Persona 5 Tactica assessment: The turn-based ways spinoff fizzles out

At first blush, I thought of Persona 5 Tactica an pointless encore for the Phantom Thieves. They already obtained a sequel in Persona 5 Strikers, and a definitive version that doubled as a gut-punch farewell in Persona 5 Royal. Furthermore, Atlus has begun to position its consideration on remakes and remasters of the collection’ older video games, whereas slowly passing the torch to the likes of Metaphor: ReFantazio and the eventual sixth Persona installment. The deeper I dug into Tactica, although, the extra satisfied I grew to become that the Thieves’ message can nonetheless resonate — even when it’s nonetheless mired in the identical toxic tropes.

The occasions of the XCOM-like start proper earlier than the end result of the unique Persona 5 plot, because the crew of vigilantes are set on parting methods with each other. As they focus on tips on how to spend their final weeks collectively, a mysterious door seems throughout the by-now-famous Café LeBlanc. Swiftly, the group is in a brand new Metaverse — the facade is a far cry from Tokyo’s sprawling alleyways and dim subway stations. In a matter of minutes, the Thieves are at it once more, confronting an oppressive ruler tormenting the inhabitants of a medieval city. Erina, the chief of the Insurgent Corps and one of many new playable characters, shortly invitations them to hitch the revolution towards the tyrant; the Thieves, anticipating Erina could know of a method for them to get again house, settle for.

Picture: Studio-P/Sega by way of Polygon

When it comes to construction, Tactica is kind of mechanical. In a departure from Persona 5 and its earlier spinoffs, you gained’t be partaking in any kind of calendar-based actions. Tactica’s story is instructed largely in visible novel style, with cutscenes often intersecting the turn-based technique portion of the expertise. The latter takes you thru more and more harder eventualities with somewhat simplistic goals, equivalent to defeating all enemies or traversing from level A to B as a complete squad. In between missions, you’re free to buy weapons, fuse personas, and spend expertise factors in (pretty comparable) talent timber for every character. Apart from optionally available conversations and the flexibility to replay previous missions, there’s a restricted variety of aspect quests that play like one-off puzzles (defeat all enemies in a single flip, and many others.), that are rewarding in their very own proper — they’re even enjoyable simply to plan for.

Even with out many aspect actions by which to partake, the core tactical expertise is enthralling, sustaining a balanced tempo the place there’s all the time a brand new potential, enemy kind, or degree mechanic launched proper when every mission ramps up. Within the 22 hours it took me to hit the credit (apart from a tedious final stretch the place you repeat previous encounters and their respective puzzles), Tactica’s challenges saved me on my toes with out ever making fight really feel too straightforward or overly advanced. (I performed on regular issue.) It’s not genre-bending by any means, however components like free motion whereas switching between characters with out being compelled to decide to a untimely plan on the grid — and successively aligning members to permit for highly effective staff strikes — by no means stopped being satisfying.

Picture: Studio-P/Sega by way of Polygon

And whereas the dearth of ancillary missions hinders the sensation of fixed progress that Persona 5, XCOM 2, and Fireplace Emblem: Three Homes encapsulate so nicely, Tactica gives simply sufficient selection in its tactical choices to maintain issues recent alongside the in any other case linear journey. Elemental weapons and weaknesses, assorted staff compositions, and persona fusion all present possibilities so that you can experiment. My favourite staff comp consists of Haru, Yusuke, and Morgana. Haru’s grenade launcher targets an space as a substitute of only one enemy, whereas her Psy abilities not solely deal harm, but in addition drag foes exterior of canopy, leaving them uncovered to follow-up assaults. Yusuke’s potential to freeze grew to become paramount throughout the previous few ranges while you might be simply surrounded by a number of teams, whereas his assault rifle covers a protracted distance. Then, Morgana introduced the group collectively because the de facto healer after investing in his Media talent tree. I additionally realized that Morgana’s use of Garu, which pushes enemies again on the grid, is tremendous useful in coping with brute-type models, who thrive on close-quarters counterattacks.

In the end, nonetheless, the principle attraction of Tactica is its story. Very like Hello-Fi Rush initially of the yr, the narrative beats, maybe inevitably, echo present occasions: the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike, union group efforts throughout a number of firms, together with Sega of America, and, to an extent, the worldwide protests demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.

Picture: Studio-P/Sega by way of Polygon

It’s unlucky, then, to witness yet one more story that may’t shake off Persona 5’s traditional narrative shenanigans. Within the unique RPG, and most of its spinoffs, Atlus hinted that it could, for as soon as, go the additional mile when condemning the millionaires and corrupted politicians it locations in its plot. However the collection’ long-running conservatism, in addition to its propensity to position all the blame on a misanthropic deity, have all the time gotten in the best way of significant commentary. In Tactica, characters spend half of the time speaking about serving to fellow “comrades” to combat not simply shitty adults, but in addition issues like oppression and fixed surveillance. The intention is as delicate because the message in Latin on the flag Erina carries (which roughly interprets to “In order for you peace, win it your self”). Seeing the final portion of the story taking a secure path to wrap issues up, nonetheless, in addition to now-established tropes like the continuing sexualization of mainstay Ann, diminish the efforts considerably.

It’s virtually satirically becoming for a bulk of the narrative to revolve round Toshiro Kasukabe, a member of the fictional depiction of the Nationwide Weight loss program and future prime minister, who will get tangled within the Metaverse Eras Tour with the Thieves. He’s slowly impressed by the rebel, whereas some backstory beats make him a personality value rooting for on a human degree. But, with out spoiling any plot reveals, even Toshiro himself realizes that one “good apple” can’t overthrow corruption. The supply of Tactica’s allegory isn’t one to take at face worth. But it surely serves as a reminder that solidarity enacts change — whether or not you’re waving a flag or carrying a purple leather-based go well with.

Persona 5 Tactica might be launched on Nov. 16 on Nintendo Change, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Collection X. The sport was reviewed on Collection X utilizing a pre-release obtain code supplied by Sega. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These don’t affect editorial content material, although Vox Media could earn commissions for merchandise bought by way of affiliate hyperlinks. You could find extra details about Polygon’s ethics coverage right here.