Highlights

  • Persona 5 Tactica introduces a compelling new mascot character, Erina, who breaks away from the traditional animal mascots in the series.
  • Erina embodies the game's themes of rebellion and justice, providing a refreshing and well-rounded character in the Persona franchise.
  • Persona 6 should take inspiration from Erina and create a mascot character that is both recognizable and treated seriously, adding depth to the overall storytelling experience.

Persona 5 Tactica is the newest game in the long-running franchise. The series has been no stranger to spin-offs, but few have been as bold as Tactica. Most of the non-mainline Persona games have settled for being fan service or have told stories that feel lacking compared to the games on which they are based. P4 Arena and P5 Strikers were the most prominent exceptions to this, and now P5T has joined them. Persona 5 Tactica has thoughtful gameplay systems that effectively translate long-running tropes from the series and a compelling new art style. It also introduces memorable new characters that would feel at home in a mainline game. One of these new characters, Erina, should serve as a model for future Persona mascots.

Persona 6 is confirmed to be in development, but little else is known about the title. Many of the creators behind the previous three Persona games are currently working on Metaphor: ReFantazio.Persona 3 Reload is being directed by Takuya Yamaguchi, who has worked on prior games in the series but never as a director. The franchise is going through a period of change right now, which is equally compelling and concerning. P6 leaks have suggested that it will make many big departures, meaning that, if nothing else, the game should feel like a fresh take on the series.

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Persona 5 Tactica Missed Opportunities by Letting One Early Mission Type Down

Persona 5 Tactica does a great job mixing the Persona series with tactical RPG gameplay, but it later fails to deliver on one early game mission type.

Persona 5 Tactica Has a New Type of Mascot

P3, P4, and P5's mascot characters are all animals or animal-like creatures. Koromaru from P3 is mostly an average dog, unlike the later animal mascots, Teddie and Morgana, who talk and are more central to the story. The role of each Persona mascot differs, but they are all visually distinct and typically offer relief from some of the series' darker themes. Morgana and Teddie are so often the subject of jokes that it can be challenging to take their stories seriously. Their whimsical appearances further heighten this plight. The role of mascots in Persona and the storytelling ambitions for each of them as characters often feel at odds.

Erina Is a Breath of Fresh Air

Persona 5 Tactica's mascot is Erina, a young woman who serves as leader of the Rebel Corps. She is introduced when she saves Joker and Morgana at the start of the game, and immediately, Erina is recognized as a force to be reckoned with and a strong ally of the Phantom Thieves. Visually, she fits the part of a spunky rebel leader. Rather than being a cute animal, Erina is a heroic revolutionary. She has some funny dialogue, as do all the characters, but her job isn't comic relief, and she overtly embodies the game's themes of rebellion and justice.

Persona 6 Needs a Mascot Like Erina

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Toshiro and Erina fight alongside the Phantom Thieves in Persona 5 Tactica, and much of the story revolves around them. Erina is eventually identified as a part of Toshiro in a revelation that lands better than most other Persona mascot origin stories. Her story is compelling, her lore takes advantage of the series' metaphysics satisfyingly, and she embodies P5T's themes well. She serves as proof that Persona can have a recognizable mascot without making them a cute animal or the butt of jokes. Erina should be a model for the series to follow going forward.

Persona 6 could set itself apart from other mainline entries by featuring a more well-rounded mascot character, similar to P5T's Erina. Erina may not be as immediately recognizable as a symbol of the series, but the thematic pulp in her design and her tight integration into the game's story more than make up for this. Even if P6 has an animal mascot, they could be treated more seriously and made more well-rounded like other characters in the game, just as Erina is in P5T. While Persona 6's reveal is hotly anticipated, the upcoming Persona 3 Reload could give hints as to how Atlus will approach future titles in the series.