Different kind of game for ATLUS, pretty fun but buy it on a discount.

🃏 couldve sworn i was taller 🃏

Well, here I am at the end of my persona journey (technically I still am playing persona q and q2 but those aren't really "canon', and I also am planning on going back to Persona 3 portable (for FeMC,), Persona 1, and the 2 duology)


GAMEPLAY
This spinoff of persona 5 features another unique style of gameplay that is different from the persona standard jrpg. Basically, it is a tactical rpg with a grid based movement system. The way personas and attacks are used in this game are pretty different. Melee, gun, and persona attacks are all on equal footing here (except for larger AoE persona attacks), and the 1 more system is pretty broken since it leads to a bunch of all out attacks. Also, the upgrade system for skills is neat. I've always like skill trees so for each member of the team to have gives you something to work towards and encourages you to 100% the level. Speaking of that, each level has a goal. Whether it be kill all the enemies with or without a move limit, beat this boss, get to this point with a certain character or just in general, the goal of the levels remain pretty apparent. I found that about 80% of the levels are pretty easy to 100%, with a select few being a pain in the ass for my brain. Last thing, the persona system works differently in this game, Everyone gets a secondary persona except for someone (plot purpose) and it functions as a backup persona to the persona they already have. Traits are big in this game, with the personas you fuse getting at least 2 slot to add onto your moveset. These can be moves or just traits, but the traits you get with some of these make the game a breeze.

STORY
Persona 5 Tactica has a pretty alright story. I think that the theme of revolution is something that you see throughout all of persona 5 and any ip that has persona 5 in the name. The story mainly revolves around the two new characters you meet in this game, toshiro and erina. I won't say much because they get a lot of lore and development as you progress, but I really enjoyed these two characters; they are a biggest selling point of this game (despite how great they are this game IS NOT worth 60 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ dollars). Aside from them, you got the phantom thieves again. Everyone is pretty much their usual self with some minor flanderizing of them for jokes. I will say that more phantom thief interactions are cool, but you can pretty much predict all the notes this game hits. However, I will say that the latter half of this game is where it picks up and I find myself thinking that now we shifted into another gear.

MUSIC
This game is a rare miss from Atlus when it comes to their soundtrack behind this game. Normally I am amped for any kind of new persona music, especially with Lyn since she is such an amazing singer. When I got and played strikers, the music only contributed to my high ranking of it as the best persona spin-off (I'll see if q or q2 can knock it off but it'll take a lot) because of how amazing the remixes and original songs were. However this games music just fell flat for me? Im not sure why, maybe the burnout caught me or something but I don't really have a notable song to mention from this game. I guess the opening track is cool? Now that I think of it, the final bosses theme made me think "FINALLY!!!" because I was waiting for a banger to come on. Overall, this game might have the weakest persona music (minus persona 5 dancing because those tracks are just confusing...).

DLC
The dlc is pretty meh, just buy the deluxe on cdkeys its only like 3 or 4 more dollars than what its priced over there. Aside from the pretty meh story, I do like having some more of the akechi, sumire, and joker trio. I think that this dlc's story just fell flat, especially after the drag that was the main story. At least the main story had two great characters, and this dlc does have a neat addition but its nothing worth writing home about.

CONCLUSION
I give persona 5 tactica a 5.5/10
For what strikers did in the same amount of run time, it is criminal that this game is priced at 60 dollars flat, and on cdkeys its 35 dollars which I think is still way too much (for reference, strikers is 5 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ DOLLARS ON CDKEYS and has roughly the same runtime, and even has a nearly perfect story to go with it)
I can't say I would recommend or not recommend this game.


IS THIS GAME NECCESARY FOR LORE
Im not sure; if any future persona games rely on mentioning the characters in this game then I guess yeah this game is neccessary for the lore. Just to clarify, this game actually happens and the PT remember it. It's just sandwiched between the third semester though, so it's awkward to timeline this ♥♥♥♥. If you REALLY like persona 5 like I do and have money to throw around, then this game is for you. If not, go buy strikers or another persona game or something. Maybe even buy metaphor since it's deadass the same price as this game on keys.