Official: Atlus USA Announces Persona 3: FES, Releases April 22

Atlus USA has announced that they will be releasing Persona 3: FES in North America for PlayStation 2 this April, for the suggested retail price (SRP) of $29.99 (US).



FES is a director's cut of last summer's critically acclaimed Persona 3. It spans two discs and contains the original Persona 3 with several new upgrades as well as a brand new chapter that takes place after the original game ends. The new chapter adds about 20 hours to the already massive 100+ hours game.
If you missed out on the Persona 3 the first time, you owe it to yourself to check out this director's cut. Persona 3 is one of the most engrossing and innovative Japanese RPGs released in years. Leading a cast of high schoolers, players attend school to boost academics and create social links during the day hours. But once night comes, they prepare for the Dark Hour (a hidden hour between 12AM and 1AM that only a select few can exist in). Time moves slowly during the Dark Hour and you must lead your party of high schoolers through dungeons to fight off demons called Shadows and prevent the world from collapsing into a state of chaos and annihilation. Not only can you equip your characters with weapons and armor, but you can also fight using Persona (demons manifested within the minds of each character). Personae are summoned by "shooting" one's self with a gun shaped tool called an Evoker (while characters don't usually die from summoning their Persona, it should be noted that there is plenty of violence and death in the game and it is not recommended for children or impressionable teens). The battle system is deep, innovative and, as always, requires quite a bit of strategy. Shin Megami Tensei is known for its hardcore difficulty and Persona 3 is no exception. You had better exploit your enemy's weakness and guard your own or you'll find yourself dying. A lot. And, unlike most Final Fantasy games, level grinding isn't going to help you. Your success depends on your strategies and your choice of Persona. But don't let this intimidate you, the challenge is what keeps the battles entertaining.



If you already played Persona 3, you might want to check out FES for the new content (unless of course you didn't like the original that much). Some of the new features include new S-Link events, alternate costumes, 17 new BGM tracks, a weapon synthesis system, new side-quests, new cutscenes, additional voice overs, and of course the new chapters and endings.

Unfortunately, this time around the artbook and soundtrack CD will not be included with the game. But you can't really complain when you're getting an excellent directors cut for only $30. Most directors cuts of RPGs never even get released outside of Japan (damn you, Square Enix!). So mark your calender for April 22, and don't you dare pass this up if you've never played the original release.

Persona 3 and Persona 3: FES are both rated Mature (17+) by the ESRB.

Related Links
Atlus USA
Persona 3 official website
Sources
Atlus USA
1UP.com