Bob

"JRPGs aren't know for their nuanced, serious storytelling."

...have you played a JRPG? Even Yakuza, despite its silliness, is a very heavy story and has serious elements. Final fantasy X which you reference is very serious despite some of the dates goofiness. The entire Persona series is dark and heavy.

Metaphor was not that good. The characters were weaker than Persona entries, the combat system was not as fun as Persona or SMT, the social links (yes, they are social links stop denying that) weren't as well written and also meant less since they automatically advanced, the pacing was awful, and the inclusion of 'real time's combat just didn't work.

You all fell for the hype and I seriously hope this is not the direction that Persona takes.

In oblivion the emperor says the gods put you there for a reason. Everyone you interact with addresses you as the hero of Kvatch. Martin may be the one who sacrifices himself to fight Dagon but everyone step along the way people are acknowledging it is all because of you.