With Atlus no doubt busy working on Persona 6, as well as its new Metaphor: ReFantazio IP, it felt like it was time to say goodbye to Persona 5 after seven years of spin-offs, with Persona 5 Tactica seemingly being the final one. Die-hard fans will know, though, that there's still one more Persona 5 game that's yet to launch in the West, and it sound??s like that could happen.

Earlier today, Sega Sammy posted financial results for its 2024 fiscal year, which naturally included details on the performance of its video game division at Sega. As spotted by VGC, Sega has stated a "future expansion in Japan and global is under consideration" for Persona 5: The Phantom X, which is a slightly more complicated way of saying it's thinking of releasing the game worldwide??.

In case you need a reminder, Persona 5: The Phantom X is a mobile and PC-only spin-off that is essentially the same game as the original Persona 5, with you and a party of rebellious teens infiltrating Palaces and summoning Personas in turn-based bat??tles. The key differences are that it features an entirely different story and characters, and is also f??ree-to-play, complete with a gacha system for unlocking new party members.

Instead of Atlus, the Chinese studio Black Wings Game Studio is helming development. As such, the game is currently only available in China, having launched on April 12 according to Sega, with a Korean version releasing less than a week later on April 18. There was never any confirmation that The Phantom X would come to Japan or the West, but Sega is at the very least thinking about it. Personally, I'd be more surprised if it didn't get a wider release. The Persona series has been growing more and more popular in the West, with Persona 3 Reload becoming the fastest-selling game Atlus has ever made.

While I don't doubt many would be put off by the free-to-play aspect and monetisation, you know some fans would put the money down to get more gacha rolls to unlock certain party members. There are a bunch in the game already, each with their own unique Phantom Thief attires and Personas, and you can even recruit the cast of the original Persona 5. Not to mention the game's visually stunning, with the same sense of fabulous style as other Persona 5 games alongside expressive and fluid character animations. The aesthetics are obviously meant to lure you in, but I can't help but be tempted to give The Phantom X a try for its visuals alone.

Sega is also eager to expand its operations within the mobile gaming space. It's why it bought Angry Birds developer Rovio last year, having since put it to work on a new Sonic the Hedgehog game titled Sonic Rumble; one clearly inspired by the success of Fall Guys.

Sega doesn't mention how The Phantom X is performing financially, only saying it's "started off as expected," which makes it sound like it's at least not underperforming. If it wasn't doing well, Sega probably wouldn't bother considering localising it for other regions. Ideally, we won't have to wait too much longer for Sega to decide on what to do but, even if we don't get The Phantom X, we're not exactly starving for Atlus RPGs. Aside from Metaphor: ReFantazio, Persona 3 Reload will be getting its Episode Aigis story DLC later this year, and both projects should keep fans satiated until Persona 6.

The post Sega still isn’t done with Persona 5 as it considers global launch for mobile spin-off The Phantom X appeared first on Destructoid.

While the PlayStation 3 had undeniable jewels such as Demon's Souls, Infamous, and Dark Souls, it's hard to compare the console to its older sibling, the masterful PlayStation 2. The PS2 was home to a library of classics we still can't seem to stop remastering or porting, and while the PS3 certainly delivered later in its life, it wasn't until the PlayStation 4 that we saw a more consistent life?? cycle of irrefutable classics.

Th??e PS4 marked the return of the PlayStation in full force and, with it, one of the best video game catalogs in the history of Sony's systems. If you're a little late to the party, or just want to make sure you've hit the highlights, I've got a list rolling covering some of the best PS4 games y??ou should play.

10. Horizon Zero Dawn

I remember audibly gasping when I read that Horizon: Zero Dawn was coming out in the same week that Nintendo released The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild. I thought there was no way in hell that Guerrilla's new IP stood a chance against Nintendo's Zelda-driven behemoth. I was very wrong and on more than one fro??nt.

Horizon: Zero Dawn became PlayStation's �not just the PS4's �highest-selling first-party title ever. It currently sits at over 24 million units sold, just seven million shy of BOTW's number?s. Not bad for a new IP. Even more importantly, it more than turned out to deserve the hype as it expertly mixes tight combat mechanics, exploration, movement, and astonishing visuals.

9. Ghost Of Tsushima

I imagine the pitch for Ghost Of Tsushima was just someone saying, "50% of the team voted for Samurai, and 50% voted for Ninja, so let's just do both.", as that alone would've had me sold. This game is a miracle. Making a GTA-scale game about the path of the Samurai must be quite the undertaking already, so making one that also in??cluded satisfying, fluid inspi??rations from Ninja seems impossible.

Luckily, Ghost Of Tsushima ended up the closest we'll likely ever get to Red Dead Redemption 2 with blades, bows, and Ninja secrecy. It's a masterful game that lets players approach all sorts of scenarios in whichever way they choose, and the only guarantee is that they will never forget their ??experience.

7. Spider-Man

It was back in '04 that Spider-Man 2, the game about the movie, would inexplicably rock my world. It was the first to implement "realistic" web-slinging and swinging mechanics. No longer being able to stick your webs to clouds mad?e a world of difference for me, and I'm not alone in remembering it fondly.

Lightning only struck again nearly 15 years later, when Marvel's Spider-Man outdid my favorite superhero game of all time. The new Spider-Man essentially learned all the lessons from the classic, built upon them, and even added a bunch of new stuff to create ??one of the best superhero games ever made.

*If you, like me, aren't too keen on the weird infatuation Peter Parker has with the police in this game, then consider just playing Miles Morales or Spider-Man 2 on the PS5 �or the original Spider-Man 2 on the PS2.

5. God Of War

After a stellar trilogy and a few possibly canonical games that also ruled, the Norse Mythology-inspired God Of War sequel had some dangerously big shoes to fill. GOW was a mix of many things. There was the more personal father-and-kid dynamic from The Last Of Us, the Dark Souls-inspired combat, and the over-the-shoulder perspective from Resident Evil 4, but it pulled them all off like a total pro.

Though not original in itself, it's a unique mix of man??y elements that just work, and that naturally resulted in one of the most solid games of its era.

6. Death Stranding

I'll be the first to admit that Death Stranding let me down big time when I first played it. The plot varies from overcomplicated to nonsensical, and a lot of the actors feel like they're just there because Kojima really likes their beautiful?? Hollywood faces, There's also the more action-oriented gameplay mechanics feeling almost forced in to appease anyone longing for gunplay.

Outside of that, however, Death S??tranding has the guts to ask players to become errand kids and actually pulls it off by making the movement fun, the challenges dreadfully comical, and providing a vast, open world for introspection and my?stery.

Death Stranding is a game like no other, the rare experience where you see that someone's authorial vision, wacky as it might be, take center stage. Though I maintain that Death Stranding went overboard on many aspects, I believe it's better to have high?-budget games taking similar risks than n??ot.

5. Persona 5

Sadly, the PS4 felt a bit lacking in terms of Japanese RPGs, but Persona 5 is so good that it nearly filled that void by itself. Don't get me wrong. We also got FFVII Remake, which masterfully played with its formula, but P5 was a marvelous trifecta of old, new, and great.

Though it features a combat style similar to what we'd previously seen in many times before in many other RPGs, Persona 5 never fails to tinker with the classic formulas to come?? up with top results?, even for this already usually stellar series. The cast of characters and soundtrack are also legendary, but that should come as no surprise.

4. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

I considered Uncharted 4 for this spot, but, back in its day, this was the true next-gen Uncharted experience. Uncharted 4 looked better than anything before it, but it was, essentially, just another Uncharted game �one filled with unnecessary changes to its establi??shed canon, even.

