School is back in session, Persona 4 coming to the PS2

By Spencer . March 18, 2008 . 6:30am

Last year we reported a rumor that Persona 4 was coming to the PlayStation 2 in 2008. It seriously is and Persona 4 is almost done. Japan gets it on July 10.

Insert Credit has scans of the game and it looks strikingly like Persona 3. One of the new changes is a weather system where characters perish on misty days. The cast is all new too. Replacing the emo-style protagonist of Persona 3 is a kid with a bowl haircut who has Izangai as his Persona and a family to spend time with. No more mysterious orphans here! He is joined by Chin, a girl wearing a green track jacket and short skirt, who has Tomoe as her Persona. It appears that she has control over fire too.

Katsura Hashino, the producer, explains the gameplay is around 60-70 hours, which means plenty of time building social links on the soccer field and melding Personas in the Velvet Room.

At this time Atlus USA has not announced the game, but after the success of Persona 3 I imagine they will, even if it means Persona 4 will be the PlayStation 2’s swan song.

TAGS: Atlus, Playstation 2, Shin Megami Tensei

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QBasic

Looks pretty retro...

ryne11

Are you kidding me? Hopefully this comes out in NA territories, or get a Wii-make

ryne11

"but after the success of Persona 3"

It sold well in the US?

jeffk

"It sold well in the US?"

It sold out pretty quickly, and for a while there you couldn't find it for less than $90. There's still demand for the game over here, so I'll be curious to see how FES sells when it hits.

This is great news about P4, but part of me is really disappointed that it isn't a PS3 game.

jeffx

They wouldn't release P3FES if their P3 expectations weren't met! On the other hand, even low-rated games like Growlanser HoW can be considered a commercial success when such a low print sells out. Atlus is a smart company after all.

But yeah this P4 announcement is HUGE and I can't wait! I have a feeling it's going to be fantastic...

Hello Hello

This is good news. I hope Atlus USA picks it up even though it's likely we would never see a North American version until Summer of 2009 at best.

Angelous

Awesome news. Hopefully we'll see it in the US by the year's end.

honorless

The pessimist in me says that this is an obvious rush job to cash in before Atlus has to start developing for a current-gen console.

The optimist would like to think that development for P4 got started partway through P3, but even she's skeptical.

311

Well Its been over 2 years when the original was out on japan, so this is A awesome announcement

Jeffrey R.

You know...I'm going to have to agree with R with his pessimist comment. On the other hand maybe Persona 4 is just an example of what happens when a small developer gets the chance to make another hit after one of their titles sold like there was no tomorrow(in Japan).

I seriously hope the downsides to P3 get addressed in this game. Also I believe I read that the school setting is now college and not highschool. If that's true than Atlus may have room to present a much more "serious" set with young adult characters. I don't know how you top shooting yourself to summon personae. Atlus make the magic happen!

Pulstar

But I thought that they thought the PS2 was unthinkably underpowered for Persona 4 to be viable? Or did I misread a headline somewhere?

Mr. Mee

Awesome, Atlus bring this stateside!

jeffx

Now Atlus just announced Summon Night: Twin Age for Nintendo DS!!!

jeffk

I just got the Summon Knight email. At the end, it says: "We surely hope that was a pleasant surprise! And if you liked this bit of good news, you'll absolutely love what we're getting ready to announce next week..."

Speculation time!

jeffk

(I meant "Summon Night" - honest I did.)

philemon

I'll have to share the pessimism of some of the previous commentators: RPGamer has some delicious mag scans at the moment and it really seems like a rushed job.

I don't mind the game using the same, old engine but this UI and a few of the locations are strikingly similiar to P3 counterparts. They really could've tried a bit harder..

Micah

I thought this was coming for the PS3? Not that I'm disappointed - just the opposite!

prettyprophet

O Kaneko, where art thou?

JuanMa

YEY!!!!!!!!! ( thats all i`ve to say XD

lostinblue

I want a Wii version with enhanced graphics. In fact... I'll say that making this exclusive to PS2 makes no sense anymore at this point in time... Wii version shouldn't come after, should come simultaneously (and if anything... if two existed... they should "drop" the PS2 one)

311

AAAAAAAAAAlright more Persona

Nonoko

Wow, Great news!

Rolando

July 10th? Wow. That's 3 days before Persona 3's release in Japan (July 13, 2006). Spencer has the second half of his summer cut out for him this year! Right Spencer?

I'd like it if Persona 4 maintained Persona 3's AI when it comes to your party members. Acting on your own was probably the most strategic part of the game since you had no idea what your partners were going to do.

Kay

I didn't notice the ending comment on the Summon Knight e-mail until jeffk pointed it out. Even if Atlus really has their hands full right now, I have this strange feeling that the next e-mail's going to be Persona related. Maybe simultaneous, near-simultaneous, or projected North American release date of P4?