Well, the rumors are true. After an agonizing, week-long countdown on their site (not to mention voice actors spilling the beans early), Atlus has finally shared the big news: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3: FES is coming stateside on April 22.
P3:FES is quite a package -- not only does it include a ton of extra content for the original game (23 new personas, new social links, new weapons, and about 30 more hours of storyline), but also what could be considered a direct sequel, titled Episode Aegis. I can't say I know a lot about Episode Aegis, but it seems to feature Aegis as the main character (duh), and continues after the events of the original, culimating in the "true" ending.
In Japan, FES was released as an add-on disc (which required a save file from the original), but Atlus is shying away from that route for the U.S. release: "We will be releasing the stand-alone version of FES... we didn't want you to have to own anything else to enjoy the experience," says an Atlus fanclub e-mail containing the announcement. At a $29.99 price point, FES sounds like a great deal, as original copies of Persona 3 can get quite pricey nowadays.
As someone who played and enjoyed P3, I don't know how excited I am about this. It sounds like a great deal for those of you who haven't had the joys of playing through the original (and, really, you're doing yourselves a disservice), but with Baroque on its way, I don't know that I'll have time to sink into it.
Oh, who am I kidding? I know I'll snap this up when it drops in April, if only for Episode Aegis.
Hit the gallery for some screenshots and some badass art FES artwork, and hit the jump for a new teaser and a presser.
Here's the press release:
Months of trying to keep FES a secret are now behind us (which means all of us here can reflect on just how futile an effort that was).
So what's the big deal about Persona 3 FES? "FES" is short for "Festival," and in Japan, FES was released as a reward for gamers who picked up the original. Not only does the new FES content enhance the original game, but the new FES component is actually a game in and of itself, accessible right from the get-go. We think of it as two games on one disc. It is the definitive Persona 3 experience.
We will be releasing the stand-alone version of FES. There was of course the option of just releasing the "Append" disc (which would have required ownership of the original game), but in the end, we didn't want you to have to own anything else to enjoy the experience.
We'll have a ton more updates going out for FES soon, telling you about the extra features, content, and modes for you to enjoy. Thanks for being patient. We're glad you stuck around.
Oh, and we decided to set the suggested retail for FES at $29.99, just for the heck of it. Thanks for continuing to support us, Atlus Faithful!
Contest:
9:20 AM on 02.25.2008
| 
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
March, Baroque and April, more persona 3. I love you atlus.
I'm 8 or so hours through, I should probably hold off till this comes out.
I couldn't grab P3 last year, so if they didn't release this as the standalone edition I'd have to shell out $70+ for the first game. My only remorse is that this version probably won't come with the art book, but I can always go after that some other time.
Thank you Atlus... may your career be long and EA-free. ;_;
That's what I was wondering too.
@ artraider:
Thanks. I'll be getting this in April for sure!
So it's not quite as big a deal as you're thinking, but it's still quite a big deal.
I'm going to buy this just so I can get the Maya Persona and date Chihiro with it equipped. For lulz. Also: alt costumes for Tartarus exploring. Whoo fighting in swimsuits.
"The Journey section of P3 FES is meant to be played from the start so that you can experience all the new content. If you're in the middle of October in Persona 3, you cannot load that save into Persona 3 FES and pick up in the middle of October in The Journey; you must start a new game at level 1. However, you will be able to load some things from your Persona 3 save into FES. These are:
-Your Academics, Charm, and Courage rankings
-Your discovered Fusion Spells list
-Any key items you possess that unlock Persona fusions
-Your Persona compendium (However, the Personas in your compendium will be reset to their base level, stats, and skills)"
Please release the Fist of the North Star PS2 beat em up too, Atlus.
http://www.atlus.com/persona3/home.html
I like the "buffed" version, it sounds really neat. I may pick it up for the hell of it
@Variable Gear
No, it's a re-release of P3, with the expansion content added in as standard. Disc-based console expansions on console games haven't been popular. Look at it this way: instead of hunting down a used copy deposited at Gamestop without a case, you can buy it again, with that new-game smell at the price of a Dynasty Warriors Xtreme Legends disc!
Where's my preorder page?!
Hooray for Yukari's swimsuit! <3
@Yukari
nice cutoffs
Yes. The only real returning content is on the level of Final Fantasy and Chocobos. P3 has little if any relation to Persona 1 and 2, other than they're all under the banner of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise.
Get iiiiit.
Passed up P3 because I'm a tard but I wont pass this one up!.
I don't know when I'll have time for it though, I'm in the middle of so many games right now. Just recently picked up Rogue Galaxy and Tales of Legendia, but I'm still working on Wild Arms 5, Lost Odyssey, and I still havent finished Valkyrie Profile 2. Honestly I havent even finished P3, but it looks like it can wait a little longer.
Anyway, I'll take the release date being the same date as my best friend's birthday as a sign of awesomeness.
I felt the ending was a bit lame so I'm glad we get to see Episode Aegis....wait Persona 3 isn't out in Europe yet?!
Put this game at the top of your list you won't regret it especially if you're play Tales of Legendia, that game is horrible! no match for symphonia or abyss
*deletes NOT ripped copy off of her NOT modified PS2*
This is such a great game that I felt so guilty that I couldn't play it after I put it on my NOT hard drive. I've been waiting for FES to come to America so I can hand them a large wad of cash (since it doesn't cost as much as I thought it would, I'll just have to hand them all ones) and tell them that I love them and I'm sorry for hurting them and I'll never do it again.
Now lets work on putting the Persona 3 back in print so ol' Onomelon doesn't have to resort to spending $85 on ebay for a copy.
extremely happy to hear:
1) P3:FES is coming stateside
2) you can transfer over things from your old save file
3) P3:FES is coming stateside
took me 100+ hours to get through it the first time, so i guess i'd better gear up for 130!!! damn you Atlus, and thank you!!!
I'm so buying this twice.