Lost Legacy gave us a fresh new start with two beloved characters in a now wide-open world for players to explore. Though I'll never stop loving the other entries in the franchise, it'll be hard to go back after Lost Legacy.

3. P.T.

P.T. isn't a retail release, but it's only version of the project, so the demo counts. Even if it weren't, I'd probably still try to come up with a reason to put it on this list, as it's simply one of the best horror ??experiences of all time—not limited to just the PS4. It was also one of the most bizarre, surprising reveals in the video games industry, with its 2014 Gamescom reveal sending everyone into a detective frenzy to uncover the who or what was behind the demo.

Though it features arguably simple gameplay mechanics, P.T. offers players first-person horror li??ke no other game. It is also, or was, completely free. We might never get anything of the sort again, as Konami pulled the demo from the store years ago after the project was canceled. So, either cherish your PS4 that still has it installed or never let others forget that it was ?once a thing—like I'm doing right now!

2. Dreams

And if Ghost Of Tsushima allows you to be both a Ninja and a Samurai, Dreams allows you to be anything. Dreams is the game version of that very Reddit-like "I'm a gamer, I don't have a life, I have many" meme. It invites players to play a wide range of games made in Dreams and, if they are daring enough, or not satisfied with what was on the catalog, to make their games via the very user-friendly Dreams toolkit.

Dreams wasn't just a game but both a collection and a factory of great games. Sadly, Media Molecule has since stopped support for Dreams, though its community remains as strong as ever.

1. Bloodborne

This was my placement for Bloodborne as soon as I finished it, and it only got more cemented as time went on. What FromSoftware started with Dark Souls, it has perfected here. Bloodborne is the perfect mix of challenging gameplay with action fun. It has?? the best world ever devised by FromSoft, and one of the best, darkest, and most engrossing stories I've ever seen in a game. I'd recommend it to anyone with a strong stomach because of all the gore, ??yes, but also because of the choppy framerate.

I love it so much that I'd be totally down for a sequel, but I'd be perfectly happ??y even with a remaster that adds nothing other than a better framerate.

The post Top 10 best PS4 games appeared first on Destructoid.

On Tuesday, Atlus uploaded a gameplay video for Persona 5 Tactica detailing the remaining members of the Phantom Thi??eves.

In the trailer, we see the abilities of Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Haru, and Futaba. Each uses their signature Persona and has their own advantages on the battlefield. For example, Ryuji can use Shock attacks via his Persona, Captain Kidd. He can also use his shotgun to hit multiple targets in one area. Ryuji's signature move, Brigantine Blitzkrieg, stuns all enemies in a straight line, even th?ose behind cover.

Meanwhile, Makoto and her Persona, Johanna, are strongest up close and personal. Her ability, Full T??hrottle, lets her charge her motorcycle into enemies within a straight line and knock them out of cover.

It's Showtime!

Tactica, a strategy title, follows Persona 5's Phantom Thieves as they are transported into an alternate war-riddled world. They join forces with the Rebel Corps, led by Erina, as they take down the regime of Legionnaires. Revealed in June (and leaked the day prior), this is the third Persona 5 spinoff title, following Persona 5: Dancing in Spotlight and Persona 5 Strikers. The gameplay is reminiscent of typical tactical games like Mario & Rabbids: Kingdom Battle and XCOM 2, ?as players will use cover and various weapons/powers to defeat their enemies.

Persona 5 Tactica is shaping up to be a strong and unique title for the series. Updates for the game are pretty frequent on Atlus West's YouTube account. Trailers, usually labeled under the banner of Sergeant Morgana's Marvelous Tactical Training, have been coming out weekly. Our very own Timothy Monbleau went hands-on with the title in August, which he cites as an interesting take on the franchise, harkening back to its Devil Summoner roots

Those who pre-order the game get access to two familiar Personas, Orpheus Picaro (Persona 3) and Izanagi Picaro (Persona 4). The Digital Deluxe version i??ncludes more Personas, weapons, and the Repaint Your Heart Challenge Pack. Phantom Thieves Akechi and Kasumi will be playable in the pack, though no gameplay of them has been shown.

Persona 5 Tactica will launch on Xbox One, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, PlayStati??on 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch on November 17th, 2023, and will be a day-one Xbox Game Pass game.

The post Persona 5 Tactica?? showcases more Phantom Thieves in new trailer appeared first on Destructoid.

The Samba de Amigo Party Central DLC pack featuring a handful of K-pop bangers is out now. It includes tracks from popular bands BTS and FIFTY-FIFTY. Additionally, there's a pack highlighting Sega's own IP, like Rhythm Thief.

Publisher and developer Sega also confirmed a Persona DLC bundle arrives in October. This includes costumes based on Persona 5's Joker and Morgana.

You can download the following K-pop tracks now for Samba de Amigo Party Central:

• "Dynamite" by BTS
• "Permission to Dance" by BTS
• "Cupid (Twin Version) - Sped-Up" by FIFTY FIFTY

For the Sega Music Pack, you'll get:

• "Baka Mitai (Taxi Driver Edition)" from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
• "Go Go Cheer Girl!" from Space Channel 5: Part 2
• "Rhythm Thief Theme" from Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure

At the end of October, the library grows again with the Phantom Thieves of Hearts Music Pack. As noted by Persona Central, Sega's Japan release includes Life Will Change, Rivers in the Desert, and Colors Flying High. The trio of songs are all from Persona 5 Royal,  but there's still some announcements left for fans hoping for ??ot??her Atlus or Sega titles.

We'll also get the Virtual Singer Music Pack alongside th?e Jo??ker and Morgana Costume & Accessories Pack next month.

Sega has two more music packs on the way sometime in November. We don't know what they entail just yet, but should see that confirmation soon. Nevertheless, there's a lot of Samba de Amigo Party Central DLC to look forward to.

Samba de Amigo: Party Central has previously included songs from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are "Escape from the City" from Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Frontiers' "I'm Here," "Open Your Heart" from Sonic Adventure, and "Reach for the Stars" from Sonic Colors: Ultimate.

As for those of you who've yet to dive into the party, Destructoid gave Samba de Amigo: Party Central a 6/10 review. "The controls are certainly an improvement from the Wii game, b??ut the game still suffers from a lack of input when you move sideways," the reviewer said.

The post Samba de Amigo Party Central adds K?-pop DLC pack, Persona tracks incomi??ng appeared first on Destructoid.

The best menu screens in games can be articulated in many ways, just like the sheer amo??unt of options you can get from the feature itself. In my mind, they're determined by the music, the visuals, and how unique?? they can be. You don't want to see a bland introduction to a magnificent game. Here are the top 10 best main menu screens in games, ranked.

Before we start, I have some honorable mentions. While it's too soon to rank this alongside long-standing greats, Sea of Stars' main menu screen is an impressive introduction to its world. The flickering of the flames reflecting on the pixel-based characters, and the gorgeous backdrop is absolutely stunning. Additionally, Rayman 2: The Great Escape's menu features strange, yet enticing music with a view of the world we're about to explore. T??here's also a cute teensie on the left side, welcoming you to the game with its?? hat.

[caption id="attachment_400167" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

10. Super Metroid

During the SNES era, gamers weren't anticipating a cinematic introduction to the game. However, Super Metroid features tense music and neat transitions of scenes that feature the creepy sci-fi world of the game. It then reveals a Metroid trapped within a pipe wit??h the machinery flickering in green light. It's genuinely creepy to see fallen bodi??es next to the machine as well. It's a perfect introduction to this game.

