Persona 4 announced for PS3

[[REDACTED]]

Can't believe there isn't already a thread about this. Anyway, here's the article.

I am super fucking pumped for this. I've wanted to play Persona 4 for a long, long time now. I'm a bit disappointed that it's not the Golden version, but fuck it, I'll take it. At least this version doesn't have the Valentine's Day guilt trip, so I can just imagine that the main character somehow convinced the entire main female cast to be in a polyamorous relationship.

I imagine that, for marketing-ish reasons, some more information on Persona 5 can't be too far ahead, so that should be pretty great too. Anyway, thoughts?

Edit: I have been instructed to mention that it's being released as part of the whole PS2 Classics thing. Now you know!

 

[tippy2k2]

I would have been wicked pumped for this a few months ago...

I've heard nothing but praise about Persona 4 and how absolutely great it is. For a variety of reasons, I never happened to have a system needed when a Persona game has come out for it but based on what I've heard, I figured it was perfect for me. "A quirky RPG made by freaking ATLUS? How can I lose!?!?"

Then I played SMT Devil Survivor Overclocked

I am absolutely hating this game. Like...a lot. The grinding is...grinding D) on my nerves and it's just pissing me off to no end. Now is Persona just like it? I only have a handful of reviews to base this on but everything points to Yes to me. I hope I'm wrong because I've heard such good things about Persona 4 but I just can't stand grinding, something I'm hearing more and more is kind of a SMT staple.

With this being actually confirmed, I'm going to have to look into that a bit...

 

[krazykidd]

Jesus christ. I hope this is a joke. How many times are they going to release the same fucking game? First persona 3 now persona 4. Yes it's a good game. Yes people missed it, life goes on. Make some fucking new games already and stop re re rereleasing old games.

Stagnation isn't even the word for this industry and community. It just came to a fucking halt.

 

[Leemaster777]

I would have been wicked pumped for this a few months ago...

I've heard nothing but praise about Persona 4 and how absolutely great it is. For a variety of reasons, I never happened to have a system needed when a Persona game has come out for it but based on what I've heard, I figured it was perfect for me. "A quirky RPG made by freaking ATLUS? How can I lose!?!?"

Then I played SMT Devil Survivor Overclocked

I am absolutely hating this game. Like...a lot. The grinding is...grinding D) on my nerves and it's just pissing me off to no end. Now is Persona just like it? I only have a handful of reviews to base this on but everything points to Yes to me. I hope I'm wrong because I've heard such good things about Persona 4 but I just can't stand grinding, something I'm hearing more and more is kind of a SMT staple.

With this being actually confirmed, I'm going to have to look into that a bit...

To an extent, there IS some grinding in Persona 4... but the nice thing about Persona is that you're never really grinding on the same thing for very long.

The enemies start changing the deeper you go into different dungeons, so you'll rarely be fighting the same mobs over and over again.

But the combat itself is really only half the gameplay. There are alot of different things to do when you're not dungeon-crawling, and while there IS a time limit on how long you have until you have to beat a certain dungeon (it's explained in the game), you generally have enough leeway to do things your own way. So you can buckle down and finish an entire dungeon in a single in-game day if you want, or spread out the exploration over several, if you choose (the game saves how far you've made it into a dungeon every time you leave).

I've never played a Devil Survivor game, so I can't say exactly how similar it is to Persona, but Persona 4 is definitely worth looking into if you're even slightly into JRPGs.

OT: I'm torn on this. On one hand, I'd LOVE another opportunity to play Persona 4 again, on the other, I'd kinda like to hold onto my money and wait until I have a Vita so I can play Persona 4 Golden instead. Decisions, decisions.

 

[[REDACTED]]

Jesus christ. I hope this is a joke. How many times are they going to release the same fucking game? First persona 3 now persona 4. Yes it's a good game. Yes people missed it, life goes on. Make some fucking new games already and stop re re rereleasing old games.

