Persona 5 Tactica – Why It’s a Must-Play for Any and Every Persona Fan

The Phantom Thieves are back in Persona 5 Tactica, the latest entry in ATLUS’ long-running Persona series. As its name implies, this new game features a tactical RPG spin on the series’ signature gameplay, promising fans a fresh yet familiar journey.

What should also be familiar is its cast as it brings back the Phantom Thieves on another adventure, though this new tale is closely related to the original Persona 5 story.

Plus, this game features a cutesy art style that renders the Phantom Thieves in more adorable forms. Make no mistake though, this is a proper Persona 5 entry that should deliver hours of gameplay and story.

By all accounts, Persona 5 Tactica is a must-play for Persona 5 fans, especially as it features a new spin on the Phantom Thieves story, all while featuring a different flavor of RPG that should deliver a fresh experience.

A Fresh Spin on the Series’ Formula

Since the original Persona 5’s release worldwide back in 2017, fans have been treated to many other releases featuring Joker and the rest of the Phantom Thieves.

For instance, there’s Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, the 2018 dungeon-crawler RPG for the 3DS that featured not only the Phantom Thieves but also the cast of Persona 3 and Persona 4. In the same year, fans were treated to Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, a lighthearted rhythm-action spinoff where the Phantom Thieves showed off their dancing skills.

What followed was Persona 5 Royal, the long-awaited enhanced re-release that became the definitive version of Person 5. Following this was Persona 5 Strikers, a proper sequel in terms of story, but a big departure in gameplay as it features a hybrid of the series’ signature RPG gameplay with Dynasty Warriors-style combat.

As you can see from the game’s history, ATLUS has been offering new Persona 5 experiences over the past years as all of the releases feature different flavors of RPG. That is also the case with Persona 5 Tactica as the game adds a tactical RPG spin to the series’ signature formula.

This is a major departure from the turn-based RPG combat of the original Persona 5 in terms of the gameplay flow, but Tactica does integrate gameplay elements from the original game.

Despite the different flow, Tactica still retains the signature Persona gameplay element of focusing on skills and enemy weaknesses to knock them down. The game even has a “Triple Threat” ability which is a powerful attack that’s akin to the “All-Out Attack” in Persona 5.

Of course, the game wouldn’t deserve its title if it didn’t have Persona. In this regard, Tactica should delight fans as Personas play a key role in this game. Joker along with playable characters can equip Sub-Personas to boost stats and skills. Yes, that means the Velvet Room is back in this game so you can spend a lot of time fusing Personas to get the best one for your gameplay style

Thanks to the fusion (no pun intended) of the series’ signature elements with a tactical RPG style, Tactica proves that the series can be reinvented into many other genres, as is the case with releases like Strikers and Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth.

The fresh gameplay experience isn’t the only reason to play this game though. The story also promises to be a delightful tale for fans of the original.

A Brand-New Take on the Phantom Thieves’ Story

Roughly speaking, the Persona 5-related entries can be grouped into two categories: the side stories and the main stories. Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth and Dancing in Starlight can be considered as the side stories.

So, what about Tactica? Well, its story is a new category in itself. As mentioned by Producer Atsushi Nomura, it’s more accurate to call Tactica a “selection of points throughout in the Persona 5 timeline, told in a new way.”

To give you a better idea, Nomura said that if the original Persona 5 is a TV series, Tactica is like a theatrical version from a fresh perspective.

That’s not to say that Tactica is a remake of the original game though. Instead, its story follows the Phantom Thieves during the story of Persona 5 as they find themselves transported into another world. In this new world, the Phantom Thieves become allied with the world’s resistance against the authoritarian rule of the Legionnaires.

Because of this, Tactica is an intriguing blend of old and new. Aside from bringing fan-favorite characters with familiar story elements, the game also introduces interesting new allies and enemies.

Best of all, this game is part of the canon, meaning it should add even more depth to the story of the Phantom Thieves that fans have come to know and love.

Persona 5 Tactica – Now Available on Consoles and PC

In terms of both gameplay and story, Persona 5 Tactica is a unique mix of familiar elements and new additions.

For this game, ATLUS went with a tactical RPG spin on Persona, all while retaining the core gameplay features that give the series its unique identity. Plus, the choice of retelling the original story from a new perspective promises to lend even more weight to the story of the Phantom Thieves.

Fans should definitely try the game out, and they now can as Persona 5 Tactica is available today on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Switch, and PC.