[caption id="attachment_399796" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

9. Psychonauts

Double Fine is a developer known for its wild worlds, game concepts, and characters. This menu follows that same idea. One of the strangest (and coolest) is in Psychonauts, in which you're Raz running around a brain. The concept of the game is that you're trying to fix the issues of a person by infiltrating their mind. It's a clever main menu concept for a game like this and is certainly unique. I also love Double Fine's record-based main menu design in Brutal Legend, but Psychonauts just edges it out.

[caption id="attachment_399797" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

8. L.A. Noire

This may be a controversial pick, but L.A. Noire has a unique menu design that ??complements the subject matter. You get the old-fashioned black??-and-white styling mixed in with a shadowy figure of the text. The light shone from the car gives a wonderful effect on the brick wall, adding to the atmosphere of the scene. While it can be annoying to have a gentleman walking in and out of the menu, it's certainly an interesting take on this classic gaming feature that we haven't seen before.

//youtu.be/cHGF302fBZk

7. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Yes, this is a simplistic menu for such a huge RPG like Starfield, but it more than makes up for it with the theme?? alone. You hear a majestic choir and triumphant orchestra calling to you. It gets you pumped for the adventure you're about to have. ??The logo also looks iconic amongst the white mist and the black background.

//youtu.be/njoPUWILwpo

6. Pokemon Red & Blue

Despite the limited power of the Game Boy, Pokemon Red & Blue still had amazing intros and menus. You see two Pokemon fighting it out in the intro underscored by a memorable theme song. It then constantly switches between the different Pocket Monsters you'll find in the game like Snorlax, Mankey, and Ditto. It's simple but "super effective"at introducing us to the world of Pokemon. 

//youtu.be/DRgLR-cPMls

5. Xenoblade Chronicles

The Xenoblade Chronicles title screen is super simple. You see the Monado sword stuck i??n the ground all by itself. However, the beauty of the world surrounds us as day turns to night. You also see the shine of the metal blade against the sunlight, which is a nice touch. The Monado also glows in the dark as the stars shine brightly above. The emotional music is engrossing as you simply stare at this stunning scene. This is one of the best main menu screens just from how stunning it is.

//youtu.be/kAwwQ7dTjRY

4. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

I know, many say that Ocarina of Time's menu screen is better, but the one from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess holds more prestige for me. You see Link riding Epona valiantly across the Bridge of Eldin and the wilderness of Hyrule. In the background is a somewhat creepy choir singing the main theme of the game. Then, the intro transitions to Wolf Link who howls to a str??ange?? golden wall in the distance.

You also have a hint of the "Midna's Theme" from the music, hinting at how prevalent your partner will be in the plot and gameplay. You're then left with a feeling of dread as you only have the sound of wind to keep you company. It's a brilliant main ??menu that pulls you into the intended darker atmosphere of the game.

//youtu.be/IM-r2hxtO8g

3. Kingdom Hearts 2

Possibly with the prettiest main menu theme ever "Dearly Beloved," Kingdom Hearts 2 has one of the best intros in gaming history. The credits roll and the music begins?? to build up. As you begin to see Sora emerge into the title screen, you hear the harp play and the bass strings refer ??to the protagonist.

It sounds like an orchestra prepping to play before a concert occurs. It then calms down for a brief second unti??l the full menu appears. Then, the piano begins to play the main melody, and each wonderful instrument of the piece blends together in a truly "beloved" way.

Seeped with the sound of waves from Sora's home world Destiny Islands, you remember where the end goal lies. The blue streak to the right also has a wave-like gradient to it. I just noticed this as I was writing, but th?e color of the streak goes from navy to turquois?e to yellow like a beach. Neat!

[caption id="attachment_399816" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

2. Persona 5

Persona 5 has so much style behind its UI and graphical ingenuity. However, the main menu stands ou?t as well. The introduction of the train pop art and then the Phantom Thieves at a stop is fantastic. I love the striking red and white style as you see the trains beside them? rush on either side.

The music gives you the depiction that this is going to be a cool, suave adventure. When Futaba gets off her seat, you'll see a graffiti mark on her seat. It? also shows Haru in the back, showing her more shy side.

Personally, I prefer the calmer nature of this scene to the more energetic Persona 5 Royal's, but it's a personal taste, for sure. It gives?? a more underground feel?? that matches the Phantom Thieves better.

//youtu.be/ZT9DST_M_g8

1. Mega Man 2

Admittedly, I haven't grown up during t??he NES era, but my goodness, this is one of the greatest main menu screens in a game, bar none. You start with an overview of the city with a brief summary of the story. The music begins slow and pleasant, but as the camera moves up the skyscraper, the music gets faster until you get one of the most badass menu themes ever. You can't help but get hyped.

You see Megaman's hair waving in the air as he readies himself for his tough adventure. When you choose a selection, he then teleports away. Despite having better technology today, this main menu still stands as one of the most epic. Let's set out and defeat each of the bosses (or at least hope we can). This is one of the be??st main menu screens ever just due to the excitement I get every time I boot it up.

The post Top 10 best menu screens in games, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

Persona 5 Tactica continues a fascinating tradition of Persona spinoffs that want to break you into new genres.

It wasn’t until I sat down to write this that I realized how wild the Persona brand has gotten. I mean, sure, every big brand has to have a Musou eventually. And you can see the RPG throughline that connects Persona with the Etrian Odyssey-style Persona Q. But a fighting game set in the Persona universe? A collection of rhythm games based on Persona soundtracks? The crazy part is, no matter what direction Persona spinoffs take, they always seem to land strong and find fans. Heck, I know a guy who’s chomping at the bit for a Persona 5 fighting game, even though he’s since graduated to fighters like Guilty Gear and Street Fighter.

I say all this to set the stage for what kind of game Persona 5 Tactica is. During my recent trip to a Sega event, I spent a while with the series' next tactical RPG. As a Devil Survivor fan, I was eager to see what Atlus came up with here. And after playing the game, I can certainly say that Devil Survivor is not a good comparison for Persona 5 Tactica. However, while I still need to see how the full game pans out, I think Tactica could easily find similar success to the spinoff ?titles? that came before it.

[caption id="attachment_398230" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Sega[/caption]

New story, same great taste

So, I need to take this opportunity to make a deep, dark confession. I never played Persona 5. I know that’s appalling for a self-proclaimed RPG fan like me. It was just one of those games that wasn’t available on a platform I had on hand for the longest time, and now I lack the time for a massive RPG outside of work. I know, I’m a very, very bad Persona fan.

However, I'm happy to report Persona 5 Tactica is plenty easy to follow without playing the source material. It sets the stage for a new storyline right off the bat, moving quickly from the outset. And while the game doesn’t bother reintroducing main characters, I grasped the finer details from context. Only a couple terms were unfamiliar to me, but in short, don’t feel like you need to finish Persona 5 to understand or appreciate this one.

The story bits didn’t take themselves too seriously from what I saw. The game uses Visual Novel sequences to set the stage, with a few cutscenes sprinkled in once I got into the thick of things. Tactica's tone felt silly and fun, which I was on board with. But even ?if you’re allergic to stories, you won’t waste too much time before getting into the meat of the experience.

[caption id="attachment_398231" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Sega[/caption]

Take cover!

During my session with Persona 5 Tactica, I sampled a handful of missions from the earliest section of the game. These ?were very much tutorial stages, so keep that in?? mind.

In the first stage of the game, you'll abundantly learn one lesson: take cover. Persona 5 Tactica fills its maps with?? boxes both big and small, shaping the field for tactical play. Enemies hide behind boxes and take shots at you, which you can dodge completely if you’re out of their line of sight. Conversely, player characters can snipe foes from behind cover as long as they can at least clip an enemy. Deciding where to park party member??s immediately became a consistent choice at the start of each mission.

