A subway driver undergoing psychotic breakdown
"The mental shutdowns aren't the only incidents people are talking about. There are also the breakdowns which cause people to turn psychotic, creating accidents and scandals... Those cannot be explained unless the true culprit has the power to make people's hearts psychotic... *snicker* That's right! It's my power--one that you don't have! Allow me to show you!"
A psychotic breakdown (精神暴走, Seishin Bōsō)? is a major plot element in Persona 5, and a plot-based ability exclusive to Loki.
Appearences[]
Description[]
Goro Akechi's Persona, Loki, has a unique ability called Call of Chaos that causes Shadows to go berserk. By using this ability on a person's Shadow Self in the Metaverse, Akechi can cause the person to undergo a psychotic breakdown and perform unpredictable, usually violent actions, from reckless driving to stripping themselves naked in public. While a psychotic breakdown occurs, the victim's eyes turn inward while blood flows out of their mouth.
Unlike with mental shutdowns, a psychotic breakdown is not fatal by itself. However, the victim could still be injured or killed because of their mindless rampage, and has no memory of actions performed during a psychotic breakdown upon recovery.
Akechi would use this ability to create scandals for opponents of Masayoshi Shido and his allies. This ability proves to be an invaluable asset for Shido's Antisocial Force to terrorize the population into complacency and without Akechi carrying out the attacks, Shido might not be able to get far enough to take power. For example, at the request of a politician named Ooe, he caused a subway driver to undergo psychotic breakdown, who proceeded to derail a subway train and injure more than 80 people. As Ooe expected, this incident forced the Minister of Transportation and the president of the metro company to resign. Akechi also used this ability to create cases for him to "solve" as a detective, forging the public's trust towards him.[1]
During battle, Akechi could use Call of Chaos on himself to significantly increase his battle prowess.
Other incidents[]
All psychotic incidents reported during the beginning of the game.
Prior to the events of the game, more incidents would be reported:
- Bus runaway accident, including casualties;
- Bombing at a convenience store;
- Arson within a tunnel;
- Fuel leak at a yacht harbor;
- Airport bus charging in;
- Traffic accident;
- Cyber attack at the Cabinet Office;
- Poisoning incident.
There were also several incidents all with ties to restaurants, heavily implied that they've all been requested by Kunikazu Okumura's Big Bang Burger to sabotage rival restaurant giants:
- On June 1st, it was reported that the stock of Wild-Duck Burger plummeted right before a stockholder meeting, due to an employee posting a "nude chef selfie." According to the man, he was nude at work without realizing.
- On June 16th, an employee caused an arson incident at a factory belonging to Haneruya. The man admitted the charges, but does not know why he's done it.
- On July 11th at 8 o'clock, a car driver went out of control in a highway accident, causing the deaths of four. The man was a driver for "Goodness Food."
- On September 15th, the Phantom Thieves read on the mysterious death of a rival company's CEO. The details aren't expanded on, but the pattern implies it's another case of a psychotic breakdown.
Quotes[]
"Even the feeblest existence can gain tremendous power once the chains on its heart are broken."
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑
"...You're so lucky. Lucky to be surrounded... by teammates who acknowledge you... And once Shido confesses his crimes, you'll all be heroes. As for me, people will find out my past deductions were just charade. My fame and trust will vanish."
—Goro Akechi, Persona 5"...I see. So you were turning people psychotic, then solving the cases yourself. And you did that by joining forces with Shido."
—Morgana, Persona 5