persona persona role playing video game developed published sony playstation fifth installment persona series larger franchise released japan july north_america december europe march later released april enhanced remake playstation released japan july north_america november europe february takes place fictional japanese countryside indirectly related earlier persona games player named main protagonist high school student moved countryside city year year long stay involved investigating mysterious murders power persona game features weather forecast system events happening days replace moon phase system implemented previous games plot inspired work mystery owing murder mystery premise rural setting based town outskirts intended place central setting players daily life characters developers added game events prevent game localization numerous alterations names cultural references preserve effect translation japanese cultural references altered removed release game japan accompanied merchandise character costumes accessories north american package game released selected music game unlike european package contained soundtrack music previous game composed primarily joined time performed vocals songs including theme song pursuing true self game positively received critics developed franchise manga light novel adaptations spin offs produced television anime adaptation titled animation aired japan october march anime adaptation produced airing july game spawned fighting game sequels rhythm game persona dancing night gameplay blends traditional rpg gameplay simulation elements player controls game protagonist teenage boy named player comes town year gameplay divided real world protagonist carries daily life mysterious world dungeons filled monsters known shadows await exception scripted events plot progression special events players choose spend day like participating real world activities joining school clubs taking time jobs reading books exploring world dungeons gain experience items days broken times day evening activities causing time certain activities limited depending time day days week weather evening activities unavailable player visits day furthermore activities dialogue choices limited protagonist attributes understanding courage knowledge expression increased performing certain activities build whilst player free choose spend time fail rescue trapped time fog appears town takes place days consecutive rain game end forcing player return week prior game progresses protagonist forms friendships characters known social links represented major bonds strengthen increase rank grant bonuses creating new velvet room additionally strengthening main party members grant additional abilities ability perform follow attack additional ability persona main focus game revolves projected inner self resemble mythological figures represent worn individuals face life hardships persona possesses skills strengths weaknesses certain attributes gain experience battle level persona learn new skills include offensive support abilities battle passive skills grant character benefits persona carry skills time older skills needing forgotten order learn new ones whilst main party members unique persona transforms stronger form protagonist wild card ability multiple switch battle access different player earn new protagonist able carry levels outside dungeons player visit velvet room players create new summon previously acquired fee new created monsters create new receives skills passed material monsters level created limited protagonist current level player built relating particular persona relating receive bonus creation combat inside world player party consisting protagonist characters explore randomly generated dungeons tailored victim kidnapped floor dungeon player find shadows treasure containing items equipment players progress dungeon finding stairs floor progress eventually reaching final floor boss enemy player enters battle coming contact shadow player gain advantage attacking shadow whilst attacked enemy advantage similar press turn system games battles turn based characters fighting enemies equipped weapons items special skills aside protagonist controlled directly characters given direct commands assigned tactics alter battle protagonist loses game ends returning players title screen offensive abilities carry attributes including enemies carrying different attributes player characters strengths weaknesses certain attacks depending persona equipment exploiting enemy weakness performing critical attack player knock granting attacking character additional whilst enemy granted additional target player character weakness player knocks enemies granted opportunity perform attack players rush downed enemies inflict heavy damage following battle players gain experience points money items battle battle player participate mini game known shuffle time grant player bonuses new story setting characters takes place fictional rural japanese town lies high school shopping districts unexplained murders taken place small town bodies found television cause death unknown time rumor begun spread watching switched television set rainy reveal person game follows main characters fog realm filled monsters called shadows accessed sets protagonist high school student recently moved large city live attend school year school quickly friends somewhat clumsy son manager local energetic girl strong interest martial arts calm refined girl helps family inn days game protagonist follow midnight channel rumor leads discover world meet friendly creature appears hollow bear costume students form investigation team investigate connection world murders possibly capture culprit game progresses group gains new members including male talent feminine teen idol trying find identity moves transfer student young female detective investigating case local police wears masculine clothing presents male fear rejection plot april protagonist arrives live consisting uncle cousin year parents working abroad arrival announcer found dead body hanging antenna high school student discovered body later found dead hung upside telephone pole protagonist friends accidentally enter world encounter helps travel freely real worlds persona abilities realizing murders stem attacks shadows beings native world created emotions able rescue victims rise come accept parts rejected manifest giant shadows world allowing whilst joins group turn student high school disappears following death protagonist foul teacher claims credit murders eventually learned killed played murders having murdered simply gain credit murders nationally renowned detective prince investigating case rescued gains persona joins group learn actually girl assumed male identity avoid police events come head mistakenly accuses protagonist involved murders kidnapped protagonist interrogation leading engage pursuit culprit chase ends crash escapes television set truck injured rescue group group