Unleashing the Perfect Blend of Persona and Fire Emblem in Persona 5 Tactica

Atlus West's Instagram account surprised fans with an impromptu announcement of Persona 5 Tactica, a new spinoff game under the P5 umbrella. Following Persona 5 Strikers' approach, the game takes the Phantom Thieves into a new style of combat. The trailer reveals a unique design approach for the cast by blending Persona Q's 'chibi' art style with Fire Emblem's strategic gameplay. Speculation about the game began when Atlus established its website domain in May, and some fans correctly predicted the tactical approach showcased in the trailer's brief glimpse of gameplay. This combat style has been a series staple of the franchise and has appeared in Shin Megami Tensei's past through the Devil Survivor games, which bodes well for the quality of Persona 5 Tactica.

Persona 5 Tactica Blends Its Chibi Art Style With Tactical, Chess-Like Gameplay

The art style of the game draws inspiration from the Persona Q series, featuring a cute approach to the depiction of Persona 5 characters and enemies. The game's perspective during combat is top-down, similar to Fire Emblem. This direction could result in interesting implications for battle dynamics, as seen in a scene where Makoto attacks an enemy from a roof, followed by a critical hit from Morgana using a slingshot. The strategic use of terrain for combat effects and paired attacks from party members could be possible, similar to Fire Emblem. The Triple Threat mechanic, resembling Fire Emblem's Triangle Attack, allows for cooperative ways to deal damage to enemies within the vicinity. The game also emphasizes gun attacks, arts, and the Triple Threat mechanic, similar to Persona 5's combat system. Arts include elemental skills, status-afflicting moves, and physical attacks that Personas can execute.

The trailer introduced a new character who appears to be a resident of the strange world the Phantom Thieves find themselves in. This character could potentially serve as a guide for the game's conflicts, similar to Sophia's role in Persona 5 Strikers. Although her initial appearance resembles Raidou, she wears a black-and-red costume that blends modern and antique elements, and wields a firearm similar to Joker's. Her dual flag/spear combo provides an interesting mix of melee attack and support, suggesting she may have a balanced play style. With the success of Persona 5 Strikers, it's likely that Tactica will continue to incorporate the series' main themes and mechanics into its combat focus. If the game sells well, it could imply a potential future for the formula, perhaps with the cast of Persona 6 joining the series after its next numbered release. As Atlus continues to develop games under the Persona IP, it will be intriguing to see the directions they take with future spin-offs. For now, Persona 5 Tactica seems like a smart interim game between mainline titles.

Persona 5 Tactica is slated to release on November 17th for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.