[Shin Megami Tensei] Persona 3 | FES released, the Journey continues

cj iwakura · 08-15-2007, 12:32 AM

As of 4/23, Persona 3: FES is in stores; including both the original (expanded) game, 'The Journey' and the 30+ hour aftermath/sequel, 'The Answer'.

The silhouette art is kind of weak, but the art on the instruction book is all kinds of awesome, for what it's worth.

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So yeah, I've obviously been psyched for this game for way too long.

After coming out last year(May of '06 if memory serves), and an abrupt delay, it finally hits stores tomorrow.

Third game in a fairly long-running series of an even longer-running parent series, but that's not entirely important, since P3 stands on its own.

The protagonist has just transferred to Gekkoukan High to begin his Junior Year.

However, every night at 12:00 AM, time stops, and Shadow Hour begins.

Demons infest the streets, and the people unaware of Shadow Hour are confined into coffins.

After being attacked by a Shadow, the protagonist's Persona awakens, and he joins up with the S.E.E.S. : Specialized Extracurricular Execution Sector; a group formed to fight the Shadows, composed of students capable of summoning Persona(spirits junctioned to the user, each with various magical abilities).

In addition to fighting the onslaught of demons every night, and going further and further into the tower called Tartarus(which appears in the place of Gekkoukan every night), the main character also has to deal with a full school year.

Spend too much time studying, and the Shadows can spread uncontrollably. Stay up too many nights dungeon crawling, and your grades suffer.

Additionally, to summon certain Persona, the Social Link system requires that the protagonist befriend people that are members of certain Tarot Arcana. Without a high enough Social Link, Persona from that Arcana might not be accessible at all.

Beyond all the educational drama, expect the hardcore difficulty and demonic madness that's more or less an SMT tradition.

It's a little too late to preorder it, but there may still be some untouched copies lying around.

The initial shipments also include an artbook and OST(c/o Shoji Meguro) if that's your thing.

Lots of mellow tracks; very jazz and hiphop influenced.

rmz · 08-15-2007, 12:36 AM

Daaaaamn straight.

I just finished Persona 2: Innocent Sin and I'm now starting Persona 2: Eternal Punishment. As soon as I finish that, I'm starting in on this bad boy.

**cstarflare** · 08-15-2007, 12:36 AM

Preorderd it a day before its old release date, hahaha

I'll be snatching this up tomorrow.

cj iwakura · 08-15-2007, 01:20 AM

Oh, and there's also FES, the expansion. I hope every copy sold brings us one step closer to its eventual localization.

Eggman · 08-15-2007, 01:59 AM

P3 is easier than the other SMT games. Devil Summoner PS2 is probably the only one that's easier.

Also, my copy shipped and will be here at 10am. I am so unbelievably excited. It's going to be amazing.

cj iwakura · 08-15-2007, 02:13 AM

That's some awful quick shipping. I'm so tempted to camp out Game Stop in the morning, but I'll let reason prevail.

Though I'm going at noon, no matter what.

Eggman · 08-15-2007, 02:39 AM

Yeah, I had to go all-out and overnight it. I don't trust GS/EB enough to have it before 3pm.

nVGDlm_zk · 08-15-2007, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eggman

P3 is easier than the other SMT games. Devil Summoner PS2 is probably the only one that's easier.

Raidou Kuzuhona vs The Soulless Army? That was the only one of the SMT series I played, but I found it pretty hard compared to other rpgs I've played =\.

cj iwakura · 08-15-2007, 10:03 AM

Even an easy SMT is still pretty tough.

Also, dead main character in P3 = game over. That can make this a tough game.

I'm out in less than an hour to get mine, with any luck.

Enderkask · 08-15-2007, 11:14 PM

I'm going on vacation Friday, but as soon as I'm back, I'm picking this up.

cj iwakura · 08-16-2007, 12:34 AM

I'm loving it. The dungeons are taking serious getting used to, but no random battles? Characterization galore?

Best vocal BGMs around? It's the most accessible SMT ever.

And Junpei is so awesome.

"Don't mention last night..."
"!"

timsil0g · 08-16-2007, 05:08 AM

damn i preordered and it shipped the 14th but i think they said i wasn't going to get it until like the 18th. MANN i dont want to wait

Monster in a box · 08-17-2007, 02:01 PM

Hey, the soundtrack didn't actually come in that little sky blue sleeve did it? 'Cause mine just came in a regular white sleeve.

And also, why didn't it come packed in with the game like they usually do? It's weird that they went through the trouble of making the artbook hardcover, but they couldn't even give the soundtrack a proper home.

kimcicle · 08-17-2007, 10:26 PM

Mine came in a white sleeve, what a let down.

At first it was really funny to think to myself BOOM HEADSHOT while playing Persona 3.

Then I saw Yukari's evoke animation, and it kind of bothers me still though.

And seeing your main character almost keel over when you do a Fusion skill is sort of unnerving.

Maybe it's just a sign I'm getting old.

cj iwakura · 08-17-2007, 10:56 PM

The blue sleeve was pictured in the original promo image... never really occured to me that they changed it.

I won't listen to it anytime soon, since I don't want to spoil the endgame music.

And, I have to make this clear so no one makes the same mistake I do:

Get your Academics to three before midterms. (Mid-May)

Visit the shrine constantly, go to the restaurant daily, study nonstop, do whatever you have to do, or you'll fail them.

Mine are only at one, and I have no chance.

It's not the end of the world, but you get some great bonuses if you pass them.