May 19, 2010May 19, 2010

Persona 3 Portable Full Trailer for PSP

Well, hello again, PlayStation.Blog patrons. I come bearing gifts, and by “gifts” I of course mean the official full trailer for Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable, Atlus’s upcoming handheld RPG epic.

What’s it full of? Why, WIN, of course, and lots of it! What other portable roleplaying game gives you dozens upon dozens upon dozens of hours of satisfying combat, character interaction, side-quests, and a riveting story? Moreover, few handheld RPGs, if any, deliver the aural and visual impact of Persona 3 Portable, with its stunning world and character design, and a soundtrack courtesy of master composer Shoji Meguro. I could go on and on, PlayStation Bloggerists, and not just because they’re paying me to, but I digress:

For those of you who’ve never been properly exposed to Persona 3, allow me to pull back its long black trench coat to reveal a bit more about the concept of the Dark Hour. In the world of Persona 3 Portable, there is a hidden hour between the end of one day and the start of another. It is imperceptible to most, save a select few. You’re one of this gifted minority (of course you are) and in fact, you’re even more special than the others: you have the ability to not only summon your own inner-power — an alter ego of sorts called your Persona — but also the ability to collect and summon other Personas as well. The fact that most of the populace is catatonic during this Dark Hour means that it’s up to you to stop the Shadows that come out of the great dungeon Tartarus (more on that in a future post). That also means you’re high on the Shadows’ “kill them all” list… Fun!

And when it comes to the whole Persona swapping thing, if you’ve yet to play a Persona game, or any of the Shin Megami Tensei titles, you’re missing out. The level of addictiveness found in acquiring, managing, and fusing Personas is tremendous. It’s on par with a very popular RPG franchise that rhymes with… Moke-a-pon.

*stares expressionlessly at PlayStation.Blog audience*

We hope you enjoy the trailer, so much so that you decide to pre-order immediately. And we’re not just saying that to look out for ourselves (well, we are, granted), but also because if you happen to reserve a copy at a participating retailer (GameStop or Amazon in the United States and Canada, and ONLY while limited supplies last), you’ll snag a rather awesome pre-order bonus baseball cap modeled after the one worn by the popular character Junpei Iori, Gekkoukan High School’s bantering, jabbering class clown.

Look for Persona 3 Portable on retail shelves and on the PSN Store on July 6, 2010! For more info about P3P, visit the game’s official website.

Comments are closed.

38 Comments

11 Author Replies

piratedrunk
May 19, 2010 at 12:04 pm PDT

Looks wicked awesome. Any news on Persona 5? Perhaps for the PS3? P5PS3?
- Aram Jabbari
  May 19, 2010 at 12:10 pm PDT
  
  Whew, that’s much better than it looking awesomely wicked. As for the rest of your post—
  
  ***PC LOAD LETTER***
gumi42
May 19, 2010 at 12:06 pm PDT

Atlus thanks for bring us another good looking remake. Aram thanks for another one of your cool blog posts.
I tried so hard to get into Persona 1 on the PSP but just couldn’t do it, don’t know if it was the difficulty of the enemies or that I tried to negotiate with them and failed everytime. I want to check this game out but don’t want the same thing to happen. How much different in terms of battle gameplay is P3P to P1?
- Aram Jabbari
  May 19, 2010 at 12:29 pm PDT
  
  gumi42,
  
  Really, they couldn’t be more different (as you might imagine considering the decade-long gap between the two releases). Most consider Persona 1 to be the far more hardcore game of the two, with a more punishing random battle rate. Persona 3 introduces a completely different combat engine (beyond the different rules, the full 3D visuals add to the immersion), and in addition to a number of other things, a much bigger, broader scope.
  
  Also, Persona 3 does away with the Negotiation system, instead allowing you to acquire new Personas through card shuffles at the end of some battles.
  
  That’s not to say that Persona 1 is made obsolete by Persona 3; they’re both entirely worthwhile in their own way. That said, Persona 3 will likely appeal to a wider audience for a number of reasons, many of which I cite above.
  
