Highlights

  • Toshiro and Erina brought new life to Persona 5 Tactica, offering a refreshing change from the Phantom Thieves.
  • The gameplay and art style of Tactica deviated from the mainline games, leaving an opportunity to depict Toshiro and Erina in a traditional Persona art style through another game.
  • Persona 5: The Phantom X could be the perfect game for Toshiro and Erina to make a cameo appearance, allowing fans to see alternative versions of the duo in a new spin on their story.

Persona 5 Tactica followed the Phantom Thieves through a journey in a different Metaverse. Joker and his friends are still central to Tactica's story, but the game revolves around two new heroes, Toshiro and Erina. Toshiro is a politician who is likely to become Japan's next Prime Minister following the events of P5, and Erina is a revolutionary in the Metaverse, leading a group known as the Rebel Corps. The duo and their stories lie at the heart of Persona 5 Tactica, and many fans are hoping for their return, which is a rarity for Persona spin-off characters. Fortunately, an upcoming title could be the perfect place for Toshiro and Erina to appear.

Persona 5 was released in Japan in the fall of 2016 before its international launch in April 2017, approximately eight years after its predecessor.Persona 6 rumors have been circulating for a while, and it is confirmed to be in development, but almost seven years later, little is known about it. The wait time for P6 hasn't surpassed that of its predecessor yet, but the franchise saw meteoric growth after Persona 5 was released, making it a very different situation for the franchise. To capitalize on the excitement around the series, there have been a wide variety of spin-offs in various genres, including a rhythm game, an action game, and now, a tactical strategy game. Another P5 spin-off is also on the horizon: Persona 5: The Phantom X.

Persona 5 Confidants Road Fork
Related
Persona 5 Royal's Confidants Face a Fork in the Road to Persona 6

Persona 5's Confidant system offers better benefits compared to Social Links, but it could be improved further for Persona 6.

Toshiro and Erina Deserve To Be In Another Persona Game

Persona 5 Tactica had life breathed into it by Toshiro and Erina. In recent years, many Persona fans have started to feel a sense of fatigue around the Phantom Thieves. The characters are beloved, but after a plethora of spin-offs and crossovers, it's time for a changing of the guard. P5T's decision to make the story revolve around Toshiro and Erina, with the Phantom Thieves aiding them, helped to keep the game engaging. Tactica's gameplay and art style fit the context, but the game's presentation means that fans get a less in-depth depiction of the duo's appearance and potential abilities than they would for characters in a mainline game.

Persona 5 Tactica Had Its Limits

Persona 5 Tactica featured more stripped-down sets of abilities for its characters and their Personas. This was done to fit them into a new genre. While it was the right decision, Toshiro and Erina could have more abilities in a traditional Persona game. P5T's art style is also a significant departure from the mainline entries. The chibi aesthetic is very expressive and works in context, but fans haven't gotten a chance to see Toshiro and Erina in a more traditional Persona art style.

Persona 5: The Phantom X Could Be The Perfect Game for Tactica Cameos

Persona 5 The Phantom X P5X character artwork with game logo composite red background

Persona 5: The Phantom X is a mobile game spin-off of the franchise. It is set in a parallel universe and is centered around an original cast of characters. It is currently being planned for release first in South Korea, and it is uncertain whether the game will come to the West. The Phantom X proposes what a different set of Phantom Thieves could be like, and as such, it would be the perfect place to bring back Toshiro and Erina. Persona 5 Tactica's story is conclusive, but with The Phantom X being set in a different universe, the two could make an appearance in the game's story or be added to the pool of characters available as Cognitive Manifestations, a feature unique to P5X.

Persona 5: The Phantom X is the perfect game for cameos, and Toshiro and Erina deserve to be at the top of the list. Alternative versions of the pair could be introduced into the game with a new spin on their story. Alternatively, the two could receive a simple cameo, since even just seeing the characters in a more traditional Persona art style would be a treat for fans. For now, however, Persona fans have their hands full with the upcoming Persona 3 remake titled Persona 3 Reload.