Unlimited Creativity Works > Doujin Projects
Let's Play Shin Megami Tensei: Persona
GabrieliosP:
Okay, so here I am with a project of mine, a Let's Play/Walkthrough of the game Shin Megami Tensei: Persona (True Goddess Reincarnation: Persona). Originally released as Megami Ibunroku: Persona -Be Your True Mind- (Alternate Goddess Tale: Persona -Be Your True Mind-) in 1996 for the Playstation, this LP will be of the PSP port released in 2009. The game is part of the Megami Tensei (Goddess Reincarnation) franchise, a video game franchise very popular in Japan but not in the west. It's the first of a series of RPGs that eventually overtook the main franchise in popularity (mainly Persona 3 and Persona 4).
Despite being the first game of the franchise, this one is easily the less known of them. The game was originally released in USA under the name "Revelations: Persona" and a horrible localization: the setting of the game changed from Japan to USA, all characters were renamed and some of them had their appearance radically changed to make the game more "etnically diverse", etc. Thankfully, the PSP remake doesn't suffer from this at all.
Without further ado, let's begin.
Game Opening (PSP Port):
『ペルソナ』オープニングムービー
Game Opening (Playstation Version):
[Old Games Openings] Persona OPENING
Song: Dream of Butterfly
Composer: Shoji Meguro
Singer: Yumi Kawamura
Spoiler for Translated lyrics: Dream of a butterfly, or is life a dream?
Don’t wanna wake up 'cause I’m happier here
I was glad just to have you by my side
It was the only reality I needed
But it was all just a dream
Swaying and dissolving like bubbles in the dark ocean
When I woke up, no one was really there
There is nothing certain
Reaching for the shimmering shape in vain
That, I know is true in this place
What should I believe in to live on in this ever changing world?
I’m drowning (I can’t believe in you)
in sadness (but I cannot forget you)
calling out as I saw you (I will dig up my faith)
that night (and march on)
I believed (I cannot see ahead)
that it’s because (but I can’t keep standing still)
you are by my side (So I will close my eyes)
that I could grow strong (and march on)
I was afraid (Can’t lay the blame on you)
of suffering (but I cannot forgive you)
crying as I called out to you (So drenched up in rain)
that day (I’ll march on)
I realized (I cannot face the sun)
my weaknesses (but I cannot dream at night)
are because of you (So under the moonlight)
They all are (I’ll march on)
- Normal
- Beginner
- Expert
Hmm, let's see what all of them say before choosing.
Normal:
> “Normal” is for players who are used to role-playing games.
> On this difficulty, players may enjoy a distinct tension in battle.
> The difficulty cannot be changed once the game begins. Do you want Normal?
Beginner:
> “Beginner” is for players unused to strategizing in battle.
> The battle difficulty is lower in this mode compared to Normal.
> Choosing this difficulty will not affect the story’s outcome.
> The difficulty cannot be changed once the game begins. Do you want Beginner?
Expert:
> “Expert” is for advanced players used to strategizing in battle.
> The battle difficulty is higher in this mode compared to Normal.
> The difficulty cannot be changed once the game begins. Do you want Expert?
We'll go with Expert for this one.
> Then please sit back and enjoy Persona.
Once, I dreamt I was a butterfly.
I forgot myself and knew only my happiness as a butterfly. Soon, I awoke and I was myself again.
Did I dream that I was a butterfly? Or do I now dream that I am a man?
Yet there is a distinction between myself and the butterfly. This is the transformation of the physical. -Zhuangzi
"Zhuangzi, or Zhuang Zou was an influential Chinese philosopher who lived around the 4th century BC during the Warring States period, a period corresponding to the summit of Chinese philosophy, the Hundred Schools of Thought. He is credited with writing—in part or in whole—a work known by his name, the Zhuangzi, which expresses a philosophy which is skeptical, arguing that life is limited and knowledge to be gained is unlimited. As a Daoist philosopher, some claim his writings reflect a form of western relativism, while others question revisionist interpretations." - Wikipedia.
The dream of butterfly appears at the beggining of the second chapter of his book. The original text is as follows: "Once Zhuangzi dreamt he was a butterfly, a butterfly flitting and fluttering around, happy with himself and doing as he pleased. He didn't know he was Zhuangzi. Suddenly he woke up and there he was, solid and unmistakable Zhuangzi. But he didn't know if he was Zhuangzi who had dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuangzi. Between Zhuangzi and a butterfly there must be some distinction! This is called the Transformation of Things. (2, tr. Burton Watson 1968:49)".
