[Story theory] [major spoilers] About Joker in his hometown...

[burningmime]

I was thinking about it the other day. Based on some subtle hints the game dropped, but I think Joker has a criminal record. Still not 100% confirmed. Here's my evidence...

1. During your initial meeting with Sakura, Sakura mentions off-hand that Joker defended some woman, was arrested, got a criminal record, and was expelled.
2. Some of the rumors in the background that pop up while walking around school involve students talking about a criminal record.
3. Joker is on probation. Sakura even mentions how he should write in the diary because Sakura needs to talk to Joker's probation officer.
4. When Kawakami and Kamoshida are talking, they mention something about a criminal record. It's also mentioned when Kamoshida is talking to Kobayakawa.
5. On your first day of class, the rumor-loving girls mention a criminal record when you go to sit down.
6. When you go to the library, the librarian mentions your criminal record.
7. Ryuji talks about Joker's criminal record after meeting him on the roof.
8. Ryuji talks about it again when they are eating ramen after going into the metaverse the second time.
9. When you talk to Ann at the cafe in the subway, she mentions his criminal record.
10. So does Shiho when you talk to her in the hallway before she tries skydiving
11. So does the newspaper club member in the hallway
12. Sakura talks about his criminal record at least 2 other times at the cafe. He also makes sure to tell Joker 3 times (maybe 4?) that he will kick Joker out if Joker causes any trouble, and 2 other times that Joker was expelled from his previous school.
13. Kamoshida has Mishima leak some information about a "criminal record". This is mentioned both when you leave the metaverse for the second time with Ryuji and when you confront Kamoshida in the office.
14. In the story summary in the menu, it's mentioned about Joker's criminal record.

I'm still developing this theory, and I'm glad the game is so complex and layered. Next up, I have a theory that there were subway/bus accidents near the time when Joker goes to Tokyo. Not so sure about this one; it's only mentioned about 7 or 8 times.

So many Western developers focus on being accessible to 2-year-olds without the concept of object permanence, or pad out game length for review scores or to give an impression of value for money. I mean, OBVIOUSLY a game that's 120 hours must be better than one that's 40 hours because 120 is higher than 40. So I'm glad Japanese games really respect their players' intelligence and time.

[Bankai9212]

That is all to the incident you the player sit through in the beginning and only that. Not sure if it’s a culture thing but I’m guessing having any criminal history is bad in japan. Also the game length isn’t the issue. Even die hard fans would agree it’s padded in areas, heck most of the runtime is just dialog.

[Miomazi]

Not sure why this thread is being called a theory considering the game explicitly tells you Joker has a criminal record multiple times. Is this some kind of super dry sarcasm or something? I'm lost

Originally posted by Bankai9212:

That is all to the incident you the player sit through in the beginning and only that. Not sure if it’s a culture thing but I’m guessing having any criminal history is bad in japan. Also the game length isn’t the issue. Even die hard fans would agree it’s padded in areas, heck most of the runtime is just dialog.

Having a criminal record is bad in a lot more than just Japan. I've been arrested before, not going to go into it but I was innocent and beat the charges. Despite that 3 of my last 5 jobs I had to answer questions about that to the employer because my arrests showed up on a background check. I'm unsure of whether it's ever cost me a job before, maybe it's the reason I never got a call back from a few places, but it definitely did impact my life.

[Bankai9212]

Well any criminal record would go that, I would think it’s based more on the crime itself. I just know certain cultures view things differently.

[burningmime]

Originally posted by Miomazi:

Not sure why this thread is being called a theory considering the game explicitly tells you Joker has a criminal record multiple times. Is this some kind of super dry sarcasm or something? I'm lost

Noooooooooo. I'm not being sarcastic.
https://youtu.be/ziH9St7ajuw?t=41

[thefollowingcharacters]

There's some serious irony when you criticize a game for not being complex and layered in a simple and one-dimensional mockery.

[burningmime]

Originally posted by thefollowingcharacters:

There's some serious irony when you criticize a game for not being complex and layered in a simple and one-dimensional mockery.

I'm not criticizing it for "not being complex and layered". I'm criticizing it for being poorly written, either because an attempt to make pad the game length for review scores, or just because they're bad writers.

Although, if you didn't understand that from the post, maybe you're just the target audience for this game's intro. Someone who can't make inferences, and has such low reading comprehension that information needs to be repeated dozens of times.

[Izlude]

Originally posted by burningmime:

Originally posted by thefollowingcharacters:

There's some serious irony when you criticize a game for not being complex and layered in a simple and one-dimensional mockery.