  In short: please don’t dismiss Persona 3 if you didn’t care for Persona 1. They’re just too different to compare :)
BigBoss712
May 19, 2010 at 12:07 pm PDT

Would pre-order if i had a psp, anyway good trailer reminds me how much i enjoyed that game on the PS2.
piratedrunk
May 19, 2010 at 12:09 pm PDT

Drats. Foiled again.
Zvarri
May 19, 2010 at 12:10 pm PDT

I would have loved to watch this video, but alas, this blog uses a form of Flash video player that is not supported by the PS3 browser. How ironic!
BlooodyCow
May 19, 2010 at 12:10 pm PDT

For a second there I was all excited because I thought this was for the PS3 until I realize this was for the PSP
- Aram Jabbari
  May 19, 2010 at 12:30 pm PDT
  
  BlooodyCow,
  
  But then you got all excited again because Persona 3 Portable is totally awesome.
fadingshadow
May 19, 2010 at 12:19 pm PDT

I have waited a long time for this. It would have been awesome if it was redone for PS3 but I understand PSP needs some love too. This is a welcome edition to my PSP library. I still wish PS3 were getting P3 & 4 in HD like God of War collection.
Zezzler
May 19, 2010 at 12:21 pm PDT

@1 aram reply
thats quite clever… i see what you have done there :P
as for a question that you actually might be able to answer; can we expect and awesome showing from ATLUS at this E3? possibly a new announcement for an awesome game (if any)?

BTW, P3P looks AWESOME~
Voozi
May 19, 2010 at 12:21 pm PDT

Looks like I need to pick this up for my SMT collection.

Also, you should totally give Persona 2 the same PSP treatment you gave Persona 1 and by that I mean Innocent Sin as well as Eternal Punishment since we never got Innocent Sin :(

PS: Any chance you can do a limited re-print of Devil Summoner 1 :D
- Aram Jabbari
  May 19, 2010 at 12:40 pm PDT
  
  Voozi,
  
  Good suggestion!
  
  A reprint of Devil Summoner is very unlikely, but we certainly appreciate your interest in the game. We’d love to be able to put a new copy of all of our games into the hands of everyone who would want one, but when it gets to the point where a product has run its course and is only available here or there in very limited quantities (and this really explains why there are some really high prices for Atlus games in ye olde auction houses), the cost of making a very small quantity of additional units to satisfy a tiny amount of demand is hard to justify.
  
  Again, thanks for the interest, though!
MoneyMaker110
May 19, 2010 at 12:25 pm PDT

go to viddler dot com and the video can be seen under sceablog in the ps3 browser
polo155
May 19, 2010 at 12:39 pm PDT

is it ad hoc and multiplayer, game shareable? one copy needed for multiplayer?
- Aram Jabbari
  May 19, 2010 at 12:40 pm PDT
  
  polo155,
  
  Persona 3 Portable does not have any multiplayer functionality.
  
  Thanks for the question!
OneFate
May 19, 2010 at 12:46 pm PDT

Personally I am opposed to Persona 3 Portable. So much about a game is the story, and in my opinion it is just as important as gameplay. So when you take a story that I really liked (like persona 3) and effectively take away from the story just to make a quick buck it saddens me.

What I refer to is the option to play as a different protagonist. Its not the fact that the new protagonist is a female, its the fact that its someone different at all. What happened to the original character happened to him and nobody else. So being able to change that takes away from the story and its significance. Its like putting in lord of the rings into your dvd player and at the beginning it says “Would you like frodo to be male or female?” or “Who do you want to be the main character?”.
OneFate
May 19, 2010 at 12:47 pm PDT

Sorry I’d like to continue if I may. Next, is the strange away you have the portraits in the center. So much about what set Persona 3/4 apart from other games where the little this. Having the portraits in the center, again, takes away from the experience. I want to see both the portrait and the in-game models at the same time because it helps draw you into the game much more. And its not so much the fact that its there in this game, but it really makes me worry the that’s how it will be in Persona 5.

