I just got Persona 3 this week. This is, for me, my FFVII-it's getting me into RPGs! Such a brilliant game.

I was looking at the Persona 3 review on IGN where I came across this ad, like the "Time" one on the Atlus page, but it practically gives it away.

[smg.photobucket.com]

Rocky_Winston

Oh... NOW they announce (possibly announce) it?! Damnit... Oh well, I'd still get it... Persona 3 was great :D

MetaKz

I have been kicking myself so hard that I didn't grab this game back when it came out. I'm not quite desperate enough to get scalped for it, but a reprint would make all my worries disappear.

cheez

@insertinear: front Spoiler: you can do more persona merging later in game so yes it does pick up. : rear spoiler. lol honda civic!

GrimaceXL

Sweet news, I just picked up Persona 3 and I'm impressed.

Morberis

@insertinear: Most of the major events, like big story progressions and boss fights, take place on the full moon.

epherlite

Got a friend that is on the inside with some Atlus folks. He says not to get your hopes up on FES but won't give any definite information either way due to their NDA.

He hinted at a possible reprinting like Disgaea. But Disgaea didn't get a counter either. He could have just been feeding me a line, though.

xopher314

OMG Yes I will buy two please.

Bluejuan85

Absolutely will buy. I'm always up for burning my dread!

Sugoi

Is there a point where persona 3 picks up and becomes really awesome? I've been tortuously playing it but I'm not very motivated to continue. The game seems to progress really slowly and theres not much to do aside from merge different personas.

insertinear

@Slashlen: OIC!

Okay, now I'll let my inner fanboy out. Persona 3 was my favorite game of last year and one of my favorite games ever. I just didn't want to get my hopes up for FES only to be disappointed, you know?

Now, if you'll excuse me.

*Strips naked and runs in circles.*

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Lezard

If it's the expansion disc version only, I sure hope the store I've ordered the game from didn't make a mistake on their "in stock" notification. If it's the director's cut, then I sure hope the store I've ordered the game from DID make a mistake on their "in stock" notification :P

Demaar

I'm not even finished Megaten3 yet! FFS. Thanks Atlus for treating us NA folk like first rate citizens. Now I have something to wake up in the morning for. Usually I would just sleep in or cut myself.

GrimaceXL

I'll definitely be getting this. Persona 3 was extremely enjoyable.

YotaruVegeta

@Slashlen: I knew I saw that door somewhere, nice find.

AznSlackerType

@Lezard:

Check out this vid of Persona 3's opening.

+ Watch video

Go to about the 54 second mark.

Then you will understand why there should be no debate about this.

Slashlen

Uh...doesn't Baroque come out next Tuesday?

Lezard

There is a god, and I think he works at Atlus...

Slashlen

@Simkin-phd: @Sparx88: Refer to Simkin's post. That being said, waaay back when, I remember reading a bunch of hype about the first persona game back on PS1. Picked up a copy, played about 10 hours and hated it. Wow, a RPG set in...High School? IIRC, I had just recently graduated. No way in hell did I want to go back :) I prefer my RPG's to be Role-Playing, as in giant-ass swords, magic, and scantily clad babes. Especially since I lived the skinny-high-school-kid-role in real life.

futonhead

@antimony: I can even beat that! I still have ALL THREE waiting to be played...still going through Lunar SSS and Zelda Phantom Hourglass right now, and I'm not sure if I want to go the old school route with Persona or start with Okami, a game I began to play but only got about four hours into before life caught up with me.

Will definitely be buying this though! Whatever it may be!

Fierfaerie

If this isn't Fes I swear I'll lose faith in atlus.... I take that back, still want Fes though

AznSlackerType

it's about time. I love Persona 3.

superbeast1370

This is great news. Persona 3= My favorite RPG. FES= Most looked forward to expansion pack ever (for me).

mcrproductions

I sure hope so.

Cagalli

@grayscale:
I can beat that: Persona 2 and 3 are both still in my to-play stack. Too many good games, too little time.

antimony

Looks like I better sell my two copies of Persona 3 ASAP.

SageofAnacostia

I dunno if any of you guys did this yet, but, if you right click the Flash movie, it shows up with a date and time of February 25th, 2008 06.00.00 AM.

