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|class = pq2 |
|class = pq2 |
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|japan = ペルソナQ2 ニュー シネマ ラビリンス |
|japan = ペルソナQ2 ニュー シネマ ラビリンス |
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|romaji = Perusona Q2 Nyū Shinema Rabirinsu |
|romaji = Perusona Q2 Nyū Shinema Rabirinsu |
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− | |developer = [[ |
+ | |developer = [[Atlus]] |
|publisher = Atlus (JP)<br>Deep Silver (EU) |
|publisher = Atlus (JP)<br>Deep Silver (EU) |
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|genre = RPG |
|genre = RPG |
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− | |platform(s) = [[Nintendo 3DS]] |
+ | |platform(s) = [[Nintendo 3DS]]<!--[[Nintendo Switch]] (Taiwan & Hong Kong only)--> |
+ | |director = Yuta Aihara |
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+ | |producer = [[Daisuke Kaneda]] |
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+ | |writer = Akira Akemine |
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+ | |artist = Hanako Oribe |
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+ | |composer = [[Atsushi Kitajoh]] |
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+ | |sales = '''First Week'''<br>Japan - 74,425<ref>[https://personacentral.com/persona-seroes-sales-graphic-2020/ A Graphic of Overall Persona Series Physical Game Sales in Japan for February 2020] Persona Central (Reggie, February 26, 2020)</ref><br>'''Life to Date'''<br>Japan - 89,878 |
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|release-date-japan = November 29, 2018 |
|release-date-japan = November 29, 2018 |
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|release-date-north-america = June 4, 2019 |
|release-date-north-america = June 4, 2019 |
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{{Q|...we do not go astray because we do not know, but because we think we know.|Jean-Jacques Rousseau, ''Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth'' Opening Scene}} |
{{Q|...we do not go astray because we do not know, but because we think we know.|Jean-Jacques Rousseau, ''Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth'' Opening Scene}} |
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⚫ | '''''Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth''''' is an RPG for the [[Nintendo 3DS]] and a sequel to ''[[Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth]]''. It is a crossover game between ''[[Persona 3]]'', ''[[Persona 4]]'' and ''[[Persona 5]]''. Like the previous game, it is based on ''Etrian Odyssey''. The main theme and opening for the game is ''[[Road Less Taken]]''. |
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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− | The story begins after the [[Protagonist (Persona 5)|P5 hero]] |
+ | The story begins after the [[Protagonist (Persona 5)|P5 hero]] wakes up from a dream where [[Philemon|a blue butterfly]] shows him a quote projected on a theater screen during a nap in class at [[Shujin Academy]]. Alongside [[Morgana]], he gathers the other [[Phantom Thieves of Hearts|Phantom Thieves]] in [[Café Leblanc]] to explore [[Mementos]]. These members include [[Morgana]], [[Ryuji Sakamoto]], [[Ann Takamaki]], [[Yusuke Kitagawa]], [[Makoto Niijima]], [[Futaba Sakura]], [[Haru Okumura]] and [[Goro Akechi]]. |
+ | While exploring Mementos, the Mona-bus suddenly veers out of control, and sends the Thieves into a movie screen initiating a countdown. |
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⚫ | The Thieves quickly |
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⚫ | The Thieves quickly find themselves in a [[Kamoshidaman (Labyrinth)|city]] where they're still wearing their thief outfits, and the [[Metaverse Navigator]] has stopped working. They try and ask the city's police for directions, only to be attacked by strange Shadows. It's soon revealed that their guns do not work in this reality. To make matters worse, a large Shadow resembling an obese man in a superhero chicken costume appears and pursues them, forcing them to escape via a movie screen into a [[Cinema]]. Unfortunately, they soon find that Haru and Makoto were left behind. They also find locks on the front doors, barring their escape. |
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⚫ | Though the Cinema seems deserted, the party quickly notices that a [[Doe|strange, black creature]] is in the projection room. It does not talk and does not interact with them, standing completely still. When its body is touched, it bounces. Morgana then notices figures standing up from the theater's seats, and tells the party to investigate. They find a woman in white, who introduces herself as [[Nagi (Persona Q2)|Nagi]], and a shy schoolgirl named [[Hikari]]. Nagi is the curator of the Cinema, and claims all of her customers aside from Hikari suddenly vanished. They are locked in the theater just like the Thieves and cannot leave. |
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− | The party asks the women about the whereabouts of their lost comrades and Yusuke provides picture proof, in which Hikari quickly recognizes where they are. Since she was too shy to speak to the party directly, she whispers to Nagi about it instead. Nagi notifies the party that they are indeed inside a movie known as [[Kamoshidaman (Labyrinth)|Kamoshidaman]]. The movie then quickly airs and a figure that resembles [[Kamoshida]] appears to be its protagonist. The movie is a superhero movie that spread a message that authority cannot do anything wrong, with the Kamoshida-like figure being considered a superhero. |
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+ | With no other way forward, the team investigates each labyrinth after rescuing Haru and Makoto. Each movie revolves around a moral centered on discarding individuality and becoming one with others. Throughout the game, the Phantom Thieves are joined by Persona users from different timelines: the [[Female protagonist (Persona 3 Portable)|P3P heroine]] in [[Kamoshidaman (Labyrinth)|Kamoshidaman]]; the [[Investigation Team]] in [[Junessic Land]]; [[Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad|SEES]] in [[A.I.G.I.S]]. All of them land in the movie world after routine trips to the collective unconsciousness, namely the [[Velvet Room]], [[Midnight Channel]], and [[Tartarus]]. Velvet Room attendants from other timelines—[[Elizabeth]], [[Margaret]], and [[Theodore]]—join [[Caroline and Justine]] in assisting the party. |
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− | Ryuji and Ann expresses disgust about Kamoshida being a superhero and is portrayed as absolute justice, but Nagi does not know who Kamoshida is. She also notifies the party about [[Doe]], who is a projectionist that is supposedly responsible for the Cinema lockdown, and he would only broadcast the same strange movies over and over. When the party worries about Doe likely being related to Kamoshida, Nagi explains that [[Kamoshidaman]] is an actor and is not related to the real person, and the movie was initially also not called "Kamoshidaman." Ryuji then began to stick his hand onto the theater screen and it submerges into it, causing great shock for everyone watching. The women then befriend the party and both sides are willing to assist each other in escaping the Cinema, although they do not know who the Phantom Thieves are despite their notoriety due to isolating themselves from any electronic communication. The party also inquires Nagi about the chicken creature, which she identifies as a [[F.O.E]]. |
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+ | The party's goal is to derail each movie's distorted moral codes by giving them happy endings while Hikari and Nagi watch. Upon returning, Doe grants them a key to unlock one of the four locks on the theater's front gate. |
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− | At the second time entering the movie, the party investigates the movie [[labyrinth]] and a Shadow drops a mysterious film. Futaba senses that a strong presence is in the staff room of the Cinema and retreats the party. Back to the Cinema, Morgana attempts to open the door, but was unable to so the party was put on guard. Eventually after using all of his strength, the door is removed and [[Caroline and Justine]] pop out from the staff room, unlocking the [[Velvet Room]]. The film picked before is revealed to be a [[Pixie]] [[Sub-Persona]]. |
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⚫ | After completing A.I.G.I.S, Doe supposedly kidnaps Hikari, causing panic in the Cinema, and both are confirmed to be inside the [[Hikari (Labyrinth)|fourth movie]]. Its trailer displays a suspiciously cheery and whimsical fairy tale landscape, with a forlorn Hikari being surrounded by three copies of her past selves. They repeat the messages of individuality being useless, everyone doing the same thing means it cannot be wrong, and authority is justice. A message at the end states that Hikari has decided to discard her self to become "normal," and the movie's name is obscured by black scribbles. The party enters the movie reality to save Hikari from Doe. |
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− | The party members other than the P5 hero do not recognize the Twins, but the Twins quickly recognize the P5 hero and can command Morgana due to the two sharing the same origins. Alongside them [[Elizabeth]] and [[Theodore]] appeared and Theodore asks Nagi and Hikari about the whereabouts of [[Female protagonist (Persona 3 Portable)|his guest]] who vanished from her reality when she was alongside him in the Velvet Room. Both of the women have no idea where she is, but Yusuke affirms that she must be in the movie. Despite Theodore does not believe it, Elizabeth forces him to do so. |
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⚫ | As the party explores the labyrinth, which appears as a cheerful, yet highly unsettling fairytale landscape, they encounter musical-like stages; each of them representing a personal trauma that Hikari experienced in the past, starting from primary school to her eventual breakdown. As soon as they reach the first of them, they encounter a younger version of Hikari being tormented by a copy of her teacher, followed by the real Hikari appearing. The copy transforms into a Shadow and attacks the party. After defeating the Shadow, Hikari reveals that she was not kidnapped by Doe, but had instead voluntarily entered with him so she could face herself and remember the events that ruined her life. |