It helps that the game follows traditional Fire Emblem rules with?? its turn order. By that, I mean you’ll move all your units before decla?ring an end to your turn, the enemy will do the same, rinse and repeat. While you have full analogue control of a character as you move them, this one is 100% as tile-based as any other tactical RPG. This only got a little confusing when my characters�attack range was visualized by a circle around them. The design made it slightly unclear whether I could hit certain enemies, but I imagine I’d get used to this quirk quickly in the full game.

[caption id="attachment_398232" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Sega[/caption]

Here's our chance for an all-out attack!

For the most part, your raw damage dealing revolves around ranged attacks. In Tactica, that means relying on guns, though you have your classic Shin Megami Tensei?? Garu and Bufu spells to nuke foes fast. Initially, I figured melee attacks would just act as extra powerful hits, but that isn’t quite the case here.

Since Persona 5 Tactica revolves so heavily around cover, repositioning enemies comes in clutch. This is where melee attacks come in. By striking an enemy, you’ll move them several tiles in front of you, Play your cards right, and you’ll make your foe vulnerable so your other units can quickly nuke them from the safety of their respective cover. Tactical RPG fans know that party strategies are core to any genre title, but they’re really important to Tactica. If you?? don’t plan carefully, you can waste turns repositioning your party while the enemy takes easy shots at you.

To drive the party synergy concept home, Persona 5 Tactica integrates all-out attacks from the main series. Here, it calls them Triple Threats. Basically, if your units can make a triangle around an unlucky enemy, they can unleash a combo attack. During my demo playthrough, this pretty much meant an instant KO. I will say I was never sure just how strict or loose the positioning requirements were here. It’s possible that years of making Triangle Attacks work in Fire Emblem made me overthink this. Either way, it is a nifty concept, I just wanted t??o optimize it more th?an I did.

Similarly, units can sacrifice turns to charge themselves up for the next turn. This comes with its own unique mechanics, which the game's tutorial messages really wanted me to use. So in short, while I didn’t necessarily have a ton of attacks in these early stages, I did see enough choices to keep the experience interesting. Everything served a unique function, so the basics?? were easy to learn. But I quickly saw how striving for perfection could become its own rewarding?? challenge.

[caption id="attachment_398233" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Sega[/caption]

Signs of things to come

As I poked ar?ound in menus, I caught a glimpse of a skill tree system for?? each character. This didn’t look particularly intensive, so I don’t think anyone will need to Google “Morgana build guide�or anything. But it was nice to see some customization on the table for those who like decking out their team in tactical RPGs.

Additionally, each stage came with its own set of challenges to complete. These resembled the type of challenges you’d find in typical mobile games. For example, “Clear the stage in 4 turns�or “Take damage less than 3 times.�I felt perfectly fine with this since it veered closer toward throwing genre veterans a bone without alienating casual audiences. The game comes with several difficulty options, so I imagine the game could get wild if ??you want it to.

Otherwise, it was hard to get a feel for how the game will pan out in the long run. I can see the potential for greater depth later on, but I had fun messing around in these early stages. A Sega representative told me Persona 5 Tactica should last for roughly 40 hours, which seemed like a sweet spot. Compared to some tactical RPGs, that might sound like chump change. But I’d say 40 hours is enough for anyone to sink their teeth into the game without getting overwhelmed, which I imagine is what Tactica is going for.

[caption id="attachment_398234" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Sega[/caption]

Alright, Persona 5 Tactica, you got me

Overall, I think Persona 5 Tactica is one to watch out for. Its combat felt immediate and fun, with layouts that made me think without ever really taxing me. And in the few places I was able ??to pull off a unique strategy the game didn’t necessarily point me towards, I did feel generally rewarded. I d?o wonder if the cover system will feel as prominent in the later game as it did in these early stages, but that’s my only major concern here. Not because it wasn’t fun, I just hope the game has more tricks up its sleeves to keep things interesting.

How Persona 5 Tactica will rank in the proud tradition of Persona spinoffs, I can’t say yet. But it offers a unique flavor of tactical RPGs that felt overflowing in its accessibility, which is enough to catch my interest. Sometimes I just want a quick Tactical fix without getting as hard into the number crunching, and it looks like Tactica will fill that niche nicely. Is it Devil Survivor? No. But Persona isn’t exactly Shin Megami Tensei either, and that’s how it found such an endearing iden?tity. So unless the full game stumbles in any major way, I think this will be a good time for RPG fans.

Persona 5 Tactica will launch on PC, PlayStation? 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on November 17.

The post Hands on Persona 5 T??actica: Your gateway game into Tactical RPGs appeared first on Destructoid.

There definitely are no other Persona games

Atlus has announced that they’re offering a discount on every one of the mainline Persona games on every new platf?orm they’re avai??lable on. Except for Switch.

In a celebration of the entire series�success, Atlus has released an accolades trailer to highlight the newest ports of Persona 3: Portable, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 5 Royal. Hm. They seem to have overlooked including a quote from our esteemed publication. Hold on; I’ll find one. Here we go:

“We exist in the darkest timelin??e where good things d??on’t happen.�- Destructoid

//youtu.be/ZNTl9FhykBw

As for the sale, here are the details provided:

• PlayStation Essential Picks Sale - March 15 to March 29
  • Persona 3 Portable - 20% off
  • Persona 4 Golden - 20% off
  • Persona 5 Royal - 30% off
• Xbox Publisher Spotlight Series - March 14 to March 27
  • Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden bundle - 25% off
  • Persona 5 Royal - 30% off
• Steam Spring Sale - March 16 to March 23
  • Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden bundle - 5% off
  • Persona 3 Portable - 20% off
  • Persona 4 Golden - 20% off
  • Persona 5 Royal - 35% off

Heaping heaps of sarcasm aside, the Persona series is terrific. If you haven’t tried one yet, now’s a decent time to give them a try. If you’re wondering where to start, Persona 4 Golden is my top pick. Should you decide you want all three, just a word of warning: they are massive time commitments. 80+ hours for each game at the minimum. They’re worth it, though, especially if you like your dating sims mashed together with RPG dunge??on crawling.

Persona 3: Portable, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 5 Royal are available on PC, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One.

The post Now’s your chance to grab ‘all’ the mainline Persona games for a discount appeared first on Destructoid.

Gorgeous hair and anime waistline not included

If there's one thing can agree on about Persona 5's cast of characters: They're a good-looking bunch. of hipsters. And now, you too can adapt the visual style of your favorite heart-stealer or confidant, thanks to this mega make-up kit, now available to order from the face-plasterers at Game Beauty.

The Persona 5 x Game Beauty collection features a wide variety of lipsticks, shadows, pencils, blushers, and eyeliners, with colours and shades stylized after those lovable roustabouts, The Phantom Thieves. There are various items and sets available to order, ranging from bundles of character blu?shes to a $196 dollar Limited Edition set, which includes a variety of items from the new line in a slick collector's box.

Each item is based on a different element of Persona 5. We have a palette for the thi??ev??es themselves, eyeshadow for the palaces, and lipstick and further shadows repping the individual personas.

All items ship globally (excluding Japan) and all products are cruelty-free and vegan-friendly. The set appears to have a vivid and delightful color palette, and is sure to get you looking pretty anime for the coming Holidays. Speaking of which, the makeup would also make a fine gift for the many beautiful Persona fans in your li??fe. I'm hoping that just a few swab?s of shadow and a dab of eyeliner will instantly turn me into Sae Niijima. This might be wishful thinking for The Industry's Chris Moyse, but we all gotta dream...

The Persona x Game Beauty collection is available now from the Game Beauty website.

The post This Persona 5 make-up?? set is going to turn me into?? Shadow Sae, right? appeared first on Destructoid.

