Slated to drop in the West on February 23, 2021, Persona 5 Strikers looks to reunite the Phantom Thieves for a new mission set in a creepy alternate version of Japan. Switching out the series' patented turn-based gameplay, Strikers is a hack-and-slash action game that allows the player to take control of each member of the Phantom Thieves, gaining access to their unique sets of abilities first witnessed in the original JRPG.
For those wanting a better look at all of Strikers' changes to the formula, they need only watch the recent All-Out-Attack trailer that just debuted on the PlayStation YouTube channel, highlighting the Phantom Thieves' new, action-focused fighting style. The footage, which clocks in at 70 seconds, highlights the action-heavy focus of the new game, complete with flashy special moves, slices of story, and a look at newly added party member, Sophia.
The action begins with Persona 5 protagonist Joker landing in Strikers' demonic rendition of Japan, quickly being joined by fellow Phantom Thieves Ryuji, Ann, and Morgana. It doesn't take long for the four heroes to become surrounded by foes, with the trailer showcasing Joker using a mix of slash attacks and his handgun to carve through waves of enemies. Combat will still adhere to the series roots in some ways, however, with Joker able to call upon his Persona Arsène, stopping the action as the player selects a powerful move to unleash.
The footage then cuts to the group infiltrating Shibuya, showcasing some platforming gameplay and introducing Sophia, a playable AI character that can fire powerful laser bolts and perform a deadly spin attack. Other parts of the trailer highlight the group's various special moves, including Joker riding a skateboard into hordes of foes, Ryuji using his baseball bat to launch flames at opponents, and Makoto cutting through enemies aboard her motorcycle. It looks to be an action-packed take on the universally-acclaimed 2016 hit, utilizing the now-iconic JRPG's roster of characters to tell a more explosive but equally stylish new story in the universe.
The plot of the game will allegedly see Joker and Morgana reunite with the Phantom Thieves following the events that concluded the original Persona 5 campaign, with the protagonist's return to Tokyo forcing him to once again don his vigilante persona. Forced to go head to head with a new threat, the Phantom Thieves will have to battle through a creepy realm filled with new foes, all the while contending with new antagonist Alice. The game has been available in Japan since February last year, with Persona fans marking their calendars for its Western launch next month.
Persona 5 Strikers will launch for PC, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch on February 23, 2021.