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− | The movie reality is one where a superhero known as Kamoshidaman has terrorized and occupied a city, effectively becoming into its dictator and forcing all of the people in the city to worship him out of blind faith. Anyone who opposes him will be considered evil and will be smitten. When the party re-enters the movie for a third time, it was evident that via the F.O.E pursuing them, Kamoshidaman kidnapped Makoto and Haru and announces their execution, then sends wanted letters to the other thieves. The party then encounters the girl as described by Theo midway exploring, who was defending herself from Shadows. The girl is actually the [[Female protagonist (Persona 3 Portable)|P3P heroine]] and she too is a Persona user, much to the party's shock. They help her fend off the Shadows and bring her back to Theo in the Cinema. The P3P heroine then joins the party. |
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⚫ | The party now accompanies her to travel the Labyrinth, as the truth of this reality unravels; the movies are actually cognitive worlds created from Hikari's heart. [[Kamoshidaman]] was created from her resentment of being falsely accused of poisoning and killing the class rabbit by her primary school teacher and class, Junessic Land was created from her alienation by her secondary school friends because of their own selfish reasons, and A.I.G.I.S was created by the rejection of her desire to become a film director by her relatives. |
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− | In an attempt to save their comrades, the party braves to the labyrinth depths, the central plaza and confronts Kamoshidaman. Kamoshidaman easily overwhelms the party, but due to a police officer slipping the clues, Makoto instantly recognizes a statue on the center plaza as Kamoshidaman's power source, which can be stolen to severely weaken Kamoshidaman. Fortunately, it is extremely light and a gust of wind can slightly knock it back. The party devises a heist where they shut down the electricity of the city and tie the statue away with balloons and successfully execute their plans moments before Makoto and Haru's execution, then notifies Kamoshidaman by sending a calling card to him. The operation weakens Kamoshidaman to the point that the P3P heroine can trample him by landing on top of him. |
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+ | Her father, however, supported Hikari's endeavors throughout her life. He was the only one who provided unconditional support and inspired her dream of becoming a movie director, so she decided to create a movie and send an invitation letter for her father to watch her creation. |
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− | Due to his power source being removed, Kamoshidaman becomes pathetic and is easily defeated. The seemingly brainwashed citizens of the city are also snapped out from their delusions and began to doubt Kamoshidaman's justice. The party also frees Makoto and Haru. However at this time he uses a pair of carrots to transform himself into Super Kamoshidaman, a monstrous rabbit-like creature and viciously attacks the party. They defeat him and Kamoshidaman is no longer considered an absolute authority in the city. The ending credits roll as the movie changes, with Hikari and Nagi watching the ending and the former expressing shock that the ending of the movie actually changed to a good one. Makoto and Haru thanks the party for rescuing them and they join them. |
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⚫ | All of this comes to a standstill after an incident related to her relatives. The combined traumas in the form of repeated emotional abuse has consumed Hikari with extreme depression, self-loathing and grief. Giving up the meaning of her existence, she locked herself in her room and never came out. Her father tried to give her <abbr title="This is the notebook that the player uses to map labyrinths in the game">a notebook</abbr> he bought as a gift, but she remained unresponsive due to her depression. He then asked her "Why do you have to be like that?" As all of her tormentors asked her such a question when they emotionally abused her, she began to believe that her father was the same. Presumably due to the belief that her father was talked in by her relatives, the perceived denial from her father caused her to be overwhelmed by a series of traumatic flashbacks that completely broke her down. |
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− | However at the same time Doe began to seemingly writhe in pain, which shocks the party and they were put on guard. Hikari also seemed to be in pain as well, causing the tension to increase. Doe eventually settles down and it was revealed that he is actually creating a key, but he does not respond to any questions and leaves. The key is then used to unlock one of the locks that seal the Cinema exit. |
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⚫ | The party enters the depths of the labyrinth, which in sharp contrast from the cheerful-looking upper levels, appears as a monochrome and sinister flowerbed with the flowers having hollow eyes and tearing blood, symbolizing its owner's desire for self-destruction as an end to her pain, and the viewing of her life as torture. Doe appears in the center clearing. Hikari claims that he is not an enemy and confesses all of her self-destructive behavior, also stating that she will never forget him. He expresses a desire to keep her forever in the Cinema to end all of her pain, which she denies. He becomes berserk, transforming into a morbid abomination. When the party destroys his head, his remains spill ichor that triple binds the party. Hikari steps in with a new skill to aid them, using her support to remove binds from party members and they defeat the rampaging Doe. |
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− | The announcement of the airing of the second movie quickly commences. The second movie is [[Junessic Land]], a dinosaur movie that spread the "moral" that the opinion of the masses is the only thing that matters. The party expresses disgust on the "moral," considering it completely inappropriate. |
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⚫ | Doe calms down after he's defeated, and the reality of Hikari's breakdown is made clear; when her father asked "why do you have to be like that", he was only asking after her wellbeing, and her breakdown was nothing more than her misinterpreting his words. Hikari steps in to hug Doe and he transforms into her father, revealing that Doe is nothing more than a [[Cognition|cognitive copy]] made by her, twisted by her distorted perception that her father is a terrifying figure, but also from her admiration for him and her suppressed desire to break free from her shell. She tearfully repents for her erroneous perception towards her father and Doe transforms into the key required to remove the last lock along with her invitation letter. Hikari then confesses to the party about the reality of her distorted self-destructive desires and thanks them for changing her heart and giving it back, completing her rehabilitation and allowing her to escape from her living death. The credits roll with Nagi watching alone, with the movie's true name revealed as "Hikari" and "To Be Continued" shown afterwards. |
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− | They enter the movie, which takes the form of a artificial jungle island inhabited by dinosaurs. However, as soon as they enter the labyrinth, the P5 hero was confronted by a [[Yu Narukami|hostile man]] that relentlessly attacks him, with the two standing on equal ground. The man and the P5 hero's teammates were shocked by the confrontation and the man apologizes for the mistake, identifying himself as the P4 hero and his teammates as the [[Investigation Team]], and both parties made friends with each other. Most of the Investigation Team joins the party back at the Cinema, with [[Yosuke]] left missing. |
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⚫ | The party completes all of the movies and removes the last lock with Nagi's full approval and permission. Hikari expresses a will to escape the Cinema and Nagi, despite being upset, approves. However, as they open its gates, they find that they are inside a twisted landscape, with Nagi dropping her guise, transforming into a malicious-looking version of herself with red hair. What seems to be Nagi reveals herself to be [[Enlil]], a god created from humanity's desire to end all of their pain. She reveals that the Cinema is in fact a part of her domain in the collective unconsciousness, and she advises the party to leave and stop bothering. She also claims that weak humans should accept her salvation plan, which comes in the form of drawing in depressed people into the Cinemas within her domain. |
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− | The investigation Team were attempting to investigate the [[Midnight Channel]] one day, but instead of bringing them to its lobby, the TV at [[Junes]] transported them into a dimension and they were sucked into a movie screen that initiates a countdown, putting them into the movie reality. |
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⚫ | Enlil reveals that Hikari was only one of the souls trapped, and those of many others suffer the same fate. The Cinema acting as the hub of the game is merely Hikari's Theater, and each of the other theaters contain a person who suffers from the pain of living just like Hikari did. She also reveals that she did not prevent them from escaping, but they simply expressed a lack of desire to be free from their self-imposed imprisonment and also a lack of enthusiasm to live, effectively playing themselves into her plan. Despite showing extreme arrogance, Enlil still lets them leave anyway, but Hikari convinces the party to stay in order to confront Enlil, so others can be freed from her domain. |
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− | As the party explores the labyrinth, they encounter [[Yosukesaurus|what seems to be Yosuke]] but the dinosaur confirms that he does not know what are humans. He introduces himself as Yosukesaurus and is interested in learning their customs, and he talks of a "paradise" which is supposedly not accessible by carnivores. However as soon as the two began to interact, a group of Shadows attack Yosukesaurus while the other dinosaurs fled and left him alone, leaving the party to save him from danger. Yosukesaurus also talks of a "paradise" according to a human book, which is supposedly unreachable by carnivores. A further exploration leads the party to a Shadow dropping a Blank Card, in which they give it to the Velvet Room where [[Marie]] and [[Margaret]] appears and explains its function. |