That'll be a helluva lot of hearts stolen

Atlus has released a variety of sales figures concerning the many titles set within the sexy 'n' stylish Persona 5 universe �The figures are spearheaded by the recent release of Persona 5 Royal on ??PS5, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms, which have helped to push the brand's sales through the roof.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2ttcVKwz8I

Since its October release on the aforementioned platforms, Persona 5 Royal has shifted one million units in total. When added to the previous sales of the remixed release on PS4, Persona 5 Royal hits a high of 3.3 million copies sold. I know what you're thinking, "Can't get classier than that, Moyse". Oh no? Well, when you add all Persona 5 branded titles �Persona 5, Persona 5 Dancing in Starlight, and Persona 5 Strikers �Joker and his trendy friends have sold a grand t?otal of 8.3 million video games?.

For those keeping count, that's somewhere in the region of 16.8 million Persona titles overall, showing metaverse runners everywhere that the Shin Megami Tensei spin-off series has never been hotter. The Persona 5 franchise managed to eik several solid games off of the back of its initial 2016 launch date, (not forgetting the Nintendo 3DS release Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth and Joker's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate). And, with the lofty sales of the Persona? 4 Golden PC port, it seems clear that the popular JRPG franchise is set to run and run.

Persona 5 Royal is available now on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platform?s.

The post The Persona 5 brand ha?s sold over 8.3 million games to date appeared first on Destructoid.

The Phantom Thieves have returned

Atlus has opened pre-orders on the long-awaited PS5, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch ports of its mega-selling JRPG Persona 5 Royal. The Digital Edition is available for wishl?isting on various platforms or for outright pre-order on the PlayStation Network and the Microsoft Store.

For physical media fans, Persona 5 Royal is also available to pre-order on console in steelbook?? form at various retailers, priced at a pretty lofty $60 USD. This edition includes a physical copy of the game on the console platform of y??our choice, along with 40 DLC items such as costumes, music tracks, and more.

For the more die-hard heart stealers, Atlus has revealed a "1 More" collector's edition, which is available exclusively at the official Atlus store. The snazzy set, which retails for around $120 USD, (not including shipping), contains a steelbook hard copy of Persona 5 Royal on the console platform of your choice, alongside a selection of character art prints, an arcana tarot deck, a replica of that prick Akechi's satchel, a "La Grimoire?" art frame, and over 40 pieces of post-release DLC.

The set is? housed in fun "treasure chest" style packaging. Don't kick it open, though.

Persona 5 Royal launche??s Oct??ober 21 on PS5, PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Game Pass.

The post Pre-orde??rs open for Persona 5 Royal on PS5, Xbox, PC, and Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

Better take some time to download it now

PlayStation has announced the games coming to PlayStation Plus in April. Alongside cards and outlaws, there's also a heads-up that one game will be leaving another part of the service in May. Persona 5 is leaving the PlayStatio?n Plus Collecti?on on May 11.

In an addendum on the PlayStation Blog, Sony says that adding the game to your library before May 11 will allow users to still have access, as long as they have an active Plus su?bscription. The PS Plus Collection is available for PS5 owners who have an active sub.

As for April's PS Plus games, both PlayStation 4 and 5 get in on Hood: Outlaws & Legends. The PlayStation 4 entries are SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated and Slay the Spire. The former isn't quite the best foot forward for a cult classic, but the latter is a deck-building roguelike that will eat your time like nobody's business. Seriously, check out Slay the Spire if you somehow haven't tried it yet.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnDzJ9KzuV4

March's PlayStation Plus games also take off on April 4, so don't forget to pick those up. Those are Ark: Survival Evolved, Team Sonic Racing, the PS5 version of Ghostrunner, and Ghost of Tsushima: Legends.

The PlayStation Plus Collection is still sticking around

Sony recently revealed its revamped PlayStation Plus plans, with "Essential" players keeping access to current benefits while higher tiers can get a catalog of games ranging across generations. It all goes live in June, and PlayStation confirmed to IGN that the Plus Collection will not be going away with this change.

As for Persona 5, it's a bummer the beefy Atlus RPG is leaving the collection. Granted, it's the base version and not the significantly expanded Royal. But Persona 5 is a maj??or RPG of the last console generation, and one that added some nice variety to the PS Plus Collecti?on.

Considering Atlus has been rolling out a series of Persona announcements over the last few months, maybe something's in store. For now, it's a good reminder for ??PS5 owners to make sure they've got all the Plus Collection titl?es in their library.

The post Persona 5 is leaving the PlayStation Plus Collection in M??ay appeared first on Destructoid.

My mind is too fast for eyes...

While each and every title of the Persona franchise is typified by its delicious, captivating soundtracks, perhaps no entry blew up as that of 2016's Persona 5. In particular, battle theme "Last Surprise" was everywhere, with? its "You'll never see it com-innnnng" refrain going viral �borderline mainstream.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUWQFnC2zqU

Today, you can check out all of the smooth jazz stylings of the JRPG all over again, as the soundtracks for Persona 5 and its 2019 revamp, Persona 5 Royal, have been uploaded to the music streaming service Spotify. In addition, the OST for 2020 muso-like Persona 5 Strikers has also join??ed the party. That's well over 100 tracks and hours of slick gro??oves, ready and waiting to fulfill your heart-stealing, metaverse-running, reaper-hunting needs.

With the addition of these Persona 5 scores, the Spotify Persona 5 playlist is almost complete. As previously noted by Siliconera, all that remains is the soundtrack to the great rhythm action title Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight. This remaining release is conspicuous by its absence, given that the scores for both Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 4: Dancing All Night are already available on the service. Ehh, I'm sure we'll get there all in good time. Until then, this Spotify collection will be a little kinder to your wallet than rolling out some major dough for the (admittedly awesome) Persona 25th Anniversary Boxset.

Now, if you'll excuse me, some gangs??ta is dissin'? muh fly-girl.

The post The smooth grooves of Persona 5 now spinnin’ on Spotify appeared first on Destructoid.

BABYBABYBABYBABYBABYBABYBABYBABY...

If there's one aspect of the Persona series that truly epitomizes the franchise's slick and stylish aesthetic, it's the smooooth sounds. Every Persona title has been blessed with a magnetic and electrifying score?, usually consisting of pulse-pounding beats, smooth jazz tones, and completely and utterly baffling lyrics.

From today, Persona fans can soundtrack their own lives with the same tunes that scored the adventures of The Phantom Thieves, The Investigation Team, and the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad. As noted by AniPlaylist, musi??c streaming service Spotify has just added a slew of ??OSTs from the globally-popular RPG franchise.

Spotify now hosts a playlist of 14 Persona albums, compiling a whopping 746 tracks taken from 1999's Persona 2: Innocent Sin, right through to 2016's Persona 5. Also accounted for are fighting game Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, Nintendo 3DS spin-offs Persona Q: Shadow of Labyrinth and Persona Q 2: New Cinema Labyrinth, as well as a live recording of the "Night of the Phantom" concert – which took place ??at Japan's Budokan Hall back in 2015.

Currently, the OSTs for Persona 5 Royal and Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers hav?e not been made?? available for purchase, and as such are not included here. Still, there's more than enough awesome music to keep you going as you steal hearts, battle demons, and solve murders in the real world. Just don't go diving into any TV sets.

The available soundtracks are as follows:

• Persona 2 Sound Collection Vol. 6

• Persona 3 FES Original Soundtrack

• Persona 3 Original Soundtrack

• Persona 4: Dancing All Night Original Soundtrack

• Persona 4: Dancing All Night Soundtrack Advanced CD

• Persona 4 Golden Original Soundtrack

• Persona 4 Original Soundtrack

• Never More - Reincarnation: Persona 4 -

• Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold Original Soundtrack

• Persona 5 Original Soundtrack

• Persona Music Fes 2013 ~in Nippon Budokan

• Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth Original Soundtrack

• Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth Original Soundtrack

• Persona Super Live 2015 in Nippon Budokan – Night of the Phantom -

The post A bevy of brilliant ??Persona soundtracks ?are now streaming on Spotify appeared first on Destructoid.

