With the Persona series starting in 1996, Strikers has finally changed up the battle system and introduced the fans to a new way of doing things. Turning from a slow-paced turn order into a high-octane hack and slash that makes the game feel completely different.
Like with any change, some will like it more than others, especially fans of exciting fights that take the epic moves from the old game and put them in a real-time battle. However, it comes with some compromises, mainly the chance to build a solid team and know the setup inside and out.
10 New - Action-Based Combat
Taking a left turn from the usual Persona formula, Strikers leans into a real time, action based combat system that lets players sharpen up their reaction time skills. Making the game feel more alive than ever and introducing a whole new set of moves and combinations to explore.
This is a great change from the usual pacing of Persona’s combat, opening up the system and giving the entire game a whole new level of intensity. Shortening the campaign and ramping up the pace, Strikers breathes some fresh air into the series.
9 Old - Strategy Pace
Everyone that has followed the Persona series has fallen into the turn based groove they’ve carved for themselves, making strategy and planning a lot more important than the usual big title. A slower pace leaves room for a lot more thought into each move, making a big result all the more satisfying.
While it does dial down the action, the old battle system makes things a lot more organized. Chances are the long time fans love this system or at the very least have gotten used to it, making this switch up jarring for most fans.
8 New - Very Forgiving
Turning up the speed setting and throwing the player base into disorder, they had to soften up the negatives for getting lost in the sauce a few times. This means that the beginning of the game won’t punish you too hard for the sloppy mechanics, especially when you’re fighting big groups of enemies.
This will come in handy to prevent an absolute meltdown every time you don’t position the character well. While it might seem a little soft at the start, you’ll thank the studio when the group gets out of the opening stage.
7 Old - Confidant Combat
The confidant mechanic makes for one of the deepest battle mechanics in Persona, Strikers takes this out to compensate for its much smaller play time. Opting to make room for the wild gun play and second to second fighting, we lose the effort and build up to some hard earned attacks.
Most newcomers to the series that might have started with Persona 5 might not be settled into the steady rhythm that’s been set over the years, losing both character development and long built moments is something that can’t be replaced.
6 New - Options
Strikers opens up the battle system in a big way now that it’s got real time combat, giving the player many more choices as to how they want to approach the fight. The Hack and Slash style and big step up in enemy numbers also makes for a lot more combat in total, putting fans in the fight more than any other Persona title.
From adding in long range attacks with guns and projectiles to the blend of persona attacks that effect the battle, it will be hard for players to run out of combinations and new ways of attack before the game comes to an end.
5 Old - Too Easy
Maybe it’s because of the new system being introduced but the combat feels a little too easy, especially when it comes to the late game bosses. Both sides feel unbalanced and it turns into a little more hack than slash most times, leaving a sense of challenge on the table.
While this can be excused from the first half of the game, given that fans need time to adjust, the end game could have definitely stepped up the adversity towards the end. Hopefully they bring out more spin offs in this style to give us a reason for the slow start.
4 New - Persona Attacks
Strikers being heavily focused on the combat aspect, they didn’t leave fans completely out of water. Adding in the slowed down combat when players want to perform a persona attack, it brings some of the previous games style into the new title.
It also makes for some of the most devastating attacks in the game, something you need a little more time to execute. Characters don’t even have to be near the enemy to attack, sending the shot across the battlefield and taking down some significant threats.
3 Old - Thrown In The Deep End
Even though they toned down the difficulty, it does throw you into the deep end when it comes to the games many mechanics. A lot of them being new, it’s definitely a struggle to get it all thrown in your lap at once.
They hold nothing back from the opening fight, meaning those who are prepared can use every tactic in the book on their first enemies. It also means that even hours into the game, most fans will be questioning whether they’re using it all in the right way.
2 New - Satisfying Attacks
This is honestly the most important part of not only Strikers but every combat system in gaming, Does it feel good to fight? For a game that doesn’t have much experience in the real time arena, they’ve done a great job of making every kill feel satisfying.
This also applies to the combinations and dodges, making you feel like you’ve really outplayed the enemy and looked good doing it. The smooth controls and weighty blows are one of the most enjoyable parts about Strikers and a key reason the game holds up.
1 Old - Battle Camera
The biggest up followed by the biggest down, the camera in this game isn’t perfect by any means. It will leave players facing an awkward direction that tends to ruin the flow of an attack or dodge, taking away from the otherwise smooth combat.
This will be obvious when facing a group of enemies, the player throwing attacks in multiple directions quickly. It’s not so bad to become a major issue but it’s definitely annoying when it does decide to lag behind and drift off in its own direction.