I'm not criticizing it for "not being complex and layered". I'm criticizing it for being poorly written, either because an attempt to make pad the game length for review scores, or just because they're bad writers.

Although, if you didn't understand that from the post, maybe you're just the target audience for this game's intro. Someone who can't make inferences, and has such low reading comprehension that information needs to be repeated dozens of times.

"Its poorly written because they reference stuff a lot thats important to the plot and the characters" Ok then

[burningmime]

Originally posted by Philogosten:

Originally posted by burningmime:

I'm not criticizing it for "not being complex and layered". I'm criticizing it for being poorly written, either because an attempt to make pad the game length for review scores, or just because they're bad writers.

Although, if you didn't understand that from the post, maybe you're just the target audience for this game's intro. Someone who can't make inferences, and has such low reading comprehension that information needs to be repeated dozens of times.

"Its poorly written because they reference stuff a lot thats important to the plot and the characters" Ok then

Over and over.
Repeatedly.
Many times.
Without adding anything new.
They keep saying it.
A lot.
Several times.
Many times
More than once.
Over and over.
They repeat information.
Multiple times.
They don't add new information.
They just keep saying it.
Multiple times.
Often in awkward ways that no human being would say.
But they say it a lot.
They repeat the same thing.
Over and over.
Repeatedly.
As if the audience couldn't understand.
Like, one time I could get.
Two times, fine, it's reinforcing.
Three times, OK, irt's important ot the character.
5 times and it's a joke.
10 times and it's bad writing.
They do it 20 times.
If they're not bad writers, and not doing it for review scores, then I guess that makes them ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ who want to waste people's time?
Because they do it a lot.
Repeatedly.
Over and over.
And saying "he has a criminal record" is not a REFERENCE.
It's a statement.
Which thy make a lot.
Even though they don't need to.
They juyst keep saying it and saying it.
Not "referecning" it.
Not showing how caharacters react or respond it.
Just saying it,
Over and over.
Repeatedlt.
Because they know there are people like Philogosten in their audience who would think that saying something again and again in the same work is a reference.
And references are cool.
Your references are off the hook.
Even though, no, tit's not a reference.
It's just a statement.
Of the same information.
Over and over,
94% positive must buy experience.
Will take you away from your daily life of mundane repitition.
To a magical land of mindane repitition.
Where they say the same thing over and over.
And again.
And again.
But in this magical land.
Saying the same thing repeatedly.
Over 20 times, in fact.
Isn't just repeating information.
It's a "reference".
Over and over.
Repeatedly.



... Sorry I got a bit carried away. ♥♥♥♥, I wish I had been a poet.

[Mr. Colorado Bomber]

Originally posted by burningmime:

Originally posted by Philogosten:

"Its poorly written because they reference stuff a lot thats important to the plot and the characters" Ok then

Over and over.
Repeatedly.
Many times.
Without adding anything new.
They keep saying it.
A lot.
Several times.
Many times
More than once.
Over and over.
They repeat information.
Multiple times.
They don't add new information.
They just keep saying it.
Multiple times.
Often in awkward ways that no human being would say.
But they say it a lot.
They repeat the same thing.
Over and over.
Repeatedly.
As if the audience couldn't understand.
Like, one time I could get.
Two times, fine, it's reinforcing.
Three times, OK, irt's important ot the character.
5 times and it's a joke.
10 times and it's bad writing.
They do it 20 times.
If they're not bad writers, and not doing it for review scores, then I guess that makes them ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ who want to waste people's time?
Because they do it a lot.
Repeatedly.
Over and over.
And saying "he has a criminal record" is not a REFERENCE.
It's a statement.
Which thy make a lot.
Even though they don't need to.
They juyst keep saying it and saying it.
Not "referecning" it.
Not showing how caharacters react or respond it.
Just saying it,
Over and over.
Repeatedlt.
Because they know there are people like Philogosten in their audience who would think that saying something again and again in the same work is a reference.
And references are cool.
Your references are off the hook.
Even though, no, tit's not a reference.
It's just a statement.
Of the same information.
Over and over,
94% positive must buy experience.
Will take you away from your daily life of mundane repitition.
To a magical land of mindane repitition.
Where they say the same thing over and over.
And again.
And again.
But in this magical land.
Saying the same thing repeatedly.
Over 20 times, in fact.
Isn't just repeating information.
It's a "reference".
Over and over.
Repeatedly.



... Sorry I got a bit carried away. ♥♥♥♥, I wish I had been a poet.

L poem of L takes

[Koopa]

so true bestie