Persona 3 gets director's cut

Extended version of the quirky Japanese role-playing game will be released in US on April 22.

GameSpot's Best Role-Playing Game of 2007, Persona 3, will be getting an extra 30 hours of content at the end of April. The extended game will be called Persona 3 FES, which, according to the game's director, Katsura Hashino, comes from the word "festival."

The Persona 3 FES disc will contain an "enhanced" version of the original game, plus a 30-hour episode where gamers play as Aigis. Aigis is described as "a humanoid weapon whose personality matrix allows her to use a Persona. She is no longer bound by her programming, but still has strong ties to her companions." The new episode will feature an original story and 17 new music tracks.

The Atlus RPG sees a group of students studying in a Japanese high school during the day, where their actions count towards building up their "personas." At night, they explore the tower Tartarus and use their personas to battle the sinister shadows that lurk within. The new game will continue on past the final battle that ended the original, and it will show "the aftermath of the final battle and the students' struggle to find meaning in their new lives."

The original Persona 3 game will get new personas and cutscenes, extra quests and events, a weapon synthesis system, a hard difficulty mode, and new outfits for the main characters.

Persona 3 FES will be released on the PlayStation 2 in the US on April 22, with a recommended retail price of $29.99 and a rating of M for Mature. It will be a stand-alone game, and it won't require the original Persona 3 to play, although some parts of saved games can be carried over.

109 Comments

  • jeremiah06

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 11:52 pm PT

    Dark_Gamer11 you took the words right out of my mouth i was about to pick this one up but now i will wait for this one and for only 30 bones that great the old game plus 30 more hours of new story that awesome cant ask for more now maybe i will pick up ff12 again as i took it back as soon as i beat the main story to get xenosaga 3

  • Dark_Gamer11

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 11:42 am PT

    wow now im glad that i havent bought the original yet...i always thought it looked awesome but i was in the middle of so many other games at the time. Good call on this one Atlus.

  • rpgshow

    Posted Mar 22, 2008 11:06 pm PT

    im thinking about playing this game. it looks and sounds cool

  • Rosaix_94

    Posted Mar 12, 2008 5:08 am PT

    will the game start from the beginning again or will it continue after the last battle with ryoji????

  • Speedfreak_R

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 7:47 am PT

    last paragraph:

    Persona 3 FES will be released on the PlayStation 2 in the US on April 22, with a recommended retail price of $29.99 and a rating of M for Mature. It will be a stand-alone game, and it won't require the original Persona 3 to play, although some parts of saved games can be carried over.

  • StonerDemon

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 7:13 pm PT

    I dont have it clear, do I need the original persona 3? I read on another site that this will be the original persona 3 plus the extra episode, all in one. could you guys help me out? In order to get this game, I have to tell a friend to bring it to me from the US and thats expensive. Should I also buy the original persona 3?

  • draco934

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 5:54 pm PT

    nice.......I was hoping they'd bring this to the US

  • VagrantChild24

    Posted Mar 5, 2008 12:51 pm PT

    If there is one thing that Atlus has been good at over the years, it is listening to their fans. Having just finished P3 (I've had it since launch but didn't have time to get down and dirty into it) I can't wait for this. Sadly Baroque has been delayed so I'll have to find something else to fill the gap... perhaps I'll finally finish Disgaea...

  • Sumipan5

    Posted Mar 4, 2008 11:31 pm PT

    I'm happy that there's more, I agree with lestat23l. I love the series and all but $80? for both games? I kinda wish the fes version came with the bonus stuff that the 1st game had with it. With $80 I can buy a used PS2, 3 games, 4 controllers, etc...

  • kamicolo

    Posted Mar 4, 2008 7:03 pm PT

    Hehehe...I'm excited!

  • Rocul

    Posted Mar 3, 2008 10:08 pm PT

    Finally!!! XD

  • Reaper1117

    Posted Feb 29, 2008 4:38 am PT

    I didn't think this was coming out, this is my favorite Rpgs since Final Fantasy 6. Kickass music, fighting, cool story and a messed up magic system. can't wait to see how the directors cut and expansion turns out

  • Skull-Fire

    Posted Feb 28, 2008 9:53 pm PT

    And of course australia gets to miss out >.>

  • Platyphyllum

    Posted Feb 28, 2008 4:53 pm PT

    Wow, it's a good thing I held back on buying Persona 3 for $50. Now I can get the FES version thingy.

