Persona 5's highly anticipated sequel, Persona 5 Strikers, has finally arrived in the west. Picking up where the first game left off, Joker and the Phantom Thieves return to solve a new mystery on their summer vacation. Hearts are changing across the country, and they've been framed again. They'll need to reassemble their team to stop the plot against them.
With such an expansive story, Persona 5 Strikers is sure to have several moments that players miss on their first Playthrough. Whether it's a callback to the original game's characters and bosses, or some of the game's challenging post-game content, there is plenty that will warrant a second trip through Japan with this loveable group of heroes.
10 A Half-Baked Trap
Toward the end of the game, the Phantom Thieves are captured in the Jail of Wrath. This Jail's Monarch, Akane, tricks the team and tosses them in a cell. Oracle is the only one who evades capture, and she leaves to get help. The only problem with this scenario is the cell itself. With so much space between the bars, every Phantom Thieves member could easily squeeze through and escape without aid.
All they'd have to do is put their arms on their sides and slide through sideways. Seeing Ryuji standing up against them really puts things into perspective. Their capture does lead to Zenkichi getting a persona, and we can overlook this goofy scene because of that amazing moment.
9 Missable Party Member Requests
During each stop on their summer adventure, Joker can take on requests from his fellow party members. He'll have to speak to them in town to accept these requests, so those who go straight into dungeons will miss out on these fun little side-quests. Grabbing snacks with Ryuji, smashing a watermelon with Makoto, and teaching Zenkichi how to cook are just some of the tasks Joker can take part in. There may even be some late-game rewards from thankful friends if Joker completes these requests.
8 A Sae Nijima Callback
With the Phantom Thieves facing legal trouble once more, there's only one lawyer skilled enough for their team. Makoto's older sister, Sae Nijima, makes her return in a cameo to save Zenkichi from the corrupt police force. Those new to the franchise may not recognize this character, though she was a major character in the previous entry.
Now a public defender, Sae steps in once Makoto calls, aiding the team when they need her. While she may not have a character model in the game, it is nice to see her lovely sprite on screen for a short time. She's as commanding and skilled in her work as ever, which is perfect for a group of wrongfully accused vigilantes.
7 Yusuke's Struggle With A Fellow Artist
Along their journey, several Phantom Thieves members encounter enemies that they relate to on a personal level. Yusuke sees himself in Ango Natsume. As a fellow artist with his own struggles, he understands what it's like to have his work ridiculed. Both Yusuke and Ango were taken advantage of by their mentors and live in the shadows of their skilled predecessors.
It angers him more than all others to see this writer take an easy path via plagiarism instead of giving his best effort. That, coupled with Ango mocking his mother's final piece, motivates him to change this misguided soul. It's a great way to tie in Yusuke's previous problems and further develop this excellent sequel.
6 Ann's Conflict With Her Inspiration
Like Yusuke, Ann relates heavily to one of the game's antagonists, Alice Hiiragi. As a fellow public figure, Ann wants to use her platform to uplift those who have been through tough times as she did. Alice preaches the same message and serves as an inspiration for her pursuit.
It breaks Ann's heart to find out that Alice has become so cold and vindictive. Ann's motivation stemmed from Alice's original message, so seeing Alice become the cruelty she swore to fight against is tough for Ann. In Persona 5, Ann realized how important it is to help those in a bad place. Even after Ann sees how twisted Alice has become, she is determined to help her find her path once more. It's another example of the game's ability to build on established character motivations, fleshing out some of the franchise's best characters.
5 The Difference Between Monarchs and Palace Rulers
The makeup of Jails is not the only thing that sets them apart from Persona 5's Palaces. Palaces formed when the desires of a ruler became twisted of their own volition. These individuals allowed themselves to become terrible people. The same cannot be said for the Jails' Monarchs.
Those who rule over Jails are often good people at heart and don't choose to lead a disturbing life. Those who create the Jails can force a change of heart on EMMA users, even with Monarchs, installing them by force. The greatest example of this being Akane Hasegawa, a child dealing with the loss of her mother. EMMA's founder takes advantage of her pain and uses it as a catalyst for Jail creation.
A Jail's Monarchs are victims in most cases, and the trauma they've experiences serves as fuel for these Metaverse dungeons.
4 Zenkichi's Trauma
The newest member of the Phantom Thieves, Zenkichi Hasegawa, may seem cold at first, but that's only because of the trauma he's experienced personally. After losing his wife in a hit and run, he pursued her killer doggedly. Unfortunately, a corrupt police system did everything in its power to protect the politician responsible for her death. He gave up on himself and the world around him for a time as he tried to cope with this pain.
Zenkichi is learning how to cope with a painful past, and the game does an excellent job of exploring the feeling of grief through this once downtrodden man.
3 Konoe's Dark Past
One of the game's main antagonists, Akira Konoe, initially comes off as a young and arrogant aristocrat. It's easy to write him off as a stereotypical villain interested in money early on. Those who stick with Persona 5 Strikers will soon find out that isn't the case, though.
After growing up with an abusive father for years, he believed that the world was devoid of heroes. He truly believes the only way to stop people from suffering as he did is by stripping them of their agency. It's a twisted solution to a tragic life.
2 Exploring Advanced AI
When Sophie is introduced, she is a fledgling AI with little understanding of the world around her. By the end of the game, however, she finds free will, developing complex emotions. She no longer functions as a machine but becomes her own person. It touches on artificial intelligence's potential and questions what we constitute as a living being, much like Detroit: Become Human does.
1 Lavenza's Secret Request
Those familiar with the Reaper boss may have missed him in Persona 5 Strikers. Unlike in Persona 5, players will have to complete a handful of prerequisites before they can challenge this difficult boss. The Phantom Thieves will have to tackle several tasks for Lavenza before it appears. These include her fusion assignments and nightmare boss encounters.