Hello, fellow gamers and Persona fans! Welcome to my blog, where I share my thoughts and opinions on various video games and genres. Today, I’m going to review Persona 5 Tactica, a tactical role-playing game that features the Phantom Thieves of Hearts in a new adventure.

Persona 5 Tactica is a spin-off of the popular Persona 5 game, which was released in 2016 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3. Persona 5 Tactica was developed by Atlus and Omega Force, and published by Sega. It was released for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on February 14, 2024, coinciding with Valentine’s Day and the anniversary of Persona 5.

Persona 5 Tactica is set in an alternate timeline, where the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, a group of vigilante high school students who use the power of Persona to change the hearts of corrupt adults, are transported to a mysterious world called the Metaverse.

There, they encounter a new enemy, the Order of the Holy Grail, who seek to impose their twisted justice on the world. The Phantom Thieves must team up with new allies, and use their tactical skills and Persona abilities to fight their way through the Metaverse and stop the Order’s plans.

In this review, I will evaluate Persona 5 Tactica based on four criteria: gameplay, story, graphics and sound, and conclusion. I will also give my personal rating and recommendation of the game at the end.

My main opinion is that Persona 5 Tactica is a fun and engaging game that offers a fresh and challenging perspective on the Persona series while staying true to its core themes and characters. I think Persona 5 Tactica is a must-play for Persona fans and a great introduction for newcomers to the series.

Persona 5 Tactica: Gameplay

Persona 5 Tactica is a tactical role-playing game that combines the grid-based map and turn-based combat of games like Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics, with the Persona summoning and fusion system of the main Persona series.

The game allows you to control up to six characters in a battle, each with their own Persona, weapon, and skills. You can move your characters on the map, attack enemies, use items, or perform special actions, such as hiding, hacking, or ambushing. You can also switch between different characters during your turn, or swap them with reserve members.

One of the new features of Persona 5 Tactica is the Triple Threat, a powerful attack that can be activated when three characters are adjacent to each other on the map.

The Triple Threat unleashes a devastating combo of physical, gun, and Persona attacks, that can deal massive damage and inflict status ailments on enemies.

However, the Triple Threat also consumes a lot of SP (Spirit Points), which are needed to use Persona skills, so you have to use them wisely.

Another feature of Persona 5 Tactica is the Persona fusion system, which allows you to create new and stronger Personas by combining two or more existing ones.

You can access the Velvet Room, a mysterious place where Persona fusion takes place, from the main menu or from certain points on the map.

Persona fusion can enhance your characters’ abilities, as well as unlock new skills and resistances. You can also register your Personas in the Persona Compendium, a database that lets you summon any Persona you have previously obtained for a fee.

The gameplay of Persona 5 Tactica is fun, challenging, and strategic. You have to plan ahead and optimize each character’s skill tree, weapon, and Persona, to create the best team synergy and overcome various enemies and obstacles.

You also have to adapt to different situations and environments, such as weather, terrain, traps, and enemy formations.

The game offers four difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, Hard, and Merciless, which affect the enemy’s strength, damage, and rewards. You can also customize your gameplay preferences, such as the battle speed, camera angle, and auto-battle settings.

The game has a lot of content and variety, as it features over 100 missions, each with different objectives, conditions, and rewards.

You can also replay any mission you have completed, or try the optional side quests and challenges, to earn extra money, items, and experience.

The game also has a multiplayer mode, where you can team up with up to three other players online, and cooperate or compete in various modes, such as co-op missions, versus battles, and raid bosses.

The game has a high replay value, as you can unlock new characters, Personas, costumes, and endings, depending on your choices and actions throughout the game.

Persona 5 Tactica: Story

Persona 5 Tactica’s story takes place concurrently with the events of Persona 5, depicting the Phantom Thieves of Hearts as they are transported to an alternate world overcome with war and oppression, prompting an alliance with a group of freedom fighters known as the Rebel Corps to stage a revolution against the tyrannical Legionnaires.

The game follows the Phantom Thieves as they explore the Kingdoms, a mysterious realm that resembles medieval Europe, where they encounter new enemies, allies, and challenges.

The story of Persona 5 Tactica is divided into two parts: the main story and the DLC story. The main story consists of 12 chapters, each focusing on a different Kingdom and its ruler, who represents one of the major arcana of the Tarot.

