Oh boy, people are really sleeping on this game. Don't overlook it because it seems like a meaningless spin-off. It is probably my favourite Tactical RPG. It's pretty similar in a few ways to the Mario + Rabbids series, but it does a better job in most categories.
Unfortunately, I played the game on the regular difficulty and I totally forgot there were other options. Nearing the end of the game I was thinking "Hmm, one of my main issues is that it's too easy." By that point, I didn't feel like swapping difficulties suddenly but I have read that the higher difficulties are balanced better. I wish I would have played on hard or higher. Instead, I'll just leave this here in case this review convinces you to play the game. It's not just about health increases, it makes the game more tactical due to friendly fire and a couple other changes. Check 'em out. I don't recommend playing on normal unless you want to breeze through or have a tough time with games like this.
I would also like to point out here that I played Persona 5, but not Royal or Strikers. I did play Dancing, but that wasn't much of anything. Anways, I say this to acknowledge that I don't feel "burnt out" by P5 whatsoever, which may have made this experience better than what others may claim.
I'm gonna go with a simple positives and negatives list for this one.
+ This combat system is awesome! I love the way you move around. I love how you can strategize to take your turns in a certain order to maximize your movement. I love how you can position enemies a certain way to consistently enable "1-more!" attack and extend your turn.
+ With your team of 3, you can use your mobility options to maneuver the map and then triangulate your position. If you make sure you are surrounding at least one "downed" enemy - anyone within the triangle you have created will be eviscerated by an All-Out Attack. It's probably the most fun and engaging thing I've done in an RPG of this nature. It's so satisfying every single time. It made me feel like a genius consistently. Ensuring your team is spread out is more risky, as you are less able to help one another; but it allows you to cover the entire map in a giant deadly triangle.
+ Partially related to the above comment is how much I liked certain levels in this game. For example, navigating an arena that has tons of rising/falling platforms that can only be accessed from certain directions is actually really fun. It turns the battles in to a maze of sorts, but in a good way. It adds to your sense of mobility. It makes it harder to move around, but it also allows you to really feel like you're solving a fun perspective puzzle at the same time. This isn't always executed well in games; but it's great here.
+ ... and partially related to THAT comment is just my general enjoyment of the verticality of the battle arenas. I love using height to your advantage. There are multiple ways they use the vertical nature of levels to give you ways to advantageously position yourself. Rising/falling platforms, ladders, attacks that take advantage of height, etc. all make for really fun ways to turn the layout of the map in your favor.
+ Fine-tuning each characters stats to suit the role you want them to fill is very rewarding. They all have strengths built in, but you can customize them a bit to do exactly what you want. Whether it be firearm usage, Persona usage, melee attacks, or mobility. There are lots of options in terms of the crafting of your team.
+ Not only that, but in a miraculous turn of events that most games fail to do... YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE JOKER! It's painful when you're playing a Mario RPG, for instance, and you have to use Mario. Ew. The supporting cast in most RPGs are almost always my preferred team to use, and it's rarely an option to ditch the MC. Funnily enough, I actually like Joker so I used him frequently. Actually, this leads me to my next point.
+ The game encourages you to not use the same team every time, by incentivizing you with bonuses. Most missions consist of 2 or 3 back-to-back fights. Between them you can tweak some things. One of those tweaks you can make is your team set-up. However, if you swap to a new team member at this time - you get an HP and SP (Skill Point) bonus! What I did was switch up my team every single time. You can use 3 party members at once so I swapped between Makoto, Erina, Haru, Ryuji, Joker, and Ann. Use 3 of them, then swap to the other 3. Love it. Morgana and Yusuke were only used when I was forced to in a side mission. I really don't care for them as characters, so I was happy to leave them out. Ann isn't the best either, but I prefer her to them. To wrap up my point - not only did I not HAVE to use the main character, but I was also able to reasonably use all the characters I like! Not only was I not punished for switching up my team all the time, but I was encouraged to do so! This might be my favourite implementation of the way a team is structed in an RPG. Good stuff.
+ As always, the art style, UI design, and animation quality is top-notch. Love it. I'm not a HUGE fan of the "chibi" nature, but it doesn't really bother me. It's only really present in a couple of cutscenes and it doesn't subtract much from the experience. Otherwise, it's beautiful in every way. I will never get over the way Persona games look. The Persona team are untouched in this category. Actually, Hi-Fi Rush managed to match it, tbh.