Our game begins as a group of teenagers are in a classroom at St.Hermelin High. The current moon phase is New Moon.
: Dude, if that really worked and I could see my future, I'd be on easy street. You sure you ain't got the brain rot, Hidehiko?
> Masao Inaba (Nickname: Mark)
The spoiled son of Inaba Dry Cleaning’s owners. Earnest and excitable.
In Revelations he was changed to be black (no kidding) and his name was changed to Mark.
: Maybe not seeing the future, exactly, but weird stuff does happen. I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is if you are, Mark.
> Hidehiko Uesugi (Nickname: Brown)
Craves attention and doesn’t take things very seriously.
In Revelations, his name was changed to Brad. Thankfully they didn't change his design.
: Alright, you’re on. I’ll bet you an all-you-can-eat dinner at the Peace Diner on Joy Street.
> Yuka Ayase (Nickname: Ayase)
A troublemaking member of the suntanned, bleach-blonde “kogal” set.
"The kogal fashion involves wearing an outfit based on a Japanese school uniform, but with a shortened skirt, loose socks, and often dyed hair and a scarf as well. The phenomenon was prominent in the 1990s, but has since declined. The word "kogal" is anglicized from kogyaru, a contraction of kōkōsei gyaru (high school gal). The girls refer to themselves as gyaru (gals), although this word is applied to several other fashion looks as well." - Wikipedia.
In Revelations, Ayase's name was Alana.
> Eriko Kirishima (Nickname: Elly)
A ladylike student recently returned from abroad. Beautiful and intelligent.
In Revelations, Elly was renamed Ellen and her hair was changed to blonde.
: Are you guys serious? Yo Kei, Yukino! Who’re you guys gonna side with?
> Kei Nanjo (Nickname: Nanjo)
Heir to the Nanjo Group. An utter pragmatist and skeptic.
Kei's name was Nate Trinity in Revelations and his hair was changed to blonde.
> Yukino Mayuzumi (Nickname: Yukino)
Trusted by everyone, she’s like an older sister to all the students.
Yukino was the least edited character in Revelations, since her named was merely shortened to Yuki.
: Ugh! You guys are so cold, y’know? Hey, who’re you with? It’s gotta be me, right?
- Bet on Mark
- Bet on Brown
Yay, our first choice in the game (by the way, that guy's supposed to be us). Over the course of the game, we'll have to make a few choices. Some of them affect whether or not we get the good ending or the bad ending, but this one has no effect over it, just a few lines of dialogue.
If you bet on Mark:
: Awww! Just wait… you’ll be sorry!
If you bet on Brown:
: Sheesh, you too? All y’alls crazy.
And now, back to the story:
: Heeheehee! This’ll be fun! Awright, let’s get started!
Master Persona
Seems like nothing happened.
: Hidehiko, you jerk! Now I look like a total idiot!
: See? A fat load o’ nothin’. Hehe… looks like I win.
: *sigh* Happy now? Hurry up and go get the teacher.
: W-Wait! Hold up! One more time! Please!? Mark screwed it up! C’mon, you gotta take it seriously when you do it.
: Oh, you little…! What a sore loser.
Mysterious spirit girl appears in the classroom. Seems like Nanjo is the first one to notice. Cutscene time! These weren't in the Playstation version, so that's why the animations are so good.
Strange Phenomena
Butterfly's Guidance
Philemon
Philemon is a character described by the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung in his texts. Philemon is a kind spirit and the spiritual guide of humanity.
That's the part where we got to name the protagonist. He has no official name, so I'm going with the name he has in the manga adaption.
The Power of Persona
TO BE CONTINUED. . .
Alice:
I think that size is fine, though other people might say differently. One thing that might mitigate that is to transcribe more text outside of screenshots next to portraits like you're doing with certain portions already.
This looks interesting by the way, and you're doing a good job. :) Keep it up.
GabrieliosP:
Thank you for thinking I'm doing a good job. This part had a lot of screenshots because it introduced many characters. Once the story goes on and most of the characters are introduced, the screenshots will mostly be to show where they are and all dialogue will be next to portraits.
Alice:
No problem. :) And ah, OK, that makes sense. You're probably good as is then. :D
Cherry Lover:
Hmm, interesting. Not sure what's going on just yet, aside from him randomly getting a persona, but I assume that will be explained eventually.
As for the images, you might as well use the full size. The board shrinks them anyway.
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