[PS2] Fursona 4

I honestly couldn't believe my eyes, but apparently Persona 4 is headed... for the PS2. Yes, that's no error. Needless to say, I'm eagerly waiting for more info.

Just googling it gets you several links, but basically it popped up on a Bloomberg site during some analysis of Atlus' forecasts and so on.

Persona 4 for PS2

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by rpgcrazied

We still dont have a real confirmation, do we? who is Bloomberg? And RPGFan has messed up in news a few times. Would be sweet if true, I dont have any nextgen consoles cept a DS..

Please tell me you're joking. Also, I already said that googling gives you several links saying the same/similar thing. It's not just RPGFan.

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Nicovideo's got a 17 minute long video of Persona 4 up. Unfortunately, it requires you to sign up, but some clown on /v/ has concocted a reliable guide that yours truly in easily. I forgot to mention, there's megaspoilers for those who will be going with a complete media blackout for this game.
Here's the video

Ah, someone put the video up on youtube.

And here's the guide:

Registration guide for Nicovideo:

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

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I just said I'm kind of disappointed.

But why would you be? Were you expecting a sea change from Persona 3 to 4, within just a year or so?

BTW, I think the glasses just lets them see the monsters. I doesn't seem like they're whipping them out, saying a little something, and BAM Persona.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Forsety

I think the point is they shouldn't have made a game so close to it in the first place.

That's fine, since that's your opinion and all. I heard the same thing about Ace Combat Zero rolled around not too long after AC5 using the same engine, and many things were reused. And where does the hype factor into all this? They're obviously in this to make money, Persona 3 did very well apparently, why not bring that same team back and try again?

Personally, I think people were expecting a little too much to come from this title.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Forsety

I see hype for it everywhere is why I brought that up. That anyone who announces even the slightest disappointment is pretty much crucified on the spot for not orgasming over the prospect of the game.

Eh, not really. Aside from that mention a while back to Bloomberg Japan that first revealed the title and this, the game hasn't had much hype. Your view of anyone being excited to see another title similar to one they enjoyed is a bit odd. Crucified? Jesus Christ, you're making them sound like they're zealots.

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I guess I can't explain well what I'm trying to say here, but basically Persona 3 is still fresh in a lot of people's minds and they are taking advantage of that by offering a game incredibly similar.

While I can understand why this would rub people the wrong way, but why not? Persona 3 did reasonably well critically, why not try to deliver a similar experience with another theme?

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I don't have any problem with the same team making the game, nor does it even bother me that they are using the same engine (many games do this, but they at least heavily tweak it in the process); the problem here comes from the fact that the game looks nigh on identical, visual-wise and gameplay-wise. I mean, IDENTICAL; as in you'd think this was just an add-on like Aegis' after-game quest in FES. It *screams* quick cash-in which, of course, disappoints me.

Again, what were you honestly expecting if you understood that it's for the PS2 and:

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the same team making the game

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they are using the same engine

You get this much but then:

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the problem here comes from the fact that the game looks nigh on identical, visual-wise and gameplay-wise. I mean, IDENTICAL; as in you'd think this was just an add-on like Aegis' after-game quest in FES.

AC0 fits in well with this. It looks and feels just like AC5, and if you wanted to put a negative spin on it you could could say it might as well be an AC5 add-on. I STILL don't see the problem. Especially since they're in this to make money, and I can see why Namco and Atlus did what they did.

However, if a third game rolls around and after two years (or more) of development it's little more than the last game with a graphics improvement, then you'd have a damn good reason to be upset.

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I mean, if you look closely at the video Igor sports the same portrait they used in Persona 3. They could have at least re-drawn the guy.

Haha, you're right.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by surasshu

Because as the lead designer of Persona 4, you have a vision of your game that you want to achieve, rather than merely trying to appeal to people who liked Persona 3 (and at least in the case of Generic Badass, failing to do so because of that).

