Persona PSP (English) Gameplay, Part #1 - Mikage Hospital

Now that I've both received my imported North American copy of Persona and managed to get it to work on my CFW PSP (no, I won't be answering any technical questions about that) I can finally start playing this neat little handheld remake of one of the most unusual and innovative dungeon crawlers of all time.

While quite a few basic mechanics (such as first person exploration and the turn-based nature of the combat system) are highly reminiscent of early JRPGs and the PC classics which inspired them, the negotiation function has a huge impact on the gameplay and really makes Persona stand out from the countless Wizardry and Dragon Quest clones out there. As is demonstrated in this video, you can easily go for minutes on end without engaging in a single "normal" battle (i.e. in which you have no choice but to kill your opponents). Although some grinding is obviously recommended, there are often many advantages to using the Talk option intelligently in order to preserve health/mana, collect Cards and/or avoid needlessly time-consuming encounters.

Even though I haven't played the original PS1 version much it's not difficult to immediately start appreciating all the little tweaks and changes Atlus introduces in this port/remake. The interface is satisfyingly fast and easy to use, and while the addition of catchy J-Pop tracks on the soundtrack might be debatable (personally I like it), it's worth noting just how good and fittingly atmospheric the rest of the music in this game is. Also, the new localization is obviously a significant improvement on the original version.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• Shin
• Megami
• Tensei
• Persona
• Atlus
• Dungeon
• Crawler
• JRPG
• First
• Person
• Isometric
• Turn-based
• Wizardry

[MrJamesPaulme]

is this persona 1?

[Demiath]

@MrJamesPaulme It's the PSP remake of the original PS1 Persona game, yes.

[tinydickss]

thats not really necessary, the smt games have never been known for their graphics. its about the gameplay.

[BonkuriTokio112]

@haohmaru12

Actually, it's the best. you're just a douche. =3

[Thief8Bit]

@Hawelo92 It's just your imagination. That was an edit done by ATLUS' North American office for localization purposes. Dumbest thing I've ever seen somebody do, besides trying to convince us that it was set in America.

[MisterPudd]

oh god is this as bad strange journey with the crawling >.<?

[Darkwing2335]

Wasn't there a girl trapped under that thing a moment beforfe the boss-ish fight?

[Graynumber]

@24kurokami You haven't even played it you turbo douche.

[ShadowWolfRising]

Persona games.

they tend to find J-Pop songs i don't hate.

[6thhokagephil]

I don't know much about the persona games. But this is a justified remake given how rare the original game is XD and expensive to boot.

[Hawelo92]

Wait...

Wasn't Mark, y'know, black?

[yaku3]

dear lord what a crappy combat song XD game looks good tho

[AmewProductions]

I love how the protagonist shouted "PERSONA!"

[judgement1100]

Did anyone else find the item "QQ Helmet" hilarious?