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Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth

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Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth
Cover art, with Joker shown in the foreground
Developer(s)P-Studio
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Yuta Aihara
Producer(s)
  • Daisuke Kanada
  • Kazuhisa Wada
Programmer(s)Hirokazu Tohyama
Artist(s)Hanako Oribe
Writer(s)Akira Akemine
Composer(s)Atsushi Kitajoh
SeriesPersona
Platform(s)Nintendo 3DS
Release
  • JP: November 29, 2018
  • WW: June 4, 2019
Genre(s)Role-playing, dungeon crawler
Mode(s)Single-player

Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth[a] is a 2018 dungeon crawler role-playing video game by Atlus for the Nintendo 3DS. It is a spin-off of the Persona series, itself part of the larger Megami Tensei franchise, and a sequel to Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth featuring the cast from Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5.[1] It was released in Japan in November 2018 and worldwide in June 2019.

Gameplay

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See also: Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth § Gameplay

Plot

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The game's story is set in the events of Persona 5 (2016) during a trip to Mementos, Joker and the rest of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts find themselves in a film, that is connected to a movie theater that is locked from the inside. With Makoto and Haru kidnapped, the Phantom Thieves encounter inhabitants in the theater who are also locked in with them, Nagi, the curator of the cinema, and Hikari, a shy amnesiac schoolgirl, as well as Doe, a Shadow in the projection room. Nagi explained that all of her customers aside from Hikari suddenly vanished, and with no other way forward, the team decided to investigate each labyrinth throughout the movie to rescue Makoto and Haru.

As the Phantom Thieves venture through movies, they are joined by Persona users from different timelines: the Persona 3 female protagonist in Kamoshidaman; the Investigation Team in Junessic Land; and SEES in A.I.G.I.S, all of them who have fallen into the movie world during a routine trip to the TV World and Tartarus. Each film the group travels through has morals surrounding discarding individuality and personality and conforming to others' expectations and consequences. Whilst traveling, the party's goal is to derail each movie's distorted moral codes by changing the films' endings, giving them happy endings as Hikari and Nagi watch from the theater. Upon returning, Doe presents them with a key that unlocks each of the 4 locks on the door.

Upon unlocking the 3rd lock, Hikari is presumably kidnapped by Doe, who escapes into the 4th film, a vivid musical with a blacked-out title. While exploring the film, the group discovers the truth of this reality; the movies are cognitive worlds created from Hikari's repressed memories. Throughout her life, she experiences traumatic events that make her believe individuality is nothing but worthless and meaningless, causing Hikari to lose her self-esteem and eventually plunge into depression, often confining herself in her bedroom. Her father, who supported Hikari's endeavors throughout her life, brought her a notebook as a gift, but she rejected it and remained unresponsive. When he then asked her "Why do you have to be like that?", he accidentally triggered her with a turn of phrase that was repeatedly used against her by her tormentors due to a series of traumatic flashbacks, causing her to be overwhelmed by self-destructive tendencies that completely broke her down.

Upon reaching the final stage, they encounter Doe, who expresses a desire to keep her forever in the Cinema to end all of her pain, which she denies. After defeating the rampaging Doe, Hikari steps forward and shares a hug with Doe, who is revealed to be a cognitive manifestation of Hikari's father, tearfully confesses all of her negative thoughts to him, but also her admiration for him and her suppressed desire to break free from her shell. With Hikari overcoming her trauma, Doe then transforms into the final key, and the film's title is revealed to be "Hikari".

With all the locks unlocked, the group exits the cinema, only to discover the world where the borderline between cinema and reality gradually begins to blur. Nagi then reveals her true nature as Enlil, a god created from humanity's desire to end all of their pain that draws depressed and miserable people into her world and has them re-watch their memories, trapping them there with their lack of desire to escape and sunken to despair. Using Hikari's edited films, the group purifies the Theater District and sends a calling card to Enlil. After a climactic battle with Hikari's help, the group defeats Enlil and makes her realize humanity's possibilities.

The people in her domain are freed, yet their memories are wiped, and they have no recollection of the events. Before leaving, the groups bid their farewells and leave, with Hikari tearfully bidding them all goodbye. Hikari wakes up in reality, and she makes amends with her father while expressing her desire to create her film which her father approves. The P3 and P4 cast wake up and watch their respective films, including the alternate version of the P3 cast. The P5 cast wakes up and later receives an invitation to a high-school student film festival that they attend. As they attend, Hikari steps out and introduces herself as its director, she announces that she finally produced her new film, "New Cinema Labyrinth".