Finally, I don’t like the way you move around in this game. You should move the character through the environment. Once again, it helps you feel like your really in that world and not just observing it. Persona 4 had the perfect way of traveling so why not make it like that? If its because of the hardware then fair enough, but please don’t make it like that in Persona 5.

I know its Atlus Japan that makes the games, but I’m sure Atlus US shares information with them.

Sorry for the wall of text. I just wanted to let you know how I felt.
gumi42
May 19, 2010 at 1:02 pm PDT

Aram, thanks for your extended comments about the differences. Knowing this I am pretty sure that I am going to pick this up. Keep the great games coming.
And a huge thanks for 3D Dot Game Heros, so simple but yet so fun, living in a world of blocks can help smooth you out.
Voozi
May 19, 2010 at 1:12 pm PDT

Yea I figured I’d shoot the request of a re-print of DS1 since I noticed Digital Devil Saga 1 & 2 and Nocturne mysteriously restocked at Amazon about 1-2 months ago but thanks for the reply :D

In the meantime, I’ll be crossing my fingers for Persona 2 PSP
Fujiwara_Kyo
May 19, 2010 at 1:31 pm PDT

Game seems interesting just to see the aspect from the girl’s POV. Is there anything added to the male protagonist to warrant playing his side as well? I own both the original and FES and am just curious. I am buying another psp for this and, if I can find it, Persona 1 :D. Thanks for all the good SMT localizations I have almost all of them!
- Aram Jabbari
  May 19, 2010 at 2:12 pm PDT
  
  Fujiwara_Kyo,
  
  Playing through again as the male protagonist if you’ve already really squeezed a lot of hours out of prior releases of the game will not give you anything extra from a story standpoint, but there ARE a few major gameplay conveniences/improvements, like the ability to control your entire party in battle, the ability to change your party members’ equipment in menus (not being forced to talk to them), a one-button travel shortcut (speeds things up dramatically, as does not having to run from one end of an area to another), and generally improved load times (helped further by a Memory Stick install feature.
tearsofash
May 19, 2010 at 1:58 pm PDT

The Megami Tensei series has been around almost 10 years before “Moke-a-pon” came around. I wouldn’t really say it’s on par, but instead it’s more like the original “Moke-a-pon” type of game.
- Aram Jabbari
  May 19, 2010 at 2:13 pm PDT
  
  “Mara, I choose you!”
jackthemayor
May 19, 2010 at 2:14 pm PDT

I know the wait will be worth while but that doesn’t mean i want to sit through it. I guess it’s a good thing i still got lots left to do in persona 4.
Fujiwara_Kyo
May 19, 2010 at 2:27 pm PDT

I have one more question about Maniacs mode. How much more difficult is it compared to hard? I felt that hard in FES did not feel too different from normal. Is it harder than Nocturne on hard mode? Thanks.
- Aram Jabbari
  May 19, 2010 at 3:20 pm PDT
  
  Aside from battles being tougher (you hit weaker, get hit harder, etc), you also can’t carry over anything (items, Persona, etc.) from the previous cycle’s clear save data.
Jetup
May 19, 2010 at 2:30 pm PDT

I’ve played Person 2, Persona 3, Persona 3FEZ, and Persona 4. Not to mention all those other MT series. Was Revelations considered a MT game?

But, cant wait to play this game on my PSPGo!
- Aram Jabbari
  May 19, 2010 at 3:26 pm PDT
  
  Jetup,
  
  Yes, Revelations: Persona (PSOne) is a MegaTen game; it was enhanced for PSP last year as Shin Megami Tensei: Persona.
Jetup
May 19, 2010 at 2:32 pm PDT

Sorry I mean FES. Sounds better with the awesome “Z”
obliviate96
May 19, 2010 at 2:37 pm PDT

Is this game turn based?
- Aram Jabbari
  May 19, 2010 at 3:19 pm PDT
  
  obliviate96,
  
  The battles are turn-based, yes. If you come across an enemy, you ARE able to swing at them in real-time. If you hit them before they hit/run into you, you’ll have an advantage when the fight starts. It adds a fun real-time element to things.
BlueFlameSkulls
May 19, 2010 at 2:55 pm PDT

Is this coming to Europe at all?
- Aram Jabbari
  May 19, 2010 at 3:17 pm PDT
  
  BlueFlameSkulls,
  
  There don’t seem to be any plans at this time. Hopefully something can be arranged!
  
