Atlus
Latest
PS Europe closes Christmas sale with The Last of Us, Persona 4 Golden
PlayStation Europe saved the best til The Last of Us, ending its 12 Deals of Christmas sale with Naughty Dog's PS3 apoco-sim and the Vita delight that is Persona 4 Golden. The enhanced Atlus JRPG goes down to £15 (€20/AU$25), while Joel and Ellie's feel-good adventure for the holidays is just £20 (€30/AU$40). If you want, you can go all in on The Last of Us by chucking in the season pass; the game and pass bundled together are priced £30 (€37.49/AU$55.47). The pass grants access to three major DLC packs, including the already released Abandoned Territories map pack for multiplayer, and the Left Behind single-player prequel episode which is due in 2014. Two things to add: Firstly, there's an extra holiday bonus for PS Plus subscribers, 'cos they get a further 10 percent off all those prices. Second, the deals are active for 48 hours, so you have until the end of tomorrow to ensure you're a happy camper come Christmas Day.
Dragon's Crown raises level cap, adds massive, randomized dungeon
All Dragon's Crown wants for Christmas is a massive new dungeon, increased level cap and a bit more soul-crushing difficulty. Fortunately, developer Vanillaware has an in with Saint Nick. Previously, Dragon's Crown allowed players to develop their chosen brawlers to level 99. As of today, that cap has been raised to 255. To complement the extra 156 levels, Vanillaware has introduced a new Ultimate difficulty level that unlocks once players have cleared the ninth layer of the Labyrinth of Chaos. Not only is the Ultimate difficulty level intensely hard, it also offers players better rewards than lesser difficulty settings. In addition, Vanillaware has introduced a new dungeon, dubbed "The Tower of Mirages." This dungeon is only available in the Ultimate difficulty setting, and is seemingly designed to break whatever self-confidence you might have. Each time to you enter The Tower of Mirages, its levels are randomized, which is problematic given that there are "tens of thousands of levels" for you to hack and slash your way through. On a more generous note, Vanillaware has also included a few stability fixes in this new update, along with a new feature that allows anyone who has completed the Story Mode to skip right past it when creating a new alternate character.
Persona 4: Dancing All Night story details emerge
Earlier this week, Atlus detailed its method behind the madness that is Persona 4: Dancing All Night, an upcoming (and unlikely) PlayStation Vita rhythm game based on the popular demon-fusing RPG series. Taking place after the events of Persona 4, Dancing All Night finds former Investigation Team member Rise Kujikawa back in the idol biz, returning to a life of everyday celebrity after solving multiple homicides in Inaba. When a member of her idol group goes missing amid rumors of the Midnight Channel's return, however, Rise once again teams up with Persona 4 protagonist Yu Narukami to find her missing coworker and bust some moves along the way. Co-developed by Hatsune Miku: Project Diva series developer Dingo, Dancing All Night will feature multiple tracks from Persona 4, Persona 4 Golden, and the anime series Persona 4: The Animation. Musicians Tetsuya Komuro and Daisuke Asakura have been recruited to create high-energy dance remixes for the soundtrack. Persona 4: Dancing All Night is due for release next fall in Japan.
Dragon's Crown ships more than 800,000 copies
Atlus has shipped more than 800,000 copies of Dragon's Crown since the game's launch in August, Games Industry reports. Dragon's Crown is the 2D RPG and beat 'em up from Vanillaware, and our review touches on possible reasons for its success. For one, "combat in Dragon's Crown is fluid, satisfying and intense, and represents a major, necessary evolution of the style introduced in Capcom's Dungeons & Dragons series." Atlus also announced today that it's moved 700,000 copies of Persona 4: Golden worldwide since that game's launch in 2012.
Sega: 'No plans to undertake' Index projects, IPs available to Atlus
Sega Sammy's recent acquisition of Atlus' parent company, Index Corporation, left fans concerned that the business transaction would result in fewer Atlus RPGs making it overseas or Sega meddling with their projects. Thankfully, Famitsu magazine's interview with Sega Sammy COO Naoya Tsurumi (translated by Siliconera) suggests that everyone's worrying for nothing. When questioned about the structure of Index's development going forward, Tsurumi stated that Sega has "no plans to undertake any of their work" and that Index will be "working as an independent company." With that said, Tsurumi said he would "love to have them utilize any of Sega's dormant IPs." It's kind of fun to think what Atlus would cook up with the Jet Set Radio or Space Channel 5 franchise, especially with their upcoming venture onto the dance floor. Of course, a new Valkyria Chronicles might make a lot more sense, given the studio's reputation with RPGs. Update: This article originally credited the involved interview to Siliconera. While Siliconera provided a translation, the interview was conducted by Famitsu magazine. We apologize for the mistake.
