Persona 5: The Phantom X’s Phantom Idols are a new take on party members, and they could open the door to a new dynamic inPersona 6. Being a spin-off means thatPersona 5: The Phantom Xwill inevitably do a lot of things its own way. That even extended to the way that it lets players build their party, which has rarely changed throughout the years. However, the Phantom Idols also offer another opportunity that has been waiting in the wings for years.Persona 6may be able to take this freshly presented opportunity and run with it.
WithPersona 5: The Phantom X’s English releaseapproaching, it’s a good time for players to know what to expect. Impressively,The Phantom Xmanages to capture a lot of thePersonaformula in a mobile game package, albeit in a modified form. It has its own version ofPersona’s battle system, as well as an altered version of Social Links. At the same time, there are some major changes, such as the game no longer running on a strict calendar, likely due to the formula of being a mobile gacha game.The Phantom Xis unique, but should still be accessible forPersonafans, and those who do pick up the game may see the appeal inPersona 6using it as inspiration for its protagonists.
Persona 5: The Phantom X Could Be the First Step Towards More Adult Protagonists in Persona Games
The Phantom X’s Phantom Idols Are Not Full Party Members
One interesting feature isThe Phantom X’s cognitive manifestations, also known as Phantom Idols. These are characters who fight alongside the protagonist in battle. However, unlike typicalPersonaparty members, these are not the characters in question. Rather, they are cognitive recreations of certain people that Wonder has met, reimagined as Persona users. One thing worth mentioning is that Phantom Idols do not consist solely of other students. There are several adults among their ranks, such as Okyann, Messa, and Vino. While Phantom Idols may not be proper party members, this departure from the norm could indicate something forPersona’s future parties.
Persona Parties Typically Do Not Include Adult Persona Users
These Phantom Idols could provide an opportunity forPersona 6’s eventual partyto also include some older characters. After three straight games of teams entirely consisting of students and animal companions, a few adult party members could represent a change of pace. Part of it would be for the sake of variety and shaking up the formula of the series. At the same time, there are some potential stories that adult characters can tell that the usual high school protagonists may not be able to.The Phantom Xtook one step in that direction, butPersona 6has the chance to go all in.
Persona 5 Strikersfeatured an adult party member in Zenkichi, but he only appeared in that spin-off, not a mainline game.
Persona 2 Already Set the Precedent For Adult Party Members
There’s already precedent for adult Persona users in the series.Persona 2hasn’t seen a remake, so many fans may not be aware of it, but that game’s party featured several adult Persona users, such as Ulala, Baofu, and Katsuya. That already establishes a precedent for adding some older characters to the player’s party. However, the series got a significant rework afterPersona 3, and that game ended up setting the standard for the rest of the series to follow. That includes parties only consisting of students and animal mascots.Persona 6could be the game that finally breaks that long-running trend.
Persona 5: The Phantom Xgave players a peek at what could be a future party dynamic.The Phantom Xcould changePersona’s futureeven though it’s a spin-off. While there are several ways that it could do so, a look at the Phantom Idols could be for the best. The Phantom Idols feature some really cool character designs and ideas that would have been even better served as full party members, so hopefullyPersona 6will pick up wherePersona 5: The Phantom Xleft off and use these concepts fully.
Persona5: The Phantom X
WHERE TO PLAY
“We’re the Phantom Thieves, and we’re here to steal your heart!”The beloved RPG series with over 22 million copies sold finally arrives on PC and mobile!Set in modern-day Tokyo!Normal high-school student by day, villain-fighting Phantom Thief by night!Explore the dungeons of the heart and defeat the distorted enemyShadows!Dive into dungeons of the heart called Palaces with your fellow Phantom Thieves, who have awakened their Persona, the power of the heart. Steal the Treasure to restore the warped heart!Stylish, snappy, and satisfying turn-based combat!Experience the signature flair of the Persona series with striking visuals and addictive moves that can wipe out all your foes in one swoop!Level up your Persona, the power of your heart, and become the most powerful Persona-user!Obtain new Personas, infiltrate dungeons of the heart, and prevent a future of ruin!Enjoy your youth as a student!Savor student life in an urban metropolis as a high-school student! How you spend your days after school is up to you—deepen your friendships, devote your time to clubs, or even work part-time!Interact with a variety of fascinating characters!Tons of new characters inhabit the game, created under the supervision of Shigenori Soejima and the rest of the Persona team!
