Summary
This article contains spoilers for Persona 5 Tactica and Persona 5 Strikers.
Persona 5 Tactica takes quite a different approach fromStrikers’hack-n-slash combat, though the games share a common trait in their adult additions to the Phantom Thieves team. BothStrikers' Zenkichi HasegawaandTactica’s Toshiro Kasukabe add a compelling presence to the cast, and while their motivations and roles within their respective plots might differ, the two share many parallels that work toward their characterization. As both strengthen an argument for older party members in futurePersonatitles, the ways in which they are portrayed help make thePersona 5spinoffs more narratively impactful.
At first blush, Toshiro and Zenkichi look to fill the same archetype. Both are young in professions of power, one a politician, the other a cop, though they’re colloquially referred to as “old man” and “Gramps” from the Phantom Thieves' perspective. Given the track record of antagonists that the Thieves have had to deal with, there’s a level of scrutiny that factors into their first impressions of the two; whether their intentions are harmful is something that is quickly considered based on their careers, requiring both Toshiro and Zenkichi to gain their trust. ForPersona 5 Tactica’s Toshiro, this is a quicker process given his amnesia and mild temperance, as the team is a bit more dubious ofStrikers' Zenkichi given the way he holds the threat of arrest over their heads.
How Persona 5 Tactica’s Toshiro and P5 Strikers' Zenkichi Confront Corruption
Goals and Motivations
Despite the two characters being in positions of power, Toshiro and Zenkichi fall victim to the whims of their authority figures. The pursuit of justice for both characters is something that has been put on hold for the purpose of protection; in Toshiro’s case, his overwhelming fear of standing up against corruption arises from Eri’s injuries at the hands of Nakabachi, making him feel that inaction is better than the costs that come with rebellion. For Zenkichi, the pursuit of his wife’s killer is something that he puts aside for the sake of his daughter, Akane, due to the death threats leveled against her. What led Toshiro and Zenkichi to these stances of passivity is understandable given the weight of their respective situations, thoughthe Phantom Thievesremind them of their capacity to fight back.
For Toshiro, his journey through self-reflection and the misguided cognition that he holds of himself is one that works to make him a more confident figure, challenging his father’s and wife’s manipulation. Despite his timid nature, his abilities as a strategist and, later, a support member in combat, demonstrate the underlying strength and good nature that he holds as a character. Though Zenkichi is more outwardly confident from the get-go, his vulnerability as a father to Akane shows the Thieves that there are aspects of his life he finds difficult to confront. In this way, the two share similar struggles when they face themselves that ultimately strengthen the bonds they hold dear. Despite their tragic backstories, both characters add quite a bit of levity and comic relief to the team’s dynamic, especially when confronted with the inner workings of the Metaverse andTactica’s Kingdoms.
Differences in Combat
Both Toshiro and Zenkichi end up as playable party members in their respective titles. Toshiro takes the mantle asTactica’s fourth combat unitin the party, shaking up the conventions of its grid-based strategy for the game’s final Kingdom. Though Toshiro lacks a melee weapon of his own, he is able to deal Gun and Almighty damage through his Persona Ernesto’s ‘Baywell 45 Mark II’ and ‘Liberator’ skills, the former working fantastically to gain once-more actions. His ‘Crystal of Rebirth’ skill allows for three turns of healing for characters within its range, making it a valuable resource forTactica’s final boss and an illustration of his resolve to both protect and fight alongside his allies.
Zenkichi and hisPersona Valjeanstrike a similar balance between support and offensive skills, as well as an elemental affinity for Almighty damage. Valjean is capable of dealing Megido attacks and buffing teammates through skills like Heat Riser. Zenkichi’s main combat gimmick is his Fury ability, allowing him to deal extra damage at the cost of his own HP, a feat that ties into Valjean’s Physical and Gun skills like Triple Down and Deathbound. Though Zenkichi is more of a heavy-hitter thanPersona 5 Tactica’s Toshiro, both characters hold movesets that demonstrate their willingness and capacity to aid those around them while fighting for what they believe in, even if it means putting themselves in harm’s way.