Atlus summons Black Friday discounts on Vita, 3DS, PS3 games
Though not a retailer in the traditional sense, Atlus couldn't help but be caught up in the festive spirit of Black Friday and has slashed prices on nearly its entire catalog of games. Notable highlights include PlayStation 2 cult hit Odin Sphere for $5, Demon's Souls for $13.49 and Persona 4 Arena for $15 (or $23 if you opt for the game's Ultimate Edition which includes all of its DLC additions). If you're looking for a more recent release, Atlus has also discounted both PS3 and Vita versions of Dragon's Crown (each is now priced at $30), while also reducing the price of Shin Megami Tensei 4 from $50 to $30. As far as caveats, they're generally positive this time around. Most importantly, you should get a jump on these prices, as this sale is already going on. Atlus planned the sale to kick off on November 26 and it will run through December 3. What's more, you won't need to brave rabid crowds of human detritus to score these cheap games. All of the discounts Atlus has prepared for its especially lengthy Black Friday celebration are available either online or in retail stores. Now, when Turkey Claus comes gobbling down your chimney, you can wave off his gifts and instead devour his plump, succulent body in front of friends, family and a Dallas Cowboys game, just as Abraham Lincoln intended.
Second chapter of Persona 3: The Movie slated for summer 2014
Yes, more Persona news: The second Persona 3 movie is coming to Japanese theaters in "early summer 2014," as revealed by the end of the newly released first movie. Both Cinema Today (via Siliconera) and Anime News Network report the date appeared in the credits for Persona 3: The Movie #1: Spring of Birth, after the animated adaptation of the PS2 game debuted in Japanese cinemas over the weekend. We're not sure we've got enough mind-space left for more Persona news after the weekend's flurry of reveals. Atlus unveiled no less than four new Persona games, including the Etrian Odyssey-like Persona Q for 3DS, rhythm game Persona 4: Dancing All Night for Vita, arcade fighter Persona 4 Arena: The Ultimate - Ultra Suplex Hold for PS3, and finally Persona 5 for PS3. The last of those, the biggie, is due in Japan in winter 2014.
Atlus sheds light on newly-revealed Persona spin-offs, Persona 5
On Sunday morning we reported on a quartet of new game announcements from Atlus Japan: Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, P4U: Persona 4 The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold, Persona 4: Dancing All Night and Persona 5. Today we have a bit more information on these games, courtesy series director Katsura Hashino. "Just like the experiment of making a fighting game based off the Persona series in Persona 4 Arena, which was also well received by fans, the plan of making Persona Q came from wanting a game that could bring further joy from an even more 'unexpected element'," Hashino stated in a Famitsu article translated by Siliconera. "This will be the first title the Persona team will be making for Nintendo 3DS, and we also have Etrian Odyssey that represents Atlus for the 3DS, and we'll be using its system as part of a 'festive' collaboration mindset in the development for Persona Q." While Persona Q is a fusion of Persona and Etrian Odyssey, Hashino assures fans of the former that Persona elements will be the foremost focus of the game. "While we are implementing Etrian Odyssey's system into it, just as the name implies, Persona Q will be a completely new title, but first and foremost, it'll be for the fans of the Persona series." Though Hashino doesn't go into this level of detail on the other games, he does discuss how far along each is in its development. Like Persona Q, Persona: Dancing All Night is almost completed, with only a few new dances and animations to be added to the rhythm-focused spin-off game. Likewise, P4U: Persona 4 The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold is nearly ready to release (though this shouldn't be surprising given that its arcade incarnation was announced in August). Persona 5 lags behind the other titles announced, but Hashino is committed to releasing the game in Japan toward the end of 2014. Notably absent from Hashino's comments is any word on when or if these games might appear outside of Japan.
Persona 5 announced for PS3
Atlus has announced that Persona 5 will be released for Japanese PS3s in the winter of 2014. No gameplay was shown, but the reveal trailer provided a crimson image of shackles laying beside chairs.
Persona 4: Dancing All Night announced for Vita
A rhythm game collaboration between Atlus and Dingo called Persona 4: Dancing All Night is coming for Japanese Vitas in fall of 2014, Atlus announced during their NicoNico presentation.
P4U: Persona 4 The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold announced for PS3
P4U: Persona 4 The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold is coming to Japanese PS3s in 2014, Atlus revealed during its NicoNico presentation. The game is a followup to Persona 4 Arena, the fighting game that combined Persona rosters for brawls last year.
Atlus reveals Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth after countdown on NicoNico
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is in development for the 3DS, Atlus revealed during their presentation on Japanese video platform NicoNico. Persona Q is planned for release on June 5, 2014 in Japan. Atlus has been teasing the reveal for several days and peppered fans with video hints during a 72-hour countdown on the NicoNico service.
