Persona Announcements: Persona 5, a new P4A, and... a Rhythm Game? 

By Andrew Braid

Well, lots of exciting (and... interesting) news for Persona fans today...
First off:

Persona 5

What we know: That it's the new official entry in the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series of role-playing games. Also, something about chains, and being a slave to... something (definitely a metaphor).
Who cares? PERSONA!
Available on: PlayStation 3
Japanese Release: Expected Winter 2014 (or sometime by the end of 2014)
North American Release: 2015 (sometime...)

Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqmnp2wZRU4

Couldn't seem to embed it normally since it's all Japanese and it won't show up on Blogspot's video search. Sorry about that, folks.

Just don't piledrive me over it, ok?

What we know: A follow-up/upgrade to the highly-acclaimed fighting game spinoff Persona 4 Arena, developed by Atlus along with Blazblue creators Arc System Works. UUSH (that subtitle will never stop sounding weird/awesome, will it?) continues the story of Persona 4 Arena, while also adding three new playable characters: old Persona 3 favorites Yukari Takeba and Junpei Iori and redheaded blade-wielding newcomer Sho Minazuki. In addition to upgraded move sets and re-balancing all around, the game will also add a new "Shadow Mode", which lets you play as the Shadow versions of each character (with some exceptions). These Shadow modes swap the defensive BURST option with an offensive equivalent that allows for unlimited special moves to be used for a brief timeframe.
Oh and that extra tease at the end of the trailer hints at the involvement of a certain old "friend" from Persona 4... you know who I'm talking about, Persona fans!
Available on: PlayStation 3
Japanese Release: 2014
North American Release: Fall 2014

Persona 4: Dancing All Night

What we know: Well, this is... unexpected, to say the least...
This seems to be Atlus' response to the huge success in Japan for Hatsune Miku: Project Diva, a rhythm game spun off from a virtual anime pop star software (here's an example, if that's your bag). Dancing All Night features everyone's favorite P4 idol Rise Kujikawa as she and protagonist character Yu Narukami dance to the beat of all your favorite Persona 4 tunes (and considering the hugely acclaimed soundtrack for P4, that would make for a lot of favorites), and likely many more. Hopefully other Persona 4 cast members make it in on the action. Because why not, really?
So when you really think about it, this isn't really that surprising at all (especially considering how popular Rise is among fans, and the aforementioned soundtrack acclaim). It has a (very) specific audience it's catering to, so I encourage you all not to knock it just because you're nowhere near its demographic (if it turns out to be crap for whatever reasons later, then you have my permission). Nothing wrong with a fun spinoff title, as Persona 4 Arena proved last year.
Available on: PlayStation Vita
Japanese Release: Fall 2014
North American Release: Sometime 2015

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth

What we know: Also unexpected, but in a very good way.
This will be a new RPG spinoff game, crossing over the casts of Persona 3 and Persona 4 (and some plot beats- it appears to involve the Dark Hour again). But now in chibi form! Because come on, SOOOO CUTE!

 

Though I don't know what to make of the P3 characters using their gun evokers in chibi form- does that make it less or more unsettling?
Ah, who cares? SOOOOO CUTE!



Available on: Nintendo 3DS (a first for the series!)
Japanese Release: June 5, 2014
North American Release: Fall 2014

And as a bonus, for anyone unaware...

Persona 3 The Movie: #1- Spring of Birth

What we know: It's the first in a series of feature films adapting the story of Persona 3. With a theatrical feature budget. And just as dark and action-packed as you'd want, with all your favorite characters.
WHY AREN'T YOU HERE YET??!
Japanese Release: November 23, 2013... so it's actually already out! Wohoo! (And they've also just released a teaser for movie #2, Midsummer Knight's Dream)
North American Release: TBD, but it's an anime, so we all know how we're going to end up seeing it before that anyway...