Persona team announce Catherine, PS360.

[mudah.swf]

The team at Atlus behind the Persona games get the chance to slop out something that's not Megaten related at last, an adult-orientated action-adventure for PS360. Since you see the word "adult" in there, this game seems to have plenty of sexual content and probably violence as well. Key members of the Persona team are behind this, with Shoji Meguro behind the soundtrack, Shigenori Soejima designing characters and Katsura Hashino as the director and producer. Soejima claims that you will be seeing "some shockingly adult scenes in the game. When you play these scenes, they'll be even more stimulating, although in a difference sense".

If you played Persona 3 Portable, you've probably already seen the main character, since he appeared in the bar with an extensive amount of dialogue that a non-plot related NPC probably wouldn't have. His name is Vincent, and Catherine starts with him meeting the mysterious title character, then having nightmares, which are the action sections. if you bothered talking to him in P3P he'll refer to nightmares, and a rumour about dying if you "reach the bottom" before waking up. Famitsu mentions that the game, or at least the nightmares, are set around a massive staircase, and Vincent has to reach the top, or die in his dreams.

Also in Famitsu Meguro made a comment about the next RPG from Atlus, saying "Regarding the RPG, Hashino and I are..."

Source: Andriasang (http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/08/18/flying_get/).

Scans: 1 (http://i33.tinypic.com/5un1fr.jpg) (slightly NSFW) 2 (http://i37.tinypic.com/b7ncjk.jpg) 3 (http://i38.tinypic.com/2hqfog5.jpg) 4 (http://i38.tinypic.com/314xpbk.jpg) 5 (http://i37.tinypic.com/2u4594g.jpg)

[Jagos]

...

So Japan is raising the bar, eh?

[Drownball-Champ]

Sounds interesting. Can't wait to see how this comes out.

[bluestarultor]

Sounds interesting. Can't wait to see IF this comes out.

I have a feeling it might get slapped with an AO rating Stateside if it's really as shocking and adult as they say. Even if it doesn't, they're going to have to carefully examine the market. P3 was a pretty big risk with all the allegories of suicide involved. P4 played it maybe a little bit too safe after that, which bothered me in how they made an effort to even distance the theme from tarot when all the systems had actually been based on tarot.

I mean, if they'd tossed it entirely, a pleb like me might have been able to say "I guess it was just for P3" or "I guess they're done with that theme now," but it was more like "Why are they trying to hide this? Are they really that afraid right now?"

This could be an experiment to see if they can toss tarot entirely, but I doubt it. After how successful P3 and P4 were, there's no reason to do that. Actually, it's more likely they're testing the boundaries with this to better figure out how much they can get away with.

[mudah.swf]

If you look at the advert you'll see that there's a C rating in Japan, which denotes that the game should be played by people aged 15 and up. That may change in the future though. Also, I think this remaining scan (http://i38.tinypic.com/2hqfog5.jpg) leaves no questions of there being at least some sex in this game.

[EVILNess]

Why does every semi-sexual thing that come out of Japan have a woman with some kind of goop stretching from her mouth?

[bluestarultor]

Why does every semi-sexual thing that come out of Japan have a woman with some kind of goop stretching from her mouth?

Well, it's not EVERY semi-sexual thing for one, and the reason is that this particular one is a bit old to be covered in vanilla ice cream she dripped on herself from the cone she was eating.

[Donomni]

At least it's not tentacles, although I'm pretty certain even they know that's pushing it.

[rawredy]

The game actually seems kind of interesting and I'd love to see how it turns out. Not particularly interested in the sexual themes, though, unless that ties into the story somehow.

[mudah.swf]

Whole bunch of direct images here (http://www.famitsu.com/image/11069/SK1gDIK37G12NO431G3ceelt233bJbXu.html).

[EVILNess]

I do wonder if this is means that ATLUS will finally commit to a SMT on the PS3. SMT 4 would definitely be my choice, but I wouldn't pass on Persona 5 or even a new Raidou Kuzunoha Devil Summoner game.

[mudah.swf]

I think SMT: Strange Journey is SMT 4, so if I'm right SMT 5 is next.

[EVILNess]

I think SMT: Strange Journey is SMT 4, so if I'm right SMT 5 is next.

No, it isn't.

[mudah.swf]

Now that you said that, I did some Googling and the general answer I've gotten is "nobody knows for sure except Atlus, and they're not telling." I've seen people saying it definitely is and it absolutely isn't. There's supposed to be an interview somewhere where Atlus deny it but nobody seems to be able to link to it :(

[Drownball-Champ]

No, it isn't.

Personally, I think it is. It's almost exactly like Nocturne except with a better everything.

[Kim]

With the sexual theme, although there'll probably be more than in Persona 4, this really isn't anything new for the team. Advertising for Persona 4 showed off the scene with Yukiko and the zoomed in shots on her cleavage and whatnot for example, and that's just the advertising I saw. Other advertising could have focused on the sexual themes a bit too. My experience with the team's products means I trust their work, and if they say it's an adult-oriented game, they don't just mean more naked ladies. I'm really interested in seeing what they do with a non-SMT game, and the game looks really dang nice and even kinda funny in the screens. I'm looking forward to it.

[Mr.Bookworm]

Now that you said that, I did some Googling and the general answer I've gotten is "nobody knows for sure except Atlus, and they're not telling." I've seen people saying it definitely is and it absolutely isn't. There's supposed to be an interview somewhere where Atlus deny it but nobody seems to be able to link to it :(

It's the fourth SMT game. Here's an interview with the games Producer/Creative Director, in Japanese, unfortunately. (http://megamisj.atlusnet.jp/arthur/arthur1_1.html)

He says they didn't put the number in because of the locale change, because they thought the SMT series was fairly connected to Japan, and for the same reason they set it in Antarctica, to appeal to a wider audience.