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+ | The party ventures through Enlil's domain, known as the [[Theater District]], finally reaching its depths. While they're more than ready to fight her, she displays a lack of desire to directly confront them, instead sending out a duo of Shadows to deter the party. Once they are slain, she applauds them for their courage to stand against her but displays that others do not and teleports them back to Hikari's Theater. |
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− | As the party re-enters the movie reality and assists Yosukesaurus in repelling the carnivorous dinosaurs, they realize the Herbivore Dinosaurs in the movie reality do not defend themselves from the carnivores and simply lets their comrades to be eaten out of cowardice. They eventually sense Yosuke nearby, who is defending a [[Herbivore Dinosaur]] from a carnivorous dinosaur. The party helps him distract the carnivorous dinosaur and faints it with a single unison attack from the P4 and P5 hero, fainting and securing it. Despite their help, the Herbivore Dinosaurs recognize the humans as threats and voted to lynch them, with Yosukesaurus reluctantly agreeing with the outrageous decision because all of the dinosaurs agreed with it and he feared retaliation for opposing the many. They all fled and the party retreats to the Cinema, where Yosuke joins them. |
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⚫ | It is revealed that the movies in the Cinema are an [[Akashic Record]] of negative thoughts flowing from the projectors at the depths to the Cinemas, in which Enlil believes that having them watch such movies can relieve the pain of living. However, this only feeds into their negative impulses and makes their collapsing mental health worse. In the projection room, they find the edited versions of Hikari's films and devise a plan to replace the negative film projections in Enlil's domain with them so they can reverse the negative movie's effects on the theatergoers. Every Persona user and Hikari now automatically recognize themselves as the Phantom Thieves and executes the plan to replace the four projectors, defeating the projections of [[Kamoshidaman]], [[Yosukesaurus]], [[Mother Computer]] and [[Doe]] in the process. |
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− | Reaching the farthest reaches of the island, the Herbivore Dinosaurs blamed Yosukesaurus for leading them to "paradise," a dead end in the middle part of the island. Since humans wrote the book depicting the "paradise," the other Herbivore Dinosaurs force him to attack the party since they were humans, drive him into despair and turns him into a carnivorous dinosaur resembling [[Shadow Yosuke]], causing him to go into a rampage and attack the party. In the battle he calls other Herbivore Dinosaurs for help, but all of them were defeated and he becomes sane again. The dinosaurs apologize for their mistakes after their defeat and promise to build an actual friendship with each other. However at this time, the carnivorous dinosaur appears and attacks everyone in the clearing, dinosaur or human alike. To repay the party, the dinosaurs for the first time attacked the carnivorous dinosaur and severely damaged it, allowing the party to force it to flee. The ending of the movie is changed with Nagi and Hikari watching it, with Hikari showing significant recovery from her depression, allowing her to communicate properly. Doe then creates another key with the same severe reaction as before, allowing the second of the locks on the Cinema exit to be removed. |
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⚫ | After the negative films are replaced, the party and Hikari confront Enlil and send a calling card to her. She reads the calling card and is severely angered as the Theater District begins to be purified by the edited versions of Hikari's movies. The purified movies display Kamoshidaman expressing a desire to protect the weak, the [[Herbivore Dinosaurs]] and Yosukesaurus begin respecting each other's opinions, Ribbon teaches a group of robots with personality to love flowers, and the high school copy of Hikari makes Doe vanish by expressing the will to escape the Cinema and for her father to watch her movie. |
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− | At the same time, the third movie began to air in the Cinema. The movie is a sci-fi robot movie known as [[A.I.G.I.S]], which spreads the "moral" that personality is a crime and it must be removed to create an utopia. This again invokes the feeling of disgust on the party and they venture through it. As soon as they enter the reality, the P3P heroine picks an [[Evoker]], which causes her to be worried as her teammates might be trapped there. They then encounter [[SEES|a group of persona users]] fighting a legion of featureless robots, which quickly overwhelms them with their sheer numbers. |
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⚫ | Enlil is enraged as her "salvation plan" crumbles and combats the party in human form. She exerts a terrifying power that wounds the entire party, but Hikari begins to rally those trapped into escaping the Cinema, and the edited movies start to take effect. Enlil views Hikari's actions as a betrayal and is further enraged, causing her to reveal her true form, an angelic, eagle-like god. She proclaims that the party's hope is completely pointless and states that they are foolish for opposing her. Despite the party's greatest efforts, Enlil removes all combat members on the field, leaving Hikari and the navigators helpless. The navigators tell Hikari to leave, but she ignores the warnings and steps in to confront Enlil alone. Because of her belief and trust in the people who helped her regain her memories and saved her life, Hikari is able to bring the party back. In complete bewilderment, Enlil is left defenseless as all four protagonists unleash a unison attack. |
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− | The party helps them defeat the robot legion and the P3P heroine greets her SEES "comrades." Much to her dismay, none of the SEES members recognize her and the awkward situation is further intensified when the heroine calls the SEES members by name despite they never recognized her. This results in the P3P heroine being struck with a sense of confusion and alienation for the remainder of the game, as she has effectively became a lone wolf and an outcast among the united Persona users. The SEES members introduce themselves to the party and join them. They also report [[Protagonist (Persona 3)|their leader]] and [[Aigis]] missing, and to make matters worse, their leader dropped his Evoker in the movie, indicating the duo is in danger. |
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⚫ | Despite her defeat, Enlil is still determined to go on, but the party and all of the trapped people persuade her into surrendering and giving up her "salvation plan." She returns back to the form of the black-haired Nagi and vanishes into light, finally acknowledging the possibilities and strengths of humanity, but not before leaving a warning that she will return as long as people wish for her to. The [[Theater District]] is destroyed and all the trapped souls return to their realities. However, the memories of the Persona users' adventure will be wiped, and nobody will remember anything that happened. Hearing this, Hikari breaks into tears as her first friends will no longer be able to recognize her anymore. She wants to give P5 hero her notebook as a memento, but he returns it to her as it was her most precious memory, and without it, her movie will never be complete. Accepting the truth and moving on, she exits the Cinema back to her reality. |
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− | The SEES members also reveal the reason behind their appearance in the movie world; One day in a [[Tartarus]] exploration trip, the floor of Tartarus suddenly collapses with a movie screen initiating a countdown on top of a staircase being the only way out. They enter the movie screen and were lost in the movie world. |
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+ | In order, SEES and the Investigation Team leave and return to their realities as well, with the P3P heroine and the P3 hero expressing sadness as they part, still holding a feeling of recognition towards each other. The P5 cast returns to reality last, with [[Goro Akechi]] reluctant to leave, indicating that he is still the traitor and did not want to return to his old self. |
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− | As the party explores the reality, they encounter [[Ribbon|a robot resembling Aigis]]. She was being asked by the other robots to undergo initialization due to having a personality, which she agrees to perform. However, the party stops them and destroys the robots, and the Aigis lookalike wonders why they save her, as she is a defect robot that must be initialized under the orders of the [[Overseer]], a supreme entity who has a strong hatred over anyone who had a personality. They persuade her to give up the self-loathing and enlisted her to assist them, despite it seemingly did not have any capabilities that would benefit them. |
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⚫ | As Hikari's soul returns to her reality, she wakes up in bed, puzzled by tears she has no recollection of, yet her [[Change of Heart]] is still intact. She meets [[Hikari's Father|her father]] in the living room. He wonders why Hikari is so worked up all of a sudden since she used to be extremely withdrawn. She expresses the desire to continue production of the movie she created before she fell into depression with full approval by her father. The two then have a chat with each other. |
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− | The Overseer makes an announcement for the renegade robot's capture, in which she is coded UIY-2249 due to the robots in the reality not having a name. The party makes a bunch of strange nicknames for her until Futaba suggests them to name her "Ribbon." Ribbon accompanies the party and begins to learn human customs, and was pulling herself out from the self-loathing. The Commander also resembled [[Shuji Ikutsuki]], but SEES does not recognize his true nature at that time and was completely confused until the party tells them that he is an actor with no relation with the real person. |
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+ | In [[Iwatodai Dorm]], P3 hero decides to rent a DVD after a sudden urge to watch a movie. He invites the group to watch it with him, as everyone is home. With [[Mitsuru]]'s approval, everyone brings snacks and drinks to the lobby, and settles in to watch. |