  Thanks for the question.
svenzter
May 19, 2010 at 3:41 pm PDT

Hmm will this be available on PSN store?
svenzter
May 19, 2010 at 3:48 pm PDT

Oops. I wasn’t reading enough. Sorry. Can’t wait to download this! :)
Destiny89
May 19, 2010 at 4:56 pm PDT

So picking this up
Enigma777
May 19, 2010 at 6:11 pm PDT

As much as I’m looking forward to this, I’ll have to wait a month, since PW will consume all of my time. Fear not though, I will certainly purchase it later on!
gdogg666
May 19, 2010 at 9:31 pm PDT

hopefully i can get this game and actually finish it (i have the first one for the ps2 and got kinda lazy on finishin it also had a odd feeling that persona was gunna come to the psp actually come to think of it every game so far i have throught of has been coming to pass anyway off topic) in the p3 u can date will datin be the same for the female side of the game and what changes has been added to it and what not
crescent_eyes
May 19, 2010 at 11:44 pm PDT

wishing this game will be available on psn (for ps3)..
krae_man
May 20, 2010 at 5:21 am PDT

Will buy on PSN when its less then $40. No PSP game is worth $40 to download. Seriously stop it with this nonsense “downloads have to be the same price as retail” policy. Itunes albums arn’t the same price as CD’s.

You’re asking for the downloadable version to fail with pricing like that.
Kitterpillar
May 20, 2010 at 6:38 am PDT

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH God I am so excited for this game. The one thing that disappointed me the most about P3 was the lack of social links with the male characters on the team (P4 fixed that admirably).

The only thing that could make this better is it coming out before I leave for Japan in a few weeks because it would make the plane ride so much more bearable. At least I’ll be able to get my paws on it a few days after coming back. <3
V_Ben
May 20, 2010 at 7:09 am PDT

Man, another persona game i’m excited to play, but, alas, i shall not be able to play it on my pspgo. For I live in the strange world known as europe, and as such, cannot gain access to any of ATLUS’ games without some heavy importing. Please, try and partner with a company, if only to get the persona games onto the UK PSN. I’ll be eternally grateful! :)
usermanual
May 20, 2010 at 9:08 am PDT

I’ve been waiting on this for awhile. I bought P3F sometime last year and was really getting into it until I learned this port was coming. I decided to shelf it so I could play this anywhere I wanted. Really glad to see this finally coming out.
RaphaelDDL2
May 20, 2010 at 12:18 pm PDT

I’m sick of Atlus adding the name ‘Shin Megami Tensei’ to EVERYTHING nowdays. I remember when i played the first SMT at SNES, damn that was a dark and scary game.

But oh well, i love anime and this artwork is awesome.

Anyways, i vote for Devil Survivor on PSP!
megs1120
May 20, 2010 at 5:15 pm PDT

Keep on rockin’, guys! I hope the male/female option will live on into future titles, I’m very much looking forward to P3 from a more familiar perspective.
Tendo_Sumisu
May 23, 2010 at 6:41 pm PDT

WICKED COOL. its the same one i’ve been dreaming of playing since it came out for the ps2. sucks i live in Jamaica and i can’t get a link 2 ma fam so i can’t reserve a copy :(. Still not gonna fret, mus get it it sooner or later :D.
RaidenXS
May 24, 2010 at 1:29 pm PDT

how easy is this game to pick up? and usually Atlus games come with a sound track any details on that?
WolfishSpark
June 4, 2010 at 9:24 am PDT

I already had this preordered, so the strange thing I’m focusing on is Junpei’s Hat coming with the sale. Yes, I’m strange that way (Does Atlus think we’re all Vic fangirls or something?)