Steal Your Torte

You might remember we recently reported on an eclectic range of Persona 5-themed teas, which are launching in Japan this December. Well, it looks like your Phantom Thieves tea-party is almost all set to go, with the arrival of this new range of Persona 5-branded cakes, on their way from Japanese patisserie Priroll Bakery.

Returning after a successful run in the 2019 holiday season, these Persona 5 Christmas Cakes come packed with strawberries and one of two flavors of cream: chocolate or vanilla. This would immediately discount them as "Christmas Cakes", here in the UK, where said seasonal dessert is generally a sad-?ass fruit cake covered in bland hard f?rosting.

There are 18 designs in all, featuring the faces of various Persona 5 characters. Most of the gang are accounted for - there's Joker, Makoto, Morgana, Lady-Ann, even Justine & Caroline. You also get an exclusive tin badge featuring the cake's respective characters. Unfortunately, Persona 5 Royal's new kid on the block Kasumi is not in attendance. Take a guess what I think Goro Akechi's cake probably tastes like... Yep.

The cakes will retail in Japan for ¥5,378, a surprisingly high $53, though I would assume Priroll Bakery is probably a premium brand, given that they will literally your chosen cake to your door via specially refrigerated courier vans. While importing the aforementioned teas is a possibility, I'd strongly recommend not importing one of these fresh cream cakes. It might ?not work out to??o well.

Persona 5 Christmas 2020 cak??es up for pre-order in Japan [Persona Central]

The post Have a slice of Persona 5 cake a?long with your Persona 5 tea appeared first on Destructoid.

'I should watch something...'

If you enjoyed Atlus' blockbuster JRPG Persona 5 and thought "Y'know, I'd love to see this exact same story again, but told really breathlessly and not quite as well," then you're in luck, as Persona 5 the Animation joins the Funimation streaming service today.

All 26 episodes of the 2018 anime are available to watch via Funimation, along with the "Dark Sun??" and "Stars and Ours" special episodes. Viewers in North America and Canada can check out the entire series with a choice of both its original Japanese or new English dub. The latter sees the original cast of the video game stepping back into their respective roles as Joker, Ryuji, Haru, Morgana and Lady Ann, et al.

Persona 5 tells the story of a young student who is sent to Shujin Academy in Tokyo as part of his probation following a self-defence altercation. Under the care of cafe owner Sojiro Sakura, our protagonist soon falls in with a group of equally troubled students, each denied justice in one way or another. Upon learning of a strange alternate universe, where one can "steal the hearts" of the callou?s and cruel, the friends form an outlaw group known as The Phantom Thieves, determined to correct the course of those who prey on the innocent and helpless.

Persona 5 the Animation condenses the video game's mammoth storyline into around 30 episodes, and is not particularly successful in doing so, biting off a little more narrative than it can chew for its running time. Still, it's worth checking out for Persona 5 fans, and at least this new Funimation stream will cost you a durn sight less than the shockingly priced Blu-ray set.

Persona 5 Royal is available now on PS4.

Persona 5 the Animation streaming on Funimation [Siliconera]

The post Persona 5 anime be??gins streaming on Funimation today appeared first on Destructoid.

Joker will return in 2020

Did you know there's a Persona 5 stage play that has some really spot-on actors playing the? main roles? Well...I??'m going to have to say it...it's Japan-only. Drat!

The play (which covers the opening hours of the game) actually ran in December in Osaka and Shinagawa (Tokyo), but the official Twitter account confirmed that ??there will be more dates in 2020. Specifically, Yokohama (south of Tokyo) and Osaka (again) will host the play in October of 2020. "Other details will be announced later," but for now the play is back on.

In case you're out of the loop, it's been a tradition to adapt Persona on the stage for years now, going as far back as Persona 3. Although I haven't been able to catch one yet, I hope to one day, as they typically open to a heap of praise. Persona is just one of those stylish stories that could actually work in a format like this, so Atlus may as well take advantage of it: especially if they can keep getting killer actors to play their equal??ly stylish characters.

Persona 5 The Stage [Twitter]

The post The Persona 5 Japanese stage ?play is getting an en??core this year appeared first on Destructoid.

I should write something...

Ever wondered how you can prove to Makoto that your schoolwork is your top priority? Want to get top grades so you don't become one of those shitty adults? Sick of leaving that GameFAQs page open so you can check the answers to the test questions? Then maybe you need one of these slick Persona 5 notebooks, available to order from Cook and Becker.

These stationery sets - officially licensed by Atlus - are sure to make you top of your class, and are perfect for note-taking, diary entries, or mapping out palaces.

Available in two formats, the Limited Edition includes a 192-page hardback notebook, adorned in black and plaid cotton and emblazoned with the Shujin Academy badge. The book contains 16 pages of original concept art, and that fabled item of the Persona franchise, a tarot c??ard. This notebook? retails for around £22, (or roughly $27 USD), not including shipping costs.

The Collector's Edition includes two notebooks, a pen, a tarot card, a calling card, a giclee art print, and a cool set of stickers, featuring the Persona 5 cast, map locations, and emojis, all presented in a sleek collector's box. This? set is limited to 1500 copies and retails for around £52, (or roughly $67 USD), again, not including shipping costs.

If you'd like to check out either set for yourself, then head on over to the Cook and Becker website. I can't promise that picking up these sets will make you Kawakami's star pupil, but hey, at least you'll be pr?epared when you want to save your progress. The sets are expected to ship in Febr??uary 2020.

The post Persona 5 notebooks w?ill make you the talk of Shujin Academy appeared first on Destructoid.

Gallery Nucleus will host the event

Atlus has announced that it will be teaming up with Gallery Nucleus to put on a Persona 5 Royal and Catherine: Full Body art gallery in LA next month. Similar to what Sega held last year for Yakuza 6, this exhibition will be a showcase of various pieces related to the games in question. There is set to be some kind of interactive installation (likely related to a famous landmark from the game) and a? photo-op wall.

Running from August 17 until September 1, 2019, the showcase will feature tribute art for both title??s as well as pieces created by fans sourced by Gallery Nucleus. Special pieces of licensed Atlus merchandise will be available for purchase during the gallery's duration. Not only that but on opening day, famed character designer Shigenori Soejima will be making an appearance.

Soejima will be present from 1:00 pm PST until 7:00 pm PST on Saturday, August 17. He'll be hosting a special opening day ceremony and panel where fans will be able to ask questions and get items signed. Pre-registration for the openi??ng day event will begin on August 2 over on Eventbrite. While admission is free, spots will be limited, so make sure to bookmark this page to remind yourself.

The post Atlus to hol?d Persona 5 and Catherine art galleries in LA appeared first on Destructoid.

Dancing all night!

Atlus has announced that Persona 5 will be adapted into a stage play for Japanese audiences. Going under the name of Persona 5: The Stage, this live-action retelling follows in the footsteps of both Persona 3 and 4 as a new vision of the beloved story. Penned by Hideyuki Nishimori (known for his work on Danganronpa 3 The Stage), the show ?is set to run from December 13-15, 2019 in Osaka and Tokyo.

The plot will be a retelling of the events in the game and will follow Joker -- played by Hiroki Ino -- and his band of Phantom Thieves as they utilize the powers of their Personas to steal the hearts of corrupted adults to help them change their ways. There is also plenty of high school drama and dungeon crawling, which are? series staples.

