The PlayStation 2 JRPG hit Persona 4 will be playable on the PlayStation 3 as it will be coming to the PlayStation Network as a PS2 Classic title. The news was discovered from a new ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) rating of the game for the PlayStation 3.
Here is the rating and description of the game from the ESRB:
Content Descriptors: Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence Rating Summary: This is a role-playing game in which players control a high school student who enters a mystical ‘TV World, ‘ saves lost souls who are trapped on the ‘Midnight Channel,’ and establishes bonds with town characters in order to develop ‘Personas.’ Personas, which are summoned through the use of tarot cards, are creatures that can perform special offensive and defensive moves to aid during battles against monsters. Combat is turn-based with numeric values and light effects indicating attack/damage inflicted. Pixilated blood spray is briefly depicted during battles, and colored bloodstains stain some walls and floors. Some female monsters (female Persona) are depicted with their breasts exposed, while other monsters have phallic-shaped heads and torsos. Other female Personas (e.g., ‘Succubus’) have sexual characteristics that are described in text: ‘They visit sleeping men and have sexual intercourse with them.’ Story elements also make references to alcohol, including a long scene in which the main characters hang out in a club and play ‘drinking games.’ Although alcohol is never consumed, the characters display the telltale signs of intoxication: slurred speech, staggered walking, and red faces. Profanity (e.g., sh*t, a*shole) can be heard in the dialogue.
In addition to Persona 4, the game’s developer and publisher Atlus are also bringing Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army to the PlayStation Network store this week. It will join with the other Persona PS2 classic Persona 3: FES, which launched on the store in 2012.
Persona 4 first released on the PlayStation 2 in 2008, part of the Persona series in Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei franchise. The game received critical acclaim and strong sales. Since then, the game has spawned many adaptations and merchandises. To date, there are three manga adaptations, a light novel adaptation, and oddly enough a live stage production. An anime adaptation for the game, titled Persona 4: The Animation aired in late 2011 and garnered lots of attention. Persona 4 Golden, an enhanced port of the original game released last year on the PlayStation Vita and included a few new features and story elements, including a new secret ending. Persona 4 Arena also released two years ago with Arc System Works, who develop the Blazblue and Guilty Gear series. Last year Atlus has announced three new games in the Persona series: Persona 4: Dancing All Night for the Vita, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth for the Nintendo 3DS and Persona 5 for the PlayStation 3.
Atlus have not made an official announcement regarding the digital release of Persona 4 for the PlayStation 3. Additionally, it will not be the Golden release from the Vita.
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