How Persona 5 Tactica’s Boss Design Could Inspire Persona 6

Persona 5 Tactica lets players see the Persona 5 cast in a brand-new way as they face new foes in this strategy RPG spin-off. While the gameplay of Persona 5 Tactica is mostly different from the other Persona 5 games, there are still elements of the game that make it recognizable as an entry in the series. However, the ways Persona 5 Tactica builds upon the series’ staple mechanics could warrant a return in Persona 6, and the boss fights in particular could be the basis for new gameplay opportunities in the next mainline Persona title.

The Persona series is no stranger to spin-off titles that introduce different gameplay mechanics than the mainline games. Persona 5 and its spin-offs are notable for exploring a variety of genres beyond that of the traditional JRPG, like the hack-and-slash gameplay of Persona 5 Strikers, or the tactical RPG gameplay of Persona 5 Tactica. However, it’s rare that these spin-off games turn around and inspire mechanics in mainline Persona games, but there is a good argument to be made for Persona 6 to include Persona 5 Tactica‘s boss battle mechanics.

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Persona 5 Tactica Party Member Tier List

Between the Phantom Thieves and their allies in the Rebel Corps, Persona 5 Tactica players have a wide cast to choose from, but not all are equal.

Persona 6 Could Build Upon the Boss Mechanics of Persona 5 Tactica

Given that Persona 5 Tactica‘s gameplay utilizes the grid-based combat of tactical RPGs, it’s not surprising to see how boss fights have changed to fit this genre. Rather than following the typical turn-based attack trade-off of other Persona games, Persona 5 Tactica meshes puzzle elements with its standard gameplay to add another layer of strategy to the game’s usual combat encounters. If Persona 6 wants to refresh the series’ boss battle formula, including more puzzle-based mechanics like those in Persona 5 Tactica could be a great way to accomplish this.

Persona Games Have Been Getting More Complicated with Boss Fights

There is precedent for Persona games to have more complex boss fights beyond the standard strategy of targeting elemental weaknesses. Persona 5 Royal bosses usually include some twists to make them stand out more than regular enemy encounters, such as Shadow Madarame who requires players to target specific parts with certain attack types, or Shadow Okumura who forces players to defeat waves of minions in one turn before they are replaced. These elements make boss fights feel more epic than usual, and Persona 6 could take them to the next level by drawing inspiration from Persona 5 Tactica.

For example, Lady Marie’s boss fight introduces puzzle-like elements by having players lure Marie to different parts of the stage and hit her with bouquets to damage her while avoiding her tank. Another example is Lord Yoshiki’s boss fight, which has players navigating elevators as they make their way up the stage’s various platforms to reach the boss. Persona 6 could implement similar mechanics for its bosses if it allows players to switch positions on the battlefield during boss battles, opening up the door for another level of strategy based on player positioning without becoming a full-blown strategy RPG.

More RPGs Have Introduced Puzzle Mechanics for Bosses

Not only could Persona 6 take inspiration from Persona 5 Tactica‘s puzzle-based boss fights, but there are other RPGs that include these types of bosses that Persona 6 could draw on when designing unique battles. Paper Mario: The Origami King‘s bosses are designed to be more puzzle-oriented than the traditional RPG boss, and Undertale requires players to experiment with different dialogue options to solve the puzzle of the boss’s weakness. Persona 6 has a lot of room to experiment with different puzzles within its boss fights after Persona 5 Tactica and Persona 5 Royal laid the groundwork for this type of combat in the series.

Persona 5 Tactica

Franchise

Persona

Platform(s)

PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Switch

Released

November 17, 2023

Developer(s)

P-Studio

Publisher(s)

Atlus

Genre(s)

Tactical

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence

How Long To Beat

18 Hours