WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Persona 5 Royal.
While not Persona 5 Royal's most significant addition, Showtime attacks are cool combination moves that involve two of the Phantom Thieves teaming up to unleash a powerful attack on a single opponent. These are unlocked over the course of the main story and are triggered randomly in battle.
Showtime Attacks are interesting ways to show the Phantom Thieves working together in new ways. Each one involves an elaborate, over-the-top cutscene in which the two teammates take down a foe, and both their English and Japanese names are inspired by well-known films and TV shows. Since the story is told through the protagonist's perspective, these are a nice opportunity to see some of these characters interact without Joker around. However, some of the pairs (and the attacks themselves) are more interesting than others.
Max Moxie (Skull & Queen)
In both the Japanese release and the English translation, Ryuji and Makoto's Showtime is a reference to Mad Max. Set in front of a desert sunset, it features the two taking down their foe with melee attacks while Makoto tells Ryuji to remain focused, ending with Ryuji handing her a soda can and Makoto crushing it as the enemy explodes behind her. This is the second Showtime unlocked, with players able to use it starting on June 22 after finding the route to Kaneshiro's treasure.
While all of the Showtimes are pretty cool to watch, this one is simply less memorable in comparison to the rest. For one, Ryuji and Makoto don't really interact all the much one-on-one, which leaves the attack feeling like something that was added simply to give each of them something else to do rather than symbolizing their actual bond.
Gun With the Wind (Mona & Panther)
Morgana and Ann's Showtime is the first one unlocked and the only one that is mandatory to perform. On June 21, Morgana will share his idea for a paired attack with Ann, causing the Wishing Star Joker received from Jose in Mementos to glow. Then, while in Kaneshiro's Palace, Morgana will demonstrate the mechanic on an Orthus.
The attack itself consists of Morgana presenting Ann with a bouquet and the two jumping romantically towards each other with manga-style images of them in the background. Ann grabs two guns out of the flowers and begins stylishly shooting at the enemy, with Morgana throwing a bomb down before posing with her. The theatrical and ridiculous nature of the attack certainly fits the situation, but "Gun With the Wind" relies on one of Persona 5's weirdest relationship dynamics (Morgana's obsession with Ann) to create a Showtime that is, ultimately, out-matched by others.
PTE ThwackDown (Queen & Noir)
Makoto and Haru's Showtime is unlocked on October 30 after starting the mission to change Sae Nijima's heart. The move consists of the duo entering a wrestling ring, with Makoto running directly into the fight while Haru follows suit. Makoto smashes a chair over the enemy's head while Haru cheers her on, which literally breaks the fourth wall by shattering the camera lens. The two then run to opposite sides of the ring and dive into their foe together with their "Double Death Blow." This Showtime has all the spectacle one would expect from a WWE parody and is a nice (though not particularly deep) reference to the friendship between the two Shujin third-years who were strangers before becoming Phantom Thieves.
The Kabuki Kid (Panther & Fox)
Ann and Yusuke's Showtime is, unsurprisingly, a celebration of beauty and Japanese art. It starts with the two posing, then using their signature weapons (a whip for Ann and a sword for Yusuke) to slash through various boards before posing together again while the enemy is hit. While it's not the most exciting Showtime -- the two aren't actually seen fighting the enemy and, instead, seem to be sending shards their way -- it does provide some interesting closure to Yusuke and Ann's awkward and uncomfortable first meeting.
Though both characters are available to play early on, the conversation that unlocks their Showtime doesn't occur until September 19, at which point Yusuke and Ann have been friends for several months. This time, rather than being a stranger asking a clearly uncomfortable Ann to model for him, Yusuke shares his idea with Ann, and the two work together to create something that is both beautiful and deadly.
Drive Hard (Mona & Noir)
Similar to Ryuji and Makoto, Morgana and Haru's Showtime is unlocked after finding the route to Okumura's treasure, which can take place on September 20 at the earliest. The pairing is a reference to the duo's time trying to change Okumura's heart together before Haru joined the Phantom Thieves.
