Flashback Syndrome is a Play-by-Post Game based on Atlus's Persona games, mainly Persona 3 and Persona 4.
In the rapidly-growing city of Nagatani, rumor has it that looking into the river by Madogawa High School at midnight will reveal one's future. In actuality, the river serves as a gateway to a maze-like Dark World known as Duat, where lost souls are hunted by Shadows. However, eight students gain the ability to fight back by awakening to their Personas, and proceed to investigate the mystery behind Duat.
Characters
Madogawa High Investigation Team
Students with the ‘potential’ who have banded together to find the truth behind Nagatani’s mysteries. Their Personas take the forms of ancient Egyptian mythological figures.
Keiko Masuda
The distant, soft-spoken star of the Literature Club, despite an apparent lack of personal projects. Has a deep interest in people, yet keeps to herself – but with the growing mystery in Nagatani, will she be able to remain a closed book for long?Her Persona is Nephthys of the Priestess Arcana.
- An Ice Person: Nephthys can use Bufu.
- The Medic: Her Persona specializes in healing spells.
Kirio Anzai
A stoic genius known as the 100% King. He seems to be caught up in his own world, ignoring the presence of those around him in order to focus on his studies. What lies behind that boy’s mysterious exterior?His Persona is Thoth of the Hermit Arcana.
- Intelligence Equals Isolation
- Shock and Awe: Thoth's main form of offense is the Zio spell.
- Smart People Wear Glasses
Kanno Inoue
A reckless lone delinquent who seems devoted to violently rejecting authority. Always looking for a fight, she’ll go on the attack at the slightest provocation. But is that all there is to this one-girl gang?Her Persona is Sekhmet of the Devil Arcana.
- Batter Up!
- Playing with Fire: Sekhmet specializes in melee, but also knows Agi.
Homare Kinjo
The eldest son of the famous Kinjo family. After suddenly transferring from his prestigious school in Tokyo to the humble Madogawa High School, rumors swirl around about what is truly happening within the family behind one of the most successful hotel chains in Japan. To the public he is a picture of perfection, but is that the truth?His Persona is Neith of the Hanged Man Arcana.
- Blow You Away: Neith uses Garu spells.
- Insufferable Genius: Not known for his kind attitude, but provides results.
- Stoic Spectacles: Rarely seen without a smug smirk or frown.
Jun Hibiki
A cheerful and upbeat street dancer with a strong love for tokusatsu, particularly the Featherman series. Her penchant for shows aimed at children gives off a certain impression, but is she more mature than she lets on?Her Persona is Horus of the Sun Arcana.
- Bare-Fisted Monk: Fights with martial arts instead of a weapon.
- Blow You Away: Unlike the majority of Sun Personae, who tend to go for Playing with Fire.
- Genki Girl
Hideo Akinori
A professional player for End of Absolution and the head of the disciplinary committee. Some see him as an exemplar of fairness, while others dislike his unrelenting pursuit of order. Is there a method to the madness of the justiciar?His Persona is Serqet of the Justice Arcana.
Asami Yasue
An intimidatingly aloof girl with a passion for art, commonly called the Poisonous Queen behind her back for the disdain with which she treats her classmates. However, she’s rumored to show a completely different side of herself around animals. What secrets could the river reveal about her future – or her past?Her Persona is Renenutet of the Empress Arcana.
- Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: Of the Ice Queen variety.
- Distinguishing Mark: Stands out in a crowd due to the pale patches of skin caused by her vitiligo and was born with heterochromia iridum, her left eye is brown while her right eye is pale green.
- Flower Motifs: Generally roses, but occasionally spider lilies as well.
- Friend to All Living Things: Deconstructed - she loves plants and animals, but doesn't get along with her peers at all.
- Nay-Theist: Initially. Upon seeing the visions in Madogawa river, she insists that a group of pranksters must have filmed themselves in disguise and projected the footage over the water to embarrass/frighten others...but her inner narration makes it clear that she's unnerved herself, and desperate for some kind of mundane explanation.
- Poisonous Person: Unsurprisingly, given her nickname and the fact that her Persona has the head of a cobra, Renenutet specializes in ailments during battle (Earth spells not having appeared in Persona games since 2).
- Red Baron: Madogawa High's Poisonous Queen.
- Tarot Motifs: III — The Empress, although she demonstrates some qualities of its reversal as well. She has the creativity and a Mother Nature Persona, but only shows her nurturing side to plants and animals; to other people, she's cold and standoffish.
Nobuhiro Tadano
The rambunctious star of the Kendo Club. Though he shines in the limelight now, rumor has it this wasn’t always the case. Could the twin sister he acts so protectively over have something to do with his rise to fame?His Persona is Thutmoses III of the Tower Arcana.
Other Characters
Lilian
An attendant in the Velvet Room, which is located on a cruise ship this time around. She doesn't explain much about the cast's contract, having found Igor's speeches about such things to be kind of 'a drag'.Tropes featured include:
- Egyptian Mythology: In addition to the aforementioned Duat, all of the cast members' Personae come from the Egyptian pantheon.
- Non-Indicative Name: Despite the name, it seems that just about anything can serve as an "Earring", including things that are only imaginary.
- Summon Magic: Instead of 3's Evokers or 4's glasses, the cast utilizes Summoning Artifacts called 'Earrings'.