And if the director's vision is to use a similar approach and set of tools to present a different scenario and cast? In this case they seem to have done both, which is a win/win situation for both the dev team's creative pursuits and the consumer's demand for more P3-like gameplay.

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Well, yeah, but that doesn't really mean it's a good idea in every case. I mean, everyone in the games industry is always in it to make money, but to what extend a company is willing to sacrifice creative integrity over potential profits differs hugely per company and even per project. A lot of people probably would've bought Ico 2, but Sony made Shadow of the Colossus instead.

I already addressed this, and it seems like some folks simply have a lower tolerance to milking (or perceived milking). I'd give them the benefit of the doubt and wait and see if they photocopy P3 again for the next entry.

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I don't mind reusing the graphics engine really (hell, one of my all time favorite RPG series is .hack//), but like Qwarky I'm worried that they're too content to rest on the success of P3, and won't improve the gameplay in areas that it needs improving. I'm not even gonna think about the next next game at this point.

Have they shown any reason to cause you to worry about this? Beyond using reusing assets, of course.

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Then again, the multiple endings is a good sign, so I may be jumping to conclusions. Either way, we won't know until the game comes out.

Agreed. Though, I just have to mention that Persona 3 had multiple endings (in that it had more than one), heh.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Peter

On one hand, I'm glad that they are announcing a new Persona game, but on the other hand I'm a bit worried. The time between 2 and 3 (and Fes) was long enough to create something fresh and original, instead of just making a few changes to the second game, and with the release of yet another game, I fear that some of the creativity and originality will be lost, just to be able to ride on the success of the third game.

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Persona 3:
JPN 2006-07-13

Persona 3: FES:
JPN 2007-04-19

Persona 4:
JPN July 10, 2008

Two years from one full version to the next. You have to keep in mind that Japan's had the game for a good spell by the time folks abroad picked it up. A game doesn't need to stew for more thantwo years to evade concerns about lack of creativity/milking/etc..

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NA release? We'll probably get one since it apparently did well enough last year to mention in their fiscal report (and to prompt a mention of the then unknown P4).

There have been estimates ranging from the tail end of this year to mid Spring '09. Given just how long it took to localize P3, I personally lean towards the latter.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Well, after a good while we've got yet another scan for P4. This time it's got the crew in more familiar territory, including one of the S. Links from P3 (oh and the website has updated quite a bit since then):

Spoiler:

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Damn, I have absolutely abysmal timing since right when I post that yesterday, ANOTHER character scan was revealed today. This time it's the handgun-wielding, detective freshman Naoto and his (huge doubts about gender here) Persona. It looks like's investigating the events around town while the party and MC's uncle does the same.

Warning: Very large Scans:

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Hindman

December 9.
$40.
CD with "select songs" included.
Atlus USA

Best news I've heard in a while. I'm glad they kept it at the $40 price point & tossed in a music CD again. Here's some of the info released about the game (in english):

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Larger and deeper than previous Persona titles and set within the Japanese countryside, Persona 4 will balance many familiar game mechanics from previous Persona titles to create an intriguing adventure for players. Set in the countryside town of Inaba, Persona 4 revolves around the year long visit from a young urban man. Shortly after his arrival, a horrible murder occurs in the town that leave no clues or suspects, an incident that seems to spawn a series of crimes.

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With more than sixty hours of gameplay, players will need to work on balancing their high school classes, part-time jobs and extra-curricular activities with interaction with friends, fusing Personas and new weapon creation systems to prepare them for battle. Forging bonds and tighter Social Links with friends are much more vital to success in combat, as you'll directly control your teammates in Persona 4 in battle and improve party support with each successful fight.

I've known about the party being manually controlled again for a while, but part-time jobs? New weapon creation system? Improve party support? Doesn't sound like gaining new tactics to me. From some of the videos on the official site now you'll be able to form S. Links with male party members (the one I saw was Yousuke's Magician one).

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?