The full cast list can be seen below:

• Joker: Hiroki Ino
• Ryuji: Kouhei Shiota
• Ann: Yuki Odera
• Akechi: Yoshihide Sasaki
• Yusuke: Koji Kominami
• Sae: Kaoru Marimura
• Yuuki: Taishu Nukanobu
• Shiho: Yuu Saotome
• Principal: Takuy Yamagishi
• Kamoshida: Shun Takagi

Persona 5 Is Getting A Stage Play, Just Like Persona 3 & 4 [Siliconera]

The post Persona ?5 to be adapted into a Japanese stage play appeared first on Destructoid.

This time we'll ALL see it coming

The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu features a slew of interesting tidbits about Persona 5 The Royal, the updated edition of Atlus' super-successful 2017 RPG. The new info was garnered during an interview with Director Daik?i Itoh and P??roducer Kazuhisa Wada.

Firstly, the duo revealed that "The Royal" subheader reflects the idea that the team holds this release in high regard as a particularly special product. This was then followed with a variety of comments pertaining to the release's character and gameplay alterations. The XP system has been tweaked in order to help the overall pace and tempo of the game - easily its biggest issue - although that may be contradicted with the addition of a third semester, which will apparently go beyond the scope of previous expansions such as Persona 4 Golden.

In regards to characters, new girl Kasumi will allow the story to show preexisting leads in a new light. Kasumi will also be an optional Confidant. Speaking of Confidants, all-new character Maruki will be joining the long list of shitty adults featured in the Persona 5 ca?st. Although unwilling to reveal further details, Itoh and Wada hinted that there are further Confidants to be rev?ealed. I hope one of them is the person running the DVD library.

Fans of Persona 5's jazz-oriented score will be pleased to hear that 20 new tracks will be added to the soundtrack. We'll have to wait and see if these are entirely new tracks or just remixes, but more Persona music is never a bad thing. It was also noted that, unfortunately, you will not be able to carry over your save data from Persona 5, but y??ou will receive an undisclosed bonus for having it saved on?? your PS4.

Finally, it was said that, at one point in the story, "a handsome male character" sle?eps in Joker's bed alongside him. This is probably a reference to the rumoured "Human Morgana" that has shown up in several early screenshots.

I'm a fan of Persona 5, but I'm really not sure if I have it in me to run through the entire game again. I guess I'll just have to wait and see if I get hook?ed with future reveals of new characters, or perhaps other fun and unique features. Still, make Sae Nijima a party member, and you can have all of my money. All of it. Today and going forward into the future.

Persona 5 The Royal launches on PS4 in Japan October ??31, before heading west in 2020.

Persona 5 The Royal information from Weekly Famitsu [Gematsu / Ryokutya2089]

The post New info on Persona ?5 The Royal includes confidants, save data, pacing t?weaks and more appeared first on Destructoid.

In the name of the lore

Japanese gaming journal Famitsu are asking for fan feedback for English language editions of their Persona 5 "Mementos" fan-books. A new survey wants to hear about yo??ur experience with the game, as well as your thoughts on its cast of lovable characters and Goro Akechi.

The first volume of the series is already available in Japan, containing the answers to community questions such as "How did Ann and Shiho first meet?" accompanied by delightful new artwork. Each volume will cover a chronological time-frame of the Persona 5 calendar, with Volume 2 looking at? the second and third palaces, along?? with the official formation of The Phantom Thieves.

If you'd like to throw your own thoughts and questions into the hat, then check out the survey right here. This is the perfect opportunity for me to learn all about nobody's Best Girl but mine, Ichiko Ohya, while also finding out why the owner of the DVD library never charges you late fees. Persona 5 is available now on PS4. An updated edition, Persona 5 The Royal, will launch in Japan later this year.

Famitsu wants to hear from English-speaking Persona 5 fans [Siliconera / Famitsu]

The post Famitsu?? wants to hear your Persona 5 memories for fan book series appeared first on Destructoid.

Babybabybabybabybabybabybaby...

[Update: Day 1 was great! Day 2 begins about 03:30 PT / 06:30 ET?? / ??11:30 BST. You can watch over at Niconico, or in the Twitter embed at the bottom of this page. Enjoy!]

Atlus has announced that they will be streaming this week's Persona music concert online, allowing fans who aren't stationed in Japan the opportunity to check out the two-day live event, featuring a cavalcade of music from the JRPG ser?ies.

The splutteringly-titled Persona Super Live P-Sound Street 2019: Welcome to No. Q Theater! concerts take place tomorrow, April 24 and Thursday, April 25 at the Ryougoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. If the last show is anything to go by, it will feature artists performing music from the Persona titles to a jam-packed audience, accompanied by lots of glo-sticks and cosplaying dancers.

But if you can't be there in the flesh, then take heart that both gigs will be made available to watch on Niconico and the official Persona Twitter. The streams begin around 19:30 JST on both days. That's about 11:30 BST and?? a bleary-eyed 03:30 PT, so those?? of you in the states might want to hope for VOD.

It is also expected that, during these events, we will receive more news concerning the upcoming Persona 5: The Royal and Persona 5 S titles wh??ich have been teased within recent m?onths.

Persona Super Live 2019 live stream announced [Gematsu]

「PERSONA SUPER LIVE 2019ã€é–“ã‚‚ãªãé–‹æ¼”ï¼
ニコニコプレミアム会員ãªã‚‰ãƒ©ã‚¤ãƒ–ã‚’ã¯ã˜ã‚ã‹ã‚‰è¦³ã‚‰ã‚Œã‚‹ãœï¼//t.co/U1myK9FF3r

19:30é ƒã‹ã‚‰ã¯Twitterã§ã‚‚é…ä¿¡ï¼æ¥½ã—ã¿ã«ã—ã¦ã¦ãれよãªï¼//t.co/Fl2CzZPU7e #ペルライ #PSS2019

— モルガナ_ペルソナ広報 (@p_kouhou) April 24, 2019

The post (Update) Persona? Super Live 2019 concert will be available to?? watch on stream appeared first on Destructoid.

You're surrounded by weaklings... They sneak up on you?

It's been a pretty neat day for Persona fans. First we had day one of the great Persona Super Live P-Sound Street 2019: Welcome to No. Q Theater! concert, which was then followed by further info on the upcoming Persona 5 The Royal release, heading to PS4 in Japan later this year and worldwide in 2020.

But if that wasn't enough, now we have a string of ultra-cute photos of the next Phantom Thief to be immortalised in Figma form. Futaba Sakura - also known by her Phantom Thief pseudonym Oracle - is now available to pre-order over at the Good Smile website. The cheeky braini??ac stands a dinky 5.3 inches high and features Figma's trademark articulation, so you can stand he??r in all sorts of dynamic poses.

Rocking her casual out-and-about gear, Futaba also comes with her trusty smartphone, as well as a series of alternate hands, her creepy giant doll head mask, and a selection of alternate faceplates. If you pre-order Futaba direct from Good Smile you get ?an exclusive "sad" faceplate. What kind of monster would use that?!

If you want to pre-order your own Oracle to guide you through some troubling times, then head on over to the Good Smile website, Futaba is priced at ¥7,260 (roughly $65) not including shipping or any relevant customs charges??. Futaba Sakura is expected to ship? in November 2019.

Futaba Sakura Figma now available for pre-order [Good Smile Co.]

The post Persona 5’s Futaba Sakura Figma coming to pinch your cheeks appeared first on Destructoid.

October 31 in the east

During Atlus' Persona 5 concert stream, the publisher gave us more juicy info on the upcoming Persona 5 re-release, and it's surprisingly not just Japan-relat??ed. Okay so most of it is.

