In light of the success of developer Atlus’ spinoff title Persona 4: Dancing All Night, a Japanese rhythm game like the Hatsune Miku series, fans even outside of Japan have been anticipating and asking for a version for Persona 3, and more recently, the still new Persona 5. It turns out that Atlus has been listening to their fans and announced the upcoming releases of both Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night and Persona 5: Dancing Star Night for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. The previous title was only available on the Vita, so it is exciting to know the new ones will be on console. Personally, I am hoping for remote play access so I can play on both systems if I want to.
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I know what you are thinking. “Great, they are milking the series with more ridiculous spinoffs.” A lot of us feel that way when titles like this are released, but let me tell you that Persona 4: Dancing All Night is an amazing game. I happen to own a Vita, mostly for Persona 4: Golden, so I picked up the collector’s set that included the soundtrack. The music is from the original and Golden versions of the game, but with different remixes to allow some funky dance music for the Investigation Team to get down to. And it works surprisingly well. I do not like music games, I do not care for rhythm games… but, this is the only, only, title I have ever hit Platinum on. I could not stop playing it, to the point I was listening to the CD to and from work to get the beats memorized so that I could beat the harder levels of each song. Short version: I am extremely excited about these two titles.

The only thing that throws me off about the announcement is Persona 4 and Persona 5 open with the characters dancing. Even in the dark times, their world is inviting, fun, and personal. The world of Persona 3 is depressing, dreary, and downright dark. So I have trouble with the idea of the emo P3 protagonist (whom I love, by the way) dancing the night away to the hip hop tunes of the original PlayStation 2 game. Perhaps it is because the trailer shows him doing more than walking around with his hands in his pockets. I am eager to see how it goes, and I am sure that Aigis dancing will be the best part of the game. Besides, who doesn’t like to get down to Burn My Dread?
https://youtu.be/07SaDEE3fZk
The P5 protagonist is a natural dancer. The trailer shows him and a few pals showing off their moves, just as smoothly as they infiltrate a Palace. With the unique acid jazz soundtrack of the main game, I can imagine that it will make for some great dance tracks. I just hope that Goro Akechi gets a full role and is not a DLC character like Marie and Adachi were for Persona 4: Dancing All Night. Judge me all you want, but I adore Akechi.
https://youtu.be/UWxTtyZWrs8
The titles of the two games are a little different. Surprisingly, they did not just stick with the Dancing All Night moniker. These new games are going to be called Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night and Persona 5: Dancing Star Night. The Moon in the Persona 3 title certainly makes sense if you have played the original game, or even the FES or PSP versions. Much more interesting than the titles, is seeing the S.E.E.S. crew in updated 3D stylization like with Persona 4: Dancing All Night and Persona 5, the latter of which was insanely beautiful. It would be amazing if they used the aesthetic style of Persona 5 in both of these dancing games.

I think we can assume that these two titles will be an even bigger hit than the first, because it is coming to PlayStation 4 and not just the Vita, which many western gamers have pushed aside in favor for the PS4 and Nintendo’s handhelds. Between the beloved characters, excellent soundtracks with countless remix possibilities, and the opportunity for DLC outfits like with P4:DAN, these will be spinoffs that any Persona or rhythm game fan will not want to miss.

Slated for a Spring 2018 release in Japan, we have no word yet on when the localization will be. Hopefully some time before next fall.