  • vss3rd

    Posted Feb 28, 2008 9:29 am PT

    i too dig atlus..hey guys do not overloook baroque..if ya havent heard of it yet *WINK*

    http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/baroque/index.html

  • jaykho213

    Posted Feb 28, 2008 4:36 am PT

    yeah me too.. i love atlus! boo square enix and namcobandai!

  • lestat23l

    Posted Feb 27, 2008 11:11 pm PT

    I love persona and atlus, but it kinda pisses me off because i paid 50 bucks for the original when i could have waited and only paid 30 for a directors cut that comes with an additional game.

  • CloudXentar

    Posted Feb 27, 2008 4:32 pm PT

    More events, more personas, Aegis chapter, clothing during battle for your characters? A whole new game if you ask me. Bring it on Atlus!

  • fatjoe400

    Posted Feb 27, 2008 1:37 pm PT

    Wow things like this doesn't happen very often!

  • sacatash

    Posted Feb 27, 2008 10:13 am PT

    Wow! This is a surprise. I have Persona 3 and wondering if I just stop and wait for this game two months from now. Nah! Knowing the character traits and compendium will be transferrable, I might as well 'stock' up with personas when the game is released. A very good value for just $29.99!

  • _Qwerty

    Posted Feb 27, 2008 9:08 am PT

    Finally!! Those 180 hours I spent on Persona 3 completing it 2 times finnaly got answered! From now on my fav is Atlus! Thanks ^^

  • VMRecca

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 8:36 pm PT

    wait to long for this version oh hell yeah~~~~~~~~~~~~

  • TrueProphecy22

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 7:30 pm PT

    I'd usually seethe in anger at a re-release of a game I've already purchased less than a year ago, but with 30 more hours of gameplay and 17 new songs, it's like a brand new game. Bring it on! Hurray!

  • fireboy1414

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 7:21 pm PT

    normally this would make me mad but i will gladly buy the game again...

  • Killerserkan

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 7:13 pm PT

    oh sweet,need to get the game

  • NearlyPrescient

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 4:51 pm PT

    yes yes yes yes yes yes!!!!!

  • Beowulf_ATX

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 4:06 pm PT

    sweetness!!!!!!!!!!

  • Gale360

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 2:40 pm PT

    can't wait till this comes out

  • lostn

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 2:13 pm PT

    Awesome.. I bought the original collector's but I'm definately getting this.

  • wargraymon

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 1:52 pm PT

    i liked how the U.S. Nocture was the second release with Dante added....thaaat waaas cooool

  • GrimoireMyst

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 1:29 pm PT

    Definitely getting the extra FES disc to compliment my Persona 3 game. lol

  • hunter8man

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 10:32 am PT

    $30 bucks? I'm all there.

  • TaoTeMugen

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 9:48 am PT

    To those who have complained about why there is "double dipping" with releasing a new version of the game, let me explain some things for you.

    FES was released in Japan only a few months before Persona 3 was supposed to come out here in America, in fact most the work had already been *done* on the game, as far as translation and some of the voice acting. Once you are that far into a project, you don't really want to stop (as one who bought the game, I wouldn't have wanted to wait a whole extra year for the new content anyways). This is just in addition to the fact that Atlus wasn't even going to bring FES over to the States at all. The decision was most likely made when they realized what high reviews it was getting, how well the sales were doing, and the fact that it made achievements in some of the most memorable moments of the year and even a few RPG of the Year awards. Rather than gripe about semantics,why not just enjoy the fact that we're getting an updated version of the game and the expansion at all (for $30, mind you).

    Funny story, it works better this way for anyone wanting to play a second round of the game. FES mechanics makes it take much longer to get Academics up because the shrine actually takes up your ENTIRE after school period. So for any of you who haven't played a second round yet, I recommend you wait for FES to come out to do it.

