Review in Progress: Persona 5: The Phantom X

Sure, let’s dive in.

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You know, I’ve kinda always been on the fence about these Persona spin-offs. Honestly, how do you take a game that’s so rich and, like, bend it into something new—without losing all those tiny details that make everyone love the series? Anyway, the latest in the line, Persona5: The Phantom X, kinda surprised me. Or at least, it tried to. The squad at Perfect World, well, they’ve kept the familiar stuff intact. No crazy twists here, just those gorgeous cutscenes and a soundtrack that tickles your spine. Really, it sticks to what Persona does best—except it kinda throws in those classic mobile game currency things. Gacha games, ugh. Still have more to play before I slap a review on it, but I’ve got this weird feeling it’ll start to wear me down with tons of grinding. Not sure why, but gut feelings, ya know?

Oddly enough, this isn’t about Joker and his gang, nope. Instead, you’re walking in the shoes of Nagisa Kamisiro. New protagonist, alternate timeline, go figure. So, Kamisiro, just a regular kid, suddenly gets life flipped upside down when this cute owl, Lufel, appears. Lufel’s like, “Yo, save the world from sadness and gloom!” Who could say no to that, right? Kamisiro dives into this shadow world, ready to clean up the collective unconscious, one creepy creature at a time. If you’ve danced with Persona 5, this’ll feel like déjà vu. The Phantom X doesn’t stray much from the mold.

Ah, yes, saving the world means bouncing around in beautifully recreated spots in Tokyo and battling it out in the monster-filled Metaverse. You’re hunting down baddies and trying to master the usual turn-based combat that’s about hitting enemies where they’re weak—elementally, I mean. And, like any teen hero, Kamisiro’s juggling school, part-time gigs, and home stuff too. The phantom of Persona 5 looms large, no fresh ideas to shake things up here, but it’s a faithful copy and that’s cool for some folks.

The cast is what makes it kinda interesting, really. Kamisiro’s joined by a baseball nerd, Motoha Arai, a neighbor obsessed with her husband, Kayo Tomiyama, and this sweet school chum, Tomoko Noge. They’ve got these vibrant voices and funny lines that give them a life of their own—or at least it feels that way. I’ve gotten attached already, particularly to Lufel. This owl’s got an old-school way of speaking that leaves the other characters scratching their heads. It’s hilarious, honestly.

In Kamisiro’s shoes, you’re running errands and doing daily stuff like studying in cafes or earning cash at a Konbini. Making lists, wandering through Shibuya—ah, all the Tokyo vibes. Kind of brings me back, you know? Also, battling is a big part of the game. Kamisiro’s phone has this Metaverse app that kicks off every combat mission. Heck, the fighting’s addictive, even if there’s a bit of unavoidable grinding in the mix.

Back to combat—a lot like Persona 5’s turn-based style. You’re against a slew of quirky enemies, cycling through your team, picking between melee, ranged, and Persona abilities. There’s a bit of Pokémon in there too, exploiting enemy weaknesses for extra oomph. The battles stay fresh, thanks to some funky enemy designs. And, oh, that interface? Bold as ever. The music’s a blast. Lyn Inaizumi brings it, though the gacha money stuff? Not my favorite.

Hate to say this, but the whole gacha angle is…eh. You can unlock characters through the story, but the juicy stuff’s in the Contracts menu. Grind for currencies, or, you know, the old credit card trick. Ten hours in, I’m doing okay without spending, but I sense a wallet trap ahead. There’s a stash of currencies for upgrading—and while I’ve got enough for now, gotta wonder how long that’ll last.

For all its glitz, The Phantom X is more Persona 5 in reflection rather than reinvention. Unlike strong spin-offs like Persona 5 Tactica with fresh angles, this feels like a well-played cover track. Not saying I’m bored, honestly. Getting into the story and enjoying the personalities on this ride. But, there’s just this feeling that it’s more of the same old, same old. With Persona 5 already a classic, does this new chapter do enough to justify the time? Who knows.

Probably, more surprises await as I keep playing—haven’t hit the heart of those upgrade systems yet. But yeah, time will tell if The Phantom X stands on its own. Just savoring it for now. Let’s see where this twisty path will go.