Atlus has announced that the Persona series will be getting not one, not two, but three spin-off games according to websites teasing the games.
The first two of the three titles are both rhythm games, Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night and Persona 5: Dancing Star Night. Are you interested in seeing your favorite characters from Persona 3 and Persona 5 boogie along to pop music? Well, now you have the opportunity. The trailers for Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night and Persona 5: Dancing Star Night can be found on Atlus’ official YouTube channel (named atlustube).
There hasn’t been much information released about the two upcoming titles, and the trailers didn’t show off any actual gameplay. Both games are slated to release in the spring of 2018 on PlayStation 4 and PS Vita (this is likely just the Japan release, future ports of the game to the Western audience will probably come a couple months later). The website for Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night and Persona 5: Dancing Star Night can be found here.
The other game that Atlus announced is Persona Q2. All that was teased for the game’s release is a website that features the Persona 5 Phantom Thieves’ logo and motto, “Take your heart.” No release date or any more information about the game has been released yet, but if you’re curious the official website of Persona Q2 can be found here.
The previous Persona to receive a rhythm game spin-off was Persona 4. Persona 4: Dancing All Night was released in Japan only for PS Vita back in 2015, with a Western release later in the year.
In gameplay footage from Polygon, the player hits a button when the corresponding note moves to the button, and perfectly time hitting the button to when the note exactly fits the circle the button is shown in (similar to Dance Dance Revolution, but instead using your fingers on the buttons and not your feet).
On Metacritic, Persona 4: Dancing All Night received a score of 76 from critics and a score of 8.7 from users. It also ranked 11 in Best PS Vita Game of 2015, one in Most Discussed PS Vita Game of 2015, and four in Most Shared PS Vita Game of 2015.
One reviewer from EGM gave the game a score of 85.
“Atlus somehow finds a way to craft a music game based around Persona 4 and have it end up as a serious entry to the rhythm genre. Persona 4: Dancing All Night is a great experience, with gameplay, visual, and a soundtrack that all come together in one heck of a package,” said the EGM reviewer. The full review for Persona 4: Dancing All Night from EGM can be found here.
On the other hand, the predecessor to Persona Q2 is Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth which was released in Japan back in 2014 on the Nintendo 3DS, with a Western release later in the year. This game featured characters from Persona 3 and Persona 4 and had a dungeon-crawl style of gameplay, according to the Official Nintendo Magazine.
On Metacritic, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth received a score of 83 from critics and 8.1 from users. Similarly to Persona 4: Dancing All Night, this game ranked four in Best 3DS Game of 2014, 11 in Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2014, and three in Most Shared 3DS Game of 2014.
One reviewer from GameInformer gave the game a score of 90.
“Persona Q is easily one of my favorite games this year. It delivers in both quality gameplay and wonderful characters, but what stands out is the extra effort that went into every area, always raising the bar,” said the GameInformer reviewer. The full review for Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth from GameInformer can be found here.
I’m expecting that all of these games have similar features to their predecessors, but I’m excited nonetheless especially since both critics and users enjoyed Persona 4: Dancing All Night and Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth.
In other recent news, Atlus also announced that Persona 5 will be getting an anime adaption named Persona 5: The Animation, which will be aired sometime in 2018.
Featured image via Flickr/BagoGames.