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− | The party manages to enter the research lab and as soon as they enter, they encounter the SEES leader and Aigis fighting a group of drones. Aigis' Orgia Mode had no effect on them and she collapses from overheating, while the leader did not have an Evoker and was in danger. The party helps them fend off the drones and when the SEES leader met the heroine, they felt a nostalgic feeling with each other and did not know why. The SEES leader introduces himself as the P3 hero and he and Aigis join the party in the Cinema. He also deduces that the P3P heroine is a copy of him in another reality. |
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+ | P4 hero and [[Nanako Dojima]] cook food for the Investigation Team, who soon arrive at the Dojima Residence. The group sees that a dinosaur movie will air soon, and, encouraged by Nanako's enthusiasm, decide to watch it together. |
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− | The party confronts the Overseer at the next time around and he easily incapacitates Ribbon with one shot of his gun. They defeat him and it was found that Ribbon was just put on forced sleep, as a flip of a switch is capable of reactivating her. Using the keycard they obtain from the commander, they reach the depths of the research lab while an announcement is made for the capturing of irregulars despite the Overseer was supposed to be defeated, indicating a [[Mother Computer]] was the true leader of the reality. |
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+ | The P3P heroine wakes up in her room after falling asleep while studying. She wonders at a dream she possibly had, but is interrupted by Yukari and the rest of SEES, who invite her to watch a movie with the rest of them downstairs. Wondering at her sudden silence, she explains that she feels like she's finally home, and that she's been waiting to see them for a long time. But she soon brushes this off, and eagerly agrees to watch the movie with them. |
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− | They confront the Mother Computer after neutralizing the security system by exploiting a bug using the P3P heroine and the P3 hero's identical existence and the AI states that the world views personality as a crime and manipulates Ribbon into believing that her personality is dangerous. With the party's help she breaks free from the manipulation and they deny it, forcing it to attack the party. Despite demonstrating powerful instant recovery abilities, Futaba devises a plan to hack Ribbon into the computer and defeat it, and they succeed in defeating the AI in two hacking attempts. |
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+ | In the attic of Leblanc, the Phantom Thieves—''sans'' Akechi—decide on what they wish to do, as there's still plenty of time before their deadline. Ann shows the group a flier for a high-school student film festival someone on set gave her. Ryuji inexplicably feels as if they must go, much to his confusion. The rest express the same desire, and they all agree to attend together. After watching the movie "New Cinema Labyrinth," Hikari is introduced as its director. The P5 hero shows surprise at seeing her, then smiles. Whether or not he remembers anything is left ambiguous. |
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− | However, the AI makes an emergency recovery and manipulates Ribbon into forgetting her personality. The attempt failed when Ribbon used a great deal of her energy to activate Orgia Mode thanks to an operation by Futaba and she uses all of her energy to cripple the Mother Computer, allowing the party to deactivate it. Due to losing all of her energy, Ribbon collapses and Futaba and Aigis team up to repair her while the credits roll. Hikari and Nagi watch the movie with the former sobbing and expressing a desire to discard her self, which the latter appears to sympathize. However, [[Rise]] notifies them that the movie has not ended, with Futaba and Aigis' attempts being successful and Ribbon making a full recovery, allowing her personality to be put to good use. |
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− | Hikari recovers further from her depression and is willing to recognize the party as friends, and Doe creates a keycard with the same violent reaction. However after he creates it, Doe supposedly kidnaps Hikari and vanishes, creating a tension in the Cinema with Nagi requesting the party to retrieve and save Hikari. The keycard is then inserted into one of the locks and breaks it. |
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⚫ | Unlike the previous game, ''[[Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth|Persona Q]]'', there is no route selection; ''Persona 5's'' cast is the main focus. The game is not dubbed in English, similar to ''[[Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux]]'', and instead has English subtitles with Japanese voices. Additionally, horror elements are toned down, and labyrinths are made easier to navigate compared to ''PQ''. |
||
+ | The Investigation Team and SEES are not available party members at the start of the game. Instead, each group joins the Phantom Thieves after finding them in a specific [[Labyrinth]]. ''Persona 3's'' female protagonist is the first to join. |
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⚫ | |||
+ | Unlike ''Persona Q'', or any ''Persona'' game for that matter, a protagonist is not required in battle unless playing on the hardest difficulty. The original characters—[[Hikari]], [[Nagi (Persona Q2)|Nagi]] and [[Doe]]— serve a supporting role instead of an active battle role. |
||
⚫ | As the party explores the labyrinth, which appears as a cheerful, yet highly unsettling fairytale landscape, they encounter musical-like stages |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | The party now accompanies her to travel the |
||
+ | A mechanic originally in ''Persona Q'' has returned, which involves no protagonist having the power of the [[Wild Card]] because of the distortion of the new world; rather all party members are able to be equipped with a second persona ([[Sub-Persona]]s), which can be summoned in battle. While Sub-Personas retain their six skill slots, main Personas now also have six skill slots which are populated by skills they inherently learn. The skills gained by a main Persona's transformation are stronger versions of their inherent unique skill, and there is no skill slot reserved for the Persona's evolution. Skills are no longer forcibly upgraded to their stronger (but more expensive) version, allowing for greater customizability of a main Persona's build. |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | An [[All-Out Attack]] is no longer dependent on the number of Boosted characters, and is instead triggered by knocking all enemies down through weakness exploitation or critical hits. It is thus possible to trigger multiple All-Out Attacks in quick succession if all party members repeatedly hit the enemies' weaknesses. Finishing the battle with an All-Out Attack not only gives an experience bonus, but also raises the chances of finding rare materials from slain enemies. |
||
⚫ | The party enters the depths of the labyrinth, which in sharp contrast from the cheerful-looking upper levels, appears as a monochrome and sinister flowerbed with the flowers having hollow eyes and tearing blood, symbolizing its owner's desire for self |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | Doe calms down after |
||
− | |||
⚫ | The party completes all of the movies and removes the last lock with Nagi's full approval and permission. Hikari expresses a will to escape the Cinema and Nagi, despite upset, approves. However, as they |
||
− | |||
⚫ | Enlil reveals that Hikari was only one of the |
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− | |||
⚫ | |||
− | |||
⚫ | After the negative films |
||
− | |||
⚫ | Enlil is enraged as her "salvation plan" crumbles and combats the party in human form. She exerts a terrifying power that wounds the entire party, but Hikari |
||
− | |||
⚫ | Enlil is |
||
− | |||
⚫ | As Hikari returns to reality, she wakes up |
||
− | |||
− | SEES return to reality as well and the P3 hero found a movie DVD from an unknown source. Despite the fact that [[Junpei Iori|Junpei]] believed that it was porn, it was in fact a sci-fi movie. With the chairman's approval, the P3 hero's partners bought snacks and drinks for everyone to watch the movie. |
||
− | |||
− | The Investigation team returns to reality and is greeted by [[Nanako Dojima]]. In order to celebrate, the P4 hero and Nanako prepare dishes and a dinosaur movie began to air on TV. It features a dinosaur with Yosuke's head, but as their memories are wiped out, the Investigation Team does not recognize the dinosaur. |
||
− | |||
− | The P3P heroine returns to reality as if she fell asleep in her studies. Her real comrades, the alternate version of SEES were worried about her disappearance. Regardless, they found a sci-fi movie DVD from an unknown source and bought snacks and drinks to watch it with the chairman's permission. The heroine began to have an uneasy nostalgic feeling, but as her memories are wiped, she does not realize why. |
||
− | |||
− | The P5 cast returns to [[Cafe Leblanc]] with Akechi absent but they had plenty of time until the heist deadline. Ann receives an invitation to a high school student movie festival which they attend. As they attend the festival, Hikari steps into the dais of the auditorium and announces her new movie, ''New Cinema Labyrinth''. The P5 hero makes a curious look, and if he remembered anything, or did this made him remember anything from his journey was left ambiguous. |
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− | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | Unlike |
||
− | |||
− | The Persona users of ''Persona 3'' and ''Persona 4'' are not in the story, nor available to use in battle, at the start of the game. Each of these groups will be be present at the same time, crossing over in the same story later on in the game. The ''Persona 4'' protagonist and characters will appear before the ''Persona 3'' protagonists and characters. The female protagonist of ''[[Persona 3 Portable]]'' will join early on in the game and will be significantly involved in the story. Unlike in ''Persona Q'', or any ''Persona'' game for that matter, a protagonist character will not be required in battle unless in the hardest difficulty. The original characters for ''Persona Q2'' will have a different role from participating in battle, namely Hikari having a support role instead of an active battle role along with Nagi and Doe eventually becoming enemies of the party. |
||
− | |||
⚫ | |||
− | |||