Atlus' creepy ultrasound site spawns Conception 2 unveiling
Last week we reported on an eerie ultrasound website Atlus had created seemingly as a teaser for a new game. Appropriately, that teaser has given birth to the announcement of Conception 2: Children of the Stars. Developed by Spike Chunsoft, Conception 2 marks the series' first English-language entry. It stars a young man gifted (or cursed?) by the special ability to fight the monsters currently plaguing his world. This makes him a Disciple, and these Disciples are highly in demand as the source of these monsters, the Pandora Labyrinth, has begun churning beasties out at an alarming rate. Luckily, the Labyrinth isn't the only element of the game prone to procreation. Disciples fight these monsters by creating "star children," and just in case the game's title didn't give away the glaring subtext, the process of creating your squad of combatants "brings a new meaning to the phrase 'after-school activities,'" as Atlus puts it. Atlus will publish Conception 2: Children of the Stars on both the 3DS and Vita handhelds in "spring 2014." Each version will be priced at $40. Further information can be found on the game's official website and a litter of screenshots can be found below.
AquaPazza launches with a full minute of adorable violence
The launch trailer for Atlus' anime-styled fighting game AquaPazza briefly tours the game's features and flashes its hard-hitting action. The fighting game launches tomorrow for PlayStation 3.
Atlus births mysterious ultrasound teaser site
In lieu of directly telling people what it's working on, Atlus has decided to launch an odd teaser site for its next project, one that features an ultrasound image and little else. The site was discovered yesterday, when Atlus issued a press release centering on its upcoming fighter AquaPazza. The press release seemed a typical info blast focused on that game's costumes, but an unexpected link was found below the usual press release text. That link leads to this website, which as you can see is some manner of Atlus-branded ultrasound. What all this means remains a mystery. Siliconera posits the idea that the text seen on the left side of the image contains references to a number of Atlus-developed and -published games, though that site admits its ideas are pure conjecture. Realistically, we won't know what this site is advertising until Atlus opts to fill in the blanks.
Etrian Odyssey Untold confirmed for Europe next year
Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl is coming to Europe in 2014, thanks to another partnership between Atlus and NIS America. The latter will bring the game to Euro retail shelves and eShops, while a two-dungeon demo is also confirmed to be on its way. Atlus' 3DS RPG, which hit North America this year, is a re-imagination of the first Etrian Odyssey, balancing the series' defining penchant for cartography with a new auto-mapping feature. It features other major additions like a Story mode, with voice acting and animated cutscenes, and a new Grimoire Stone system to customize and modify characters' classes. While it was perhaps slightly overshadowed by the arrival of Etrian Odyssey 4, our four-star review deemed Untold the best entry point in the series, thanks to its variety of "tedium-reducing improvements."
Dragon's Crown cross-play patch comes to Europe
The global tour of Dragon's Crown cross-play culminates in Europe, after NIS America announced the patch enabling play between PS3 and Vita adventurers is live across the region. The fear was the patch would take a while longer; NIS America originally said it was "due in the coming months." Thankfully, it's only taken weeks, so Euro-friends can hack-and-slash all manner of beautifully drawn monsters in cross-platform contentment. Vanillaware's gorgeous brawler was a critical hit with us, and perhaps slightly more importantly for publisher Atlus a commercial success in Japan, where it shipped 300,000 copies in its first week.
PSA: Dragon's Crown cross-play update now on PS3, PS Vita
The cross-play update for Dragon's Crown is live. If you purchased Dragon's Crown on either PS3 or PS Vita, you'll find you can now install the update and play on the other system at no extra cost. Dragon's Crown is a 2D beat-em-up developed by Japanese outfit Vanillaware, the same studio who brought us Muramasa Rebirth. In our review, we said it just might be Vanillaware's best game to date – and "if you're committed to leveling up all six playable classes, you'll be playing Dragon's Crown for a long time to come."
Dragon's Crown gets Vita, PS3 cross-play in Japan [Update: North America too!]
Japanese Vita and PS3 players can now buddy up in Dragon's Crown, after Vanillaware added cross-play between the two platforms. The update looks to be restricted to Japan at the mo, so we've reached out to Atlus to see if it's headed for North America. Cross-play for Dragon's Crown also came to Europe ... except it didn't, really. Just after Atlus' announcement about Japan we received a letter of apology from NIS America, the company that brought the game to PAL regions earlier this month. We'll let the letter do the talking, as written by Marketing Manager Ryan Phillips. "We wanted to let you know that there has been a printing error with the initial run of the PS Vita retail packaging for Dragon's Crown in the European/Australian regions. The back of the packaging indicates that the game supports Cross-platform Play with the PlayStation®3 console. However, this information is incorrect. The game supports cross-save functionality only. We sincerely apologize for any inconveniences this printing error may cause." For the record, NIS America didn't have any news to share with us about European or Australian versions getting the cross-play update. We suspect Atlus' announcement came as something of a surprise. Update: Atlus has confirmed that the update will come to North America as well, clarifying that cross-play compatibility is being added for both cooperative and competitive modes. The publisher said it is "releasing the patch very soon, it's in our offices for testing." Update 2: Sure enough, NIS America get back in touch to let us know the cross-play patch is coming to Europe "in the upcoming months."
Etrian Odyssey Untold launch trailer tells all
The launch trailer for Etrian Odyssey Untold is a rapid-fire look at the game's new features, though more accurately it serves as a showcase for the new animated sequences created by famed studio Madhouse to nudge along the Etrian Odyssey plotline.
