Persona 5: The Phantom X – Ongoing Review

I’ve always kinda side-eyed those Persona spin-offs, you know? Like, how the heck do you take something as rich as those games and twist ’em up without losing the magic? Then bam, here comes Persona5: The Phantom X from the minds at Perfect World. I guess they kinda nailed it? At least, it seems that way at first glance. The visuals? Chef’s kiss. And the music? Goosebumpy for sure. But yeah, it’s not busting out of the Persona mold. Instead, they keep that core feeling alive but sprinkle in those ever-annoying mobile-game currencies. Ugh. I’ve got more to play before I can really dish out a full review, but there’s this nagging feeling — like, will this nostalgic trip turn into just endless grinding? Probably.

Okay, so even though it riffs off Persona 5, The Phantom X isn’t just Joker and his crew on repeat. We’ve got a fresh new hero, Nagisa Kamisiro. Or hey, call ‘em whatever you want — they let you choose. An alternate timeline or something like that. Kamisiro’s just your average student until this seriously cute owl, Lufel, pops up, dragging them into a battle against the world’s gloominess. Saying no? Not an option. Kamisiro figures out their Personal mojo, off they go to the shadow world, busting out monsters like it’s a part-time gig. If you’ve played Persona 5, you’ll be like, “Hey, haven’t I seen this before?”

So yeah, you flip between real Tokyo streets and that freaky Metaverse. Hunting down nasty critters while mastering turn-based combat — elemental weaknesses are your best pal (or nemesis?). And while you’re off saving the universe, don’t forget — Kamisiro’s still got exams, a job, and a social life. Real talk, The Phantom X might not be bursting with brand-new vibes in its older, well-worn structure. But meh, it’s cloned the Persona formula fine, and that’s all some folks need.

In this comfy little chaos, it’s the cast that kept me hooked. Kamisiro bangs heads with fun characters like Motoha, our baseball nut. Then there’s Kayo, all about finding her hubby (weird obsession, but go off), and schoolmate Tomoko, cute as a button. They’re not just NPCs — they’ve got personality. What’s cool is this voice acting that brings them to life. Lufel, the owl, is my jam. Got this funny old-school way of talking that just cracks me up.

A typical day in Kamisiro’s kicks? Bouncing around Tokyo, hitting cafes for study sessions, working the Konbini grind, grocery shopping — the whole teenage shebang. Not sure how all this fits into the save-the-world mission, but making Tokyo shopping lists? Weirdly fun. Shibuya’s hustle, that iconic puppy mascot — all just vibing in a city I’ve grown to love, in games and IRL.

But hey, it ain’t all chill. Kamisiro spends loads of time in monster-smashing mode. Thanks to a nifty Metaverse app on their phone, you dive into challenges whenever. Except, stamina’s your limit — it recharges naturally, thank heavens. Stick to the main missions for progress, or wander into side battles for loot. Grinding’s on the horizon, but combat in The Phantom X? Addictive as chips (or crisps, if you’re so inclined).

Combat’s vintage Persona 5 — turn-based with a twist. Your squad takes turns, flipping between melee, range, and Persona powers. Enemies and your Personas have their elemental quirks — fire, ice, you name it. Exploit those, and you’re in for extra damage. Tried, tested, and true — and the enemy designs are pretty darn cool. Persona’s bold interface and epic battle tunes? Just a cherry on top. That banger, Last Surprise? Never gets old.

But, uh, here comes the not-so-fun part. Beyond the lovable tunes, The Phantom X has gacha systems galore — tons of virtual currencies to juggle. Sure, some characters and Personas drop in as story rewards, but those Contract pulls (gacha style) are your express ticket. Grind your heart out or whip out the credit card — the choice is yours. Spent about ten hours in, haven’t hit roadblocks yet, but they’re lurking. With enough monies for health items and fancy currencies for Persona upgrades, it’s manageable now. Can’t help but sense financial hurdles in the distance, though.

Here’s the rub — apart from the pay-to-win feel, The Phantom X vibes more like a Persona 5 echo than a unique twist. Other spin-offs like Tactica and Strikers? They brought fresh angles. But The Phantom X? Solid mimicry, sure, but I’m yearning for more. Not bored yet, the story pulls me in, and the characters? Love ’em. But replaying The Phantom Thieves’ tale with slight tweaks doesn’t feel worth the clock (or cash). When the OG Persona games are sitting there, crisp and engaging? Hard sell.

So, yeah, I’m digging Persona5: The Phantom X so far, but plenty more to explore before slapping down a final verdict. Gotta see how deep those upgrades roll and what premium currencies do to the long game. As a Persona fan, I wanna gobble up any new content with glee — but, uh, can The Phantom X step out of Persona 5’s shadow enough to keep me hooked for the long haul? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.