Playing Persona 5 Tactica: Style and Substance

Fans of Persona can be reluctant to part with their favourite characters after they have spent up to 100-hours playing the game. The Persona 3, 4 or 5, it’s only natural to feel a void once you’ve rolled the credits. Persona publisher Atlus clearly understands we’ve wanted to see more of SEES and the Investigation Team; we’ve brawled in the arena and danced all night with them in follow up titles long after their original releases. The game was released in October. Persona 5’sPhantom Thieves gets another chance to shine in a brand new genre, tactical RPG.

The Gamescom event gave me the opportunity to meet and spend time with a number of celebrities. Persona 5 Tactica (P5T) on Xbox, and it’s no surprise this is shaping up to be one of the most stylish tactics games on the market. It’s pretty much everything that I enjoyed about Persona 5 returns in a remixed fashion: the iconic music played with new instruments, characters like Joker, Ann, and Mona hanging out in Leblanc Coffee Shop, even the endlessly pulsating menu options return in a new, “cuteified” art style. In short, if you loved that world, you’re already going to be predisposed towards this one.

The gameplay is a mix of a turn-based, RPG and a tactic-focused game with Persona-inspired twists. Tokyo is filled with strange happenings (again) from the very beginning.Phantom Thieves find themselves in Metaverse again, and players are learning about the specific nuances to this system.

Mainline Persona games focus on sussing out enemies’ elemental weaknesses to launch devastating all-out attacks, P5T has you deploying familiar tools (melee weapons, firearms, and Personas) in a different way: placement and cover are of utmost importance, enabling your team of three to make the most of their turns.

A key tactic revolves around using melee attacks to leave an enemy defenseless, allowing a second character to “down” them, earning “One More” free turn. Triple Threat attacks are possible by forming a triangle around a defeated enemy. Persona 5′All Out Attack, a good idea. Triangle formation: works in basketball, works in soccer, works in P5T.

Triple Threats are a great way to get at least one person out of cover and into a risk/reward story.

This tension is prevalent in P5T: rewards are given for matches that can be completed in less turns. However, characters who spend their turn not attacking focus on other things. Erina can, for instance, shoot through cover once she has hid for a few turns. Which is better, speed or patience? Safety or daring? You will likely define your experience with P5T by finding ways to make the most of both systems.

You can love everything about Persona 5. Hearing hardcore gamer Futaba self-referentially refer to their next adventure as “DLC” while Ryuji and Yusuke argue over a beach trip brought me back to that time spent in the alternate universes of Tokyo, and I’m ready to do it all over again.

Persona 5 TacticaArrives November 17, on Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC.

Persona 5 Tactica

SEGA of America, Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$59.99

In-game, you will be able to summon additional Personas. Picaro versions will also be added to Persona Compendium after becoming Trickster masks.

Get the digital bonus by pre-ordering now:
• Orpheus Picaro
• Izanagi Picaro

Ignite your heart— An emotional uprising begins!

The Phantom Thieves stumble upon a bizarre world where the citizens live under oppressive tyranny. They are in danger when a Legionnaires military unit surrounds them. Erina, a mysterious revolutionary who rescues the Phantom Thieves and makes an attractive deal for their assistance. What is the truth behind Erina, and what deal does she offer to Phantom Thieves in exchange for their help?

Persona 5 Tactica has a new storyline, returning fan favorites, as well as brand-new enemies and allies. In this exciting combat adventure, join the group to lead an emotional revolt!