tracks world culprit god like monster attacks defeated taken hospital appears die group confronts protagonist player help realize killer pointing lack proper motive subsequently work determine assistant true killer failure ends game party unable solve case remaining dead reviving remaining hospitalised recurring fog permanently setting eventually lead humanity demise having identified culprit party chases world explains actions belief humanity better believing wants claims dismissed party fighting possessed japanese god fog reveals fog harmful people eventually cause humanity fall permanent state ignorance transform shadows defeat agrees lift fog party resolve defeated wounded agrees assume responsibility actions turns game moves forward day protagonist travel home player returns residence game ends party sending protagonist departs alternatively player able identify unexplained cause attempt resolve plot element protagonist meets party decide end case good protagonist confronts gas station attendant encountered start game reveals japanese goddess conductor game events cause recurring fog established attempt create world illusion merging world human world sake humanity group tracks world battle unable win defeated protagonist given strength bonds forged power awakens new persona uses defeat fog world lifted world restored original form game ends party sending protagonist following day post credits scene depicts group resolving remain friends forever protagonist examines photo party development according game director ideas thrown earlier development japan begin release persona development team consisted team persona new hires included fans persona intended improve gameplay story elements new game ensure seen predecessor said accomplish tried players persona definite goal sense purpose played game murder mystery plot way plot greatly inspired according mystery sir officially unveiled japanese gaming magazine famitsu march article issue detailed game murder mystery premise rural setting new weather forecast system game north american release date announced anime expo los_angeles california add disc epilogue persona allowed players control characters battle negative comments players player team persona controlled game data team ended incorporating school life character relationships spoke character dialogue large fears fit single disc anime cutscenes produced design based town outskirts rural design source conflict developers staff member image rural town according director entire staff went location hunting determine design represent country town tourist attractions non notable place described town better worse run mill town unlike role playing games large worlds player explore takes place reduced development costs enabled expand portions game return central setting allows players daily life passes game prevent setting development team established set number game events created game exciting choice japanese mythical figures characters opposed roman deities earlier games directly inspired new setting appearances based characters personalities design team good deal creating freedom japanese deities defined character traits appearances generally little known shadows created outside consultation help female staff female shadow despite living countryside characters designed look sound normal like modern high according lead editor initially wrote game cast rural called characters aren happen live place major metropolitan area interviewing members development team editor noted characters city protagonist stylish hair characters art director hair styles differentiate characters city versus country particular gave accessories bicycle obvious city localization persona localization handled addition editors divided equally editors localization game character names altered international audience familiarity including renamed similar change stage japan explained change community social link gameplay mechanic community different meaning english speeches refers society bonds names altered pun linguistic effect including dungeon items names item use returning player entrance taken home changing slogan everyday young life coming french youth everyday great eliminating japanese cultural references transfer reference issues translation names rise dungeons english names fit original japanese graphics void quest dungeon graphics specifically nes remarked popular interpretations shadow west change character seen audience different change fact main characters english dub referred members cast basis japanese version differed regard dub editors switched dramatic effect senior project manager commented decided kept title believed series title omitted long similarly persona ultimate golden shortened previously stated titles japanese voice track retained english dub despite proving series fans intended trend remain faithful original source material sounds names point carefully considered localization team took english cast member english dub appeared persona dubbed characters persona wanted larger role ended featuring lines dialogue major characters important roles localization team rise party supports element english script use swear words increased persona draft featured strong language cut suited character given lot swearing dialogue volatile nature use swearing carefully considered depending emotional situation music soundtrack primarily composed directed soundtrack features songs vocals felt able meet range emotion needed soundtrack lyrics written given rough outline game plot worked music manner simultaneously development story spoken dialog starting overall shape songs eventually working finer details according songs pursuing true self reach truth composed reflect inner conflicts game main characters song opening theme helped set understanding characters conflicts battle sequences emphasized strength characters work internal struggles aria soul theme velvet room concept common persona games remained relatively unchanged believing shape song defined previous games contributed music game previously written music contributed themes wrote theme disc soundtrack released japan july soundtrack released north_america soundtrack bonus disc packaged game soundtrack exclusive similarly persona album titled released japan october featuring length cuts game vocal tracks extended mixes instrumental tracks billboard japan albums chart week release selling nearly copies remake released japan persona golden announced august enhanced remake portable playstation originally planned playstation portable title similar persona portable required removing features playstation game provided sufficient resources allowed expand game expanded version playstation title adding new features story elements game new character named marie added story additional character outfits expanded spoken lines anime cutscenes included new game supports wireless networking features allowing player help players help dungeon battles new feature