Allow us to get your week on track, PlayStation.Blog readers. SOUNDtrack, that is. SIGNED soundtrack, even. That’s right, we’ve got 10 soundtracks graced by the pen/magic marker/writing instrument of one Shoji Meguro, master composer of games like Persona 3 and Persona 4, and we’re giving them away. Here. Just to you folks.
“How do I enter?” you inquire, leaning forward in excitement. Easy! Just tell us what you’re most excited about regarding the upcoming P3P as a comment under this post. Maybe it’s the fact that you can take one of the highest rated RPGs of all time on the road now? Or the cast of memorable characters you just can’t get enough of? Or the dating sim elements? The fantastic music? The great art? The addicting gameplay? The original story?
10 lucky winners will be randomly (or as close to randomly as possible) chosen and sent a SIGNED soundtrack CD. Only North American residents are eligible to win, however. It’s not that we don’t love you rest-of-the-world’ers; we just want to focus this giveaway on the region in which the game is actually releasing.
Why are we doing this? Well, we’d love to use this opportunity to remind you that:
- a) Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable, Atlus’s upcoming handheld RPG epic, is right around the corner, releasing in stores and via PlayStation Network on July 6th.
- b) It features one of the best soundtracks ever, and in order to further emphasize that point, we want to give a few of those soundtracks away. SIGNED.
In case you all are a bit unfamiliar with the P3P soundtrack, perhaps we should share a sample with you:
[audio:https://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/05_Wiping-All-Out_short-3.mp3]
For more music samples, visit the official Persona 3 Portable website!
“The music seems awesome,” you say, pensively prodding your chin with your finger, “but I’m not guaranteed to win it. I just wish there was some cool bonus with Persona 3 Portable that I was guaranteed to receive.”
Funny you’d say that, because there’s still time to pre-order your copy of Persona 3 Portable at a participating retailer (GameStop and Amazon in the United States and Canada) and receive a collectible Junpei Baseball Cap. It’s modeled after the one he wears in the game!
“Wow, they’re sure giving us a lot of physical awesome to celebrate the release of the game, but what about the game itself?” you muse aloud to no one in particular, gently tapping your pointer fingers together in front of your mouth.
We’ve already told you in previous posts about how Persona 3 Portable puts you in the shoes of a team of gifted high schoolers forced to use their developing supernatural abilities to save the world from destruction, and how the game cleverly mixes addicting RPG dungeon crawling with social sim elements. And how the PSP system release introduces a new female protagonist who experiences the events of the game from a new perspective, not to mention the addition of one-button menu shortcuts, a streamlined user interface, and more.
We’d say more about the game, but really, why not let others speak for us? Early reviews are in, Blog readers, and they’re glowing:
Gaming Nexus – A
“Atlus added enough new content to make this the first must-own PSP RPG of the year!”Gamervision – 10 out of 10
“Persona 3 Portable is one of the strongest games in the PSP catalogue, and a shining example of a role-playing game done right.”GamerTell – 99 out of 100
“Simply said, Persona 3 Portable is a system seller. If you own a PSP and can purchase “Mature” games, you should own it. If you don’t own a PSP, Persona 3 Portable is easily a game to inspire you to pick one up.”PlayStation Illustrated – 95 out of 100
“It’s a fantastic RPG stuffed with things to do and interesting, yet unusual, ideas.”1UP.com – A-
“I’d actually recommend Persona 3 Portable as the best introduction to the series — even ahead of the console versions of Persona 3 or Persona 4. But I’d also highly recommend P3P for longtime fans of the franchise…”gamrReview by VGChartz – 9 out of 10
“PSP fans can rejoice that such a grand RPG has arrived on their system of choice…”GameZone 8.5 out of 10
“…a solid version of a great RPG.”
Look for Persona 3 Portable on retail shelves and in PSN Store on July 6, 2010! For more info about P3P, visit the game’s official website.
Don’t forget: What about the upcoming Persona 3 Portable are you most looking forward to? Tell us below for a chance to win a SIGNED soundtrack CD! We’ll try and choose winners by the game’s release date (winners will be notified with a message sent to their PSN account).
I’m excited about being able to play as a female, as well as replaying this awesome game with the added P4-like enhancements.
