Perhaps unusually so for the Atlus’ wave of bizarre JRPGs, Persona 5 has remained in the spotlight since the PS3 was sunsetting. Now four years old and still remaining relevant thanks to the release of Persona 5 Royal, Americans are finally getting their hands on the latest Persona entry, Persona 5 Strikers.
Atlus allowed CBR to get a first look at the upcoming title, but it’s hardly been a mystery to fans. Revealed in 2019, Strikers released in Japan in February 2020 as Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers. That hasn’t stopped it from being hotly anticipated by fans eager to sink their teeth into the next mad Phantom Thieves adventure.
As all great properties seem to do eventually, Persona is taking a sidestep into the Musou genre, giving the latest entry a decidedly Dynasty Warriors flair. It works, though; the incredibly stylish aesthetic Persona 5 rode all the way to multiple game of the year awards makes for a Musou title that is darkly gorgeous and bursting with energy.
The story for Strikers isn’t a sequel, but it’s also not a retread. According to Atlus, Persona 5 Strikers functions as a side-story; the events of Persona 5 happened, and Strikers is just the next adventure the team finds themselves on. In Strikers, The Phantom Thieves are reformed alongside characters old and new when they find themselves in a mysterious otherworldly dimension called a Jail, filled with Shadows that are attacking citizens of Tokyo and a ruler who needs their heart changed.
The preview we were treated to was just a snippet of the game’s stylish take on the popular hack ‘n slash genre, but it definitely nailed the tone. Joker and his companions (up to three at a time, who players can switch between) have a bevy of special moves at their disposal, not to mention the powerful Personas. However, the game still encourages stealth much like Persona 5 does, allowing the Phantom Thieves to score big damage with an ambush attack. Persona’s trademark All-Out Attacks also make a return.
Ultimately, Strikers looks to be a refreshing blend of Persona’s trademark exploration and RPG mechanics with the fast and frantic action of Omega Force’s trademark Warriors series. While the Musou sub-genre can be hit or miss, Joker and his Phantom Thieves seem to be just as at home here as they do in their more turn-based affairs.
Developed by Omega Force and P-Studio and published by Atlus, Persona 5 Strikers will be available for Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Steam on February 23, 2021.