Development and release

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Persona Q director Daisuke Kanada had originally envisioned the game as the foundation for a larger spin-off series rather than a standalone project. Following the release and positive reception of Persona 5, Atlus decided to create a Persona Q sequel featuring the cast of Persona 5.[2] Full development for Persona Q2 began following the completion of Persona 5 in 2016, with Kanada returning as producer;[3] the director was Yuta Aihara.[2] Based on feedback from Persona Q, the team refined the gameplay mechanics and balanced the difficulty for its sequel. They also brought in new original characters and the Persona 5 cast. Due to fan demand, the female protagonist from Persona 3 Portable was also included as a character.[3] To keep the story focused, there was no option of choosing which group of protagonists to choose from. Instead, the story focused primarily on the Persona 5 protagonists.[4] As part of his original pitch, the original game's horror elements were toned down or removed, and the overall gameplay was simplified for new players. Aihara included the story-based "Special Screenings" elements based on his liking of the "Strolls" from Persona Q.[2]

Composer Atsushi Kitajoh, the composer for Persona Q and other Persona games, returned to create new tracks for Persona Q2.[4] His key words for the music were "Retro", "Pop", and "Kitsch".[3] The vocals were provided by Yumi Kawamura (Persona 3), Mayumi Fujita (Persona 3 Portable), Shihoko Hirata (Persona 4) and Lyn (Persona 5). Rapper Lotus Juice, who contributed to the series frequently since Persona 3, was also featured in several tracks. The opening theme "Road Less Taken" was a quartet performance by Kawamura, Hirata, Lyn, and Lotus Juice.[5]

Persona Q2 was first announced in August 2017 alongside fellow spin-off titles Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight.[6] Its official reveal came in August the following year, where it was released in Japan on November 29, 2018.[1][3] The game was released in North America and Europe on June 4, 2019, along with a "Showtime Premium Edition" for the former.[7] This was the final completely original physical game released for the Nintendo 3DS in North America. Unlike previously localized Persona games, the game does not feature an English dub.[8]

Reception

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Accolades

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The game was nominated for "Game, Franchise Role Playing" at the NAVGTR Awards.[9]

Notes

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  1. ^ Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (Japanese: ペルソナQ2 ニュー シネマ ラビリンス, Hepburn: Perusona Kyū Tsū: Nyū Shinema Rabirinsu)

References

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  1. ^ a b Romano, Sal (August 4, 2018). "Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth launches November 29 in Japan, first TV spot". Gematsu. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c 『ペルソナQ2』プロデューサー＆ディレクター“ここだけの話”インタビュー！【PQ2連載】 (in Japanese). Dengeki Online. December 13, 2018. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 1550. Enterbrain. August 29, 2018. pp. 24–25. {{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ a b Romano, Sal (August 8, 2018). "Persona Q2 story is centered on the Persona 5 cast, heavily involves Persona 3 female protagonist". Gematsu. Archived from the original on June 27, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  5. ^ Atlus. (2016-12-19) "Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth Original Soundtrack liner notes." (in Japanese) Mastard Records. LNCM-1276~8. Retrieved on 2019-01-05.
  6. ^ 『ペルソナ3』、『ペルソナ5』のリズムゲームが2018年春同時発売決定！ 『ペルソナQ2（仮題）』も開発中 (in Japanese). Famitsu. August 2, 2017. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  7. ^ Craddock, Ryan (January 31, 2019). "Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth Officially Confirmed For The West, Premium Edition Detailed". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on January 31, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  8. ^ Goldfarb, Andrew (January 31, 2019). "Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth Confirmed for the West with Release Date, Collector's Edition". IGN. Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  9. ^ "2019 Nominees". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. January 13, 2020. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  10. ^ "Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth for 3DS Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  11. ^ "Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth Review (3DS) | Aces high". Nintendo Life. August 30, 2021. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  12. ^ Kemps, Heidi (August 30, 2021). "Persona Q2 Review - You Oughta Be In Pictures". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  13. ^ Wallace, Kimberly (August 30, 2021). "Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth - A Solid Swan Song For The 3DS". Game Informer. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  14. ^ Carter, Chris (August 30, 2021). "Review: Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth". Destructoid. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  15. ^ "Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth Review | Aces high". RPGamer. August 30, 2021. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  16. ^ Czop, Joe (August 30, 2021). "Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth". RPGFan. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  17. ^ Faulkner, Jason (August 30, 2021). "Persona Q2 Review | A niche blockbuster". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  18. ^ "Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth review - "Not as personal as Etrian Odyssey" | Aces high". Pocket Gamer. August 30, 2021. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  19. ^ Theriault, Donald (August 30, 2021). "Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (3DS) Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
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