Easily my favorite aspect of it coming to PSP is to enjoy one of the best RPGs and/or the best PS2 RPG while on the road and traveling. Thanks guys :)
You’re actually asking me to only say ONE thing I’m excited about for this game? Honestly, it’s the entire game itself. The great gameplay, the progressed story, the character development, the art style, the phenomenal soundtrack, and everything else about it. I cannot wait for this game, even though it’s less than a week away.
What isn’t there to be excited about? Persona 3 was (in my opinion) one of the best, if not the best RPG on the Playstation 2. This game has so much to it, and to finally have it on the go? Sign me up! I love RPGs on the PSP more, because I can take them on the go, and not have to commit to a TV. Persona 3 is the perfect game to take on the go too. I can’t wait for it’s release!
I’m really looking forward to this game. I missed out on it when it was released on the PS2, but I refuse to miss out on it again, this is a day one download for me. I really thank you guys for having it up on PSN on release day too, me being a PSPgo owner, which I love by the way, it’s hard to sit back and read these comments on here sometimes. “Oh, no support for the Go.”, “I feel bad for those who were suckered into a Go”, etc. But now, one of the biggest PSP titles to be released ever, will be on PSN, and I can’t wait to experience what I missed out on, back in the glory days of the PS2!
I excited about replaying one of the best rpgs developed by atlas. And the best part is that you can control your party members actions so no more stupid AI blunders woot!
I’m excited that I will be able to play one of my favorite games ANYWHERE I am! Woo!
Persona 3 Portable will be great because it’s an updated & better version of an already great game! What more can you ask? Oh, free hat if you pre-order!
What is there not to be excited about? I remember as if it were yesterday when I stumbled my way into the Persona world. Other than it being such an amazing RPG with all sorts of sidequests to keep you playing for hours on end, it also had Tarot elements. As a gamer I was certainly attracted to the RPG with SIM like qualities, but as a professional Tarot reader I was more than fascinated by the Tarot elements in itself.
“For the Fool no difference exists between possibility and reality. 0 means a total emptiness of hopes and fears and the fool expects nothing, plans nothing. He responds instantly to the immediate situation.” -Rachel Pollack, Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom
The creators really did their research, and it makes me incredibly happy. :) Female main character, new gameplay, Junpei cap bonus… there’s so much to look forward to. And now a signed copy of the soundtrack drawing? I think someone really wants me to flat out pass out due to excessive fangirlism!
Excitement cannot be contained, must not squeal during work hours… Accountant by day, and Tarot reader by night. Makes one wonder doesn’t it?
First of all, having a second pseudo story with a female MC is pretty fantastic. Makes the game have even more replay value. Also, with having P3P be on the PSP makes it so everyone can have some Persona fix on the go with one of the best games to come out in a long while. Can’t wait to pick up my English version of the game, (already got a Japanese version). :D Keep on staying classy Atlus. :D
I think the better question would be, what am I *not* looking forward to?
If I had to pick anything, it’d be the battle system, especially being able to control my fellow party members. I remember the first time I got to the final, final, final boss of the main storyline of P3FES, and the boss would go down in – no joke – one hit. It was neck and neck, though – if the boss got another turn, we’d die. It was pretty exciting, honestly, and I was fairly certain I was about to see the end of the game…
Except Junpei decided to heal someone for 50 HP.
The boss then wiped us out before our next round.
See, if that kind of stuff happens, I want it to be on my head. ;)
I had bought this on release when it came out for PS2 but I just don’t play PS2 games anymore. I do, however, play PSP at work during my lunch breaks so this would fit in perfectly with my current playing habits. Looking forward to it.
I can’t wait to play as the female protagonist and do all new social links!
Im pumped up to finally get a chance to play such a highly recommened game, and i gotta say the music and style of the first persona on psp made me instantly want to go out and preoreder this one. Finally HAT! i want that sweet hat!
I’m really looking forward to using the new heroine so that I can see how that will effect the storyline. I’m hoping that it’ll be more than just new social links and events.
Honestly? Super pumped for some Persona on-the-go. As long as it’s being tailored for some bite-sized gaming, I’m sold!