In "Drive Hard," Haru and Morgana jump off a building, with Morgana turning into his bus form and Haru standing on top of him while shooting her grenade launcher at the enemy. Haru hops stylishly onto the pavement as Mona drives into the explosion, but she runs back to help when she realizes Morgana has been injured. The scene does a great job of capturing Haru's darker, more sadistic side as well as her kindness and grace. Additionally, while Persona 5 Strikers follows the original Persona 5 rather than Royal, this scene is even funnier in hindsight, as the spin-off reveals that Haru is a terrible, reckless driver.
Dances With Thieves (Joker & Violet)
Perhaps fittingly for Persona 5 Royal's new playable character, the protagonist's Showtime with Sumire is the only one that's easy to miss. Unlike the others, which are triggered through regular gameplay, this attack requires players to max out the Faith Confidant, half of which is not unlocked until late in the game. It's also possible for the player to lock themselves out of higher levels if they don't reach rank five by December 22. If these conditions are met, though, players will be able to unlock this final Showtime starting on January 20.
"Dances With Thieves" starts with the two swinging through a church using Joker's grappling hook while he shoots at the enemy. Sumire then lets go and flies through the air, reaching out towards her late sister, Kasumi. The two dance together, slashing the enemy with their rapiers until Joker returns, at which point Sumire takes his hand and lowers herself into a dip. This Showtime is a wonderful celebration of Sumire's character arc and the protagonist's role in helping her accept her true self and honoring (rather than imitating) Kasumi.
Inglorious Beefbowls (Skull & Fox)
Ryuji and Yusuke's Showtime is unlocked on July 17 before the group attends the Meat Festival. In it, a hungry Ryuji enters a restaurant called "Fox's Beef Bowl." Yusuke prepares a mesl for him, but before Ryuji can begin eating, the two are interrupted by an enemy busting open the doors. Furious at the interruption, Ryuji and Yusuke pull out their guns and shoot at the enemy. Ryuji also throws a grenade at them, which Yusuke shoots. As it explodes, the two high five, and Ryuji finally gets to enjoy his meal while Yusuke gets artistic inspiration from his friend.
"Inglorious Beefbowls" may be one of the quirkiest Showtimes, but there's a lot going on in this cutscene that players may have missed. The scene itself is a reference to a conversation the two can have while riding through Mementos. Yusuke can say that, while he's been told to keep a low profile to avoid raising suspicions, no one at his school talks to him anyway. Feeling bad, Ryuji will ask him if he wants to go out for beef bowls, something they are seen doing here. Like Showtimes, Mementos conversations are an interesting and subtle way the game develops the characters' relationships independent of the protagonist, so it's great to see one get a callback here.
Bladed Runners (Joker & Crow)
The protagonist and Akechi have easily the most complicated relationship in the entire game, so it's fitting that their Showtime would also be memorable and unconventional. "Bladed Runners" can first be triggered during a fight with Maruki's Warped Abyss on January 2, but it is not truly unlocked until they reenter Maruki's Palace on January 9. Unlike the others, which were planned out in advance, Joker and Crow originally improvised their Showtime. However, it is no less effective than the rest.
Set on top of a building in a dark city in the midst of a storm, "Bladed Runners" starts with Akechi going berserk and charging forward as Joker uses his grappling hook to follow. Joker strikes the enemy once before Akechi unleashes a fury of slashes. Finally, Joker finishes them off with a single gunshot as Akechi walks away.
In addition to indicating the Joker and Akechi are in sync with each other to the point that they can accomplish on the spot what everyone else needed to plan out, the billboards that appear behind them during the Showtime are clever details and rich references. These read "Justice" (Akechi's arcana), "Murder of Crows" (the term for a group of crows and an allusion to Akechi's actions as Shido's assassin), "Prodigal Sons" (a reference to a Biblical parable about forgiveness) and "Two Side of the Same Coin" (a reference to Joker and Akechi's status as foils to one another). Outside of the completely new content, Akechi received some of the most significant changes for Persona 5 Royal, which make his relationship with the protagonist even more powerful and full of symbolism. With that in mind, it's no wonder that Joker and Crow have the game's best Showtime attack.