Shin Megami Tensei: Persona Releasing on UMD Format and Playstation Store Simultaneously

When it launches in late September, you can purchase Shin Megami Tensei: Persona for the PSP in two forms: on UMD at retail stores or download from the Playstation Store.

Persona is a spin-off series of the hardcore RPG Megami Tensei series. Based on the Digital Devil Story Japanese novels, these games feature several common elements. For one, the setting usually takes place in settings other than your typical medieval worlds found in so many other RPGs. For Persona, the games take place in modern Japan. Furthermore, you can recruit mythological-based demons to aid you on your quest in Megami Tensei games.

Although it may not be part of the main series, Persona has quickly surpassed Megami Tensei in terms of popularity. The original game was first released for the Playstation in 1996 and renamed Revelations: Persona when it was localized for North America.

The sequel, which also appeared on the Playstation, was released as two chapters. Innocent Sin came out in Japan in 1999 but was never localized. Eternal Punishment was released a year later and brought over to the North American shores.

Persona really took off in popularity with the release of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 (2007) and Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (2008) on the Playstation 2. In order to take advantage of their new found success, publisher and developer Atlus decided to return to the first game. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona for the PSP is a remake of the original Revelations: Persona on the Playstation. In addition to better graphics and audio, you can expect balance tweaks in addition to other new content.

Like almost every PSP games, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona will be released via the UMD format. In addition to the game, Atlus is also packing in a 2 CD soundtrack at no extra costs. The retail version of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona will cost $39.99.

Atlus will also be making their upcoming RPG available directly on the Playstation Store. This move is done to ensure that users of the PSP Go (which will be available in October) can play Shin Megami Tensei: Persona as no UMD drive would be included into the new model. It also gives existing PSP users a choice to have the game load directly from the memory stick. Similar to the retail version, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona will cost $39.99 on the Playstation Store.

Both the Playstation Network and the UMD versions of the game will be released on September 22. No matter how you decided to buy Shin Megami Tensei: Persona, it will most likely end up being one of the best PSP games of 2009.