The First Villain Of Persona 5: The Phantom X Seems Ridiculous But Is Sadly Rooted In Reality

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The Phantom X” is the latest addition to the “Megami Tensei” series. The gameplay adheres to the classic formula of “Persona 5”, where you assume the role of a high school student during the day and a phantom thief at night. You delve into the inner demons of villains, represented as RPG-style dungeons, and eliminate them to bring about a change in their perspectives, compelling them to confront the repercussions of their heinous actions.

Despite receiving a mixed bag of reviews, the game has managed to maintain a decent level of acceptance, particularly among enthusiasts of the series. However, it’s important to note that the game’s gacha system has been a point of contention for many players, as it promotes spending money on characters and superior equipment. Furthermore, some critics have taken issue with the initial story arcs, expressing dissatisfaction in this regard.

A Villain Who Bumps Into People?

Takeyuki Kiuchi, more famously recognized as the “subway slammer,” serves as the initial antagonist in the game. He presents himself as an ordinary businessman, but his malicious acts are far from typical. Instead of shoulder-checking people at the subway station, he targets women and deliberately bumps into them. Although he’s capable of more dangerous actions – such as pushing characters onto train tracks – his primary method is to cause them to trip.

i loved when the subway slammer said it’s slammin time and subway slammed all over the place

— Axe (@DeJected_Axe) June 28, 2025

It’s interesting to consider if using a comical villain name and exaggerated tactics was an effective strategy, given that the problem portrayed is a serious one in reality. This approach seems to trivialize the issue, which may have unintended consequences.

The Real Life Bumping Men

In Japanese, “Butsukari Otoko” refers to men who intentionally collide with women, often in crowded areas, as a means of harassment or causing harm. These actions are designed to seem accidental or even shift blame onto the victim. A viral video in 2018 showed a man carrying out such an act, leading to more victims speaking up and prompting railway company JR East to enhance security measures and increase station staff.

Good Concept – Bad Portrayal

In the realm of the Persona series, this kind of antagonist isn’t something fresh or unexpected. Quite the contrary, many of the adversaries in Persona are individuals you might encounter in everyday life – from harassers to stalkers, or those who misuse their authority. This is largely due to the foundation of the games, allowing the creators to spin tales that mirror real-world experiences, while still offering a thrilling blend of action and fantasy to resolve these stories.

In comparison to other villains in the series, the Subway Slammer stands out due to his portrayal. The plot is engaging overall, but certain aspects, particularly the dialogue, can seem overly dramatic or even absurd at times. With a moniker like that and phrases such as “The entire subway is under my control for the taking, and eventually I’ll get you too,” the realistic feel of the story sometimes appears contrived.

In tales, both genuine antagonists and those from memes add depth, but blending them for a grave scene can feel incongruous and potentially undermine the story’s authenticity, particularly when the context is based on real-life events.

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2025-07-09 00:09