Summary
Persona 5 Tacticais the newest game in the long-running franchise. The series has been no stranger to spin-offs, but few have been as bold asTactica. Most of the non-mainlinePersonagames have settled for being fan service or have told stories that feel lacking compared to the games on which they are based.P4 ArenaandP5 Strikerswere the most prominent exceptions to this, and nowP5Thas joined them.Persona 5Tacticahas thoughtful gameplay systems that effectively translate long-running tropes from the series and a compelling new art style. It also introduces memorable new characters that would feel at home in a mainline game. One of these new characters, Erina, should serve as a model for futurePersonamascots.
Persona 6is confirmed to be in development, but little else is known about the title. Many of the creators behind the previous threePersonagames are currently working onMetaphor: ReFantazio.Persona 3 Reloadis being directed by Takuya Yamaguchi, who has worked on prior games in the series but never as a director. The franchise is going through a period of change right now, which is equally compelling and concerning.P6leaks have suggested that it will make many big departures, meaning that, if nothing else, the game should feel like a fresh take on the series.
Persona 5 Tactica Has a New Type of Mascot
P3, P4,andP5’s mascot characters are all animals or animal-like creatures. Koromaru fromP3is mostly an average dog, unlike the later animal mascots, Teddie and Morgana, who talk and are more central to the story. The role of eachPersonamascotdiffers, but they are all visually distinct and typically offer relief from some of the series' darker themes. Morgana and Teddie are so often the subject of jokes that it can be challenging to take their stories seriously. Their whimsical appearances further heighten this plight. The role of mascots inPersonaand the storytelling ambitions for each of them as characters often feel at odds.
Erina Is a Breath of Fresh Air
Persona 5 Tactica’s mascot is Erina, a young woman who serves as leader of the Rebel Corps. She is introduced when she saves Joker and Morgana at the start of the game, and immediately, Erina is recognized as a force to be reckoned with and a strong ally ofthe Phantom Thieves. Visually, she fits the part of a spunky rebel leader. Rather than being a cute animal, Erina is a heroic revolutionary. She has some funny dialogue, as do all the characters, but her job isn’t comic relief, and she overtly embodies the game’s themes of rebellion and justice.
Persona 6 Needs a Mascot Like Erina
Toshiro and Erinafight alongside the Phantom Thieves inPersona 5 Tactica, and much of the story revolves around them. Erina is eventually identified as a part of Toshiro in a revelation that lands better than most otherPersonamascot origin stories. Her story is compelling, her lore takes advantage of the series' metaphysics satisfyingly, and she embodiesP5T’s themes well. She serves as proof thatPersonacan have a recognizable mascot without making them a cute animal or the butt of jokes. Erina should be a model for the series to follow going forward.
Persona 6could set itself apart from other mainline entries by featuring a more well-rounded mascot character, similar toP5T’s Erina. Erina may not be as immediately recognizable as a symbol of the series, but the thematic pulp in her design and her tight integration into the game’s story more than make up for this. Even ifP6has an animal mascot, they could be treated more seriously and made more well-rounded like other characters in the game, just as Erina is inP5T. WhilePersona 6’s revealis hotly anticipated, the upcomingPersona 3 Reloadcould give hints as to howAtlus will approach future titles in the series.