− | A mechanic originally in ''Persona Q'' is being brought back, which involves no protagonist having the power of the [[Wild Card]] because of the distortion of the new world; rather all party members will be able to be equipped with a second persona ([[Sub-Persona]]s), which can be summoned in battle. |
||
− | |||
⚫ | |||
Unlike in ''Persona 5'' where Shadows appear like their Persona counterparts, they appear as Arcana Shadows in this game. |
Unlike in ''Persona 5'' where Shadows appear like their Persona counterparts, they appear as Arcana Shadows in this game. |
||
− | During battle, certain characters can initiate a Unison attack, |
+ | During battle, certain characters can initiate a Unison attack, similar to a mechanic in ''[[Persona 4 Golden]]'' where certain characters can perform a follow up attack after an All-Out Attack. |
The character groups that can perform these attacks are: |
The character groups that can perform these attacks are: |
||
⚫ | |||
− | *'''Animal Capriccio''' (Koromaru, Teddie, and Morgana) |
||
+ | *'''Brand☆New☆Bam:''' Skill by two endlessly cheerful girls: Ann / Chie |
||
− | *'''Roar of Hunger''' (Akihiko Sanada, Shinjiro Aragaki and Yusuke Kitagawa) |
||
+ | *'''Kacho Fugetsu:''' Skill by two paragons of grace: Yukiko / Yusuke |
||
− | *'''Partner Power''' (Junpei Iori, Yosuke Hanamura and Ryuji Sakamoto) |
||
+ | *'''Lightning Duo:''' Skill by two wild card team leaders: P5 hero / P4 hero |
||
− | *'''Kacho Fugetsu''' (Yukiko Amagi and Yusuke Kitagawa) |
||
⚫ | |||
− | *'''Triple Support''' (Fuuka Yamagishi, Rise Kujikawa and Futaba Sakura) |
||
+ | *'''Severed Fate:''' Skill by heiresses unbound: Haru / Yukiko |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | *'''Roar of Hunger:''' Skill by three hungry lads: Yusuke / Shinjiro / Akihiko |
||
− | *'''Lightning Duo''' (P4 hero and P5 hero) |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | *'''Animal Capriccio:''' Skill by (mostly) loveable enigmas: Morgana / Teddie / Koromaru |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
− | *''' |
+ | *'''Beauty Quartet:''' Skill by four beauties(?): Haru / Aigis / Rise / Teddie |
+ | *'''Triple Support:''' Skill by three navigators: Futaba / Rise / Fuuka<abbr title="Heals all allies.">*</abbr> |
||
− | *'''Beauty Quartet''' (Aigis, Rise Kujikawa, Teddie and Haru Okumura) |
||
⚫ | |||
− | *'''Brand*New*Bam''' (Chie Satonaka and Ann Takamaki) |
||
+ | *'''Partner Power:''' Skill by three partners(?) of the wild cards: Junpei / Yosuke / Ryuji |
||
− | *'''Wildcard Order''' (P5 hero, P3 hero, P3P heroine, and P4 hero) |
||
+ | *'''Wildcard Order:''' Skill by four wild cards: P5 hero / P3P heroine / P4 hero / P3 hero<abbr title="Only used in Enlil's final boss battle and New Game Plus.">*</abbr> |
||
− | *'''Presidential Combo''' (Makoto Niijima and Mitsuru Kirijo) |
||
⚫ | |||
− | |||
− | ===System=== |
||
− | *'''Inside Each Movie is a Mysterious Labyrinth!''' |
||
− | Each dungeon is a movie (labyrinth) with a different theme, and each one is a unique creation. No dungeon is straightforward and child's play. Work with your team to clear each one! |
||
− | |||
− | *'''Hit the Enemy’s Weak Point to Gain the Upper Hand in Battle!''' |
||
− | Switch out Personas! Utilize various tactics! |
||
− | |||
− | *'''Everyone is Here!''' |
||
− | |||
− | What is their reaction of meeting each other? Totally must-see dialog! |
||
− | |||
− | *'''Draw Maps While Going through the Dungeon!''' |
||
− | |||
− | By drawing maps, you can clear each dungeon smoothly! There is also an auto-map feature. |
||
− | |||
− | Deepen the Bonds with Your Comrades to Take on Strong Enemies! |
||
− | |||
− | Powerful Shadows called [[F.O.E]] wander around the dungeons. |
||
− | |||
− | Like the previous game, it is based on ''Etrian Odyssey''. |
||
===Themes=== |
===Themes=== |
||
− | The game has a theme that arches between ''P3'', ''P4'' and ''P5'', namely death, truth and identity. The "identity" theme is connected between the Phantom Thieves of Hearts being criminals that rebel against the machinations of society and the game featuring characters that are considered outcasts due to being different from others, such as the P3P heroine who |
+ | The game has a theme that arches between ''P3'', ''P4'' and ''P5'', namely death, truth and identity. The "identity" theme is connected between the Phantom Thieves of Hearts being criminals that rebel against the machinations of society and the game featuring characters that are considered outcasts due to being different from others, such as the P3P heroine who lacks any teammates to fight alongside her unlike the other Persona users, as well as the movie characters that are frequently persecuted and disrespected due to being different from their respective movie's other inhabitants. The "truth" theme is connected between the ''Persona 4'' cast's desire to find the truth of the murders of [[Inaba (Persona 4)|Inaba]] and the fact that the final blow that made Hikari broke and fell into despair is because of a false belief that her father hated her, despite that clearly not being the case. The "death" theme is connected as the ''Persona 3'' characters frequently put themselves into life and death situations and the fact that people who are trapped in the Cinema are actually forfeiting their lives, having subjected themselves to a state of apathy that equals death. |
− | Much |
+ | Much like the ''Persona 5'' theme, ''PQ2'' also discusses different problems in modern society, namely complete authoritarian or majority rule and emotional abuse towards children, depression, and the shut-in escapism that they result in. |
==Characters== |
==Characters== |
||
+ | [[File:Q2_character_ensemble.png|thumb|Character Ensemble]] |
||
===Original Characters=== |
===Original Characters=== |
||
*[[Hikari]]: A very shy girl who the persona users met in the theater. She seems to have issues communicating with people. She is voiced by Misato Fukuen. |
*[[Hikari]]: A very shy girl who the persona users met in the theater. She seems to have issues communicating with people. She is voiced by Misato Fukuen. |
||
*[[Nagi (Persona Q2)|Nagi]]: The curator of the movie theater, trapped alongside Hikari inside the complex. Like everyone else, she is perplexed by the series of events taking place. She is voiced by Kikuko Inoue. |
*[[Nagi (Persona Q2)|Nagi]]: The curator of the movie theater, trapped alongside Hikari inside the complex. Like everyone else, she is perplexed by the series of events taking place. She is voiced by Kikuko Inoue. |
||
*[[Doe]]: A suspicious being lurking inside the projection room. He is the one who plays the movies that Hikari and Nagi watch. He doesn't speak, and he's jiggly to the touch. It never talks, even when spoken to. He is voiced by Kazuhiko Inoue. |
*[[Doe]]: A suspicious being lurking inside the projection room. He is the one who plays the movies that Hikari and Nagi watch. He doesn't speak, and he's jiggly to the touch. It never talks, even when spoken to. He is voiced by Kazuhiko Inoue. |
||
+ | **[[Hikari's Father]]: An old man who manifested as Doe in Hikari's cognition and is the only person who genuinely cared for her. |
||
*[[Yosukesaurus]]: The "villain" of [[Junessic Land]], he is not well liked by his fellow Herbivores for being different from them. |
*[[Yosukesaurus]]: The "villain" of [[Junessic Land]], he is not well liked by his fellow Herbivores for being different from them. |
||
*[[Ribbon]]: The "villain" of [[A.I.G.I.S]], she is put on execution bounty by the Overseer due to having a personality. |
*[[Ribbon]]: The "villain" of [[A.I.G.I.S]], she is put on execution bounty by the Overseer due to having a personality. |
||
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*[[Margaret]] |
*[[Margaret]] |
||
*[[Marie]] |
*[[Marie]] |
||
+ | *[[Nanako Dojima]] |
||
|} |
|} |
||
===Antagonists=== |
===Antagonists=== |
||
*[[Kamoshidaman]]: The "superhero" of [[Kamoshidaman (Labyrinth)|his titular movie]], he rules over his city, "Kamocity" with an iron fist. |
*[[Kamoshidaman]]: The "superhero" of [[Kamoshidaman (Labyrinth)|his titular movie]], he rules over his city, "Kamocity" with an iron fist. |
||
− | *[[Herbivore Dinosaurs]]: The weak majority of Junessic Land, their |
+ | *[[Herbivore Dinosaurs]]: The weak majority of Junessic Land, their stubbornness and selfishness causes them to be easy prey for carnivorous dinosaurs. |
*[[Overseer]]: The A.I. ruler of A.I.G.I.S out to destroy all with a personality. |
*[[Overseer]]: The A.I. ruler of A.I.G.I.S out to destroy all with a personality. |
||
*[[Mother Computer]]: The true master of A.I.G.I.S. |
*[[Mother Computer]]: The true master of A.I.G.I.S. |
||
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==Early Purchase Bonus== |
==Early Purchase Bonus== |
||
− | There |
+ | There was an early purchase version of the game, which included the “Persona 3, 4, and 5 Battle BGM Set,” for free, which includes the following tracks: |
− | *Persona 3: "[[Mass Destruction]]" |
+ | *''Persona 3'': "[[Mass Destruction]]" |
− | *Persona 3 Portable: "[[Wiping All Out]]" |
+ | *''Persona 3 Portable'': "[[Wiping All Out]]" |
− | *Persona Q: "[[Light the Fire Up in the Night]] |
+ | *''Persona Q'': "[[Light the Fire Up in the Night]] 'DARK HOUR'" |
− | *Persona 4: "[[Reach Out To The Truth]]" |
+ | *''Persona 4'': "[[Reach Out To The Truth]]" |
− | *Persona 4 Golden: "[[Time To Make History]]" |
+ | *''Persona 4 Golden'': "[[Time To Make History]]" |
− | *Persona Q: "Light the Fire Up in the Night ' |
+ | *''Persona Q'': "Light the Fire Up in the Night 'MIDNIGHT'" |
− | *Persona 5: "[[Last Surprise]]" |
+ | *''Persona 5'': "[[Last Surprise]]" |
− | *Persona 5: "[[Life Will Change]]" |
+ | *''Persona 5'': "[[Life Will Change]]" |
− | *Persona 5: "Will Power" |
+ | *''Persona 5'': "Will Power" |
− | These tracks can be purchased as DLC for people who didn't purchase the game early. |
+ | These tracks can be purchased as DLC for people who didn't purchase the game early. They cost $2.99 each, and require 2 Blocks of available storage. |
− | The download code with first-print copies of the game |
+ | The download code with first-print copies of the game includes a special Nintendo 3DS theme, though it is now available for free on the Nintendo Theme Shop. The music selected for said theme is an instrumental version of "Cinematic Tale." |
==Gallery== |
==Gallery== |
||
{{Gallery |
{{Gallery |
||
|File:PQ2 Main Visual Artwork.jpg|Main visual artwork |
|File:PQ2 Main Visual Artwork.jpg|Main visual artwork |
||
− | |File:PQ2 Japanese Release Box Art.jpg|The |
+ | |File:PQ2 Japanese Release Box Art.jpg|The Japanese release box art |
|File:PQ2 main P3 playable characters.png|Playable characters from ''Persona 3'' |