So, yeah, it seems fairly clear that it was intended to be the fourth game in the series, even if it doesn't have the number.

Annnnnyway, on the actual topic, I'm definitely getting this. I've been wanting to get the Persona games for a long time, but have been inhibited by my lack of PS2-ishness.

[mudah.swf]

Just FYI this isn't a Persona game to my knowledge, except from Vincent being in P3P. Anyway, here is a video: http://www.famitsu.com/news/201008/20032372.html

[bluestarultor]

Just FYI this isn't a Persona game to my knowledge, except from Vincent being in P3P. Anyway, here is a video: http://www.famitsu.com/news/201008/20032372.html

It may not be a Persona game, but it takes place in the Persona world. I know for a fact that P3 and P4 take place in the same world, because characters from P3 appear in P4, two years older.

Whether any of the rest of the games take place in the same world I don't know, because I only played 3 and 4 of Persona and Devil Summoner takes place in the 1920s.

[mudah.swf]

There's a Teddie doll in one of the screenshots, so I don't think it's unfeasable to be set in the same universe as P3 and 4.

[Kim]

It would be pretty difficult for any of the main SMT games to take place in the same world as anything else, AFAIK. Also, Raidou Kuzunoha is a fictional detective in the P4 world.

[mudah.swf]

Yeah, considering that in most of the mainline SMT games the world is destroyed about an hour or so in.

[Kim]

Oh man. I just love how expressive that protag's face is in the CG cutscene. Seriously, just watch his eyes during that first little bit of the trailer. Perfect.

[bluestarultor]

Oh man. I just love how expressive that protag's face is in the CG cutscene. Seriously, just watch his eyes during that first little bit of the trailer. Perfect.

I think the more interesting thing for me was that shot where he'd grown sheep's horns. With all the humanoid sheep running around, I think it's telling that he specifically had those and that at least some of the sheep were wearing articles of human clothing. One of those "if you spend time there, you change" things, maybe?

[Kim]

Probably. In fact, him growing the horns might be his starting motivation for exploring the dungeon. Wants to get out so he doesn't turn completely into one.

[bluestarultor]

Probably. In fact, him growing the horns might be his starting motivation for exploring the dungeon. Wants to get out so he doesn't turn completely into one.

No, see he wants to get out so he doesn't die. I think death is a greater motivation than turning into a furry.

Although maybe his physical body dies and the rest of him stays and is transformed, which is some pretty strong motivation, right there. All that's needed to make it a triple threat is to add that he also will have to work in a tiny cubicle for crap pay and tons of work. Which may be part of the deal given at least one of those sheep was wearing a tie.

He'd be a dead, furry office worker. That's as miserable an existence as I can think of.




PS: If the music is all like the trailer, it sounds like it's going to be close to P3. I can't say that's a bad thing.

[mudah.swf]

Someone on Neogaf compared this game to a Haruki Murakami novel in game form, and having read some of his output I think that's an apt comparison.

[Regulus Tera]

I wanna max Catherine's Social Link.

[PyrosNine]

I would think Catherine would end up being some dark goddess who rules over dreams, and in starting a relationship with her (the main character must be desperate to woo her) he unintentionally gets in a life or death struggle. The unlucky previous victim I spied, suggests she could be some sort of succubus. I expect the "failure" scene is something pretty disturbing to match the ero.

The animation bits seem to suggest that in between action, you might get scenes of his waking life, full of gossip and urban legends to help him understand his plight. The barkeep was obviously important.

I do like that we get a fairly normal individual for once, with no real super powers and whose reaction is "WTF?" and a reasonable motivation for his dealings with other characters: Booty + Survival.

The sheep seem to be the Prinnies of the dream world, or people in the same plight as the protagonist, and his growing of horns is some awareness that he's either just like them or becoming like them the longer he stays.

[bluestarultor]

I would think Catherine would end up being some dark goddess who rules over dreams, and in starting a relationship with her (the main character must be desperate to woo her) he unintentionally gets in a life or death struggle. The unlucky previous victim I spied, suggests she could be some sort of succubus. I expect the "failure" scene is something pretty disturbing to match the ero.

The animation bits seem to suggest that in between action, you might get scenes of his waking life, full of gossip and urban legends to help him understand his plight. The barkeep was obviously important.

I do like that we get a fairly normal individual for once, with no real super powers and whose reaction is "WTF?" and a reasonable motivation for his dealings with other characters: Booty + Survival.

The sheep seem to be the Prinnies of the dream world, or people in the same plight as the protagonist, and his growing of horns is some awareness that he's either just like them or becoming like them the longer he stays.

Actually, I think the dead body might actually be HIM. Whether that's part of the nightmare or some sort of failure clip or something to fuck with us isn't entirely clear, though.

[mudah.swf]

So uh there's been a bunch of new stuff about this game now. First off is a new character called, wait for it, Katherine. I think she's the protagonist's girlfriend. Also have the TGS trailer: http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/09/16/catherine_tgs_trailer/

[Kim]

I'm digging some of the monster designs I'm seeing, and the music.

[EVILNess]

Those are some of the freakiest monsters I have seen since... Silent Hill 2 maybe.

Have they said what kind of game it was going to be in terms of gameplay? Turn based RPG? Silent Hill Style Survival Horror?

[Kim]

They've said it's an action game, IIRC, but I don't know if they mean straight-up action, or action RPG.