+ I enjoyed the Persona fusion system. What was even more fun is something you unlock a bit later that I won't spoil, but it involves your weapons. It's a cool feature that I'd like to see more of.
+ Great music, as per usual. I will say nothing stood out as a uniquely fantastic track, but overall it's one of the better OSTs this year.
+ The two new characters introduced in to this game are excellent. Erina especially is a lovely addition to the cast. Toshiro is cool, too. I won't spoil anything about them here.
+ Additionally, the voice acting is great. It is mostly voice acted outside of side activities, which is greatly appreciated. Again, the 2 new characters specifically do a great job here.
+ It's written well, though it does get a bit repetitive with its messaging at times. Mixing wholesome with humour is something Persona always does well, and it's no different here.
- At what turned out to be about 75% through the game, I was satisfied with the games length. I thought it was ending, but then it continues for another 5-8 hours in classic Persona fashion. I kinda wish it didn't. I was happy with the 25 or so hours I had spent with it, but it ended up being about 32 hours (I think?) I'm glad it's as short as it is (as opposed to it being 100 hours), but it does get a bit repetitive in the later missions.
- The enemy variety is a bit lackluster. One of the enemies in particular is just annoying, as well. It isn't really satisfying to deal with; it's really just there to block your path which kinda sucks.
- Contrary to one of my positive points, a couple of the levels are annoying to deal with, particularly when you're presented with doors that open/close. Some are by your doing, and some are based on what turn it is. Either way, they impede movement. Your movement options are a highlight of this games combat system, and you're pretty restricted in the levels with doors. Not a fan.
- It's too easy. But again I don't know if this is truly valid as I didn't play on a harder difficulty, which I totally should have. I wish I could comment on the added features of the higher difficulties.
Overall, if you like Persona or you like tactical RPGs; I highly suggest you do not skip this. It's one of the best of both of those things, though it does have its fair share of issues. I could see a world where I could give this game a 5/5. If I had played on a higher difficulty... it may have happened. Although the game does suffer from a problem of repetition, which might just be too big an issue for a more glowing review to occur.
Video version of this review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRBQOJsowE0
Unfortunately, I played the game on the regular difficulty and I totally forgot there were other options. Nearing the end of the game I was thinking "Hmm, one of my main issues is that it's too easy." By that point, I didn't feel like swapping difficulties suddenly but I have read that the higher difficulties are balanced better. I wish I would have played on hard or higher. Instead, I'll just leave this here in case this review convinces you to play the game. It's not just about health increases, it makes the game more tactical due to friendly fire and a couple other changes. Check 'em out. I don't recommend playing on normal unless you want to breeze through or have a tough time with games like this.
I would also like to point out here that I played Persona 5, but not Royal or Strikers. I did play Dancing, but that wasn't much of anything. Anways, I say this to acknowledge that I don't feel "burnt out" by P5 whatsoever, which may have made this experience better than what others may claim.
I'm gonna go with a simple positives and negatives list for this one.
+ This combat system is awesome! I love the way you move around. I love how you can strategize to take your turns in a certain order to maximize your movement. I love how you can position enemies a certain way to consistently enable "1-more!" attack and extend your turn.
+ With your team of 3, you can use your mobility options to maneuver the map and then triangulate your position. If you make sure you are surrounding at least one "downed" enemy - anyone within the triangle you have created will be eviscerated by an All-Out Attack. It's probably the most fun and engaging thing I've done in an RPG of this nature. It's so satisfying every single time. It made me feel like a genius consistently. Ensuring your team is spread out is more risky, as you are less able to help one another; but it allows you to cover the entire map in a giant deadly triangle.
+ Partially related to the above comment is how much I liked certain levels in this game. For example, navigating an arena that has tons of rising/falling platforms that can only be accessed from certain directions is actually really fun. It turns the battles in to a maze of sorts, but in a good way. It adds to your sense of mobility. It makes it harder to move around, but it also allows you to really feel like you're solving a fun perspective puzzle at the same time. This isn't always executed well in games; but it's great here.