garden produces items player use dungeons game released japan june persona golden persona game released traditional chinese release golden resulted surge sales playstation debut week game sold units japan stated game outstanding sales surpassed debuts titles persona series exposure persona game forms media mid july game sold units japan game eighth purchased digital game japanese april game shipped copies japan copies shipped worldwide december soundtrack released japan june consisting single disc new tracks composed arranged interview revealed terms bonus content special channel feature release content japanese version commercials missing released playstation november special copies released november solid gold premium edition released game europe february persona arena fighting game sequel known japan persona ultimate developed company known creating guilty gear series released arcades playstation xbox anime protagonist named elizabeth persona featured game set months following original game members pulled television forced fighting tournament called grand prix hosted sequel persona arena released japanese arcades november playstation xbox late taking place day events arena defeat shadows new tournament climax order rescue captive shadow stop spread mysterious red fog game adds seven playable characters persona new playable antagonist persona shadow labyrinth persona shadow labyrinth dungeon rpg developed nintendo 3ds features characters gameplay elements odyssey series set midway events pulled alternate version work members sees find means escape game released japan june north_america november europe november persona dancing night persona dancing night rhythm game developed playstation featuring music persona series game takes place half year following events look mysterious midnight stage girls rise idol group game released japan june media merchandise release produced line merchandise including action figures published materials toys clothes collaborated japanese publishing company publish game strategy guides detailing character setting designs fan book called included official artwork fan art interviews design staff items released japan japanese party manufacturers produced toys action figures include scale produced alter merchandise sold includes persona shirts bags jacket accessories worn character recently announced release english edition released manga given manga adaptation written artist persona manga started black volume september volume released september volumes released february authored manga focuses life game start volume released august manga adaptation light novel illustrated began magazine november light novel wrote light novel titled focuses character year events hired investigate disappearance childhood friend partnered detective illustrations light novel released june japan anime episode television anime adaptation game produced directed aired october march additional 26th episode featuring story true ending released 10th volume august series features returning cast video game whilst voice recordings taken game actor died january released series dvd blu ray disc november august volume containing director cut episode bonus single licensed series north_america aired releasing series dvd blu ray collective volumes september january respectively like japanese version english dub retains original voice actors english version game blu ray disc release japanese audio option released series united_kingdom dvd released december july film series titled released japanese theaters june featuring condensed version story new scenes animation second anime adaptation based persona golden titled golden animation produced began airing block july stage production live stage production titled persona took place march actors starring stage production include audience named protagonist reprised role voice following announcement cast december chronicled events game inclusion party second stage production titled persona evolution evolution chronicled second half events story took place october additions cast include margaret replaced release reception highly acclaimed critics outside japan remained sales charts initial release japan game sold copies week release north_america highest selling playstation game consecutive weeks soundtrack disc included european releases containing selection tracks soundtrack released japan exclusively sold persona social link expansion pack included additional soundtrack disc shirt calendar doll character critical reception received critical acclaim game critics release described best times video games playing watching play famitsu pointed isn new game favored changes battle system pacing quick doesn pain ability control party members makes play easier ign hand noted pacing somewhat things feel unaffected previous games praising game evolution rpg series instant classic noted soundtrack bit repetitive rpgfan recommended best rpg experiences year noting cutter sequels half hearted remakes game near flawless example perfect balance falling works pushing genre forward summarized decade finest rpg reviewer criticized slight loading issues time spent waiting plot advance gave game score stating exception rule japanese role playing genre stands including predecessor persona wired pointed graphics par xbox playstation clever art style makes praised game soundtrack excellent especially battle music game setting garnered mixed reactions ign labeled persona murder mystery set backdrop familiar persona elements element adds interesting twist dungeon crawl social simulation gameplay causes plot slow suffer hyper commended game ing absurd urban legends ideas assured consistency resulting coherent criticized narrative sluggish pace felt game lacking elaborate set pieces called persona stylish murder mystery comparison given small town adventure game noted significant portion story revolving sexual themes quoted rpgfan playable characters given attention reviewers considered characters mainstream video game struggle sexual orientation commended inclusion character stated left sexual preferences ambiguous player word developer concerning matter according author outer space understanding questioning sexuality script comment homosexuality greater japanese social context notion coming seen undesirable necessarily involves adopting stance mainstream lifestyles values author sex video games thought amazing concrete statement gay thrilled treatment character game representation inner struggles interactions friends awards awarded playstation game prize famitsu awards voted readers famitsu recognized recipients games year award excellence japan game awards game given award high quality work excellent story automatically generated dungeons impressive background music gamesradar ranked fifth best stories saying greatest strength comes pacing gamesradar named 53rd best game best games list year placed game fifth 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