Persona 5 Tactica review: The turn-based tactics spinoff fizzles out

At first blush, I thought-about 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 put its consideration on remakes and remasters of the sequence’ 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 turned 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 how you can 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, rapidly invitations them to affix the revolution towards the tyrant; the Thieves, anticipating Erina could know of a manner for them to get again dwelling, settle for.

Picture: Studio-P/Sega by way of Polygon

By way of construction, Tactica is sort 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 advised principally in visible novel vogue, with cutscenes often intersecting the turn-based technique portion of the expertise. The latter takes you thru more and more tougher eventualities with reasonably simplistic targets, similar to defeating all enemies or traversing from level A to B as a whole squad. In between missions, you’re free to buy weapons, fuse personas, and spend expertise factors in (pretty comparable) ability timber for every character. Except for elective conversations and the flexibility to replay previous missions, there’s a restricted variety of facet 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 facet actions through 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 sort, or stage mechanic launched proper when every mission ramps up. Within the 22 hours it took me to hit the credit (other than a tedious final stretch the place you repeat previous encounters and their respective puzzles), Tactica’s challenges stored 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 pressured to decide to a untimely plan on the grid — and successively aligning members to permit for highly effective group 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 Hearth Emblem: Three Homes encapsulate so nicely, Tactica gives simply sufficient selection in its tactical choices to maintain issues contemporary alongside the in any other case linear journey. Elemental weapons and weaknesses, diversified group compositions, and persona fusion all present possibilities so that you can experiment. My favourite group comp consists of Haru, Yusuke, and Morgana. Haru’s grenade launcher targets an space as an alternative of only one enemy, whereas her Psy abilities not solely deal harm, but additionally drag foes outdoors of canopy, leaving them uncovered to follow-up assaults. Yusuke’s potential to freeze turned paramount throughout the previous couple of ranges while you will be simply surrounded by a number of teams, whereas his assault rifle covers an extended distance. Then, Morgana introduced the group collectively because the de facto healer after investing in his Media ability tree. I additionally discovered that Morgana’s use of Garu, which pushes enemies again on the grid, is tremendous useful in coping with brute-type items, who thrive on close-quarters counterattacks.

In the end, nevertheless, the principle attraction of Tactica is its story. Very like Hello-Fi Rush originally of the yr, the narrative beats, maybe inevitably, echo present occasions: the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike, union group efforts throughout a number of corporations, 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 standard narrative shenanigans. Within the authentic RPG, and most of its spinoffs, Atlus hinted that it might, for as soon as, go the additional mile when condemning the millionaires and corrupted politicians it locations in its plot. However the sequence’ long-running conservatism, in addition to its propensity to put all the blame on a misanthropic deity, have all the time gotten in the way in which of significant commentary. In Tactica, characters spend half of the time speaking about serving to fellow “comrades” to struggle not simply shitty adults, but additionally issues like oppression and fixed surveillance. The intention is as refined because the message in Latin on the flag Erina carries (which roughly interprets to “If you’d like peace, win it your self”). Seeing the final portion of the story taking a protected path to wrap issues up, nevertheless, in addition to now-established tropes like the continued sexualization of mainstay Ann, diminish the efforts considerably.

It’s nearly paradoxically becoming for a bulk of the narrative to revolve round Toshiro Kasukabe, a member of the fictional depiction of the Nationwide Food plan and future prime minister, who will get tangled within the Metaverse Eras Tour with the Thieves. He’s slowly impressed by the rise up, whereas some backstory beats make him a personality price rooting for on a human stage. 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 pink leather-based go well with.

Persona 5 Tactica might be launched on Nov. 16 on Nintendo Swap, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Sequence X. The sport was reviewed on Sequence X utilizing a pre-release obtain code offered 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’ll find further details about Polygon’s ethics coverage right here.

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