Persona 3 FES – The Bitch is Back

It’s been a while since my last post, gentle reader. How time flies. Seems like just last week I was writing about GaoGaiGar’s return and JAM Project’s much-anticipated American premier. Sadly, somewhere between hacking out a review for Yoshitaka Amano: The Collected Art of Vampire Hunter D and watching my Flyers struggle in the first round of the NHL playoffs, I lost my way on the murky road of unread blogs.

But now I’m back.

And at the very tippy top of my need-to-poke list is Atlus’ shipping-in-a-day release of Persona 3 FES. Ah, Atlus, how you spurned me with your deceptive promises of an unmolested Arcana Heart, only to reveal (through deep channels) after the disc hit retail that the Japanese voices were removed from the majority of the game, leaving this heart-filled tourney a depressing mute.

Know that I’m a fickle man, Atlus, and there’s a jilted otaku raging inside, screaming not to spend a single cent on Persona 3 FES—save the money, wait until a kind online soul lashes together their special bootleg replacing US voice acting with the jettisoned Japanese language track (yes, yes, I understand, disc size issues are the culprit for this unfortunate concession), and then fire-up ye ol’ data-bit aggregator to plunder my illicit spoils.

The thing is I’d always much rather buy an official product than resort to piracy, but nothing shakes my resolve more than feeling duped by a company, which is exactly the case with my two-week prior purchases of Arcana Heart. Had more time ebbed, feelings of distrust and spite might have dwindled; instead, the absolute last purchase I’d like to make right now is another Atlus title.

Of course, Atlus apparently presses games under the assumption the number of individuals intent on buying their products is equivalent to the population of a tiny village in the African savanna. So those who don’t rush to their local GameWhore retail shop within a fortnight of shipping are likely forced to contend with the sinister machinations of EBay…or just downloading the bastard for free.

Truth be told, I haven’t yet availed myself of Persona 3 in English (though I have slogged through it in Japanese). You see, this devilish tingle, a hellish sixth sense at the base of my spine hardened me against the initial versions, promising one day the tasty upgrade that is FES would see light on our dark shores. Some leaked voice castings eventually confirmed my suspicion and lo and behold, FES is basically here. The idea of wasting away a few hours submersed in this lovely game, replete with my own completely comprehendible native tongue, is an auspicious one, indeed. Too bad I currently bare so much ill will against Atlus and fear the possibility of more covert changes.

All I can think is the Mara will tell. Should it remain untouched in all its putrid-green, phallic glory, then at least some of my reservations will be abolished. Still, decisions, decisions….