"Another Fun Spin-Off That Proves The Depth Of Its Source Material": Persona 5 Tactica Review

14.11.2023 - 17:10 / screenrant.com

asks the question: «what if was an game?» It really is that simple, as developer P-Studio borrows heavily from the latter series to fuel the latest journey through the universe. As it turns out, the answer to that question is equally simple — it's another excellent entry into a growing portfolio of spin-offs, and a successful blend of the series' trademark charming art style and the deep strategy of -style tactical RPGs.

For those unfamiliar with the newest genre has entered, tactical RPGs — especially those inspired by — tend to lean heavily on the tactical side of the description, with dynamic combat systems, character classes, weapon deployments, and deep strategy that combine to create a highly creative battlefield. That remains true for, though its graphical style and innovations in line with the series' psychology-littered universe make it memorable and unique.

Related: Persona 5 Tactica Leans Into Mario + Rabbids (& That’s Great)

follows the Phantom Thieves as they find themselves in a new cognitive universe that operates differently to the Metaverse they've become accustomed to. While they can still summon their Personae, they're limited to one — including Joker — and the universe begins with clear nods to the real world, as the group finds themselves in the Leblanc café before long.

Pretty soon, the group meets up with Erina, a revolutionary fighting against the tyranny of her world, and the plot follows the usual beats found in titles. There's some drama, some self-discovery, liberal amounts of anti-establishment rhetoric, and the occasional off-putting joke about Panther's costume (truthfully, I can't believe we're still doing this). It's another narrative centered around the idealism of youth juxtaposed against the bitter reality of adulthood, and although has told this story before, there's enough differences that it remains interesting.

also benefits from the fact it has access to most of its familiar faces quickly. While some of the early plot removes members of the Phantom Thieves from the narrative early, they're back soon enough, and having this many well-established characters from the beginning creates a lot of compelling, slice-of-life scenes that veterans of the franchise will thoroughly enjoy. While the Personae themselves take a pretty big back seat in the trade-off is even more time with a cast that's proven time-and-again it's one of the best elements of .

also nails the aesthetic in a way that feels true to the tactical RPG genre. Scene transitions feature colorful animations, and the menus are vibrant and flashy without sacrificing the utility that's desperately needed in games that juggle so many moving parts during combat. While the chibi-style representations of