(to give context for this image, p5x Twitter had a popularity poll thing that ran for a few weeks and the results compiled and the top 15 had the head writer of the game describe the thought process that went into why a character is written the way that they are)
It's been around a year since P5X dropped globally and I've been a consistent day 1 player. Nagisa always stuck out to me even during my very first impressions during the beginning. And now, a year later? He's my second favorite protagonist and that is very firm. (nobody beating naoya, sorry wonder)
I genuinely haven't seen a persona protaganist characterized so well and with so much personality since oldsona. Out of the neosona protagonists, I definitely think Nagisa is the most nuanced. And the way his character fits the main theme of P5X so perfectly.
Retaking one's desire for something, whether it be a hobby, interest or even their desire for living, is a very difficult thing to do. But it is absolutely not impossible. Nagisa is always characterized as being very astute to other people's feelings and being a very kind and caring person. Sure, he has that comedic edge to him (p5x is literally the first time in a persona game where the optional dialogue choices; i look forward to hearing him speak because he feels like such a distinct character and the dude is genuinely very expressive and funny), but, yeah, as the head writer states, Nagisa is meant to come across as compassionate.
Of course, since he is the leader of the Phantom Thieves of Desire, he helps people retake their own desires. But he doesn't just fix or change everything for someone immediately, he helps but also lets the person come to the realization themselves. (even the palace leaders, to some extent. to some extent, I repeat.)
His trust in others and his ability to sit there and listen and the confidants actually being intriguing because unlike in other neosona games, you don't just coddle their every single whim or have an option that is So Obviously the Right One that it feels artificial. Nah, with Nagisa and his empathy, it feels definitely much more akin to an actual real comforting conversation.
He feels things deeply, for himself and others. (like look wtf is going in the main story. wild stuff.) But he still keeps pressing forward with determination, no matter how hard things gets with the hope that things will get better. As someone who went through an extremely turbulent time this year with a lot of change and a lack of hope, P5X and Nagisa were some of my pillars that made me more grateful for my life and that I had the power to retake my life into my own hands and I did it. Now, I've never been better.
TL;DR Person 5 gachaslop is so hopecore that it helped me so much w my own life and the protaganist is very cool and neat :^)