What it means? P3 is still in my pile of shame, shrink-wrapped :(

grayscale

Anyone seen the funny line in the webpage code?

"name="hello person looking at code this will not help you""

iceketch

Honestly. Its hard to tell what its for. There is a message in the source code that says "you looking at the code, it wont help you" and then just above it, like someone else said, it reveals "traumacenterlayout" which could be just misdirection. If anyone can find this swf file on their temp folders, I'm sure theres got to be a way to make the clock go down to zero and reveal the TRUTH!

KentKarma

I am so getting this game. There was a post on gamefaqs, about the countdown timer there too yesterday, and of course it's going to be FES. I just need to finish my 2nd playthrough, asap! This is one of my favorite rpg's, and definitely the one I spend close to 150 hours on it so far.

zerokoolpsx

@JohnnyHundo: Your mind will change as you get later into the game!

onidavin

i really wanted to get persona 3 but it was out of stock in only a few months and almost twice retail on auction. man, i really hope altus gives me another chance to get the game (perferably FES bundled with the original if possible) cause i gots ODIN Sphere as well as Disgaea. I'm pretty much an atlus fan now

lakeforty5

Whew... being 35 hours into the original release I think I'll skip the special edition, because 80-90 hours is a long time in itself to devote to a game.

But you have to hand it to Atlus - they packed in the value.

Fun game, addicting, but not brilliant. Definitely special, but not brilliant.

Glad that games like this are made. And if I didn't have the original release, I'd preorder FES now.

JohnnyHundo

Wow, FES. And the announcement coming just a few days after I finished the game. Great news, indeed. Let's hope they make an excellent bundle out of it.

FarOutFreak

awesomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee i want my copy nowwww

scion14

I still need to grab Persona 3, but I've got no money and nobody is selling it. Maybe I should check Fred Meyer.

TheCleaningGuy

If that's coming to the US they'd better get it to Europe too - we're getting P3 at the end of this month and even before I have it I already want more. The Digital Devil Saga games were some of my favourite games on the PS2, and I'm hoping P3 will be in the same league.
It better run on the PS3 though, I'm too used to my wireless controller these days :D

Zastai

Atlus always make such awesome games. They are my favourite right up there with Nintendo and Capcom.

Superstar90 lieks mudkipz

I hope they do, but I realllllly hope that I can use my save file from the original release to start a New Game + with all my stats & equipment & persona compendium in tact. I'd just as soon not have to start over from scratch.

baked ham

@pearceshea -- not only are Persona 2: Innocent Sin and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment pretty intrinsically related, but EP also brings back a couple of characters from Persona 1, some in minor roles and 2 as party members. There're a fair amount of hidden references to Persona 1 there as well, although nothing you'll notice if you haven't played it.

But yeah, P3 is pretty much entirely its own animal.

JaydedOne

Please do, Atlus. Please do.

Boko

How's about they bundle it all together and release it for the Wii? That would make my pants happy.

evilmregg

original persona 3 and unlike those unlucky joes on joystiq, I HAVE ODIN SPHERE!

NocturnOwl357

So will I still need my original Persona disk to play this, or should I unload it now?

petrieslastword

let it be and let it be like 20 bucks so i can by it

mossberg

This is most awesome. For all the people that wanted FFX International, FFX-2 International plus last mission, Kingdom Hearts Director's cut, etcetera etcetera, now its your chance to say that it would actually be worth it to bring it.

I think I'm getting it regardless but I hope that it's done like in Japan (A cheaper expansion disc, and a collectors set with both the game and expansion).

I wonder if P3 actually made greatest hits and they are releasing FES that way (like silent hill 2 plus on ps2).

Seiryuu

Maybe a North American re-release with PS3 capabilities?

Caduceus

@Knoxximus (360/PSN): I believe in Japan they released it as a stand alone, and in a directors set with the original persona 3 disc.

Kyoya

@PearceShea: Their are also some in jokes about the persona series (the MMORPG the character sometimes plays in the game is titled after one of the persona 2 titles and the characters in the game are the same as characters in persona 2. All in all each persona game deals with High School Kids who learn about persona, and Social interactions. Persona 3 had their social interaction with other kids in the school, but persona 2's social interaction with monsters and rumors spreading was awesome and unique game mechanic that no one has since replicated.