Stagnation isn't even the word for this industry and community. It just came to a fucking halt.

A port is not a remake. They're not rehashing anything, just giving more people an opportunity to play an old game. It's like complaining that the book industry is stagnating when an old classic gets an eBook edition.

Captcha: let it be

 

[tippy2k2]

You hate Overclocked for its grinding? What grinding? The game has minimal grinding the whole way through (except the odd times where you do a few free battles) if the game is giving you a hard time, are you keeping your demons on par with your level (you have to fuse new ones every now and then)

To answer your question, Persona can be a considerable grind fest, but its really good in its own right, personally, I prefer Devil Survivor Overclocked over Persona 4, but if you want to give Persona 4 a try, do, it is quite different from Devil Survivor, it retains the demon fusion and turn based combat.

It seems to just be JRPG staple (a staple that I tolerated as a kid but now is controller-smashing frustrating for me as an adult); the enemies are all relatively easy until you hit a boss battle that is about as fair as a cat fighting an already wounded mouse.

Those fudrucking Bel's are just bullshit. They're stupidly powerful and a pain in the ass to fight (and yes, my demons are fused thingy together and can't go any higher since "My level" is too low). So basically I have two choices

1. Grind. Crush the piss-easy free battles for a couple of precious gaming hours so that I can fight the cat on a more even field. Get my level higher so that I can fuse more demons.

2. Just keep slamming myself into the cat until eventually I accidentally kill it through luck (the tactic I have been employing with frustrating results)

Frankly, I'm worried that Persona 4 will be the same type of thing. As I stated in one of my other whiny posts [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.845427-Am-I-growing-soft-or-are-RPGs-using-more-bs-tactics#20830910] about this game, I think my tolerance for what I will and will not accept in JRPG's have just changed as I've grown older and I'm unable to sink anywhere near the time I could as a kid into games...

Anyway, I don't want to derail the thread on my Overclocked whining (I've done plenty of that elsewhere)

 

[shrekfan246]

Frankly, I'm worried that Persona 4 will be the same type of thing. As I stated in one of my other whiny posts [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.845427-Am-I-growing-soft-or-are-RPGs-using-more-bs-tactics#20830910] about this game, I think my tolerance for what I will and will not accept in JRPG's have just changed as I've grown older and I'm unable to sink anywhere near the time I could as a kid into games...

Like other people have said, Persona 4 can be a bit grindy, but especially with Golden on the Vita (at least, since I've heard it's slightly easier than the original PS2 version) the combat generally isn't difficult enough that it requires it. The structure of progression in the game is also set up in such a way that you have plenty of time before being forced into actually engaging the bosses.

That's not to say it isn't repetitive, though. The first few dungeons in particular left me very underwhelmed, because their aesthetics were just a bit boring, but they do get far more interesting as the game goes on. And engaging in the side-quests will basically get you any level grinding you need to do, because almost all of them have you going through the dungeons again and after you beat the main boss of a dungeon, an extra boss spawns in its place for the next time you go through if you want to do it (hence why it can get a bit repetitive).

That said, it is still a pretty long game. My first play-through was just under 70 hours, and I did hardly any of the side-quests or grinding of any sort; I only went through most of the dungeons twice and there were only a few fights that actually gave me much trouble (the first one was only an extra boss). I would heartily recommend it, as Persona 4 Golden shot up to rival Final Fantasy IX as my favorite JRPG ever, but it does require some investment of patience and time.

OT: You should probably mention that it's as part of the "PS2 Classics" thing, just to avoid confusion.

I would be excited for it, but... well, I've already got Golden on the Vita, so...

 

[Longing]

YAAAAAASSSS
I've been hoping for this ever since my ps2 broke.
If you have never played this game, now's your chance because it is absolutely amazing.

 

[Elfgore]

Praise the Lord! Drummodino has said this game is awesome, now I can finally play it without buying a Vita. Wooohoooo!!!