Honestly, my reason for being excited about the release of P3P is… all of the reasons listed above! I already own the PS2 version, and bought the FES version when it came out. I’ll buy the PSP game for my little brother, since I don’t have a PSP (I get the Junpei hat of course!). Yeah, being the kind older brother I am, I get to have first play… and my own file, and then my birthday comes up… and then I get game for at least a week… yes it is all coming together, according to my plan! :D
I’m excited to try the new features of the game, to play it on the go on the PSP, and to try it out with the new female character.
I’m excited about having a great game like this on the PSP.
I am definitely most interested in the new perspective the female protagonist will add to the game. Should be interesting!
I want teh musics!! lol
anyhow I’m probably picking this game up eventually, I just don’t have time to dedicate to a 60 hour + rpg, but being on the PSP makes it easier to have around casually.
I”m new to the series so I’m just looking forward to experiencing this highly praised series for the first time and the fact that it is portable means I can play it all the time!! :)
I’m very excited about the alternate story elements.
Looking forward to checking out *ahem* the new gender you can play as.
I’m excited that you can finally control your party instead of hoping they do what you want.
I look forward to seeing the new S. Links for the female MC. I also hear there’s new songs for female MC, and man do I love Shoji Meguro’s work.
Darn it, apparently there is a 1200 word or character limit… And I wrote A LOT. Well heres a short version Persona 3 and P3 FES were as close to perfection as RPG’s come in my eyes. I loved every minute of them both, even FES on hard mode when I just kept on dieing. So yes I am very excited for P3P on the PSP, because I can keep playing it anywhere I go, whether that is work, or my girlfriends, what have you.
Also as many stated the added features will prove to be most interesting. I am looking forward to seeing the simple changes like how yuko will be presented in it to the big ones like Aigis’s relationship with the Female MC. I could keep going but since there is a character limit I will end it here simply stating that the game was amazing on ps2, it will be even more amazing on psp on the go. Oh and the Music in the game is incredibly catchy and great.
What I lookforward to the most would have to be the new content that brings some of Persona 4 into this game. I want to see more about how the two games are linked.
I don’t know there is just something about seeing awesome rpgs on come out on the psp that makes a grown man cry just a little bit inside….. tears of joy!!!
Am I excited about P3P? I reserved the game on the first day it was possible to reserve it. I have already played through Persona 3 and Persona 3 FES on the PS2 and I would play through this on the PSP even IF it didn’t have new stuff. Just the ability to take my crack with me and expose it to others makes me happy.
I have been waiting for this ever since the release of Persona 1 on the PSP. I was happy to get that one, but that is not where I entered the series. This was my doorway to the series. My gateway drug. Now that I can carry it anywhere, I can force the holdouts to look at this beautiful game and suck more people in as well as play P3 wherever I want!
I love the fact that such a great series is still alive and doing so well that it gets an on-the-go release with extras! Hail to Persona and it’s bright future!!
Signed soundtrack? Pretty please??!!
I’m most excited to ATTEMPT a max S. Link run on Manic mode (which is another new feature in P3P) while beating the crazy hard Optional Boss at the end. Yep, there are two things I love for certain: A challenge and PERSONA 3!
I’m excited about the faster load times and that you can play as a female protagonist for a different experience.
Having already played the PS2 version of P3, I’m super stoked to have it as a portable game. The PS2 version was awesome and with the improved battle system in this version I’m sure I’ll enjoy it even more (Mitsuru casting CHARM every damn round was horribly annoying)!
Now can we get a P4P announcement? Or maybe information about P5?
Man, I’m glad this game is getting a lot more attention than it was getting on the PS2, I hope this game still includes some of the music from P3FES. I was basically introduced to this game by its music – Thank goodness for ‘Top RPG Music’ selections. I would like my dread burnt, if you please!
Not from NA but good luck to the others ^^
The OST seems awesome
I’m really curious as to how it’ll play on my PSP, especially since now I can play it without having to ditch my friends and sit at home XD
What I’m looking forward to the most is the new added story elements. I have FES for the ps3 and I love it. A little sad the second episode isn’t included, but oh well. I already have it! I also love the redesign when traveling around around talking to people. It gives me an old school feel. I’ve always wanted to play the game on long trips and now I’ll be able to. My favorite thing about the game though is the music. When I found out the game was coming to PsP, I was happy that I could just listen to the music on the road, even if it is looped. But now with this give away, I have a chance to listen to this awesome music and save the battery on my psp to play more of the game later!