I was temped to buy FES while I was in Japan, but decided I would support a US release instead. Heres to Atlus listening to its fans!!!!!!

Simkin-phd

Sweet! Can't wait for Episode Aegis! (Or would that be Aigis? Japanese Engrish pronunciation aside, why'd they go and change the spelling of her name?!?). P3 was the gem of 2007, and will always and forever hold a place in my heart as one of the best games ever.

BTW, the article spelled Persona 3 FES incorrectly as Personal 3 FES. An extra 'l' in there.

Shadowmist

Time to spend another 80 hours on persona, have been meaning to play through it again anyways.

Kyoya

*squeals*

Persona 3 was easily my favorite game last year and pretty much at ends with Okami for my favorite game ever. This makes me as excited as I'll ever be. This is really, really good news.

aurahack

I actually was able to pick this game up at Fred Meyer in my area in Alaska. No one bought this game. And now it's 80 bucks on eBay and Amazon. When I saw that this was the case I figured it was time to stop stalling and pick up Persona 3.

A great choice. Persona 3 is a great game!

nobodysleeps

@PearceShea: Actually, both versions of P2 relate.

onidavin

Super excited. Persona 3 is absolutely amazing.

onidavin

@Laxcat: Slow and steady wins the race I would say :p

Uchikoma

Huzzah! Another thing I get to look forward to. =)

Ashelia

NICE! Persona 3 was awesome

SolidOni_ds

@kingclip: the best being ffx-2 right? i kid i kid... so what is the best in your opinion?

damn, a persona 3: fes announcement would totally make my day... my birthday actually. i beat persona 3 at 90+ hours and would sure as hell do it again (assuming new game+ works for fes with the old persona 3 file, which i believe should work).

phrequency

Oh hell yes...I hope they do this. I want the rest of the FES stuff!

Rebochan

Most likely@endaround:

Jim Reilly

good stuff!

Streeks1984

I hope they do both, might as well add the extras in from the first as they can do another press. Us Persona fans would more than likely buy up the same game with added features.

RPGr

bout time!

RPGr

So does this mean Atlus will also be doing another press run of Persona 3?

endaround

Atlus <3

atomos

Question is, will they released the stand alone expansion that has both the original game and new content? Or will it be the add-on disc that complements the original (read: you need to have the P3 disc already)? Or, hopefully, both?

Knoxximus (360/PSN)

Well Atlus tends to deliver what the fans want, unlike a certain company that makes IM@S. And I'll be getting FES. Thanks.

Lyner

When will these guys learn that the only thing those counters indicate is when the server is going to crash.

xot

I keep hearing about these games but never looked into them. Sounds like something I might enjoy but I need more information first

Sparx88

I didn't know such a thing existed. Want! Any speculation on it's price?

JenovasWitness

Very exciting for the second best RPG on the PS2. I sure wish they'd make some PS3 announcements, but I'm with you Fahey, Atlus = win.

kingclip

@AEREC: There is no storyline continuation between any of the persona games. They just all have a similar gameplay and aesthetic. That said the whole "Shin Megami Tensai" share a lot of things... They're some of my favorite games.

PearceShea

GIVE! I loved Persona 3.

Tale

I LOVED Persona 3, but it was way too long. It felt like it should have ended more like November than January, at a certain point it felt like they were just padding things. This is why I'm torn about this expansion. Loved the game, but the game was just too longer. I'd rather just see a similar sequel than just an add on with some new story at the end.

Spiral

I really liked the little I played of Persona 3. Too bad there's no way I'll ever finish it. Who has time for an 80+ hour game these days?

Laxcat

Ive heard alot about Persona 3...is it related storywise to the previous two persona games? It's ahrd for me to get into a game in the middle of the series...and I think the first two games will be too hard to find.

AEREC

@Most Wanted:

Ssssssssshun the non believer!

Guild_Navigator

Page source indicates that the flash is called traumacnterlayout.

Most Wanted

Even though I haven't finished Persona 3 yet - this excites me. Particularly in the pants region.

Any Persona news is good news, indeed!

NeoNess

cool, looks like resisting the temptation to buy p3 on ebay for 70$ paid off :D

Spiral

Excellent. Here I thought they were going forget to bring it over. My neck beard salutes you, Atlus.

Guild_Navigator