a sandbox/open world convert too. I still love me some Persona/FF/Xenogears/saga but Fallout ruined me. Skyrim made it hard for me to go back.
Actually with Persona it is more a visual novel than a game. What I mean is yes it’s a game with fetch quests and saving the princess stuff but it’s more like a book that plays out before you.
It’s hard to explain.
Remember the pick your path books where if you did A, turn to page 34 and if you picked B turn to page 98? How the choices directed the outcome? It has aspects of that.
Then there’s open combat/magic/summoning like a regular fantasy RPG.
Then there’s the mythology aspect that you actually have to know your mythos/history take full advantage of your options/abilities.
Then there’s the Who done it? mystery aspect you have to be a Sherlock to deal with.
Put it this way. It’s a game for a select group of gamers. If you were a D&D nerd in high school, odds are you’ll love it. If you were a mario Bros gamer, you’ll likely hate it.