Fans of the Dynasty Warriors franchise waiting to get their next fix may want to step back from Persona 5 Strikers. While it does have some action similar to those games, it is also very different. For one, there is no co-op or multiplayer of any kind.
It is a straight sequel to Persona 5 so in order to understand what's going on, it's best to play that game first. It has been four years since that title came out, not including Persona 5 Royal, so even if someone has completed that game, it might be time for a few refreshes in order to make more sense about Strikers' plot.
10 The Cognitive World And Palaces
What exactly are the worlds these kids are going into? It’s never really explained in this game as everyone should be up to speed from the original outing.
For some catchup, this alternate space is created from the mind of a powerful individual who has deep desires. These desires manifested themselves into Palaces, which were a lot like Jails. And like Strikers, the kids got here through apps.
9 The Phantom Thieves And How Everyone Met
Joker was transferred to this region of Japan after he was tried for assault. Eventually, he meets up with Ryuji as they stumble upon their first Palace along with the talking cat Morgana, Ann, and so on.
Each chapter of the game pretty much focused on a new party member with their relation to the Palace and that arc's main villain. The only one missing in Strikers from that crew is Goro Akechi.
8 What’s A Persona?
A Persona is basically a manifestation of one’s true hidden power. It’s a magic Summon like from Final Fantasy and almost every party member only has one.
There are two exceptions. Joker is like a wild card, able to persuade Shadows, the monsters they fight, to becoming Personas for him. Goro Akechi can also use this feature, allowing the game to tell a story of direct opposites. Two sides of the same coin as it were.
7 The Missing Shopkeepers
At the beginning of Strikers, once Joker and crew figure out they need gear to fight again, they head out to their usual spots. Iwai ran a pawn shop where they used to buy weapons and other gear from, while Takemi was a doctor that prescribed medicine. Neither character is available in Strikers.
How were ordinary weapons able to fight off monsters in another dimension? It’s never quite explained but the cognitive power transformed ordinary airsoft guns into real ones through the power of the mind. That’s one example at least.
6 Taking Down Masayoshi Shido
The big bad buy of the original game turned out to be a crooked politician, Masayoshi Shido. He was actually the man that got Joker tried for his false assault record. Eventually, they fight off his cognitive self in the other world and change his heart.
This was not the end though as there was one more from behind the shadows controlling the strings, but Shido was still essentially the leading villain.
5 The Holy Grail
The Persona team must have a fascination with Indiana Jones. That’s because the aforementioned master puppeteer was a literal Holy Grail. It then transformed into a chaotic god, much like the deity at the end of Persona 5 Strikers.
That was a fight against the Ark of the Covenant. What’s next for the sequel? Are they going to fight a Crystal Skull or a bunch of rocks from the Temple of Doom?
4 Lavenza And Igor
One of the central themes of both of these games are jails. Joker was a prisoner in the Velvet Room, tasked with reforming his heart and also society’s. Igor was the head of this area and Lavenza started out as two other people, Caroline and Justine, to help act as wardens.
It turned out that Lavenza was split in two by Igor, who was actually the Holy Grail in disguise. Eventually, Lavenza reforged and fought back Igor, allowing the real one to finally come back. Igor's location in Strikers is a mystery.
3 What Is Morgana?
Throughout the course of the original game, Morgana claims he is a cursed human. It turns out he was actually a manifestation of the Metaverse, created to help fight back against the impending corruption of the Holy Grail.
With that gone, it seemed like Morgana too would disappear but he eventually came back. This was the first sign everyone’s powers were still around. Details are still scarce on exactly what Morgana is though as he can exist in both realities, making it seem like there still might be more to him.
2 Joker Went To Jail
After everything was all wrapped up, Joker took the fall for being involved with everything and went to a correctional facility for a short period. He was eventually let out before he transferred back to his home area, saying goodbye to everyone.
That’s why Joker coming back was such a big deal in Strikers. Also, him going to a jail of some sort connects him with one of this game’s biggest unanswered questions.
1 Why Is Sae Important?
Persona 5 started with one of the game’s last Palaces, showing Joker getting caught. The game is told through flashbacks, triggered by Makoto’s sister, Sae, who is interviewing Joker as a lawyer. She plays a huge role in that game and is why Joker got a light deal on his sentence.
While she does appear in voice in Strikers, Sae is never shown. In fact, when she rescues Zenkichi from prison, it is from a first-person perspective. Why was that camera angle chosen if not to hide something about her? Maybe that’s jumping to conclusions but it is weird.