Atlus explained that Persona 5 The Royal will launch on October 31 in the region, and will sport an extra Phantom Thieves member: Kasumi Yoshizawa. Atlus promises more info in May, and Atlus USA confirmed that the western edition would arrive sometime in 2020. The Japanese landing page clarifies (thanks Nibel!) that thi?s version has 4K/Pro support, new songs, and new characters (in addition to the aforementio??ned Kasumi).

While Persona 5 is a roughly 100 hour endeavor, nearly everyone I've interacted with would do it all over again (myself included!) with the original release, much less an enhanced Royal one. The implications for Royal are massive, as folks still play the re-releases of past Persona games years after the fact. I can see myself digging out my PS4 (or PS5, if the backward compatibility claims are accurate) 20 years from now to boot up Persona 5 again. More SKUs m?eans more copies in the wild and less chance of this fantastic game being lost to time.

Persona is also arguably in the best shape its ever been. While the Persona 4 Golden era was resplendent indeed, Joker's appearance in Super Smash Bros. is a huge win for Atlus, not to mention The Royal or?? any number of rumors swirling regarding Switch releases. I'll never? forget how scrappy this series was when my cousin showed me his copy of the original. Now it's practically an institution.

Atlus USA [Twitter]

The post Persona 5 The Royal is out later this year in Ja??pan, 202??0 in the west appeared first on Destructoid.

It's the latest PlayStation Hit

If you or someone you know slept on Persona 5 these past coup?le years, now's the time to think about waking up (or at least rolling onto your side). The high-school RPG is sporting a red PlayStation Hits banner, and that box art adjust?ment comes with a new price tag. The game now costs $20.

Two year?s later, the Phantom Thieves are still at it. This time, they've snuck ??their way onto the PlayStation Hits lineup!

Get Persona 5 on PlayStation 4 now for only $19.99!//t.co/zA3ApHQ161 pic.twitter.com/QCrahdqt81

— Atlus U.S.A., Inc. (@AtlusUSA) April 5, 2019

The lowered price point is already reflected on the PlayStation Store if you don't mind buying digital.

With lots of Persona buzz in the air as of late, the timing here is curious. We don't know much about Persona 5: The Royal and we know even less about Persona 5 S, but one thing's for sure: twenty bucks?? is??n't bad at all. What a pleasant way to celebrate the game's two-year anniversary in the West.

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Is this the Switch version?

Atlus has launched a teaser website for a project called Persona 5 S. Much like how Persona 5 R ended up becoming Persona 5: The Royal, this new project is likely to be ano??ther version of the popular JRPG. Whether this will become the rumored Switch version is yet to be seen, but I think it is incredibly likely?? at this point.

What makes me believe that is a date of "April 25, 2019" on the website. Since Joker will be coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sometime this month, we may have just gotten confirmation of a port to Nintendo's console and a release date for the new fighter all at once. Or maybe this is a Steam versio??n since the S could mean a lo?t of things.

Gematsu dug into the source code of the websit?e and found this message:

Calling Card

April 25, 2019.

We will show you a new P??hantom Thieves that will turn the world's cognition?? on its head.

We are energized by voices that seek sat?isfaction.

Once again, we? will take your heart at the Ryougoku Kokugikan.

—From the Phantom Thieves.

That doesn't clear up much, but something is coming at the end of the ??month. We'll just have?? to be patient.

Persona 5 S teaser website launched [Gematsu]

The post Persona 5 S gets a teaser site with vague info appeared first on Destructoid.

Go Directly To Bed, Do Not Collect $200

_{Header Image: Box art commissioned from MangAsep}

Talented tabletop game designer Brother Ming has created a great looking new game based on Atlus smash-hit RPG Persona 5. The Unofficial Persona 5 Phan-Game includes characters and events from the Phantom Thieves escapades, whilst capturing the slick style of Persona 5's unique look.

The game can be played alone (yes!) or in co-op with a friend if you have one. Taking only around 30-40 minutes to for one session, players select a Phantom Thief and have one in-game month take down one of three bosses; creep??y gym asshole Kamoshida, art wanker Madarame, or shady businessman Okumura.

Players use cards to build stats, battle foes and infiltrate the palace. You can even call on Persona 5's famous confidants for help (including best goof Ichiko Ohya). As in the original PS4 title, time management is of the utmost importance, balancing out your school life with your antics in Mementos. It's an awesome endeavour, and a helluva lot?? more?? creative than yet more Funko Pops.

Best of all, the game is free! You can download and print out the game direct from Brother Ming's site, or you can play it in Steam release Tabletop Game Simulator.  For more info on Brother Ming's games, you can visit his website and Patreon account.

The post Phan-made Perso??na 5 tabletop game squ?eezes the RPG into 30 minutes of fun appeared first on Destructoid.

By Sea Handler Art

I am a simple man: when I see Game Boy Advance era art, I'm imme??diately d?rawn to it.

Created by Sea Handler Art, this fantastic rendition brings the Phantom Thieves to the forefront of a bygone handheld, and I have to say, it fits. Although the Game Boy Advance was around after the Persona series was invented we never really got to see the two meet: though there were a few Shin Megami Tensei mainline and spinoff titles produced for it.

I hope the Game Boy Advance makes a comeback again, whether it's by way of the new incarnation of the Virtual Console on Switch or a "GBA Classic" device. Given that it can play original Game Boy and Game Boy Color joints it would be perfect for the treatme??nt.

Persona 5 for the Game Boy Advance. Coming April 4th 2003 #pixelart pic.twitter.com/5m0bnbu2jr

— Sea Handler Art (@seahandlerart) January 14, 2019

The post Persona 5 as a Game Boy Advance Game? Yeah, I’d play it appeared first on Destructoid.

Possibly a Switch port?

Atlus is teasing something big for Persona fans. Just today, the company uploaded a teaser for the announcement of Persona 5 R. What t?hat possibly could be is anyone's guess, because the teaser trailer simply has protagonist Joker asking everyone to come back in March of 2019. I suppose this could be a Switch port, but it seems more likely that this will be a re-release with added content (especially with that PlayStation logo).

Lending credence to that guess is the announcement of a final chapter for Persona 5: The Animation. This one-off special - "Stars and Ours" - will also be broadcast in March 2019 and is set to conclude th??e events of the anime adaptation.

If Persona 5 does remain a Sony exclusive, there is always the possibility that this will be DLC for the base game instead of a new SKU. With Joker heading to Smash Ultimate, though, I don't think this will remain on one platform. Maybe I'm being too hope??ful, but I would dig ??a PC port alongside a Switch version.

P5R予告 [atlustube via YouTube]

@P5_anime [Twitter]

The post Atlus teases the announcement of Persona 5 R appeared first on Destructoid.

Is 'Persona 5 R' on the horizon?

Yesterday, publisher Atlus updated one of its domains pertaining to billion-hour RPG Persona 5, leading some fans to believe a revamped edition of the Palace-hopping game is to be announced soon. The discovery was made by dedicated website Persona Central.

"P5R.JP" was first discovered in April of this year, but yesterday the domain was moved from its status as a landing page to Atlus' named servers, this is a similar modus operandi to the previous reveals of titles such as Persona Q2, Catherine: Full Body and the Persona Dancing titles, all of which were upda????ted a fortnight before their official announcements.

Of course, none of this is confirmed proof of anything, but given previous entries Persona 3 and Persona 4 received alternate editions in FES, Portable and Golden, it stands to reason that a Persona 5 update is something that we should all see com?ing.

Possible Persona 5 R announcement imminent [Persona Central]

The post Enhanced Persona 5 release rumoured? after Atlus update domain appeared first on Destructoid.