Highlights
- Persona 5 Tactica draws inspiration from Alice in Wonderland, with its storyline and themes mirroring those of the classic novel.
- The game follows the Phantom Thieves as they navigate through different kingdoms, each with their own oppressive rulers and themes of tyranny and injustice.
- Players will fight to reunite the team and overthrow dictatorial leaders in somewhat absurd worlds, similar to Alice's conflict with the Queen of Hearts.
It's not unusual to see video game franchises build their storylines around a popular cinematic theme. Alice in Wonderland is a source of inspiration for many distinct pieces of media, from the Whole Cake Island arc in One Piece to the legendary Far Cry 3. The Shin Megami Tensei series and its franchise spin-off Persona have flirted with an adaptation of the fictional character in past games. In Persona 5 Royal, Alice is depicted as a powerful ghost and an incarnation of the Death Arcana, and Persona 5 Tactica seeks to borrow her vibes once again in the latest spin-off of P5.
Each installment in the Persona series has unique focuses, and the franchise has a knack for exploring the base tendencies of humanity, as its unique ideas about the soul and human heart combine to create enthralling stories. Following the Phantom Thieves on epic journeys of rebellion, the franchise hit unmatched levels of fame with its expertly weaved Persona 5 storyline, and the title's blockbuster nature has demanded multiple spin-offs while fans wait for news of Persona 6's development. Persona 5 Tactica is the latest addition to the timeline, and details of its setting and characters draw parallels to Alice in Wonderland's tale.
Persona 5 Tactica and Alice in Wonderland Share Similar Themes
Similarities to Alice's story start to appear from Tactica's opening scenes, as the Phantom Thieves are mysteriously transported to a world of Kingdoms during a meet-up at Cafe Leblanc. Persona 5 Tactica's story differs in choice, however, as Alice famously tumbled into her rabbit hole without sparing a thought for her retreat, while the Phantom Thieves had no say in their multidimensional transportation. Now in unfamiliar territory, the group comes under attack from a militia, minions of the first Kingdom's monarch, Marie. Only Joker and Morgana escape the ruler's brainwashing clutches with the help of Erina, and players will fight to reunite the team.
Getting the band back together will not be an easy feat, and the remnant of the Phantom Thieves strikes an alliance with Erina, the leader of the Rebel Corps, to assist in the battle against the monarch's oppressive rule. Marie runs an authoritarian regime, and her injustices are more pronounced in preparation for her big wedding. Persona 5 Tactica's setting features a gigantic cathedral in the middle of the playable area in preparation for the royal nuptial ceremony, anticipated to be a brilliant display of wealth and grandeur. This overarching theme has a direct lookalike in Alice in Wonderland's Tea Party with the Mad Hatter, and Marie's dictatorial leadership can easily mirror that of the Queen of Hearts.
Defeating Marie and stamping out her tyranny is merely Persona 5 Tactica's first phase, as players take a trip to another Kingdom based on feudal Japan. Once again, the Phantom Thieves have little time to orient themselves in the new world before facing danger. The Phantom Thieves learn of the nation's oppressive practices, with the citizens under careful monitoring from Yoshiki, their seemingly moral leader. It's not far-fetched to assume the country's political landscape is in turmoil, and Yoshiki's vocal opponents are whisked away to begin forced labor.
This dynamic toes the line of sham trials and unjust incarcerations, another of Alice in Wonderland's themes. The Knave of Hearts stands accused of theft of the Queen of Heart's tarts, a case supported by flimsy evidence and shoddy testimony, before Alice's stance against the unfairness on display. Persona 5 Tactica's parts, although distinct, mirror the prevalent themes from Alice in Wonderland's story, ensuring the title has the dystopian vibe of the classic novel.
Persona 5 Tactica is set to release on November 17, 2023, for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
