Everyone seems to have a favorite Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 character already – and the game hasn’t even been released in North America yet.  If yours happens to be Yukiko, you’re in luck.  The first figure being produced from the game is none other than the fan-wielding vixen.  The figure is scheduled to be released late February 2009 in Japan and is available for pre-order at KidNemo for $63.19.

Yukiko comes fully equipped with her bright red glasses (removable) and sakura patterned fan:

You can check out 6 additional detailed images of the figure here.

With a game like Persona 4, I have a really hard time picking a favorite character, so I don’t know which figure I would want to purchase.  Life can be so cruel…

I am thinking of waiting for Chie, as I think she will probably be in some cool kung-fu pose.

Which character are you holding out for?

Related Entries:
All OMG Toys posts can be found here.

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Atlus announced yesterday via their Atlus Faithful newsletter that there will be a limited reprint of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2 Eternal Punishment.  The reprinted copies will be available exclusively at Amazon.com.  Atlus explains that the reprint is to celebrate the upcoming release of Persona 4, as well as to thank fans of the series for their continued support of the series.

Before I begin my rant, I just want to start by confirming that I love Atlus.  I truly do, if it weren’t for them I may have some semblance of a life.  But to me this is a bit of a slap in the face.  I feel like Atlus is capitalizing off of band-wagon-jumpers who are just recently getting into the series.

Atlus basically assumes that people who now like Persona started with number 3.  So their way of rewarding these individuals is by reprinting the previous game.  While on the surface this appears to be a kind gesture, it completely ignores the fact that the release of Persona 2 was originally flawed.

In Japan the game spanned two titles, the first being Persona 2: Innocent Sin, and the second being Persona 2: Eternal Punishment.  In the Western world, only the second of the two, Eternal Punishment, was localized.  The reason Innocent Sin didn’t make it is unclear, but some people speculate it’s due to some homosexual undertones and an appearance by zombie Hitler.

While the games were partially stand-alone, there was a good deal of confusion among Western players.  There were some story connections that could just not be established without the preceding title.  Imagine playing Final Fantasy X-2 without ever knowing FInal Fantasy X existed…  You would never know who Shuyin is supposed to look like, what the hell a Yevon is or why Rikku is afraid of lightning.

If Atlus truly appreciated the support of Persona fans they would remedy Persona 2’s release by bringing us Innocent Sin rather than pretending the title doesn’t exist.  It seems to me like Atlus is trying to profit off of the hype of Persona 3 and 4 by taking advantage of ignorant new-comers to the series.  Perhaps I am just reading too much into it…

Anyway, you can pick up your copy of the game for the Playstation console here.  Just don’t expect it to make a lot of sense until Gemini finishes his translation of Innocent Sin.  I am happy…honest.

Related Entries:
Persona 2: Innocent Sin Translation at 98%
Know Your Video Game History: Persona

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The opening video for the next installment of the Devil Summoner series has been revealed to the public.  Some things we have already seen such as masked men jumping on rooftops, Raidou summoning multiple demons and Narumi being a bonehead.

The video did provide new information, which I was able to investigate further (I’m a gumshoe too!) at the game’s main site.  The man with the white hair is in fact a Kuzunoha.  His name is Kuzunoha Gaylin the 17th and is also a Devil Summoner.  Gaylin has spent some time in America, perhaps explaining his sudden appearance and unusual name. 

Another character has appeared named Nagi, she is the girl with long black hair.  She is half Russian and is Gaylin’s disciple in the Devil Summoning arts.  She is also the 18th member in Gaylin’s lineage.  I wonder if she has a connection with Rasputin who appeared in the first game…

The two, along with Raidou, appear in some strange labyrinth.  It seems they will work together in the game.  

Lastly, there is a scene where the man-with-the-red-mask shows his face for the first time.

Little is known about this man but he sure seems… unstable.

I want to see a Devil Summoner where Nagi is the main character!  Do it Atlus!  But seriously, I am glad that some new characters are being brought into the story.  In the first game, Raidou Kuzunoha Vs. The Soulless Army, it kind of felt like Raidou was on his own.  That’s probably because Narumi comically expected him to take care of everything. 

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Devil Summoner: Kuzunoha Raidou Vs. The King Abadon Preview
Devil Summoner Raidou Kuzunoha Vs. King Abadon Story Info
Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha Vs. King Abadon Packaging and Battle Elements

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I don’t know how I missed this one! Doublejump Books now has their guide for Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 available for pre-order on their website for $19.99.  The guide will ship on 12/02/08, although I got my Disgaea 3 guide before its scheduled ship date, so who knows.  I really loved their Persona 3 guide; it was characteristically in-depth and helped me maximize my year very well.  This guide is said to include:

Complete walkthrough with Monthly Planners to help budget your time

See all the endings

Find out what’s of worth on the home shopping network

Uncover all secrets

Complete every quest

Complete data on Social Links

Uncover every character’s secret Persona

Full list of all items, skills, personas and enemies

plus much more! 

As an added bonus, those who pre-order will receive a free priority shipping coupon code.  The code, p4pre, is good for $6.30 off of shipping. 

I have already spoken at length about the superiority of Doublejump Books’ guides.  But what I like best about them, is I can purchase them BEFORE the respective game is released, granting some nice study time.  With this code, there is no difference between buying the guide online, or in-store, so buy it! 

Also I noticed that now ALL Disgaea 3 guides purchased from Doublejump Books.com get a signature from djpubba.  Here I thought I was special.

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Doublejump Books–Makers of Fine Strategy Guides
Doublejump Books’ Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice Guide Review
All other Kotowari entries on Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 can be found here

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Atlus and Amazon.com have teamed up to bring this special bonus pack to us hardcore Persona 4 fans.  The package, dubbed “Social Link Expansion Pack” includes the following:

• Persona 4 OST (Featuring Music not available on the OST bundled with the game)
• 8 1/2 Inch “Teddie” plush
• XL T-Shirt featuring Yukiko’s Persona, Konohana Sakuya.
• A 2009 calendar featuring art from the game
• Price: $29.99 

The package is a nice addition to Persona 4 when pre-ordered, providing enough bonus merchandise to keep one entertained until Persona 5 comes along.  Those who wish to purchase both can do so at a price of $66.98 with a savings of a cool $3.00.  Just scroll down on this page to the Frequently Bought Together section.  Both items ship on Persona 4’s December 9th release date.

I’ll admit, the package is pretty cool, but when I saw that Kuma has been named “Teddie” for the North American version, my heart sank.  Kuma is Japanese for bear, but it seems Atlus didn’t think that Americans could handle that highly complex connection. 

Instead they decided, since Kuma apparently resembles a teddie bear, he should be named “Teddie”.  I wonder why, Koromaru wasn’t named ”Rover” and Aegis wasn’t named “Mrs. Roboto”.

Also, one last gripe, why are these bonus T-Shirts always XL!  Fatlus is a myth I swear!

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All other Kotowari entries on Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 can be found here

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