Persona 5 Tactica Review

Over the years, Atlus, the creative force behind renowned titles such as the Persona series, Catherine, and Shin Megami Tensei, has earned a distinct reputation for fearlessly delving into adult themes and dark subject matter. While this often results in an M rating and occasional awkward handling of delicate situations, it aligns seamlessly with the studio’s exploration of the complexities within humanity and the human condition, both of which harbor their fair share of darkness and intricate circumstances. The studio’s ambition to tackle such profound topics has always garnered my admiration, particularly in the case of the Persona series.

However, what sets Atlus apart isn’t just the initiation of these conversations; it’s the studio’s skillful framing of them. The deliberate juxtaposition of darkness against powerful messages about courage, morality, hope, and idealism elevates the narrative, giving it a profound and meaningful impact. It is this unique combination that contributes to the beauty of Persona, defining its identity.

Persona 5 Tactica not only embodies this identity but revels in it. With its chibi-style art and scenarios that occasionally evoke the ambiance of a typical anime beach episode, the game introduces a lighter tone compared to Persona 5 Royal. Yet, at its core, Tactica remains dedicated to delivering potent messages, navigating intricate themes, and inspiring players not only to be more confident but also to aspire towards greater ideals and kindness. Tactica accomplishes all of this remarkably well, employing a compelling narrative and introducing two compelling new characters that quickly capture players’ affections. Together, these narrative elements immerse players in the next chapter of the Phantom Thieves saga, rekindling the flames of rebellion.

Despite initial reservations about the game’s genre shift and whether another extensive journey with Joker and friends was warranted, I found myself grateful for Persona 5 Tactica and the comfort it provided upon completing it.

Set shortly after the events of Persona 5 Royal, Persona 5 Tactica unfolds with the Phantom Thieves embarking on a new journey in both familiar and uncharted realms. The story kicks off at Le Blanc’s, where Joker serves coffee and curry to his soon-to-graduate friends, sparking discussions about their future plans. However, the dialogue comes to an abrupt stop when the Thieves observe time freezing, and the Metaverse—previously explored in P5—appears to engulf them once again. While swiftly pulled back into the cognitive world, the Thieves sense a notable difference this time. Unraveling this mystery and finding a way home becomes their top priority, setting the wheels in motion, albeit at a leisurely pace.

The leisurely start and the game’s somewhat sluggish final hours stand out as Tactica’s primary drawbacks. Occasionally, it feels like the narrative is prolonged solely to extend playtime, whereas a streamlined beginning and adherence to the game’s natural conclusion would have enhanced the overall experience. Fortunately, everything between these two points is exceptional.

Tactica’s Metaverse manifests as a series of kingdoms ruled by tyrannical leaders connected by a common thread. Act One introduces many of the game’s major themes, as well as its two new characters, Erina and Toshiro. The ensuing 25 hours constitute the most heartfelt and compelling Persona story arc, weaving an intense narrative that utilizes both overarching plotlines and interpersonal dynamics to cultivate a profound investment in the player’s anticipation of unforeseen situations. Tactica ingeniously merges elements of Persona 5 and Persona 3, seamlessly intertwining an emotional personal story with a broader exploration of the challenges of growing older and becoming complicit in the subjugation of oneself and others. Despite the unconventional nature, playing Tactica felt like a stroke of luck, providing a comforting embrace of relentless idealism amidst the tumultuous state of the world in 2023.

In addition to introducing two exceptional characters, Tactica enhances the charm of the existing series cast. While my connection with Haru in Persona 5 wasn’t particularly strong, Tactica’s visual novel style provided her (and every character) with more opportunities to engage in conversations and express their personalities. The game also includes side quests and lighter side conversations that enable different character groups to interact, offering Joker the chance to imagine potential relationships with his party members without introducing any unwarranted biases. I particularly appreciated how the seasoned party members interacted with Erina and Toshiro, showcasing how their past adventures shaped their perspectives. The cumulative impact of the Phantom Thieves’ numerous escapades is evident in their increased empathy and assurance in their life mission.

Tactica’s character insights and its rest system, which bolsters characters who were inactive in combat, heightened my enthusiasm for experimenting with various party members and strategies on the grid-based battlefield. This experimentation was richly rewarded, as Tactica’s combat proves to be highly customizable and often more engaging than Persona’s traditional turn-based system. Skillfully positioning your party for Triple Attacks, scoring critical hits for One More Time actions, and strategically placing teammates for opportunity attacks can compress the impact of several turns into one, completely shifting the course of a battle. This effectively captures the essence of exploiting weaknesses and executing all-out team rush attacks seen in recent Persona games. Furthermore, each character boasts a substantial skill tree (respecable at any time) that bestows unique abilities and contributions to battles, along with a set of inherent skills. For instance, Haru exhibits reduced movement speed but wields a powerful weapon, while Ann, with swift battlefield traversal, focuses more on magic than physical attacks.

Another remarkable change is the shift of the primary action away from Joker. Now, each character has the ability to dual-wield Personas. While one will always be their signature persona, such as Skull’s Captain Kidd or Mona’s Zoro, the other is entirely customizable. This alteration enhances the viability and excitement of every character. Crafting personas tailored to characters with high SP for devastating heavy magic attacks and reserving skill-based abilities for melee-focused characters allowed me to optimize my team effectively. These intricacies, coupled with Tactica’s variable battle challenges, motivated me to engage in mentally stimulating fights. I consistently sought out new party formations and persona combinations, striving to meet all optional victory conditions alongside the mandatory ones.

Tactica’s robustness extends across its narrative, systems, and battle mechanics, even in the expansive options available within the Velvet Room. All the countless Personas from P5 return to be summoned in Tactica, alongside the ability to fuse them. There’s no aspect of the game that resigns itself to being just a spin-off. Without prior knowledge of what a full-sized Persona game entails, Tactica could easily be mistaken for the main attraction. However, its only significant drawback is ambition; the final hours feel somewhat tacked on, especially considering a point that feels like a natural resolution. Another minor setback is performance, occasionally evident on my Nintendo Switch OLED, with sporadic framerate dips and noticeable load times.

However, this is not to imply any deficiency in the game’s visuals. I found myself pleasantly surprised by how much I appreciated the art style, which, though sharing boldness and a similar color palette, diverges significantly from the original game’s sleek and mature anime aesthetic. Tactica opts for a more chibi-like adaptation, featuring small, rounded characters with wide eyes and cartoony expressions. Even during intense and tragic cutscenes, this art style proves effective, infusing vibrancy, energy, and playfulness that I cherish. Alongside the changes in combat, it contributes to establishing Tactica’s distinct identity, setting it apart from its predecessors.

Ultimately, the transition of Persona 5 to tactics-based combat in Tactica is a triumph. Every facet of the game is meticulously crafted and emotionally resonant, resulting in something truly exceptional, particularly in terms of its story. My affection for the Phantom Thieves deepened, and I developed a fondness for Toshiro, Erina, their narrative, and the principles their characters represented. Despite being a spin-off, Tactica delivers a beautiful message with a clear voice. It stands as a fantastic addition to the Persona 5 universe—one that not only honors its spirit and determination but also elevates the conversations and ideals explored in the game to new heights.