The Phantom Thieves must infiltrate each Kingdom, expose the ruler’s corruption, and change their heart by stealing their treasure. Along the way, they learn more about the history and secrets of the Kingdoms, as well as the true nature and motives of the Order of the Holy Grail, the mysterious organization behind the Legionnaires.

The DLC story, titled “Repaint Your Heart”, is an additional chapter that takes place after the main story, and features a new Kingdom and a new playable character.

The DLC story explores the themes of identity, freedom, and justice, and reveals the ultimate fate of the Phantom Thieves and the Kingdoms.

The story of Persona 5 Tactica is rich, engaging, and immersive. It expands on the Persona 5 universe while introducing new elements and perspectives. It explores the themes of rebellion, justice, and change, and how they relate to the Persona concept and the real world.

It also develops the characters of the Phantom Thieves, their personalities, motivations, relationships, and growth. The story is full of twists, surprises, and emotions, and offers multiple endings depending on the player’s choices and actions throughout the game.

Some examples of the story are:

In Chapter 1:

the Phantom Thieves are transported to the Kingdom of Swords, ruled by the Emperor, who is a ruthless dictator who imposes strict laws and harsh punishments on his subjects. The Phantom Thieves meet Erina, the leader of the Rebel Corps, who asks them to join her cause and help her overthrow the Emperor. The Phantom Thieves agree, and infiltrate the Emperor’s palace, where they discover his treasure: a golden crown that symbolizes his absolute authority.

In Chapter 6:

the Phantom Thieves arrive at the Kingdom of Cups, ruled by the Lovers, who are a pair of twins who share a romantic and incestuous relationship. The Lovers are obsessed with beauty and pleasure and use their power to manipulate and seduce their subjects. The Phantom Thieves are invited to a lavish party at the Lovers’ mansion, where they witness their decadent and depraved lifestyle. The Phantom Thieves decide to expose the Lovers’ corruption and find their treasure: a crystal heart that contains their forbidden love.

In Chapter 12:

the Phantom Thieves reach the Kingdom of the World, ruled by the World, who is the supreme leader of the Order of the Holy Grail and the mastermind behind the creation of the Kingdoms. The World is a mysterious and powerful figure who claims to have a divine mission to bring order and salvation to the world. The Phantom Thieves confront the World at his temple, where they learn his true identity and his connection to the Metaverse. The Phantom Thieves challenge the World to a final battle, and attempt to steal his treasure: a holy grail that holds his ultimate wish.

Persona 5 Tactica: Graphics and Sound

Persona 5 Tactica is a visually stunning and stylish game that showcases the distinctive art style, character design, and animation of the Persona series.

The game uses the Unity engine and features high-quality graphics, smooth performance, and various options to customize the resolution, render scale, anti-aliasing, and frame rate.

The game supports both widescreen and ultra-widescreen monitors, as well as HDR displays.

The game’s graphics are colorful, vibrant, and dynamic, creating a contrast between the dark and oppressive atmosphere of the Kingdoms, and the bright and lively personality of the Phantom Thieves.

The game’s graphics also reflect the themes and motifs of the game, such as the Tarot cards, the masks, and the hearts.

The game’s graphics are also full of details and references to the Persona 5 universe, as well as other games and media.

The game’s sound and music are equally impressive and memorable, as they capture the mood, tone, and action of the game. The game’s sound director, Toshiki Konishi, stated that he wanted to create a sound that was faithful to the Persona 5 flavor while adding new elements and twists to suit the tactical genre.

The game’s sound effects are crisp and realistic and enhance the impact and feedback of the gameplay.

The game’s voice acting is superb, as the original cast of Persona 5 reprise their roles, and deliver their lines with emotion and personality.

The game’s music is composed by Atsushi Kitajoh, Gota Masuoka, and Ayana Hira, who also worked on Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal. The game’s music is a mix of relaxing jazz, catchy funk, and energetic rock tunes, that fit the different scenes and situations of the game.

The game’s music also features vocals by Lyn Inaizumi, Lotus Juice, and Yumi Kawamura, who are well-known for their previous work on the Persona series. The game’s music is a pleasure to listen to and adds to the immersion and enjoyment of the game.

Some examples of the graphics and sound are:

In Chapter 3:

the Phantom Thieves visit the Kingdom of Wands, ruled by the Chariot, who is a charismatic and ambitious warrior who leads a massive army. The Kingdom of Wands is a desert-like land, where the sun is scorching and the sand is swirling. The graphics of this Kingdom are bright and warm, with shades of yellow, orange, and red. The graphics also show the scale and power of the Chariot’s army, as well as the ruins and relics of the ancient civilization that once thrived there. The music of this Kingdom is upbeat and adventurous, with a rock and metal style, and vocals by Lotus Juice.