|File:PQ2 main P3 playable characters.png|Playable characters from ''Persona 3'' |
||
|File:PQ2 main P4 playable characters.png|Playable characters from ''Persona 4'' |
|File:PQ2 main P4 playable characters.png|Playable characters from ''Persona 4'' |
||
Line 258: | Line 211: | ||
|File:Persona Q2 Junessicland Key Art.jpg|Key Art of the Junessic Land labyrinth |
|File:Persona Q2 Junessicland Key Art.jpg|Key Art of the Junessic Land labyrinth |
||
|File:Persona Q2 A.I.G.I.S. Key Art.jpg|Key Art of the A.I.G.I.S labyrinth |
|File:Persona Q2 A.I.G.I.S. Key Art.jpg|Key Art of the A.I.G.I.S labyrinth |
||
− | |File:Persona-Q2-Famitsu-Clean-Cover.jpg|Persona Q2 Famitsu Cover |
+ | |File:Persona-Q2-Famitsu-Clean-Cover.jpg|''Persona Q2'' Famitsu Cover |
+ | |File:PQ2 Showtime Premium.png|Showtime Premium Edition |
||
+ | |File:PQ2 teaser gif.gif|2017 teaser from the official Japanese website |
||
}} |
}} |
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Line 313: | Line 268: | ||
==Trivia== |
==Trivia== |
||
+ | * Every protagonist save for ''Persona 5's'' is voiced, and can be named. |
||
− | * This game does not have an English audio. |
||
− | * As |
+ | * As it is implied that Akechi is still the traitor—based on his reluctance to return home and his absence during the epilogue—the events of ''PQ2'' may take place during [[Niijima's Palace]]. |
* This game contains the most amount of unique playable characters in any game in the ''Megaten'' franchise, having a grand total of 28. If Hikari is counted towards a playable character with a support role, the number goes to 29 instead. |
* This game contains the most amount of unique playable characters in any game in the ''Megaten'' franchise, having a grand total of 28. If Hikari is counted towards a playable character with a support role, the number goes to 29 instead. |
||
* This is the first combat-based game in the ''Persona'' series after ''[[Persona 3]]'' without any direct or implied [[Shadow Selves]], although [[Cognition]]s with Shadow Self-like traits constantly appear throughout it. |
* This is the first combat-based game in the ''Persona'' series after ''[[Persona 3]]'' without any direct or implied [[Shadow Selves]], although [[Cognition]]s with Shadow Self-like traits constantly appear throughout it. |
||
− | * The quote at the start of the game is "We do not go astray because we do not know, but because we think we know" by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. This can refer to any of the following events in the game |
+ | * The quote at the start of the game is "We do not go astray because we do not know, but because we think we know" by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. This can refer to any of the following events in the game: |
− | ** The P3P heroine encountering what seems to be her SEES comrades in [[A.I.G.I.S]] and believing that they reunited with her, only to discover that they are |
+ | ** The P3P heroine encountering what seems to be her SEES comrades in [[A.I.G.I.S]] and believing that they reunited with her, only to discover that they are not from her dimension and do not recognize her, which causes her to be struck with confusion, disappointment and alienation, as this means that she's alone. |
− | ** Hikari breaking down due to a belief that her father hated her simply because of a question |
+ | ** Hikari breaking down due to a belief that her father hated her, simply because of a question identical to one that each of her tormentors asked. Though unlike them, he had no intent of demeaning his daughter. |
− | ** The people trapped in the Cinemas in Enlil's realm |
+ | ** The people trapped in the Cinemas in Enlil's realm believe that they cannot get out due to their depression and apathy, despite Enlil allowing them to leave at any time. |
− | ** Enlil's delusional belief that her "salvation plan" |
+ | ** Enlil's delusional belief that her "salvation plan" which involves trapping "weak" people in Cinemas will relieve their pain of living, but in fact inversely increases their pain further. She also believes that humanity is weak and needs her protection. |
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
Line 327: | Line 282: | ||
*[https://atlus.com/personaq2/home.html Official North American website] |
*[https://atlus.com/personaq2/home.html Official North American website] |
||
+ | ==References== |
||
− | <br clear="all" />{{-}} |
||
+ | <references/> |
||
⚫ | |||
{{PQ2}} |
{{PQ2}} |
||
{{Megaten}} |
{{Megaten}} |
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[[Category:Games]] |
[[Category:Games]] |
||
[[Category:Persona Series]] |
[[Category:Persona Series]] |
||
− | [[Category:Persona Q2]] |
+ | [[Category:Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth]] |
Revision as of 18:00, 19 May 2020
"...we do not go astray because we do not know, but because we think we know."
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth is an RPG for the Nintendo 3DS and a sequel to Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth. It is a crossover game between Persona 3, Persona 4 and Persona 5. Like the previous game, it is based on Etrian Odyssey. The main theme and opening for the game is Road Less Taken.
Plot
The story begins after the P5 hero wakes up from a dream where a blue butterfly shows him a quote projected on a theater screen during a nap in class at Shujin Academy. Alongside Morgana, he gathers the other Phantom Thieves in Café Leblanc to explore Mementos. These members include Morgana, Ryuji Sakamoto, Ann Takamaki, Yusuke Kitagawa, Makoto Niijima, Futaba Sakura, Haru Okumura and Goro Akechi.
While exploring Mementos, the Mona-bus suddenly veers out of control, and sends the Thieves into a movie screen initiating a countdown.
The Thieves quickly find themselves in a city where they're still wearing their thief outfits, and the Metaverse Navigator has stopped working. They try and ask the city's police for directions, only to be attacked by strange Shadows. It's soon revealed that their guns do not work in this reality. To make matters worse, a large Shadow resembling an obese man in a superhero chicken costume appears and pursues them, forcing them to escape via a movie screen into a Cinema. Unfortunately, they soon find that Haru and Makoto were left behind. They also find locks on the front doors, barring their escape.
Though the Cinema seems deserted, the party quickly notices that a strange, black creature is in the projection room. It does not talk and does not interact with them, standing completely still. When its body is touched, it bounces. Morgana then notices figures standing up from the theater's seats, and tells the party to investigate. They find a woman in white, who introduces herself as Nagi, and a shy schoolgirl named Hikari. Nagi is the curator of the Cinema, and claims all of her customers aside from Hikari suddenly vanished. They are locked in the theater just like the Thieves and cannot leave.
With no other way forward, the team investigates each labyrinth after rescuing Haru and Makoto. Each movie revolves around a moral centered on discarding individuality and becoming one with others. Throughout the game, the Phantom Thieves are joined by Persona users from different timelines: the P3P heroine in Kamoshidaman; the Investigation Team in Junessic Land; SEES in A.I.G.I.S. All of them land in the movie world after routine trips to the collective unconsciousness, namely the Velvet Room, Midnight Channel, and Tartarus. Velvet Room attendants from other timelines—Elizabeth, Margaret, and Theodore—join Caroline and Justine in assisting the party.
The party's goal is to derail each movie's distorted moral codes by giving them happy endings while Hikari and Nagi watch. Upon returning, Doe grants them a key to unlock one of the four locks on the theater's front gate.
After completing A.I.G.I.S, Doe supposedly kidnaps Hikari, causing panic in the Cinema, and both are confirmed to be inside the fourth movie. Its trailer displays a suspiciously cheery and whimsical fairy tale landscape, with a forlorn Hikari being surrounded by three copies of her past selves. They repeat the messages of individuality being useless, everyone doing the same thing means it cannot be wrong, and authority is justice. A message at the end states that Hikari has decided to discard her self to become "normal," and the movie's name is obscured by black scribbles. The party enters the movie reality to save Hikari from Doe.
As the party explores the labyrinth, which appears as a cheerful, yet highly unsettling fairytale landscape, they encounter musical-like stages; each of them representing a personal trauma that Hikari experienced in the past, starting from primary school to her eventual breakdown. As soon as they reach the first of them, they encounter a younger version of Hikari being tormented by a copy of her teacher, followed by the real Hikari appearing. The copy transforms into a Shadow and attacks the party. After defeating the Shadow, Hikari reveals that she was not kidnapped by Doe, but had instead voluntarily entered with him so she could face herself and remember the events that ruined her life.
The party now accompanies her to travel the Labyrinth, as the truth of this reality unravels; the movies are actually cognitive worlds created from Hikari's heart. Kamoshidaman was created from her resentment of being falsely accused of poisoning and killing the class rabbit by her primary school teacher and class, Junessic Land was created from her alienation by her secondary school friends because of their own selfish reasons, and A.I.G.I.S was created by the rejection of her desire to become a film director by her relatives.
Her father, however, supported Hikari's endeavors throughout her life. He was the only one who provided unconditional support and inspired her dream of becoming a movie director, so she decided to create a movie and send an invitation letter for her father to watch her creation.
All of this comes to a standstill after an incident related to her relatives. The combined traumas in the form of repeated emotional abuse has consumed Hikari with extreme depression, self-loathing and grief. Giving up the meaning of her existence, she locked herself in her room and never came out. Her father tried to give her a notebook he bought as a gift, but she remained unresponsive due to her depression. He then asked her "Why do you have to be like that?" As all of her tormentors asked her such a question when they emotionally abused her, she began to believe that her father was the same. Presumably due to the belief that her father was talked in by her relatives, the perceived denial from her father caused her to be overwhelmed by a series of traumatic flashbacks that completely broke her down.
