Persona 5 Tactica is a rich strategy title that will delight fans of the original but may leave newcomers out of their depth.
The rapid-fire style and fluidity of the Persona series may seem at odds with the turn-based strategy formula, but Persona 5 Tactica has come out swinging. Developer Atlus’s latest Persona 5 spin-off has managed to adopt deep and engaging turn-based mechanics while also celebrating the iconic visuals and fast-paced battles of the original.
Over-the-top villains, laugh-out-loud character interactions, and a palpable sense of mystery will keep fans invested in Persona 5 Tactica’s high-concept tale. However, those new to the series may feel submerged in the deep end and have with little reason to care about in the characters or setting. Though the introduction of new figures like spirited revolutionary Erina and kindly politician Toshiro provides a window through which newcomers might access the ongoing narrative, there’s simply too much baggage from the main game’s story to make Tactica’s own tale accessible.
Tactica’s main plot directly addresses the fallout of Persona 5’s action-packed finale, slotting comfortably into the series’ canon. Having defeated despotic would-be prime minister Masayoshi Shido through what can only be described as supernatural mind-robbery, the heroic Phantom Thieves find themselves called to action once more. A group of lovable misfits, these adolescents possess special powers that allow them to step into the minds of corrupt individuals and steal their dark urges.
This time, they find themselves wrapped up in the case of missing representative Toshiro Kasukabe, a well-meaning politico who was slated to replace Shido before mysteriously vanishing. Protagonist Joker and the Phantom Thieves find themselves trapped in the Kingdom, a mysterious psychological realm under threat from the tyrannical Lady Marie – a new villain on the scene who has an army of legionaries at her beck and call.
Suffice it to say, this is a lot for newcomers to take in. That said, the game’s novel and refreshing take on the turn-based strategy genre has a more universal appeal, offering players a rabbit hole of gripping tactical decisions and puzzle-solving to dive into and from which it’s difficult to escape. Teamwork makes the dream work
Persona 5 Tactica’s elegant, self-contained engagements are satisfying and moreish affairs. Beginning with simple fundamentals, the game’s battles gradually open like a flower, revealing vivid new possibilities and ideas.
On the surface, it seems like a simple take on the tactics formula, with grid-based arenas populated by trigger-happy enemies that must be dealt with in turn-based fashion.
