Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2 Innocent Sin - Sony PSP

I'm a good way into the game now, so I figure I might as well write a brief review.First of all... if you are well versed on RPGs, then immediately set the difficulty on Hard. It will not actually be 'hard' but there will be a slight bit of challenge in battle. On 'normal' the battles are easy and excruciatingly boring. Even on hard, the baddies will usually hit for 1-6 damage unless they use a powerful Persona ability.Okay. First thing I noticed was that the music is amazing. I'm talking about some of the best music in a handheld video game period. The music is a more modern rock-centric style. Lots of guitar, some distortion, but all really high quality and very catchy. The music fits the setting very well. There are also some fun little additions such as an actual classical piano piece (Debussy I believe) that plays in the Velvet room (it plays after the first piece ends). Battle music is fast paced and works well without being too repetitive.Graphics are a pretty standard PS1 port style. Though some areas have been tweaked, overall the flow is a lot smoother than PS1 and the camera can be rotated to eight points. The characters are standard 2d PS1 style sprites (think Xenogears) and the field is isometric 3-d. Battles take place on pretty boring and bland fields with some swirling, sinister looking 'clouds', but you're really focusing on the action I guess.Installing some of the data onto the memory card really speeds up loading times. Especially the battle loading speeds. Before installing you had to wait 3-8 seconds for battle to start once you saw the white flash. With installation, the load is about 1-3 seconds. Also speed in battle has improved. There is no real slowdown when contacting demons or executing attacks like before installation.Battle is simple turn based, yet is fun. Encounter rates are high-ish. There is a FFX style turn indicator on the right so you can plan out your attack. You can change your turn order, but often this pushes the demons' attacks higher on the turn order. If you interrupt battle to re-input commands, then the turns start at that person's turn. It's still turn based, but this allows some customization. Especially useful for Fusion spells.The real fun is in making contact with demons in order to gain cards, pacts, money, items, or information. You select a character or multiple characters and have them perform an action towards a demon. My favorite would have to be Tatsuya's impression of a fighter jet. I recommend NOT using a guide since it's fun to see demon's get angry and call you names, or become frightened and cower. I even found that despite getting a demon to become 'eager' and give me valuable cards, I would later get that demon riled up in order to see their reaction. But remember, if all you do is contact demons and gain cards and pacts, then you won't level up. So you have to beat some up at some point!Summoning and using Persona's is a lot of fun, and this is where the game really shines. Each character can use one Persona at a time. You gain a level up bonus that is unique to each Persona. To get new Persona's, you collect Tarot cards and trade them in at the Velvet room. Using different Persona's gives access to different techniques as well as different Fusion spells (important spells combining 2+ Persona techniques to unleash a more devastating attack - very useful in those tough boss battles). Often a character's regular attack is ineffective, so using Persona's is mandatory. As you use Persona's they gain ranks and eventually gain more abilities. You can trade in maxed out Persona's for items or cards when you are done and then summon a new version of that Persona (using your cards though) and get them to max out again. A useful way to gain items or stats.The story is top notch and will keep you interested. There is a TON of dialogue and lots of interesting character interaction. The characters are all pretty interesting and you really get a feel for their personalities and even can sympathize with them. The story doesn't seem really outlandish once you get into it. Basically this Joker person is going around and making peoples' wishes come true. This is through the use of rumor. When a rumor gets going, it actually becomes true. So there is a rumor that Seven High's school emblems are cursed... and then they actually do become cursed. Some rumors help your party too. Such as a rumor that you can spread about a Ramen shop selling weapons, or another shop being a mafia fencing operation, or a secret labyrinth on the second floor of a night club that houses some good items. So spreading rumors can be beneficial, though often you have to make a choice as to which you spread (the shop sells good weapons at fair prices, sells amazing weapons that are expensive, sells average weapons for cheap, etc... then the shop will sell the selection indicated by which rumor was spread).So for a deep and complex game with a great story, interesting characters, and a wonderful remixed soundtrack, go with this! I got the special edition with the soundtrack and I am happy I did.

Shin Megami tensei innocent sin was a pretty neat addition because, the first on I played was devil survivor 2. So, I was pretty surprised by the game.Pros,Demon NegotiationsNO SAVE POINTS, YOU CAN SAVE PRETTY MUCH ANYWHERE!characters that aren't completely clicheseasy turn based battle system with no ridiculous movement or attack rangesan intresting story that goes from rumors to reality to cults and apocaliptic technology developed by the mayansdiversified "shops" with easily assecible equipment that suit you each arc in the storystory makes you stay on task with no confusionmany different "personas" that allow characters to have different spells, strengths and weaknessesa typical dungeon crwler with varied locationsa rumor system that makes NPCs IMPORTANT!a place where you can make new personas through tarot cards aquired from negotiating with demons called "The Velvet Room"The type of personas you can summon is based on your team level plus five. So for example, if your level is ten then you can summon personas up to level 15.Cons,Random encounters that happen on every step (might drive you insane)you can only explore every dungeon once (theres only one dungeon you can go in twice)hint* the loohcs (backwards)Characters can only equip certain types of personasThe exp system is broken which leads to some characters being under leveled because the story removes them from your partyNO NEW GAME PLUS! Once the story line is over, the only save file you can download is the one before the final bossrumor system is typically made up of rumors that help unlock different shops, or rumors that allow you to fight unique demons thats IT!Shin Megami Tensei innosent sin is a turn based game which also, has a sequel that hasn't been ported to the psp in America yet called, Persona 2 eternal punishment.The story starts out with a group of high schoolers playing a game that could grant your "wish" by dialing your own cellphone number called the "Joker Game". However, when the Joker comes, he almost kills the highschoolers out of vengence. However, fails to because of each high schooler's "persona". After near death, the group of high schoolers "The protagonist", Micheal and Lisa decide to investigate around the town which leads them to remember their "innosent sin" and what happened the night ten years ago.The game itself would have gotten a better review with better graphics, less demon encounters, and a New Game Plus. But, I can understand the bad graphics because this was a ps1 classic. If you love persona games, then this game is a must to buy. While if your new to Megaten Persona games, then buy the game if its twenty dollars of less, or rent it if its more.If you like persona 3 or 4 games, then you might hate this one and persona 1 because of the long dungeons and random encounters.(So, think before you buy)

Item arrived as described!!

The second in the 'Persona' series of games that is as good as, if not Better than the Final Fantasy game series. A little more Adult orientated , this game/RPG takes you through a journey as a 'Persona User' trying to protect the people of the waking world from the 'Shadows'. With multiple paths leading to the ending, your decisions and actions guide the storyline to it's conclusion. A great game that will become very addictive with some story lines and conversations that will have you laughing as the authors really submerse you in the game. There appears to be more spins for 'Persona 2' on the Japanese Market and I would love to know if these are a spin-off or expansion of the English version here? The series continues in Persona 3 & 4.

It helps if you are a fan of JRPG. The graphics are good. It is a mature story. Fun to play.

Hasn't aged too well, but it works nicely on the PSP, where it's harder to tell that the graphics are kiiiiind of blocky. A decent premise, good tunes, and the some of the familiar personas, and some new old ones, I guess. The battle style can feel a bit arcane and obtuse or even stubborn, but that's just the game's age showing, and it has its charm, in a way.Note:Nazis turn up later. With like, alien knowledge? So, make of that what you will.

Really great game! The story is phenomenal, the characters too. My only gripe can be that this game is too similar to psone's persona 2 eternal punishiment, share some location and some tune, but the intertwine of their stories is fantastic.