Tartarus question

[Pierdo]

So. Realistically what is the motivation to complete tatarus? It seems like the game just kind of tosses you in. Hey here's a tower, go climb it. It might have something to do with all the depressed people around town. Coming from P5, there was a motivation to push through both the dungeons and the subway, and some explanation as to what it all was. Does this game ever provide any additional motivation?

[Douota]

Short answer, yes.

For one thing, there aren't anything like Palaces in this game. Each full moon basically consists of just a boss fight. If you don't go to Tartarus, you'll be too weak to beat any of them.

If you're thinking it's very reminiscent of Mementos, you're right. It's the exact same concept. Remember what you had to do in Mementos towards the end of P5 to get to the final fight?

As far as backstory, Tartarus is at the center of the narrative, so just keep playing and enjoy.

[Tracido]

Honestly, my motivation would have been the sheer weirdness of it all if it was me. However, thinking of everyone on Earth becoming a vegetable mentally, not a fate I'd be excited about either without a fight.

[Shiso]

Ikutski leads the group and based on prior information believes Tartarus is key to ending the dark hour in some way, so as leader of S.E.E.S sends the group to investigate.
The rest is spoiler sensitive and gets explained toward the later-middle segment of the game.

[archonsod]

Originally posted by Pierdo:

So. Realistically what is the motivation to complete tatarus? It seems like the game just kind of tosses you in. Hey here's a tower, go climb it.

S.E.E.S. initially believe it's central to Dark Hour as the school is the only building that changes in that manner during the period. What's actually going on will be explained further as you play.
As for motivation, note that Dark Hour happens every night whether you go to Tartarus or not. As is obliquely noted at several points during the game, one of the reasons you end up gathering a bunch of people at the dorm is because it's safer to spend Dark Hour together as a group than it would be trying to fend off the shadows alone every night.

[Danielle]

From the player's perspective, I think it makes perfect sense to go into the tower as soon as it's introduced. It's clearly tied to the dark hour, and the dark hour is the weird magical situation you've found yourself in and been personally imperilled by.
Besides, as Junpei would agree, it's a place you can go to use your cool superpower. Why wouldn't you want to go there?

But, yes, it becomes more obviously important later.