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JRPG Combat Is The Best Kind Of Combat
“Oh, I don’t really like battles. I just play JRPGs for the story.” You’ve probably heard something like that before, or wrote it, or thought it. There seems to be a general consensus, for better or for worse, that a Japanese RPG’s merits, if they exist at all, lie in its story and characters and…
By Jason Schreier Published January 11, 2013 -
Oh My God, Someone Is Actually Making A Persona 4 Musical
A fan-made Persona 4 musical. You knew it was going to happen. The popular role-playing game has already gotten a stage production, so it seemed only a matter of time before it also got a musical. Brother/sister writing team Jake and Gina Smith have recently unveiled their Persona 4 musical project, which they first undertook…
By Kirk Hamilton Published December 28, 2012 -
Learning To Love Easy Mode
A couple of months ago, if I started a new game—no matter what it was—I’d start off on a high difficulty. At the very least, I’d go for normal, but only if it was clear that normal would provide a challenge. I reasoned that nowadays ‘normal’ is geared toward a more general audience which may…
By Patricia Hernandez Published December 27, 2012 -
This Persona 4 Arena Figure Forges A Bond That Cannot Be Broken
I don’t own too many video game figures. Thanks to my newfound fascination with Persona, that may have to change. For example: I would gladly put this garage kit figure of Elizabeth and her persona Thanatos pretty much anywhere in my house. The figure is the work of “Mr. Etsuo,” and you can see more…
By Kirk Hamilton Published December 20, 2012 -
The Best Video Game Music of 2012
You press a button, and the beat drops. Forward you fly, straight into the perilous unknown, beats pushing against your eardrums as you push back against the controller. Tempo and harmony swim together, and you lose yourself in the rhythm of play. 2012 has been a fine year for video game music. The finest in…
By Kirk Hamilton Published December 13, 2012 -
Kotaku East
I Watched the Persona 4 Anime Without Ever Playing The Game
There’s a point in every gamer’s life as they get older when they realize that with work and everything else going on in their lives, they just don’t really have time to play every game they want to anymore—no matter how good it is reported to be. And after spending over four years constantly “planning…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published December 4, 2012 -
Persona 4 Golden‘s Soaring Soundtrack Is Love At First Listen
Music is, as I’ve written here so many times I’ve lost count, a part of the soul of any good video game. The beats and melodies that propel us forward are more than just aural decoration, they’re a vital aspect of the character and feel of a game. Last weekend, after 65 hours, countless battles,…
By Kirk Hamilton Published November 29, 2012 -
Kotaku East
When Your Love of Plastic Beauty Is Mega
The MegaHobby Expo recently rolled through Tokyo, showing off an array of colorful sculptures and statues. This is pure geek heroin. On display, there were upcoming statues from a variety of games, anime, and manga. Japanese site Moeyo was on hand to check things out. Have a look and start filling out your wish list.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 28, 2012 -
ReviewsPersona 4 Golden: The Kotaku Review
Jason: Hey, Kirk. So you’re playing Persona 4 Golden, and I’m playing Persona 4 Golden, and we both have lots of things to say about Persona 4 Golden. Maybe instead of one of us reviewing it and the other one chiming in later, we should review it together? Kirk: Why, Jason, what a fantastic idea.…
By Kirk Hamilton and Jason Schreier Published November 21, 2012 -
This Isn’t Cosplay. It’s Theater!
Those battling Ikki Tousen girls are bringing their torn clothes and short skirts to the Tokyo stage. The manga turned video game and anime series is getting a theatrical adaptation. Known as Battle Vixens in the West, Ikki Tousen is the latest anime/game property to be turned in a stage production, following in the footsteps…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 17, 2012 -
Why We Love Persona 4
Ask ten people why they play video games and you’ll get twenty different answers. Some will say they like taking out their anger on a military battlefield, shooting up friends and enemies for better ranks on a virtual scorecard. Others might want to go on surreal, dreamy adventures through deserts and mountains and rivers of…
By Jason Schreier Published November 16, 2012 -
I’m Glad I Know The Lyrics To This Killer Persona 4 Song
Oh, how I love sunny days in Inaba. I know that Yukiko will be out on the street, or maybe Rise, waiting to hang out. My scooter awaits, and if I want, I can go to the beach. And best of all, every time it’s sunny, this song by Persona maestro Shoji Meguro, will be…
By Kirk Hamilton Published November 12, 2012 -
Here Are 28—Yes, 28—New Persona 4 Golden Videos
Those crazy folks at Atlus have released a whopping 28 new videos to celebrate Persona 4 Golden, their upcoming Vita remake of the critically-acclaimed PS2 role-playing game. Persona 4 Golden is out November 20. Look forward to the official Kotaku review—which, and get excited for this, may wind up being a collaboration between me and…
By Jason Schreier Published November 9, 2012 -
Assassin’s Creed? Halo? Screw’em, I’m Playing Persona
“Oh no!” you are almost certainly thinking. “Gawker Media is underwater, desperately clinging to Tumblr like that guy in that movie where the cruise ship sank. But it is Friday! It’s 3pm Kotaku Time! What will I do without my favorite weekly JRPG/sex-advice column Random Encounters?” You are too sweet. But don’t worry! I am…
By Jason Schreier Published November 2, 2012 -
“Every Day’s Great At Your Junes”
This has been Kotaku Melodic. Thanks for reading!
By Kirk Hamilton Published November 1, 2012 -
Persona 4 Golden‘s New Battle Music Rules
The advance press copies of Persona 4 Golden for the PSVita unlocked yesterday, and I’ve been playing the game it with every free hour I’ve had since then. The soundtrack, by Shōji Meguro, is so good I can’t stand it. The Vita version also has a bunch of new stuff from the original PS2 game,…
By Kirk Hamilton Published October 31, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Atlus Won’t Talk Much about the Next Persona…Yet
For a while now, it’s been common knowledge that Atlus is making Persona 5. In a recent interview on Famitsu.com, Atlus game designer Katsura Hashino briefly (and I mean briefly) mentioned the next, numbered Persona. When asked about the latest in the Persona series, Hashino replied, “We’re making progress on developing the next numbered Persona.”…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 16, 2012 -
Holy Cow, It’s A Ton Of New Persona 4 Golden Videos
Have I mentioned that I’m excited about Persona 4 Golden? Honestly, it’s the one reason I’m thrilled to have a Vita, and one of the games I’m most looking forward to this fall. And would you look at that? Atlus has dropped a ton of new videos of the game on their YouTube channel I’ve…
By Kirk Hamilton Published October 11, 2012