In Chapter 9:

the Phantom Thieves enter the Kingdom of Pentacles, ruled by the Hermit, who is a secluded and secretive sage who possesses vast knowledge and wisdom. The Kingdom of Pentacles is a forest-like land, where the trees are towering and the flowers are blooming. The graphics of this Kingdom are calm and serene, with shades of green, blue, and purple. The graphics also show the mystery and magic of the Hermit’s domain, as well as the hidden dangers and traps that lurk there. The music of this Kingdom is soothing and mystical, with a jazz and ambient style, and vocals by Yumi Kawamura.

Persona 5 Tactica: Pros and Cons

Persona 5 Tactica is not a perfect game, and it has its strengths and weaknesses. Here are some of the pros and cons of the game, according to various reviews and opinions:

Game Pros:

• Diverse and engaging combat: The game’s combat system is fun, challenging, and strategic, as it combines the grid-based map and turn-based combat of tactics games, with the Persona summoning and fusion system of the main Persona series. The game also introduces new features, such as the Triple Threat, the Cover System, and the One-More Turn, that add more depth and variety to the battles.

• Amazing new characters: The game’s story introduces new characters, such as Erina, the leader of the Rebel Corps, and the Order of the Holy Grail, the mysterious antagonists. The new characters are well-written, likable, and memorable, and they have their own personalities, motivations, and development. They also interact well with the original cast of Persona 5, creating interesting dynamics and relationships.

• Superb music and voice acting: The game’s sound and music are excellent, as they capture the mood, tone, and action of the game. The game’s music is composed by the same team that worked on Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal, and it features a mix of relaxing jazz, catchy funk, and energetic rock tunes, with vocals by Lyn Inaizumi, Lotus Juice, and Yumi Kawamura. The game’s voice acting is also superb, as the original cast of Persona 5 reprise their roles, and deliver their lines with emotion and personality.

Game Cons:

• The confusing storyline for newcomers: The game’s story is a direct follow-up to Persona 5 Royal, and it assumes that the player is familiar with the characters and the concept of the Metaverse. The game does not provide much introduction or explanation for the newcomers, and it might spoil some major events or twists from Persona 5 Royal. The game also has some plot holes and inconsistencies, and it does not fully resolve some of the mysteries or questions that it raises.

• Linear mission structure with limited flexibility: The game’s mission structure is very linear and scripted, as it follows a predetermined sequence of events and objectives. The game does not offer much freedom or choice to the player, as they have to follow the story and the gameplay rules. The game also does not have much exploration or customization options, as the maps are mostly fixed and the characters are mostly predefined.

• Cartoonish art style might not appeal to all players: The game’s art style is different from the main Persona series, as it uses a chibi-like design for the characters and a bright and colorful palette for the graphics. The game’s art style might not suit the taste or preference of some players, who might prefer a more realistic or stylized approach. The game’s art style might also clash with the dark and serious themes of the game, creating a contrast or dissonance.

Game Review:

Persona 5 Tactica is a spin-off game that takes the beloved characters and themes of Persona 5 and adapts them to a tactical role-playing genre. The game offers a fun and engaging combat system, a rich and immersive story, and superb music and voice acting.

The game also introduces new characters and features, such as the Triple Threat, the Rebel Corps, and the Order of the Holy Grail, that add more depth and variety to the Persona 5 universe.

However, the game also has some flaws and limitations, such as a confusing storyline for newcomers, a linear mission structure with limited flexibility, and a cartoonish art style that might not appeal to all players.

The game also suffers from some technical issues and glitches, such as long loading times, frame drops, and crashes. The game also has a very high price tag, especially for the DLC story, which is relatively short and does not add much to the main game.

Persona 5 Tactica is not a perfect game, and it might not satisfy everyone’s expectations or preferences. But it is still a worthy addition to the Persona 5 franchise, and a great game for fans and newcomers alike. Persona 5 Tactica is a game that celebrates the spirit and the style of Persona 5 while offering a fresh and challenging perspective on the tactical genre.

Persona 5 Tactica is a game that will make you feel the power of friendship, the thrill of adventure, and the joy of music. Persona 5 Tactica is a game that will make you smile.