Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: Adventure
Release date: July 6, 2010

Recently I attended an online meeting hosted by publisher Atlus USA in which they showcased their upcoming PSP game Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable. The presentation was brief, but they showed off some gameplay and explained the new features in the PSP version.

Persona 3 takes place in a Japanese city where a corporation has been running experiments. These experiments have created a Dark Hour, a time during which most of the city’s residents are put to sleep. The local high school becomes a twisting labyrinth of dungeons where demons known as Shadows roam. The heroes, known as SEES, summon Personas to fight against the Shadows.

While the story and voice actors from 2007′s Playstation 2 version of Persona 3 are the same in this PSP update, much else has changed. The PSP version features an all-new playable female protagonist; playing as this new character opens up new dialogue that isn’t available when playing as a male. She can also participate in various high-school activities, including tennis and volleyball, which can help strengthen your party’s relationships.

The user interface has been updated for a more streamlined experience. Gone are the days of running back and forth when you are in the high school. Now everything is done with the push of a button, drastically reducing travel times. This feature only applies when you are outside of the dungeons. While inside the dungeons, you and your party can roam freely, combating monsters.

The battle system has received an overhaul, and players are now given direct control of all the members of their party. There is also a “rush mode” that puts your characters on auto-pilot during battles. The updated version also includes two new difficulty settings: the ultra-easy Casual mode and the insanely difficult Maniac mode.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable launches July 6, 2010, and will be available in stores on a UMD or online through the PSN for $39.99.