Well I’m certainly looking forward to playing through the game again, but with another point of view.
I played Persona3Fes on my PS3 for a while, logging around 100hours in and was about halfway thru when my file saddly corrupted. I never got the will back to play again because I lost everything, but now that their is a new version with even more in it, It gives me an extra reason to play it again, plus its portable which will make it alot easyer when I’m on the go ^_^.
I’m mostly looking forward to the implementation of the Persona 4 direct control system and new features related to that, such as the Persona skill cards. The new female character’s music sounds great, and of course as a lover of hats I’m planning to put that pre-order hat into my daily rotation (so I’m REALLY hoping it’ll fit!).
P3P… YAY! The annoying characters acting on their own is a thing of the past! Why I use to be P3P4. Both great games still. Looking forward to more future titles!
I’m excited about the new MC as well as the updated P4 combat system.
I finally can show the rest of my family and friends the one game I have purchased twice on PS2 which I consider to be one of the greatest games of all time, grace the PSP on the go. Going to play it P3 a 3rd time for the 1st time on my PSP. Does this make any sense? I am looking forward to playing as the new female MC and experience the game differently. Nothing like a refreshing new take on your favorite game with new music, enemies, s.links, personas, items, weapons, attires, challenges, and more to keep you playing on the go.
Oh gosh, where do I even begin? I have been extremely excited about this game since I heard about it (and I mean way before it was confirmed to have a US release). The first Shin Megami Tensei game I ever played was Persona 4. I had never heard of the series before and saw a random ad on a random website. I researched it, it sounded kind of interesting, and I went out to my local gamestop and bought a copy…and instantly fell in love with it.
After finishing Persona 4, I knew I just had to play Persona 3. I ended up loving it too, in some ways more so. It’s deeper, darker, and is ALL about the major arcanum of the tarot (well, fool through death, of course).
Anyway, I am so excited about this release. The chance for a new protagonist, the new social links that were created as a result of the new protagonist, more streamlined gameplay…okay, and I’m really happy that the battle system got changed to Persona 4’s system.
I love everything about the Persona games. The artwork, the music, the replayability, the tarot references…everything about these games make them really really awesome. And nothing beats having one of your favorite games be portable and with wonderful improvements/additions.
I have had P3P pre-ordered and payed off since the first day it was ever possible to put a preorder down on it. This game is about to define my summer, as I plan on pouring endless hours into it playing it literally everywhere I go. I am a complete nut for anything Shin Megami Tensei related and I own every North American release of the series to date. I absolutely cannot wait to be able to control all of the characters in my party manually, to be able to see the story from a female perspective, and really to just experience one more time the incredible RPG magic that is Persona 3.
I suppose this would qualify as praising the portability of the game, but really the truth is that I’m excited on behalf of the PSP as a system. It has carved out the niche as the best JRPG host of the gaming generation and with the release of P3P has single-handedly revamped and remade my two favorite videogames of all time (P3P and Valkyrie Profile), along with allowing for other series entries previously unavailible or just plain hard to find to become accessible to us (Star Ocean series, Persona).
As for the game itself, I am really exited for the expanded social links and weaving them into gameplay elements like they did in P4. It feels like it will give each character (already well developed as they are) even more unique flavor.
JUNPEI CAP!!!
Also the ability to play through again on the go, I spend so much time traveling it’s great to be able to give my psp some love and enjoy this title again.
A soundtrack signed by one of my favourite game composers? Yes, please. After playing through Persona 3 twice, P3 FES once, and P4 once, I’m still more than happy to find excuses to play them again. Thanks for providing just the right one. Now, the question remains: will P3P be able to unseat P3 as my second* favourite RPG of all time?
*Second under P4, of course.
As always, thanks, Atlus. I appreciate all the work you do to promote your titles and keep up relations with your community.
I’m most excited about taking the FeMC anywhere I want.