+ ... and partially related to THAT comment is just my general enjoyment of the verticality of the battle arenas. I love using height to your advantage. There are multiple ways they use the vertical nature of levels to give you ways to advantageously position yourself. Rising/falling platforms, ladders, attacks that take advantage of height, etc. all make for really fun ways to turn the layout of the map in your favor.
+ Fine-tuning each characters stats to suit the role you want them to fill is very rewarding. They all have strengths built in, but you can customize them a bit to do exactly what you want. Whether it be firearm usage, Persona usage, melee attacks, or mobility. There are lots of options in terms of the crafting of your team.
+ Not only that, but in a miraculous turn of events that most games fail to do... YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE JOKER! It's painful when you're playing a Mario RPG, for instance, and you have to use Mario. Ew. The supporting cast in most RPGs are almost always my preferred team to use, and it's rarely an option to ditch the MC. Funnily enough, I actually like Joker so I used him frequently. Actually, this leads me to my next point.
+ The game encourages you to not use the same team every time, by incentivizing you with bonuses. Most missions consist of 2 or 3 back-to-back fights. Between them you can tweak some things. One of those tweaks you can make is your team set-up. However, if you swap to a new team member at this time - you get an HP and SP (Skill Point) bonus! What I did was switch up my team every single time. You can use 3 party members at once so I swapped between Makoto, Erina, Haru, Ryuji, Joker, and Ann. Use 3 of them, then swap to the other 3. Love it. Morgana and Yusuke were only used when I was forced to in a side mission. I really don't care for them as characters, so I was happy to leave them out. Ann isn't the best either, but I prefer her to them. To wrap up my point - not only did I not HAVE to use the main character, but I was also able to reasonably use all the characters I like! Not only was I not punished for switching up my team all the time, but I was encouraged to do so! This might be my favourite implementation of the way a team is structed in an RPG. Good stuff.
+ As always, the art style, UI design, and animation quality is top-notch. Love it. I'm not a HUGE fan of the "chibi" nature, but it doesn't really bother me. It's only really present in a couple of cutscenes and it doesn't subtract much from the experience. Otherwise, it's beautiful in every way. I will never get over the way Persona games look. The Persona team are untouched in this category. Actually, Hi-Fi Rush managed to match it, tbh.
+ I enjoyed the Persona fusion system. What was even more fun is something you unlock a bit later that I won't spoil, but it involves your weapons. It's a cool feature that I'd like to see more of.
+ Great music, as per usual. I will say nothing stood out as a uniquely fantastic track, but overall it's one of the better OSTs this year.
+ The two new characters introduced in to this game are excellent. Erina especially is a lovely addition to the cast. Toshiro is cool, too. I won't spoil anything about them here.
+ Additionally, the voice acting is great. It is mostly voice acted outside of side activities, which is greatly appreciated. Again, the 2 new characters specifically do a great job here.
+ It's written well, though it does get a bit repetitive with its messaging at times. Mixing wholesome with humour is something Persona always does well, and it's no different here.
- At what turned out to be about 75% through the game, I was satisfied with the games length. I thought it was ending, but then it continues for another 5-8 hours in classic Persona fashion. I kinda wish it didn't. I was happy with the 25 or so hours I had spent with it, but it ended up being about 32 hours (I think?) I'm glad it's as short as it is (as opposed to it being 100 hours), but it does get a bit repetitive in the later missions.
- The enemy variety is a bit lackluster. One of the enemies in particular is just annoying, as well. It isn't really satisfying to deal with; it's really just there to block your path which kinda sucks.
- Contrary to one of my positive points, a couple of the levels are annoying to deal with, particularly when you're presented with doors that open/close. Some are by your doing, and some are based on what turn it is. Either way, they impede movement. Your movement options are a highlight of this games combat system, and you're pretty restricted in the levels with doors. Not a fan.
- It's too easy. But again I don't know if this is truly valid as I didn't play on a harder difficulty, which I totally should have. I wish I could comment on the added features of the higher difficulties.
Overall, if you like Persona or you like tactical RPGs; I highly suggest you do not skip this. It's one of the best of both of those things, though it does have its fair share of issues. I could see a world where I could give this game a 5/5. If I had played on a higher difficulty... it may have happened. Although the game does suffer from a problem of repetition, which might just be too big an issue for a more glowing review to occur.
Video version of this review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRBQOJsowE0