Atlus has released a brand new trailer for the upcoming Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers, which now has a release date of February 2020. And for those fans who were worried the game would just be another glorified beat ‘em up title, this latest preview may set your mind at ease.
Following months of secrecy, Atlus has finally released a full-length trailer for their newest title. Rather than simply being a typical hack and slash, the game will be an official sequel to its parent game, taking place a year and a half after the events of Persona 5. From the trailer, it appears that the Phantom Thieves will be taking on a new evil, one that is threatening the entire country of Japan.
In addition to showing scenes of the Musou-style fighting mechanics, the new trailer also featured game aspects fans of the original game will find familiar, including 2D anime-style cutscenes, social events, and even a brand new calendar system. From the trailer, it also appears Joker will be allowed to freely explore new areas in Japan, including Osaka, Sendai, Sapporo, and a town that highly resembles Inaba from Persona 4.
The only real difference in gameplay will be in the fighting style, which will happen in real-time instead of turn-based combat. Additionally, players will be able to control all members of the Phantom Thieves (with the exception of Futaba) in battle.
It is unclear at this time how Persona 5 Scramble will fit into the storyline of the upcoming Persona 5: The Royal, an enhanced version of Persona 5 that will be released in Japan at the end of the month and in the West at a later date next spring.
The game will be released in Japan on February 20, 2020. In addition to a release for the parent game's PlayStation 4, the game will also be ported to the Nintendo Switch, marking the game's debut in the latter console. No official plans for a Western release have been announced.
Persona 5 Scramble was announced earlier this year at the Persona Super Live 2019 concert. Fans' reactions to the new title were mixed, as many had been hoping "P5S" was referring to a Nintendo Switch port for Persona 5. Many also speculated that the new game would lose so many of the aspects that made the original so beloved. However, if this trailer is any indication, it seems like fans have nothing to worry about.
Source: YouTube