Should probably buy Persona 3 for the PS3 while I'm at it. JRPGs for the win!

 

[scorptatious]

Well I already got Persona 4 Golden. So I don't really plan to get this. (Unless I somehow lose my VITA AND my copy of Golden) Still, awesome for those who have don't have a VITA or a PS2.

 

[Legion]

I would be happy, except like Persona 3, it's not being released on the UK's PSN (as far as I have been made aware).

So somebody please wake me up when Atlus remembers that Europe exists.

EDIT: It appears I was wrong and Persona 3 was released over here fairly recently.

 

[Maximum Bert]

Love Persona 4 but not bothered by this I can just play my PS2 copy just fine if I want to replay it no need to buy it again not that I could even if I wanted to without creating an American account. I wonder if it will be released in Europe im guessing not.

 

[crazygameguy4ever]

Persona 5 on PS3, Persona 4 Arena DLC(aka Persona 4 Ultimax), Persona 4 the Animation complete series DVD set and now Persona 4 on PSN? it's like it's the year of Persona.. can't wait to get Persona 4.. Followed by Persona 4 Ultimax DLC, Persona 5, and Persona 4 the Animation complete series DVD set.. thank you Atlus!

 

[Liquidprid3]

My brother and I watched the Persona 4 anime, and we have been both wanting this game. He wanted to get a PS3 for Persona 5, and then get a PS2 again for Persona 4 in the future, but I guess we won't get another PS2 right away (although I do want to get one again.) I'm excited for this port. And PS3's are dirt cheap at the moment. Thank you, Atlus based God.

 

[L. Declis]

Ah, I see the jump from American English to British English was simply too much effort and once again, the EU gets crotch-punched for being Sony fans.

Sigh.

I still refuse to buy a Vita for Golden, because I got a 3DS and have played it for 7 hours of my flight back from China. That's it. Why do I need a handheld console when I have an iPhone?

 

[Roxas1359]

I'd claim how Europeans wouldn't have to worry since the PS3 is region free...but then I remember Persona 4: Arena and how Atlus region locked, making it the only PS3 game to be fully region locked on the system...

Either way, this is exciting news indeed. Let's hope that PAL regions don't get screwed over...again.

 

[anthony87]

I would be happy, except like Persona 3, it's not being released on the UK's PSN (as far as I have been made aware).

So somebody please wake me up when Atlus remembers that Europe exists.

Eh? I live in Ireland and got Persona 3: FES a few months ago from the PSN. I can't imagine the stores being much different between Ireland and the UK.

 

[Eve Charm]

Cool but already have golden, and P4 on the PS2 maybe a extra copy of the ps2 (or a lot of soundtracks atleast) and an unopened copy of the collectors golden edition cutely sitting on my shelf

I'll buy it if I ever get the urge to play the ps2 one but probably not cause not sure if I know where that memory card transfer thing is, but ya golden

 

[tippy2k2]

,
Ah, you mean Beldr? If that is the source of your woes, let me tell you, he is a boss that will kick your ass no matter the level, he is a ***** to fight and honestly, the hardest of the Bel demons (mainly because combat options are limited to hitting him with Devil's Fuge) Belial is easier (spam Ice Dance with the mage and he goes down like a *****) But if Beldr is the source of the problem, its because he is a damn hard boss on any level.

May I ask your stats? That may be a big factor.

No, it's one of the later bels (the 1st one on the last day). I'm currently at work but if the op doesn't mind the mini-derailing, I can give you the info later today.

OP, feel free to tell me to take it outside if this mini derailing bugs you (since we are talking smt but not persona). I promise I won't get offended

 

[Foolery]

Huh. Cool, I guess. Won't be playing it, as I really can't stand the Persona part of the SMT series, but it's nice that people have a way to play it on newer PS3 models now.

Kinda puts another nail in the coffin for the Vita somewhat. But that seems typical of the system, a large chunk of its' worthwhile library are ports and older games that can easily be had elsewhere.