The party enters the depths of the labyrinth, which in sharp contrast from the cheerful-looking upper levels, appears as a monochrome and sinister flowerbed with the flowers having hollow eyes and tearing blood, symbolizing its owner's desire for self-destruction as an end to her pain, and the viewing of her life as torture. Doe appears in the center clearing. Hikari claims that he is not an enemy and confesses all of her self-destructive behavior, also stating that she will never forget him. He expresses a desire to keep her forever in the Cinema to end all of her pain, which she denies. He becomes berserk, transforming into a morbid abomination. When the party destroys his head, his remains spill ichor that triple binds the party. Hikari steps in with a new skill to aid them, using her support to remove binds from party members and they defeat the rampaging Doe.
Doe calms down after he's defeated, and the reality of Hikari's breakdown is made clear; when her father asked "why do you have to be like that", he was only asking after her wellbeing, and her breakdown was nothing more than her misinterpreting his words. Hikari steps in to hug Doe and he transforms into her father, revealing that Doe is nothing more than a cognitive copy made by her, twisted by her distorted perception that her father is a terrifying figure, but also from her admiration for him and her suppressed desire to break free from her shell. She tearfully repents for her erroneous perception towards her father and Doe transforms into the key required to remove the last lock along with her invitation letter. Hikari then confesses to the party about the reality of her distorted self-destructive desires and thanks them for changing her heart and giving it back, completing her rehabilitation and allowing her to escape from her living death. The credits roll with Nagi watching alone, with the movie's true name revealed as "Hikari" and "To Be Continued" shown afterwards.
The party completes all of the movies and removes the last lock with Nagi's full approval and permission. Hikari expresses a will to escape the Cinema and Nagi, despite being upset, approves. However, as they open its gates, they find that they are inside a twisted landscape, with Nagi dropping her guise, transforming into a malicious-looking version of herself with red hair. What seems to be Nagi reveals herself to be Enlil, a god created from humanity's desire to end all of their pain. She reveals that the Cinema is in fact a part of her domain in the collective unconsciousness, and she advises the party to leave and stop bothering. She also claims that weak humans should accept her salvation plan, which comes in the form of drawing in depressed people into the Cinemas within her domain.
Enlil reveals that Hikari was only one of the souls trapped, and those of many others suffer the same fate. The Cinema acting as the hub of the game is merely Hikari's Theater, and each of the other theaters contain a person who suffers from the pain of living just like Hikari did. She also reveals that she did not prevent them from escaping, but they simply expressed a lack of desire to be free from their self-imposed imprisonment and also a lack of enthusiasm to live, effectively playing themselves into her plan. Despite showing extreme arrogance, Enlil still lets them leave anyway, but Hikari convinces the party to stay in order to confront Enlil, so others can be freed from her domain.
The party ventures through Enlil's domain, known as the Theater District, finally reaching its depths. While they're more than ready to fight her, she displays a lack of desire to directly confront them, instead sending out a duo of Shadows to deter the party. Once they are slain, she applauds them for their courage to stand against her but displays that others do not and teleports them back to Hikari's Theater.
It is revealed that the movies in the Cinema are an Akashic Record of negative thoughts flowing from the projectors at the depths to the Cinemas, in which Enlil believes that having them watch such movies can relieve the pain of living. However, this only feeds into their negative impulses and makes their collapsing mental health worse. In the projection room, they find the edited versions of Hikari's films and devise a plan to replace the negative film projections in Enlil's domain with them so they can reverse the negative movie's effects on the theatergoers. Every Persona user and Hikari now automatically recognize themselves as the Phantom Thieves and executes the plan to replace the four projectors, defeating the projections of Kamoshidaman, Yosukesaurus, Mother Computer and Doe in the process.
After the negative films are replaced, the party and Hikari confront Enlil and send a calling card to her. She reads the calling card and is severely angered as the Theater District begins to be purified by the edited versions of Hikari's movies. The purified movies display Kamoshidaman expressing a desire to protect the weak, the Herbivore Dinosaurs and Yosukesaurus begin respecting each other's opinions, Ribbon teaches a group of robots with personality to love flowers, and the high school copy of Hikari makes Doe vanish by expressing the will to escape the Cinema and for her father to watch her movie.
Enlil is enraged as her "salvation plan" crumbles and combats the party in human form. She exerts a terrifying power that wounds the entire party, but Hikari begins to rally those trapped into escaping the Cinema, and the edited movies start to take effect. Enlil views Hikari's actions as a betrayal and is further enraged, causing her to reveal her true form, an angelic, eagle-like god. She proclaims that the party's hope is completely pointless and states that they are foolish for opposing her. Despite the party's greatest efforts, Enlil removes all combat members on the field, leaving Hikari and the navigators helpless. The navigators tell Hikari to leave, but she ignores the warnings and steps in to confront Enlil alone. Because of her belief and trust in the people who helped her regain her memories and saved her life, Hikari is able to bring the party back. In complete bewilderment, Enlil is left defenseless as all four protagonists unleash a unison attack.
Despite her defeat, Enlil is still determined to go on, but the party and all of the trapped people persuade her into surrendering and giving up her "salvation plan." She returns back to the form of the black-haired Nagi and vanishes into light, finally acknowledging the possibilities and strengths of humanity, but not before leaving a warning that she will return as long as people wish for her to. The Theater District is destroyed and all the trapped souls return to their realities. However, the memories of the Persona users' adventure will be wiped, and nobody will remember anything that happened. Hearing this, Hikari breaks into tears as her first friends will no longer be able to recognize her anymore. She wants to give P5 hero her notebook as a memento, but he returns it to her as it was her most precious memory, and without it, her movie will never be complete. Accepting the truth and moving on, she exits the Cinema back to her reality.
In order, SEES and the Investigation Team leave and return to their realities as well, with the P3P heroine and the P3 hero expressing sadness as they part, still holding a feeling of recognition towards each other. The P5 cast returns to reality last, with Goro Akechi reluctant to leave, indicating that he is still the traitor and did not want to return to his old self.
As Hikari's soul returns to her reality, she wakes up in bed, puzzled by tears she has no recollection of, yet her Change of Heart is still intact. She meets her father in the living room. He wonders why Hikari is so worked up all of a sudden since she used to be extremely withdrawn. She expresses the desire to continue production of the movie she created before she fell into depression with full approval by her father. The two then have a chat with each other.
In Iwatodai Dorm, P3 hero decides to rent a DVD after a sudden urge to watch a movie. He invites the group to watch it with him, as everyone is home. With Mitsuru's approval, everyone brings snacks and drinks to the lobby, and settles in to watch.
P4 hero and Nanako Dojima cook food for the Investigation Team, who soon arrive at the Dojima Residence. The group sees that a dinosaur movie will air soon, and, encouraged by Nanako's enthusiasm, decide to watch it together.
The P3P heroine wakes up in her room after falling asleep while studying. She wonders at a dream she possibly had, but is interrupted by Yukari and the rest of SEES, who invite her to watch a movie with the rest of them downstairs. Wondering at her sudden silence, she explains that she feels like she's finally home, and that she's been waiting to see them for a long time. But she soon brushes this off, and eagerly agrees to watch the movie with them.
In the attic of Leblanc, the Phantom Thieves—sans Akechi—decide on what they wish to do, as there's still plenty of time before their deadline. Ann shows the group a flier for a high-school student film festival someone on set gave her. Ryuji inexplicably feels as if they must go, much to his confusion. The rest express the same desire, and they all agree to attend together. After watching the movie "New Cinema Labyrinth," Hikari is introduced as its director. The P5 hero shows surprise at seeing her, then smiles. Whether or not he remembers anything is left ambiguous.
Gameplay
Unlike the previous game, Persona Q, there is no route selection; Persona 5's cast is the main focus. The game is not dubbed in English, similar to Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux, and instead has English subtitles with Japanese voices. Additionally, horror elements are toned down, and labyrinths are made easier to navigate compared to PQ.
The Investigation Team and SEES are not available party members at the start of the game. Instead, each group joins the Phantom Thieves after finding them in a specific Labyrinth. Persona 3's female protagonist is the first to join.
Unlike Persona Q, or any Persona game for that matter, a protagonist is not required in battle unless playing on the hardest difficulty. The original characters—Hikari, Nagi and Doe— serve a supporting role instead of an active battle role.
Unlike in Persona 4 Golden or Persona 5, if a player has never played the Q series or any game in the Persona series before, it is advised to choose the Safety or Easy difficulty, as Normal is proven to be too difficult by many players.
A mechanic originally in Persona Q has returned, which involves no protagonist having the power of the Wild Card because of the distortion of the new world; rather all party members are able to be equipped with a second persona (Sub-Personas), which can be summoned in battle. While Sub-Personas retain their six skill slots, main Personas now also have six skill slots which are populated by skills they inherently learn. The skills gained by a main Persona's transformation are stronger versions of their inherent unique skill, and there is no skill slot reserved for the Persona's evolution. Skills are no longer forcibly upgraded to their stronger (but more expensive) version, allowing for greater customizability of a main Persona's build.
