RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

As the title may have suggested, Atlus announced that an anime adaptation of Persona 4 Golden is in production. The show will be broadcast in Japan starting in July.

Source: Gematsu

A pending update for Lord of Vermillion Re:2, Square Enix’s arcade card game, will add characters from the Persona series as summon magic. Persona 4‘s Yuu Narukami is the first to be confirmed, but others from P4 and P3 will be included.

Source: Andriasang

Atlus has just released an update for the arcade version of Persona 4: Arena, making adjustments to basic gameplay and character balance. For those who can read Japanese, a full list of the changes is available here; likely, adjustments are being made with the console adaptation in mind.

Atlus has announced that Persona 4: Golden, the Vita redux of Persona 4, will see a North American release this fall.

Source: Joystiq

In a recent interview, Kazuhisa Wada, Atlus’s director of development for Persona 4 Arena, spoke about bringing the recently-released arcade game to consoles. Continue reading ‘Persona 4 Arena Director Discusses Console Versions’ »

With the shiny new English title of Persona 4: Arena, Atlus revealed the Persona 4 fighting game will be making an appearance on North American PS3s and 360s this summer. The Japanese-only arcade variant – The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena – will go live starting March 1.

Additionally, Enterbrain – publisher of Famitsu – announced that they are releasing a special Famitsu DX pack for Persona 4: The Golden. Sold exclusively through Enterbrain’s site, the ¥10,290 package includes a multi-pouch designed like Marie’s bag, a set of ten postcards, and six A3 posters alongside the game itself.

Source: Andriasang

On the off chance that your life was hanging in the balance, you’ll be relieved to know Persona 4: The Golden will employ bikes both in and out of combat. Once you’ve gotten a license for a bike, characters will be able to perform bike-based attacks in battle, and you can also ride over to neighboring towns and other areas for certain events.

Additionally, it was revealed that studio Mad House will be handling the game’s opening animation.

Source: Andriasang

And speaking of quirky Japanese things, Famitsu has revealed that Persona 4: The Golden – that being the Vita remake of Persona 4 – will include a few new elements. Players will be able to execute a joint attack with their two party members, and outfit changes will be reflected in combat. There are also new events, namely one at a ski resort and another at an inn.

Source: Andriasang

Bidding for the coveted title of “Least Expected Stage Adaptation,” Atlus and Marvelous AQL announced that Persona 4 will see a theatrical production. Titled Visualive Persona 4, the event combines live performances with special effects and will run from March 15 to March 20 at the Sunshine Theater in Ikebukuro. Playing the main character is one Toru Baba, who apparently was in a musical – sorry, musicals, plural – about MAQL’s Prince of Tennis.

I have not yet abandoned the possibility that this is a very convincing figment of my imagination.

Source: Andriasang

Good evening! Never too late for media time, so without further ado here’s what we have for today: Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga, Maho Shojo Madoka Magica Portable, Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena, Ragnarok: Hikari to Yami no Koujo, and RPG Maker DS+. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 10/02/11’ »

Searching for duplicates of Makai Kingdom PSP media is ever so fun, right up there with smashing yourself in the face with a brick. Anyway, it’s media time, and it’s a biggie. In additional to the aforementioned Makai Kingdom PSP, we have 7th Dragon 2020, Dark Souls, Diablo III, Heroes’ Phantasia, Grand Knight’s History, Persona 4: The Golden, and Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena. Dig in! Continue reading ‘Mass Media 09/07/11’ »

Finally got to upload this, would’ve had it earlier if not for an inopportune (though easily fixed) network hiccup.  Anyway, hope you’re all enjoying the beautiful Labor Day weekend!  It’s time for the news:

• Famitsu unveiled a cornucopia of Persona news: a Vita port of 4, a fighting game, and a lot of dancing around Persona 5.  So much speculation, so little time.
• Bethesda does the timed exclusivity song-and-dance with Skyrim DLC, setting a new record by doing so before the game launches.  The power of the money hat is strong.
• Zeboyd Games gets a crack at Penny Arcade Adventures: Really Long Subtitle: Episode 3.  Don’t underestimate them; Breath of Death VII is deceptively good.
• Sony plans another head-mounted TV screen monstrosity.  No, Sony, the “3D” part of it doesn’t make it any more likely to succeed than your last attempt.
• Square Enix plans to boost the staff at Eidos Montreal, Doom‘s 17-year ban in Germany is removed, and more!
• Plus, a spotlight on the recent financial workings of Zynga, Groupon, and LinkedIn: fuzzy accounting practices, pending market headaches, and the SEC asking pointed questions like “Why do all these numbers have asterisks by them?” and “Why did your accountant introduce himself with air quotes?”

