Atlus’ Persona series has exploded in popularity. This means there are not only mainline installments, but also ports, updated releases, reimaginings and spin-offs. There are all interesting games that do cool things with elements from the series, but it is also a series where you probably shouldn’t go and begin with the very first game. Fortunately, it isn’t difficult to find a good starting point.
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Thanks to Monster Hunter World, the series has exploded in popularity. People might experience it, go through its Iceborne expansion, then wonder what’s next. While moving on to another entry in that series is a possibility, it isn’t the only option. The series is so popular, it has inspired a whole collection of contemporaries who do similar things. Best of all, some of them explore the space to try and improve on areas Monster Hunter doesn’t touch.
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There are certain smaller studios out there making Japanese games that are gradually growing in notoriety. One of them is Tokyo RPG Factory, a developer that most people probably know as the one that is owned by Square Enix. (Other acceptable answers include “the one that makes sad games” or “the one where all the games look a lot alike.” It’s been five years since its founding in 2014, and the company has kept on trucking. In fact, it has a new game coming out this year! Which means now is the perfect time to figure out more about it and why you may want to take an interest in the team’s games.
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Some games have a rather unusual way of conveying information and taking people on an adventure, and we then see that mechanic mimicked. Konami’s Dance Dance Revolution and GuitarFreaks led to games like Pump It Up and Guitar Hero. Tri-Ace’s Valkyrie Profile is a similar sort. It’s an RPG, but blends in platforming and a more active interface for engaging in attacks. But, as interesting as its ideas were, they didn’t really influence other games at the time. Rather, it took years for other titles to start picking up on the concepts and attempting to integrate them into their own experiences.
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The Japanese game with a long name many people will probably need to take a while to remember and learn how to spell is taking hold outside of Japan. By 2020, all four games in the Utawarerumono series will be available everywhere! It’s pretty cool!
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It is all fairly obvious what is going on with the PlayStation Vita outside of Japan. Cartridge production has cut off, so only digital copies of games are being released. The few domestic titles still on the horizon tend to be indie ones, like Conga Master Go!, though The House in Fata Morgana and NG are a notable exceptions. Given even some import games, like Uta no Prince-sama: Dolce Vita, are being canceled, it might make people worry. What is going on with the handheld in Japan? Well, surprisingly, it’s not performing all that poorly.
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The Dragon Quest Builders games have twists to them. Each one has a story that pulls something from a past Dragon Quest game and uses it for the base of its story. The first installment of Dragon Quest Builders pulled from the original Dragon Quest. Dragon Quest Builders 2 further developed a critical character who didn’t get much attention in Dragon Quest II. So, what could happen with Dragon Quest Builders 3? Presuming it follows the same pattern, we might be able to think about some ideas of how things could go.
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Every year, summer is accompanied by festivals. Maybe they are local affairs, where communities gather for food and fun. Perhaps, if people are in the United States, it can mean fireworks and getting together for the Fourth of July. In Japan, July and August tend to be the main summer festival months, with people getting together for Bon festivals to celebrate their ancestors, enjoy fun with family and friends, dress up in yutaka and special clothing, have good food and perhaps even dance. While most people might not get a chance to experience this sort of thing firsthand, they can go through them virtually in games. Lots of Japanese games pay tribute to these events, giving you a taste of what that kind of life might be like.
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There are a lot of Atelier games out there, and Gust keeps adding to the lineup with new installments in the main series and spin-offs to keep track of. It is a lot to deal with. Also, the major installments tend to come out in trilogies, which share storylines and sometimes gameplay mechanics. One line might not be as interesting for specific players, but another could be a perfect fit. So, instead of just going with recommendations of best or worst installments, let’s see if Michibiku can’t help you find certain trilogies that might fit your needs.
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