  • vss3rd

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 9:17 am PT

    ok first this news excites me ! yay i was so hoping NA would get FES !!!

    i can say for certain that if you bought P3 and LIKED IT,buying FES is a MUST !
    **weapon sythesis says WHAT !!!! OH YEA ! //dance **

    i have persona3 but havent gotten too far in it,so many games to play
    -lost odysseys combat is so annoying im trying to rush thru it !
    -great story though,music,amazing movies

    now a serious question
    TO those who have COMPLETED persona3 NA :::::

    should i WAIT on playing more P3 til i get FES,or would it be good to try and finish P3 THEN play thru FES ?

    although i guess the question is really more for ppl who have completed P3 and FES..cuz my fellow nonimporting NA brothers may not know haha

    my guess is i will wait..my dance card is pretty full..3 games coming in march....

  • silent_riku

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 8:53 am PT

    Lovely... I once again have the chance to use my PS2... now if only April would come a tad bit faster...

  • rockko666

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 8:33 am PT

    yeah. and a great budget price too.

  • shinigami9

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 7:23 am PT

    Truly awesome news. Great for Persona fans. And good for PS2 owners too since we no longer have (that many) games to look forward to.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 4:59 am PT

    well, this is great news for those who haven't had a chance to get the original release at retail, as it was $50 and went out of print before the price could drop, so $30 is good for those that didn't get a shot the first time, and for those that really-really-reallly liked it, $30 could be worth it to the dedicated fan, but I can understand how lots of people who already played the game will pass this one up, unless it was made for a next gen system with updated graphics, I mean, that'd make sense if it were to show up on the PS3, X360, and/or Wii, as I think a lot of people are ready to move beyond the last console era, besides, those that sold their PS2 to get a 40GB PS3 are missing out on BC

  • Rhen_Var

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 4:27 am PT

    Then just import it man.
    Geez

  • SpiritSephiroth

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 3:24 am PT

    Well, no info about a UK release so no interest to me.

  • everson_rm

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 2:20 am PT

    Ow... now that I just got my copy of persona 3... what a shame...

  • U1

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 2:01 am PT

    Urghhh, I'd better cancel my UK version pre-order because I want the English version of FES and I didn't really want to start the game again anyway. Why didn't they just include FES on the UK release? It's stupid.

  • vpforlyfe714

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 2:00 am PT

    must be a freaken miracle because fortunate things like those rarely happen. i am still mad they didnt release the other part of persona 2 and i doubt the other part of the third to be released. i am speechless.

  • LarkAnderson GameSpot staff member

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 1:13 am PT

    This is the best news of the year.

  • totalgridlock

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 1:00 am PT

    Of course, even the *original* (ie. non FES) Persona 3 isn't due out here in the UK for another three days...

  • superbeast1370

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 12:25 am PT

    great news for RPG lovers *runs off to gamestop to preorder Persona 3: FES*

  • Rhen_Var

    Posted Feb 25, 2008 11:17 pm PT

    OMFG I DON't BELIEVE IT! But I bought the original already
    Hurray Atlus!
    Booo Square Enix!

  • Icehearted

    Posted Feb 25, 2008 10:40 pm PT

    Glad I waited, but this double-dipping still sucks. Why not offer a complete experience rather than a basic and then 'better' or improved version. I hate that they do this in movies too.

    Still, I'm looking forward to getting this one . It stings when the pull this on their fans though.

  • sil_musashi

    Posted Feb 25, 2008 10:30 pm PT

    Allright... buy it for sure

  • americahellyeah

    Posted Feb 25, 2008 10:07 pm PT

    this sucks! the only reason i bought the dam game in the first place is because Atlus doesn't usually do more than a couple printing, great, now my game just dropped in value and i can't even trade it in towards the new one. SCREW YOU ATLUS!

advertisement

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Tags

atlus   persona 3   ps2

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!

Related Game

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES Boxshot
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES

Game Stats

  • Rank:
    549 of 59,100
    (up by 57)
    PS2 Rank:
    37 of 3,663
    Tracking:
    1,155 Track It»
    Wishlists:
    752 Wish It»
  • Users Now Playing:
    704
  • Number of Players:

    1 Player

  • Top 5 User Tags:
    1. persona
    2. persona 3
    3. shin megami tensei
    4. fes
    5. rpg
  • Mature Rating Description

    Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. Learn more

Full Game Details »Close

Related Games

Site Blogs