Persona 5: The Phantom X – Ongoing Review

Alright, so here’s the deal — I’ve always had this weird thing about Persona spin-offs. Not sure why, but it’s kinda like, how do you even turn such deep games into something new without messing up all those deliciously intricate details that made us fall in love with them? Anyway, with Persona5: The Phantom X, the gang at Perfect World seemingly pulled it off. I mean, that’s what it feels like at first glance. Seriously, those animated cutscenes and that spine-tingling soundtrack — it screams “Hey, we’re sticking to the Persona vibe”. But guess what? They’ve spliced in the mobile gacha game twist. I’ve still got loads to play before I can spell out my legit thoughts, but there’s this nagging feeling, like that dreaded “oh no, here comes the grind” vibe sneaking up. Ugh.

So yeah, even though it’s riffing off Persona 5, The Phantom X ain’t about Joker and the old crew. Nope, you’re stepping in the shoes of this new kid, Nagisa Kamisiro (or make up a name, if you fancy). This one runs in an alternate timeline – quite the plot twist, huh? Imagine this ordinary student whose life takes a 180 when – wait for it – this cute, little owl named Lufel ropes them into some mission. They gotta take on the world’s gloom and doom, like a knight in, I dunno, owl armor? Refusal’s not an option, Kamisiro’s got to unleash that inner Persona. Off they trot into the shadow realm, battling monsters and all – sound familiar? If Persona 5 was your jam, you’ll totally see The Phantom X mirroring it step by step.

And then, you’ve gotta clean up the mess, hopping from recreated Tokyo spots to monster-ridden turf in the Metaverse, hunting not-so-nice guys and diving into all their headspace, mastering the iconic turn-based fights — weak points, elements, all that jazz. Oh, and being a teen, there’s the balancing act – school, jobs, home life. It’s all a retread of what’s nearly a decade-old style but nailed enough for some to dig in.

Lucky for us, where the gameplay feels like a déjà vu marathon, the cast shakes things up. Kamisiro’s crowd is a quirky bunch – Motoha Arai loves his baseball, Kayo Tomiyama’s all hubby-obsessed, and Tomoko Noge? A schoolmate sweet as pie. The voice acting’s superb, hands down. They’ve got their own quirks, some hilarious bits, and let’s not forget that owl, Lufel. That thing’s vocab has the school teens scratching their heads.

In Kamisiro’s world, it’s the grind of tasks like café hangouts to ace school, slaving away at Konbini for cash, or grocery runs to churn out meals back home. Still warming up to how these tasks add up to world-saving heroics, but hey, the shopping was kinda fun in itself. The city vibe, like wandering through the Shibuya Scramble, eyeballing that famous puppy thing amidst the lights — it’s like Tokyo had its heart poured into it.

And as for the battles? Well, most of ’em kick off from the Metaverse app on Kamisiro’s phone. The strife there eats away at your stamina—naturally refilled though, so no sweat. Stick to the storyline if you want to keep up with the baddies’ level or wander into challenges for goodies and skill buffs. It hints at the grind lurking but, thank heavens, the battling keeps pulling you in.

Persona 5’s influence in combat is strong with turn-based skirmishes and reactions galore. You cycle through party members — one attack type to special abilities. Enemies and Personas, much like Pokémon vibes, revolve around elements for damage exploits. And if you’re starting to tire of the fights, the wild enemy designs help keep you interested. The visual flare and music? Pure genius — trust me, hearing Persona 5’s Last Surprise on loop somehow never tires.

Alas, not even Lyn Inaizumi’s vocal magic can mask the cornucopia of gacha systems and currencies slapped in The Phantom X. Characters, Personas, sure, pop up via the story but the fastest way? That darn Contracts menu. Standard gacha style – grind for currency or open your wallet for a fast track. Only about ten hours in now, no roadblocks to cry about, yet. My budget covers health needs and a myriad of currency flavors for boosts. The gacha spins aren’t a must-break for now but I sense money-shaped speed bumps ahead.

Beyond the bling of currencies, my beef with The Phantom X is that it’s sort of like a Persona 5 cover band, striking familiar notes instead of blazing its own trail. Other spin-offs like Persona 5 Tactica or Persona 5 Strikers shake things up with fresh angles but this? It’s more of an echo. It’s not boring, though – the combat and character bonding rock. The storyline’s initial chapters have been gripping and unexpected too. Just that the ‘been-there-done-that’ feeling from The Phantom Thieves’ legend doesn’t leave room for fresh strokes. With Persona 5 already on standby, packing more allure, The Phantom X’s repeat tour might not be where I toss time or cash.

Totally soaking in Persona5: The Phantom X, tons more to explore, though. Like those endless upgrade systems and just how premium your journey gets with those currencies long-term. I’m a series fan, kinda hypocritical to turn down more Persona 5 goodies, right? But time’s tell-tale will really show if The Phantom X carves its own spot beside the source tale – fingers crossed.