View source for Persona 5 Strikers

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Persona 5 Strikers''}}
{{Head
| type = Game
| quote = 
| speaker = 
| stub = 
| class = B
}}
{{Infobox CVG (Non-Nintendo)
| name = [[File:p5s_logo.png|200px]]
| image = File:Persona 5 Strikers (NA).jpg
| developer = [[Omega Force]]<br>[[P-Studio]]
| publisher = [[Atlus]]
| system1 = Nintendo Switch
| system1JP = February 20, [[2020]]
| system1NA = February 23, [[2021]]
| genre = Action role-playing<br>Hack and slash
| ESRB = M
| CERO = B
| PEGI = 16
| ACB = MA
| USK = 12
| SMECCV = C
| GRAC = 15
| CID = 14
}}
'''''Persona 5 Strikers''''', otherwise abbreviated as '''''P5S''''', and released in Japan as '''''Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers''''', is an action-role playing game developed by [[Koei Tecmo]] subsidiary [[Omega Force]] in collaboration with P-Studio, and published by [[Atlus]] for the [[Nintendo Switch]]. A spin-off of the [[Persona (series)|''Persona'']] series, the gameplay derives heavily from the Omega Force-developed ''Musou'' titles, while its story is a narrative continuation of the world and characters of [[Persona 5 Royal|''Persona 5'']] (2016). The game released in Japan on February 20, 2020, with a worldwide release following on February 23, 2021.

== Gameplay ==

==Plot==
'''Spoiler warning''': As this game acts as a continuation of various characters and events established by the original [[Persona 5 Royal|''Persona 5'']], it is highly recommended that the latter game (or alternatively, the first nine months of ''Persona 5 Royal''<nowiki/>'s story) be played ahead of starting ''Persona 5 Strikers'' in order to avoid any potential spoilers or to better understand the development of various central characters past the original game.


Four months after the events of ''[[Persona 5 Royal|Persona 5]]'', the [[Joker|protagonist]] and [[Morgana]] return to Tokyo for a reunion with the other Phantom Thieves of Hearts to spend their summer vacation together on a camping trip. To determine the camping preparations, they use a popular application called EMMA. While going to Shibuya to buy the necessary tools, they pass by a rising idol, Alice Hiiragi, who gives the protagonist a card requesting them to input "Wonderland" into the EMMA app for a special event she is holding. Upon entering the keyword, however, he, Morgana, and Ryuji are transported into a mysterious alternate version of Tokyo called a Jail, where they encounter Alice's Shadow, a ruler called a Monarch. Alice's Shadow self has the protagonist, Morgana, and Ryuji thrown into a dumpster below Shibuya where they encounter a sentient A.I. named Sophia. Sophia joins the party and easily fights off the Shadows in the dumpster until they find their way out. After they escape the dumpster, the protagonist, Morgana, Ryuji and Sophia learn that EMMA enables them to enter the Jails similarly to how they used to enter Palaces via the Metaverse Navigator. Additionally, rumors circulate that people have been attacked by Shadows in Jails, which causes them to behave abnormally in the real world. As such, Joker and his friends reestablish the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.

After changing Alice's heart, they are approached by Zenkichi Hasegawa, a police officer investigating the sudden bizarre changes of behavior in people around Japan with the Phantom Thieves as the prime suspect. Zenkichi forces them to make a deal with him: he will provide them with information necessary for their heists, and in exchange, the Phantom Thieves will help him with his investigation, which they reluctantly agree to. Accompanied by Zenkichi, the Phantom Thieves travel to Sendai and Sapporo, changing the corrupted hearts of the Jail's Monarchs. During their trip, they encounter Kuon Ichinose, an eccentric AI expert, and Akira Konoe, founder and CEO of EMMA's current parent company, Madicce. Unbeknownst to the Thieves, Konoe is supported by Jyun Owada, a corrupt politician and supporter of former politician Masayoshi Shido; he was also responsible for causing the death of Zenkichi's wife, Aoi, in a drunk-driving incident. After infiltrating an abandoned Jail in Okinawa and learning of the origins of EMMA's Jail-creating powers, the Thieves are branded as terrorists by Owada and Konoe, who both call for their arrest.

To stop the Phantom Thieves, Konoe has EMMA turn Zenkichi's daughter, Akane Hasegawa, into a Monarch, and has Zenkichi arrested for treason due to his deal with the Thieves. Joker and the Thieves infiltrate Akane's Kyoto Jail, but are captured by her Shadow. Futaba manages to escape and brings Zenkichi—freed with help from Sae Niijima—into the Jail. Upon seeing his daughter's resentment towards him as a result of him being unable to bring Owada to justice, Zenkichi experiences an emotional breakdown and is able to summon his own Persona, Valjean. Now a member of the Phantom Thieves, Zenkichi helps the group change Akane's heart, saving her from Konoe.

The Thieves then request help from Kuon Ichinose to gain more information about EMMA and Madicce, eventually allowing them to enter Konoe's Jail in Osaka. After successfully changing Konoe's heart, the EMMA app is shut down and Madicce is disbanded following his arrest.

However, the EMMA app suddenly restarts on its own, causing a massive blackout throughout Tokyo and creating a massive new Jail in Yokohama. Entering the Jail, they encounter Ichinose, who reveals herself to be the true creator of EMMA. Claiming she herself does not have a heart due to her inability to process and express emotions as most people do, she explains that EMMA was designed to research the human heart and find humanity's one true desire. She also reveals that Sophia is EMMA's prototype, which she deemed a failure. Ichinose commands Sophia to attack the Phantom Thieves, but due to her strong bond with the group, Sophia defies her creator's commands and awakens her Persona, Pandora.

After incapacitating Ichinose, Sophia confronts her about her supposed lack of emotion, accusing her of purposely allowing her inability to express emotion to fester so that she did not have to process the death of her parents. Ichinose tearfully agrees, and offers to help the thieves take down EMMA.

Tracking EMMA to the Tokyo Tower, the Thieves find and confront the AI at the top of a newly created Jail. Renaming itself the Demiurge, the AI explains that it is simply following its prime directive—improving humanity—by removing all Desires, creating a world with no wants and no suffering. Unwilling to accept a world where their struggles mean nothing, the Phantom Thieves free the people of Tokyo from EMMA's grasp with a virtual calling card and defeat the Demiurge in battle.

With Demiurge's defeat, the EMMA app is finally shut down for good, erasing Jails from existence. In the aftermath, Owada is arrested thanks to Konoe's testimony, Zenkichi returns to Kyoto, and Sophia decides to go on a journey together with Ichinose. With their mission complete, the Phantom Thieves once again go their separate ways but resolve to meet again during winter break.

==Development==
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== Release ==

==Reception==
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==External links==
*{{WP link|Persona 5 Strikers|''Persona 5 Strikers''}}
*[https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/switch/262892-persona-5-strikers''Persona 5 Strikers''] at [[GameFAQs]]

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[[Category:Persona games]]
[[Category:2020 video games]]
[[Category:2021 video games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Switch games]]
[[Category:Atlus games]]
[[Category:Omega Force games]]
[[Category:P-Studio games]]
[[Category:Action role-playing games]]
[[Category:Hack and slash games]]