Persona 5: The Phantom X – Ongoing Review

Alright, buckle up because, boy, did I dive deep into this whole Persona spin-off world lately. I’m talking about that new athlete in the Persona family: Persona5: The Phantom X. Perfect World’s got their hands on it, and it’s like they were on a mission to clone the magic, but with a twist? Maybe, but then again, maybe not. I don’t know, whenever games try to keep the core intact, but add some flashy stuff like cutscenes that literally gave me goosebumps, I’m left wondering whose idea it was to toss in the mobile game’s premium hullabaloo. Makes you ponder, doesn’t it? Like, how many microtransactions can a nostalgia train carry before it derails into Grinding Town? Still playing though, so there’s hope… maybe.

Oh, and let’s talk about the plot – ditching Joker and the kin (didn’t expect that). Instead, here’s Nagisa Kamisiro. Ever heard of him? Yeah, me neither, but you can even rename the dude if it floats your boat. Here comes Lufel, an owl that’s all cute but with that ‘wise creature’ vibe, dragging Kamisiro into shadowy face-offs against public despair. Sound familiar? It might. I swear I felt déjà vu, right down to the ‘clear-the-shadow-world-one-demon-at-a-time’ routine. Anyways, if you liked Persona 5’s groove, this’ll feel like shaking hands with an old friend.

Fast forward a bit, and you’re in Tokyo. The real one – well, kinda. School, part-time gig – the whole teenage deal. Balance all that while hopping into the Metaverse for some moral de-gunking. Not groundbreaking stuff, but it’s like slipping into your favorite worn-out sneakers. Nothing revolutionary, yet oddly comforting.

Now, here’s where it gets juicy. Those NPCs, man. There’s this camaraderie slowly building up, like piecing together a quilt of quirky personalities. Motoha Arai’s baseball-fixation, Kayo’s ‘obsessed-couple-next-door-vibe’, and then Tomoko the bubbly classmate. Lufel’s there with its old-timey jargon antics – priceless. And trust me, these side characters are kind of stealing the spotlight.

But wait – I need to detour back quick. Kamisiro? This guy’s life is a chaos of time-eaters: schoolwork, chores, and yet, the bopping around Shibuya feels… nostalgic? Especially amidst the digital Tokyo hustle, it serves up this slice of virtual pie that tastes familiar yet fresh. Especially with that dog mascot in Shibuya. Why’d I notice that? Not sure, but it’s wedged in my brain now.

Combat’s a juicy nugget too. It’s laced with that delightful ‘pick-a-fight, strategize, beat-’em-up’ goodness from Persona 5 itself. The elements, folks. Fire, Ice, you name it – all doing this dance where one’s weakness is another’s punchline. Even when you’re ready to call it quits, the art jumps at you. Picture this hysterical hybrid between style and substance. Oh, and ‘Last Surprise’ on replay? Never old, never.

And then… gacha. The elephant in the room. Yes, the one where you pour resources into a flashy candy dispenser. Sure, I’m not walling myself yet – but you know when that snug shadow looms over you, whispering ‘it’s just a few microtransactions away…’? Yeah, that’s there. The climb’s gonna get steep.

Lemme wrap this with a quick soul check. Should you strap in for this rollercoaster? Maybe, maybe not. It’s a wondrous pastiche of things tried and true, but freshness, originality – that otherworldly zing? Missing, kind of. But, hey, maybe this imitation has its own flair. I’m sticking around to find out, but ask me in a bit. Who knows, right?