Ever since Persona 3, Atlus by no means totally says goodbye to every mainline Persona recreation by turning every to its personal sub-franchise. Each will get an enhanced and expanded re-release, spin-offs, anime variations and extra. Persona 5 is getting one other spin-off recreation within the type of Persona 5 Tactica, a recreation I had the prospect to demo at Tokyo Recreation Present 2023.
Persona 5 Tactica is the primary tactical role-playing recreation within the Persona sequence. Atlus does have some expertise within the style from growing Shin Megami Tensei: Satan Survivor. The place does P5 Tactica match within the story and world of Persona 5? It takes place throughout Persona 5, however considerably in parallel to. Our predominant protagonists, the Phantom Thieves, get transported into one other world (sure, it’s an isekai) the place they assist Erina and her band of rebels combat tyranny.
My hands-on demo promptly dropped me right into a battle, however beginning with a brief step-by-step tutorial. If you happen to’ve ever performed a tactical RPG earlier than, Tactica’s battle gameplay shouldn’t be international to you. When it’s your character’s flip, you could have the power to first transfer the character inside a permissible vary. After selecting a brand new place for the character, you possibly can choose an motion comparable to summoning a Persona or a daily assault, for those who’re inside vary and clear sight of an enemy. Your get together’s characters and enemies take turns like this till one facet’s characters are eradicated.
Despite the fact that the map in battle is about up on a grid, you possibly can transfer your character freely through the flip as you determine the place to place them. The free motion feels nice and helps maintain the pacing up (a lot sooner than transferring grid-like). It additionally jogged my memory of my days with Valkyria Chronicles, Sega’s tactical RPG sequence.
When making an attempt to place for an assault, you may be restricted by being inside line of sight of the enemy. That’s as a result of map being full of completely different constructions that supply varied levels of canopy. Though a place lets you assault, it could go away you open to be attacked upon throughout an enemy’s flip. One other technique with positioning is surrounding downed enemies along with your get together members so you possibly can pull off a robust all-out assault referred to as Tribangle.
Persona 5 Tactica dance efficiency on the stage on the SEGA / ATLUS TGS 2023 sales space.
Like Persona 5 itself, the menu system is snappy and classy, and the battles themselves are fast-paced with loads of aptitude. The artwork type is hanging with excessive distinction colours and robust linework. The renditions of the characters tackle a stylized, considerably chibi-like look, harking back to the Persona Q spin-off video games.
From my temporary time, I discovered the sport to be enjoyable total, albeit with fight that’s uncomplicated and easy. I do hope extra depth is added as you progres, whether or not that be by extra skills, characters, enemies, or extra advanced maps. My demo demonstrated Persona 5 Tactica has a stable basis. All that’s wanted is sufficient constructed upon that basis, and it might find yourself being a terrific tactical RPG journey.
For now, Persona 5 Tactica appears to be like to be an excellent tactical RPG for newcomers or those who don’t dabble within the style continuously, due to the comparatively easy battle system and quick tempo.
You possibly can watch my hands-on gameplay demo under (textual content and audio are in Japanese):
