Index Digital Media is developing a port of Persona 4 for PlayStation Vita. Speaking with Famitsu, series director Katsura Hashino said Persona 4: The Golden was originally began development as a PSP title.
The team wasn’t a fan of the simplified map they had to make for Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable and wanted to keep Persona 4 as close to the PlayStation 2 version as possible. This wouldn’t be possible on the PSP, Hashino said.
Development moved to PlayStation Vita where the team believed they could make a game with even more features than the original. Persona 4: The Golden will not have a female protagonist, though.
Inaba, the town where Persona 4 takes place, will have more events and 1.5x the voice acting of the original. Players will be able to procure a bike and ride it the Okina market, which is by the sea. Other features include a new opening movie, more personas for the main character, new costumes, and Mari, a mysterious new character. The team also teased a feature fans have been demanding.
On enhanced Persona ports, Hashino said Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES started development due to fan feedback and 30% of people that played Persona 3 Portable were new users to the Persona series.
Persona 4: The Golden is slated for release this spring in Japan.
Published: Aug 30, 2011 11:25 pm