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Summon Your Accountant’ »

Recent news has put Persona back in the spotlight, with the announcement of a Vita port for Persona 4, a fighting game adaptation, and hints of a possible Persona 5 in the works. Speaking with Famitsu, Persona studio head Katsura Hashino revealed a few scraps of info for each title: Continue reading ‘Persona Director Comments on Series News’ »

This week’s Famitsu carries a veritable Persona news bonanza, starting with Atlus’ announcement of a PS Vita remake of Persona 4, subtitled The Golden. The Vita remake will add, among other things, a new character, additional voice acting, new animation movies, and wireless support to call on others for help while in a dungeon. The Golden is set for a spring 2012 release.

Less expected is Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena, a 2D fighter co-developed by Arc System Works. This mouthful of a title is set two years after Persona 4, and reportedly features characters from both Persona 4 and Persona 3. It’s scheduled to hit arcades in spring 2012, followed by PS3 and 360 adaptations in summer of that same year.

Lastly, Famitsu revealed a few of the names currently working on the next main entry, Persona 5. Series veterans are returning in their usual capacity, specifically Katsura Hashino as director, Shigenori Soejima as character designer, and Shouji Meguro as main composer.

Source: Andriasang

Happy Sunday, folks! Yeah, I know, getting up for work is no fun, so why not put off going to bed a little while longer? Stick around and let’s talk some news. In today’s award* winning** broadcast:

• Wii 2 speculation is a go: higher definition, screens in the controller, competitive specs with the 360 and PS3.  Well, at least two are plausible.
• 3DS to sell 11.6 million units by year end, or, to hear doomsayers tell it, “3DS UNDERSELLS DS BY 1.6 MILLION!”
• iOS/Android get a better share of the handheld market.  Analysts jump to conclusions speculate how this affects Nintendo.
• Stardock’s Wardell insists that Half-Life 2 Episode 3 has been delayed because of Steam.  I, too, have trouble finishing things when I’m making $Texas.  Of course I have trouble even without the money, a trait that Valve seems to share.
• Mass Effect and Persona 4 get “the animes.”  Ohhh goody.
• Jay Walker, of Walker Digital: Suing everybody over alleged minor IP violations erry day.

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – The Other Half of Wii’s Life’ »

An animated series based on Persona 4 is on the way, care of producer Aniplex and the Index Corporation.  Officially dubbed Persona 4: The Animation, it will feature several voice actors reprising their roles from the game, including Daisuke Namikawa, Showtaro Morikubo, Yui Horie, and Ami Koshimizu.  Apart from launching the official site, Index also released a teaser trailer, which can be found over on the YouTubes.

Source: AnimeNews

There’s a mouthful for you. Hello, me good smilin’ friends! In today’s thrilling episode:

• Xenogears arrives on PSN, nostalgia ensues.
• Name your kid Dovahkiin, get free Bethesda games: madness, or radness? Probably madness.  Although…
• Atlus tops Japanese sales charts, is probably fun to hang out with on the weekends.
• Vietnam begins banning online gaming between 10pm and 8am.  Now who’s lost in fantasy?
• Deus Ex: Human Revolution personal media blackout begins now, and will last until I have to index more about the game.
• PSP price drop, Unreal Engine 3 on the NGP, and Ubisoft’s Beyond Good & Evil proposition.

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Atlus Breaks Internet Curfew in Stolen DeLorean’ »

The Shin Megami Tensei series has been around since 1992 and Persona since its 1996 debut on the PlayStation, but it never really took off in North America until the third game. Persona 4 takes up the mantle to build on Persona 3‘s momentum — and does so successfully. Persona 4‘s graphical style and gameplay engine are carry-overs from its predecessor, but the designers have made a number of tweaks and balance changes allowing for less level grinding, better battles, and an enjoyable experience overall that even surpasses Persona 3. Continue reading ‘Persona 4 – Staff Review #2’ »

Today we have some sceens from: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time, Chrono Trigger DS, and Persona 4. Continue reading ‘Mass Screenshots 12/11/08’ »

Now that Persona 4 for the PlayStation 2 is on store shelves in North America, Atlus with the help of Square Enix will be bringing the game to PAL territories this spring. No specific date has been set nor a PAL rating, though the game was rated M for Mature by the ESRB.