The Dual Nature of Persona 5 Tactica: Strength and Weakness

Article Key Points

Persona 5 Tactica introduces a new gameplay style to the series, which comes with inherent risks but also provides a fresh experience for fans.

The game leverages its connection to the immensely popular Persona 5, capturing the interest and enthusiasm of its extensive fanbase. Nevertheless, there is a worry about potential overexposure due to numerous spin-offs featuring the same Phantom Thieves from Persona 5. This could result in their charm fading and make it increasingly challenging for fans to maintain their level of engagement.

Persona 5 Tactica carries both a distinct advantage and potential drawback. Introducing a completely new gameplay style to the series inherently poses some risk. As a spin-off of Persona 5, the game faces the challenge of meeting high expectations from its predecessor. However, benefiting from the large fan base of the Persona series, Persona 5 Tactica may encounter the weakness of relying too heavily on the Phantom Thieves.

Expected to be one of the most highly anticipated game releases in November 2023, Persona 5 Tactica holds this status for an evident reason. With the Persona subseries steadily growing in popularity since Persona 3, Persona 5 stands out as the most successful installment thus far. Building off Persona 5, Persona 5 Tactica naturally garners attention. The inclusion of new features such as the tactical approach and skill tree system serves as added value for fans already familiar with the game and its characters. Given these factors, it would be surprising if Persona 5 Tactica fails to make a significant impact.

Persona 5 Tactica Continues the Phantom Theives' Time in the Spotlight

Persona Fans May Be Seeing Too Much of The Phantom Thieves

Atlus is clearly confident in the potential of the Phantom Thieves from Persona 5, as they continue to incorporate them into new games. Compared to previous Persona protagonists, their identity as thieves adds an appealing element to their characters, particularly when it comes to their stylish thief designs. They have become the iconic figures of the current phase of the franchise, just like the Persona 4 Investigation Team before them. Undoubtedly, the Thieves are highly popular, as evidenced by the immense success of Persona 5. However, it is worth pondering whether Persona 5 Tactica might be an example of saturating players with an overdose of a good thing.

The Persona 5 spin-off lineup has been growing steadily, raising concerns about oversaturation in the franchise. Up until now, the focus has mainly been on games featuring the Phantom Thieves, with the upcoming release of Persona 3 Reload being the only exception. In contrast, during Persona 4's prime, the series made a point of incorporating characters from Persona 3 into its spin-off titles. Thus, Persona 5 has already seen the release of:

- Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight

Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth

Persona 5 Strikers

In terms of spin-offs, only Persona Q2 and Dancing in Starlight have included additional protagonists alongside the Persona 5 representatives. However, it should be noted that the non-Persona 5 characters in Dancing in Starlight were only accessible through downloadable content (DLC).

Atlus Needs to Be Careful With How It Handles The Phantom Thieves

There is a concern about the possibility of the Phantom Thieves becoming too widely exposed, particularly if Persona 5 continues to produce more spin-off titles. The situation is not improved by the fact that Akechi often gets sidelined, with his absence in Strikers and limited involvement in Dancing in Starlight and Persona 5 Tactica as DLC content. Although the original Phantom Thieves are undeniably enjoyable characters, the excessive focus on them can potentially diminish their appeal, particularly considering the rich roster of characters within the Persona series. If Persona 5 Tactica fails to present new facets of the Thieves or introduce fresh dynamics, it might pose a challenge for fans to sustain their interest.

While Persona 5 Tactica may have a strong cast to build upon, there is a potential risk of it becoming monotonous. Introducing a new Persona user in Persona 5 Tactica could be a step in the right direction, along with the inclusion of Sophia and Zenkichi, who have only made one appearance thus far. After Persona 5 Tactica, it would be wise to refrain from releasing more spin-offs solely focused on the Phantom Thieves for a while, or at least balance their prominence with past Persona heroes. The Phantom Thieves undoubtedly bring star power to Persona 5 Tactica, but the developers should proceed with caution to ensure that star doesn't fizzle out.

Persona 5 Tactica

Persona 5 Tactica, developed by Atlus, transports the Phantom Thieves into a medieval Europe-inspired realm, where they become entangled in an enigmatic figure's revolution. Departing from the traditional turn-based JRPG format, this spin-off of Persona 5 fits into the tactics genre. Excitingly, Persona 5 Tactica will be available exclusively on Xbox Game Pass.

Editor's P/S

Persona 5 Tactica is a highly anticipated game that has the potential to be a double-edged sword for Atlus. On the one hand, the game's connection to the beloved Persona 5 gives it a built-in fanbase that is sure to be excited about the new title. On the other hand, the game's focus on the Phantom Thieves could lead to overexposure and fatigue among fans.

Atlus must carefully navigate this tightrope in order to ensure that Persona 5 Tactica is a success. The game needs to offer enough new content and gameplay mechanics to keep fans engaged, while also staying true to the spirit of the original Persona 5. If Atlus can strike the right balance, Persona 5 Tactica could be a major hit. However, if the game fails to live up to expectations, it could damage the Persona franchise as a whole.