An All-Out Attack is no longer dependent on the number of Boosted characters, and is instead triggered by knocking all enemies down through weakness exploitation or critical hits. It is thus possible to trigger multiple All-Out Attacks in quick succession if all party members repeatedly hit the enemies' weaknesses. Finishing the battle with an All-Out Attack not only gives an experience bonus, but also raises the chances of finding rare materials from slain enemies.
Because the game’s story is centered on the protagonists of Persona 5, the battle background music is P5 themed at the beginning. However, as members of Persona 3 and Persona 4 join the party, the variations in music change.
Unlike in Persona 5 where Shadows appear like their Persona counterparts, they appear as Arcana Shadows in this game.
During battle, certain characters can initiate a Unison attack, similar to a mechanic in Persona 4 Golden where certain characters can perform a follow up attack after an All-Out Attack.
The character groups that can perform these attacks are:
- Skull Bro-Bash: Skill by two tough, manly boys: Ryuji / Kanji
- Brand☆New☆Bam: Skill by two endlessly cheerful girls: Ann / Chie
- Kacho Fugetsu: Skill by two paragons of grace: Yukiko / Yusuke
- Lightning Duo: Skill by two wild card team leaders: P5 hero / P4 hero
- Prince Pincer: Skill by Detective Princes: Akechi / Naoto
- Severed Fate: Skill by heiresses unbound: Haru / Yukiko
- Presidential Combo: Skill by student council presidents: Makoto / Mitsuru
- Strike of Bonds: Skill by a heroine and her classmates: P3P heroine / Yukari / Junpei / Fuuka
- Roar of Hunger: Skill by three hungry lads: Yusuke / Shinjiro / Akihiko
- Trainee Air Raid: Skill by thieves and their disciple: Ken / Morgana / Ryuji / Ann
- Charge of Trust: Skill by a heroine and her senpai: P3P heroine / Mitsuru / Akihiko / Shinjiro
- Animal Capriccio: Skill by (mostly) loveable enigmas: Morgana / Teddie / Koromaru
- Pair of Aces: Skill by wild cards with guts of steel: P4 hero / P3 hero
- Destined Strike: Skill by a heroine and her new bonds: P3P heroine / Aigis / Koromaru / Ken
- Double Trigger: Skill by two mature wild cards: P5 hero / P3 hero
- Beauty Quartet: Skill by four beauties(?): Haru / Aigis / Rise / Teddie
- Triple Support: Skill by three navigators: Futaba / Rise / Fuuka*
- Martial Artistry: Skill by three martial artists: Makoto / Akihiko / Chie
- Partner Power: Skill by three partners(?) of the wild cards: Junpei / Yosuke / Ryuji
- Wildcard Order: Skill by four wild cards: P5 hero / P3P heroine / P4 hero / P3 hero*
Themes
The game has a theme that arches between P3, P4 and P5, namely death, truth and identity. The "identity" theme is connected between the Phantom Thieves of Hearts being criminals that rebel against the machinations of society and the game featuring characters that are considered outcasts due to being different from others, such as the P3P heroine who lacks any teammates to fight alongside her unlike the other Persona users, as well as the movie characters that are frequently persecuted and disrespected due to being different from their respective movie's other inhabitants. The "truth" theme is connected between the Persona 4 cast's desire to find the truth of the murders of Inaba and the fact that the final blow that made Hikari broke and fell into despair is because of a false belief that her father hated her, despite that clearly not being the case. The "death" theme is connected as the Persona 3 characters frequently put themselves into life and death situations and the fact that people who are trapped in the Cinema are actually forfeiting their lives, having subjected themselves to a state of apathy that equals death.
Much like the Persona 5 theme, PQ2 also discusses different problems in modern society, namely complete authoritarian or majority rule and emotional abuse towards children, depression, and the shut-in escapism that they result in.
Characters
Original Characters
- Hikari: A very shy girl who the persona users met in the theater. She seems to have issues communicating with people. She is voiced by Misato Fukuen.
- Nagi: The curator of the movie theater, trapped alongside Hikari inside the complex. Like everyone else, she is perplexed by the series of events taking place. She is voiced by Kikuko Inoue.
- Doe: A suspicious being lurking inside the projection room. He is the one who plays the movies that Hikari and Nagi watch. He doesn't speak, and he's jiggly to the touch. It never talks, even when spoken to. He is voiced by Kazuhiko Inoue.
- Hikari's Father: An old man who manifested as Doe in Hikari's cognition and is the only person who genuinely cared for her.
- Yosukesaurus: The "villain" of Junessic Land, he is not well liked by his fellow Herbivores for being different from them.
- Ribbon: The "villain" of A.I.G.I.S, she is put on execution bounty by the Overseer due to having a personality.
Persona 5 |
Persona 3 |
Persona 3 Portable |
Persona 4 |
Antagonists
- Kamoshidaman: The "superhero" of his titular movie, he rules over his city, "Kamocity" with an iron fist.
- Herbivore Dinosaurs: The weak majority of Junessic Land, their stubbornness and selfishness causes them to be easy prey for carnivorous dinosaurs.
- Overseer: The A.I. ruler of A.I.G.I.S out to destroy all with a personality.
- Mother Computer: The true master of A.I.G.I.S.
- Enlil: The almighty being who is the true ruler of the game's setting.
Early Purchase Bonus
There was an early purchase version of the game, which included the “Persona 3, 4, and 5 Battle BGM Set,” for free, which includes the following tracks:
- Persona 3: "Mass Destruction"
- Persona 3 Portable: "Wiping All Out"
- Persona Q: "Light the Fire Up in the Night 'DARK HOUR'"
- Persona 4: "Reach Out To The Truth"
- Persona 4 Golden: "Time To Make History"
- Persona Q: "Light the Fire Up in the Night 'MIDNIGHT'"
- Persona 5: "Last Surprise"
- Persona 5: "Life Will Change"
- Persona 5: "Will Power"
These tracks can be purchased as DLC for people who didn't purchase the game early. They cost $2.99 each, and require 2 Blocks of available storage.
The download code with first-print copies of the game includes a special Nintendo 3DS theme, though it is now available for free on the Nintendo Theme Shop. The music selected for said theme is an instrumental version of "Cinematic Tale."
Gallery
Videos
Trailers |
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Japan Release Announcement Trailer (August 4, 2018)
First Trailer PV (August 5, 2018)
Japan 15 Second Trailer (August 10, 2018)
Second Trailer PV
Battle Music DLC Trailer
Kamoshidaman Trailer
Junessic Land Trailer
A.I.G.I.S Trailer
English Trailer
English Story Trailer
English Phantom Thieves Trailer
English Launch Trailer
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Character Trailers |
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P5 hero's trailer
P4 hero's trailer
P3 hero's trailer
P3P heroine's trailer
Yukari's trailer
Junpei's trailer
Akihiko's trailer
Mitsuru's trailer
Fuuka's trailer
Aigis' trailer
Koromaru's trailer
Ken's trailer
Shinjiro's trailer
Yosuke's trailer
Chie's trailer
Yukiko's trailer
Kanji's trailer
Rise's trailer
Teddie's trailer
Naoto's trailer
Morgana's trailer
Ryuji's trailer
Ann's trailer
Yusuke's trailer
Makoto's trailer
Futaba's trailer
Haru's trailer
Akechi's Trailer
Elizabeth's trailer
Theodore's trailer
Margaret's trailer
Marie's trailer
Caroline and Justine's trailer
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Trivia
- Every protagonist save for Persona 5's is voiced, and can be named.
- As it is implied that Akechi is still the traitor—based on his reluctance to return home and his absence during the epilogue—the events of PQ2 may take place during Niijima's Palace.
- This game contains the most amount of unique playable characters in any game in the Megaten franchise, having a grand total of 28. If Hikari is counted towards a playable character with a support role, the number goes to 29 instead.
- This is the first combat-based game in the Persona series after Persona 3 without any direct or implied Shadow Selves, although Cognitions with Shadow Self-like traits constantly appear throughout it.
- The quote at the start of the game is "We do not go astray because we do not know, but because we think we know" by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. This can refer to any of the following events in the game:
- The P3P heroine encountering what seems to be her SEES comrades in A.I.G.I.S and believing that they reunited with her, only to discover that they are not from her dimension and do not recognize her, which causes her to be struck with confusion, disappointment and alienation, as this means that she's alone.
- Hikari breaking down due to a belief that her father hated her, simply because of a question identical to one that each of her tormentors asked. Though unlike them, he had no intent of demeaning his daughter.
- The people trapped in the Cinemas in Enlil's realm believe that they cannot get out due to their depression and apathy, despite Enlil allowing them to leave at any time.
- Enlil's delusional belief that her "salvation plan" which involves trapping "weak" people in Cinemas will relieve their pain of living, but in fact inversely increases their pain further. She also believes that humanity is weak and needs her protection.
External links
References
- ↑ A Graphic of Overall Persona Series Physical Game Sales in Japan for February 2020 Persona Central (Reggie, February 26, 2020)