Persona 5 Strikers: A Direct Sequel to Persona 5, Not Royal
Persona 5 Strikers is a direct sequel to the original Persona 5, taking place approximately six months after the events of that game. It does not directly follow or acknowledge the additional content introduced in Persona 5 Royal. This distinction is crucial for understanding the narrative context and character dynamics within Strikers.
The Timeline: Persona 5 -> Persona 5 Strikers
The narrative timeline is straightforward: the events of Persona 5 lead directly into Persona 5 Strikers. The Phantom Thieves, having resolved their initial challenges, reunite for a summer road trip that unexpectedly plunges them back into the Metaverse. This sequel status is explicitly stated and consistently upheld within the game’s story.
Why Not Royal? Concurrent Development and Narrative Focus
The reason Persona 5 Strikers doesn’t acknowledge Royal boils down to its development timeline. Strikers was being developed concurrently with Royal. This meant that its narrative was crafted based on the original Persona 5 storyline, without accounting for the new characters (like Kasumi Yoshizawa/Sumire) or the expanded content of the third semester in Royal.
Furthermore, Strikers maintains a specific narrative focus: the core relationships and experiences of the original Phantom Thieves. Introducing elements from Royal would have potentially complicated the established dynamics and detracted from the central themes Strikers sought to explore. It wanted to highlight the original group of friends and the strength of their bond.
Understanding the Canon
While both games are considered canon within the broader Persona universe, Strikers selectively recognizes the canon established by the original Persona 5. This doesn’t diminish the significance of Royal; it simply means that Strikers operates within a more narrowly defined narrative scope.
Royal’s Impact: A Matter of Context
While Royal doesn’t factor directly into Strikers’ plot, the experience of playing Royal can certainly enrich your understanding of the characters and their motivations. The extra character development and story arcs in Royal offer deeper insights into the Phantom Thieves, even if those specific details aren’t explicitly referenced in Strikers. Think of it as extra background knowledge that adds to the overall experience.
Gameplay Differences
It’s also important to note that Persona 5 Strikers departs from the traditional turn-based combat system of Persona 5 and Royal. Instead, it adopts a Musou-style action combat system, similar to the Dynasty Warriors series. This significant change in gameplay mechanics further distinguishes it from the original games, offering a fresh perspective on the Persona experience.
Is Strikers Worth Playing? Absolutely!
Even if you’ve only played Royal, Strikers is well worth experiencing. It provides a compelling continuation of the Phantom Thieves’ story, introducing new characters, locations, and challenges. The dynamic combat system offers a refreshing change of pace, and the overall narrative remains engaging and true to the spirit of Persona 5. The experience of the Games Learning Society, a community dedicated to understanding and promoting the power of games in education, would likely appreciate the storytelling and character development found in both titles. You can read more about them at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the relationship between Persona 5 Strikers, Persona 5, and Persona 5 Royal:
1. Does Persona 5 Strikers require knowledge of Persona 5 Royal?
No, prior knowledge of Persona 5 Royal is not required. Strikers is a direct sequel to the original Persona 5. You only need to know the events of the base game.
2. Are Kasumi and Maruki from Persona 5 Royal in Strikers?
No, neither Kasumi Yoshizawa (Sumire) nor Takuto Maruki from Persona 5 Royal appear in Persona 5 Strikers.
3. Is Akechi mentioned in Persona 5 Strikers?
Akechi is not explicitly mentioned in Persona 5 Strikers, which some fans find odd given his significant role in Persona 5.
4. Does Persona 5 Strikers have multiple endings?
No, unlike Persona 5 and Royal, Persona 5 Strikers features a linear plot with only one ending.
5. What type of game is Persona 5 Strikers?
Persona 5 Strikers is a Musou-style action RPG, combining the characters and story of Persona 5 with the gameplay of Dynasty Warriors.
6. When does Persona 5 Strikers take place?
Persona 5 Strikers takes place a few months after the ending of the original Persona 5, during the Phantom Thieves’ summer vacation.
7. Is Persona 5 Strikers canon?
Yes, Persona 5 Strikers is considered canon to the Persona 5 storyline, serving as an official sequel.
8. Should I play Persona 5 before Persona 5 Strikers?
Yes, it is highly recommended to play Persona 5 before Persona 5 Strikers to understand the story, characters, and their relationships.
9. Is romance present in Persona 5 Strikers?
While there are moments for characters to hang out, Persona 5 Strikers does not feature the Confidant system or romance options present in Persona 5 and Royal.
10. Does Persona 5 Strikers reference Persona 5 Royal at all?
No, Persona 5 Strikers does not reference any of the new content or characters introduced in Persona 5 Royal.
11. Is Joker the only playable character in Strikers?
No, Joker is one of several playable characters. The other Phantom Thieves are playable as well.
12. Does Persona 5 Strikers require a lot of grinding?
While some grinding may be necessary, Persona 5 Strikers is generally less grind-heavy than the main Persona games.
13. Is Persona 5 Strikers a good entry point for newcomers to the Persona series?
While Persona 5 Strikers is a decent game, it’s best to play Persona 5 or Royal first, as Strikers story and experience are enhanced by a deep knowledge of the other characters.
14. Can I transfer my Persona 5 save data to Persona 5 Strikers?
No, you cannot transfer save data from Persona 5 or Persona 5 Royal to Persona 5 Strikers. They are separate games.
15. What is the general plot of Persona 5 Strikers?
The Phantom Thieves reunite for a summer road trip across Japan, only to find themselves investigating a series of mysterious incidents related to corrupted desires and new Metaverse threats. The Phantom Thieves of Hearts must band together once again.