Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Momo and Okarun share a close moment in Dandadan

    Momo And Okarun: The Gold Standard For Shonen Romance

    07/03/2025
    Ironheart Episodes 4 6 But Why Tho 1

    ‘Ironheart’ Explained: Explore MCU’s Bold New Chapter

    07/01/2025
    Buck in 9-1-1

    ‘9-1-1’ Has To Let Buck Say Bisexual

    06/29/2025
    Nintendo Welcome Tour promotional image of the maraca mini-game

    The One “Game” That Justifies The Nintendo Switch 2 Purchase

    06/25/2025
    Destiel Confession in Supernatural - Castiel (Misha Collins) and Dean (Jensen Ackles)

    The Destiel Confession: The Lasting Importance Of Supernatural’s Greatest Ship

    06/22/2025
  • Squid Game
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
  • Summer Game Fest
But Why Tho?
Home » Xbox Series X/S » REVIEW: ‘Persona 5 Tactica’ Brilliantly Melds Strategy And Heart (XSX)

REVIEW: ‘Persona 5 Tactica’ Brilliantly Melds Strategy And Heart (XSX)

Kyle FoleyBy Kyle Foley11/14/20235 Mins ReadUpdated:03/16/2024
Persona 5 Tactica But Why Tho
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

The Persona series has a long track record of producing well-done spin-offs and Persona 5 Tactica is the latest in that line. Developed by Atlus, Persona 5 Tactica is a tactical role-playing game that meshes excellent storytelling with fun and interesting combat in a way befitting the storied Persona franchise.

Persona 5 Tactica takes place during the events of Persona 5 when the Phantom Thieves of Hearts are transported from their base at Cafe Leblanc to a medieval world. There they encounter Lady Marie, whose Kiss of Love allows her to control the minds of those it hits. Joker and Morgana dodge her dangerous attack, but the rest of the crew falls victim to her control. It is up to Joker and Morgana to rescue their friends and help the Rebel Corps’ leader Erina save the innocent people caught under Lady Marie.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

As far as storytelling goes, Persona 5 Tactica is a seamless transition from the main Persona 5 story. It starts off naturally and feels like a continuation instead of a complete spin-off. The only downside is that it makes things less approachable for new players. It can be hard to care about losing the Phantom Thieves to Marie’s control if players don’t already have previous knowledge of them. It would have been nice to see a bit more exposition at the start to help onboard new players, but thankfully, as the story progresses, it does a good enough job of filling in the gaps.

The story and setting of Persona 5 Tactica are both great, but the real standout is how it approaches the tactical battle system. Combat takes place on maps with squares marking where players can move, a standard approach to the genre that makes it quite easy to pick up. Every battle has various objects that provide cover players and enemies alike can and should hide behind to win. Cover helps prevent attacks from doing as much damage, but since enemies can hide as well it adds another layer of complexity to planning your moves.

Persona 5 Tactica - But Why Tho(1)

Persona 5 Tactica also heavily emphasizes teamwork. Setting up your team in a triangle position, for example, activates a Triple Threat attack, unleashing a torrent of damage on unsuspecting foes. It is really important to think about what movement and attack ranges your team has when setting up for the next attack. Get spread too thin and you won’t be able to combine for devastating damage, but gather too close and you’re at risk of everyone getting wiped out at once.

Fighting is either done by using the melee or gun options for close and long-range battles respectively, and the Persona system plays a vital role as well. Like in Persona 5, players can find different Personas for Joker to use in combat that have different unique skills. Using these Personas takes skill points, so choose carefully when to use them, but they are the most important tool in your arsenal. They are also just cool to look at in action.

What Persona 5 Tactica does slightly differently from other tactical games is that various difficulty settings can help keep things from overwhelming players. Lowering the difficulty changes how intelligent the enemies are, making them easier to take on if you are having trouble outsmarting them. Enemy movements can be pretty easy to figure out on any difficulty, but the option to lower the challenge for newer or younger players makes it more approachable without cheapening the experience. Battles feel just as rewarding on the lower difficulties as they do on the harder ones, avoiding the pitfall of making the hard difficulty the “best” option for players.

Persona 5 Tactica takes away some of the overt complexity expected from a tactics game in favor of more approachable gameplay and a deeper focus on the story. The combination works well since the core of any Persona game is always its storytelling, world, and character-building. Sometimes, the simplicity can lead to battles feeling a bit too boring or repetitive but it is never egregious enough to ruin the experience.

Persona 5 Tactica - But Why Tho(2)

Visually is another area where Persona 5 Tactica unsurprisingly shines. Atlus knows how to deliver an exciting visual experience from start to finish and this game is dripping with style. Characters all have distinct and vibrant appearances and the backdrops are stunning as you dive deeper into the mystery. It helps to have Toshiki Konishi back composing another banger soundtrack for your head to bop along with almost the entire time. It is a brilliant presentational package that helps make up for some of the more simplistic gameplay or rote story beats.

Persona 5 Tactica is a great example of how to do a spin-off game right by balancing familiar components with a new approach. There is plenty to enjoy for new and old fans alike and everything is tied together in a package that is equal parts approachable and fulfilling.

Persona 5 Tactica is available now on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on Xbox Game Pass.

Persona 5 Tactica
  • 8.5/10
    Rating - 8.5/10
8.5/10

TL;DR

Persona 5 Tactica is a great example of how to do a spin-off game right by balancing familiar components with a new approach. There is plenty to enjoy for new and old fans alike and everything is tied together in a package that is equal parts approachable and fulfilling.

  • Get Xbox Game Pass with Our Affiliate Link

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Outsiders’ Issue #1
Next Article DLC REVIEW: Rise Again In ‘Remnant II: The Awakened King’ (PC)
Kyle Foley

Kyle is an editor, writer, and musician from Orlando, FL who primarily covers soccer as well as video games and anime. He also believes mayonnaise is the best condiment for hot dogs, which are sandwiches.

Related Posts

Still Wakes the Deep: Siren's Rest
6.0

DLC REVIEW: ‘Still Wakes The Deep: Siren’s Rest’ Is Too Brief And Lacks Closure

06/18/2025
MindsEye
3.0

REVIEW: ‘MindsEye’ Is An Unfinished Tech Demo

06/17/2025
Lies of P Overture DLC Keyart
8.5

DLC REVIEW: ‘Lies Of P: Overture’ Is P’s Hardest Journey Yet, Even On Easy

06/10/2025
Spray Paint Simulator
7.0

REVIEW: ‘Spray Paint Simulator’ Is Easy To Flow State With

06/02/2025
DOOM The Dark Ages key art from Bethesda and Id Software
8.5

REVIEW: ‘DOOM: The Dark Ages’ Is Aggressive As Hell

05/09/2025
Oblivion Remaster Sheogorath Shivering Isles But Why Tho
9.0

REVIEW: ‘The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remaster’ Is Exactly What I Hoped For

04/30/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Taecyeon and Seohyun in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8
7.5
TV

REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 7-8

By Sarah Musnicky07/03/2025

The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8 spends welcome time in pre-domestic bliss before new developments stir up trouble.

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf trailer First Look Image From Prime Video News

Prime Video Unleashes Teaser for Prequel Series The Terminal List: Dark Wolf

By Kate Sánchez07/04/2025

The first Terminal List: Dark Wolf trailer was released today by Prime Video. The series…

Together (2025) still from Sundance
8.0
Film

REVIEW: Have A Grossly Good Time ‘Together’

By Kate Sánchez01/27/2025Updated:07/04/2025

Dave Franco and Alison Brie’s Together (2025) is disgustingly funny, genuinely ugly, and just a good time at the movies.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here