This article was originally published in Italian on Games969.com in 2014
When Atlus approached the now legendary trio behind the Persona brand—Katsura Hashino, Shigenori Soejima, and Shoji Meguro—with the proposal to create a crossover between the acclaimed J-RPG series and the Etrian Odyssey franchise, well, we would’ve loved to see their faces.
After all, on paper, the two series seem worlds apart—almost incompatible. Up to that point, no Persona title had ever graced a Nintendo console, while the fantasy-themed dungeon crawler saga of Etrian Odyssey was born and bred on Nintendo’s handhelds, finding a growing niche fanbase strong enough to earn a fourth entry and two remakes on the 3DS. It’s no surprise, then, that Atlus decided to repackage the wildly successful (and especially popular) formula of Persona 3 and 4, cleverly disguising it under the guise of a brand familiar to Nintendo users. And in that respect, let’s say it right away: the attempt was anything but a failure.
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is in fact one of the most polished and convincing titles currently available on the Nintendo 3DS. It successfully brings together the casts of Persona 3 and Persona 4 Golden in an original adventure whose gameplay largely draws from the Etrian Odyssey series. Yet this strange fusion of elements—so far apart and yet paradoxically so similar—proves just as compelling as the interactions between the protagonists themselves. Not that this marks the first crossover between the two narrative timelines—let’s not forget the Persona Arena fighting game series—but the characteristically comedic tone of Persona Q allows for genuinely unforgettable skits, all while staying true to the traits that defined the young heroes in their respective games.
Perhaps the only ones who suffer a little from the crowded stage are the two original characters introduced in PQ: Zen and Rei, a quiet crossbow-wielding boy and a blonde, perpetually hungry little girl, around whom the mystery of this portable installment revolves. Still, given the type of product and its crystal-clear target audience, it’s hard to fault the developers. With nearly twenty charismatic protagonists to choose from—each tied to fond memories from adventures on PS2, PSP, and PS Vita—setting the bar so high as to expect two newcomers to match their appeal would’ve been unrealistic. The fan service potential here is through the roof. The volume of dialogue—most of it voice-acted—is enormous, ranging from wonderfully absurd banter about the daily lives of these student-heroes to brand-new backstories created specifically for this title.
At the beginning of the game, players can choose their preferred team of protagonists, which in turn colors the narrative perspective: either the “super cool” crew of Persona 3, or the Scooby-Gang-esque team from the vibrantly yellow Persona 4. While there are shared events between the two narrative paths, plenty of unique scenes practically beg you to finish the game and play it again through the alternate storyline. And who are we to say no?
Between dungeon explorations—which make up the core gameplay—you can also take on challenges issued by Elizabeth, just like in Persona 3, many of which are cleverly designed to foster interaction between the two teams.
The dungeon-crawling side of Persona Q is almost a one-to-one reproduction of what players have seen in the most recent Etrian Odyssey games on 3DS. With a first-person view and a mappable lower screen, were it not for the distinct art direction, one could almost mistake it for an EO game in disguise. Traps, hidden passages, unique events, and treasure chests that can only be accessed after full exploration of each floor—all echo the fantasy atmosphere of Etria’s odyssey. Even the infamous FOEs—formidable enemies visible on the map and the subject of many online parodies—make their return, now sporting a monster design more in line with the television world and towering structures of the Persona universe.
Thankfully, the trademark mechanics of Persona gradually emerge as the game progresses. While based on a system of random encounters, the combat combines weapon and spell logic with a positional system that takes into account the lineup of the five party members, layered over the classic strength-weakness mechanics that have long defined Shin Megami Tensei titles.
“All-out Attacks” make their return, as does the Persona fusion system: each party member can now equip two Personas, those iconic anthropomorphic demons that give the series its name. A gauge on the left of the top screen fills with each successful attack, unlocking special abilities tied to a sixth party member who acts as navigator outside of combat. These skills spice up the battles even more, often providing lifelines and tactical advantages when things get hairy.
In the Velvet Room—longtime home base for Atlus veterans—players can fuse demons earned in combat to create even stronger ones. Admittedly, the option to buy some of these Personas via microtransactions on the Nintendo eShop feels a little cheap, but let’s chalk it up as yet another sign of the times. There’s also a rather pointless SpotPass feature that lets players communicate with others, and the pedometer coins earned from walking with your 3DS can be used to unlock bonus treasure chests within the labyrinths. Nice and easy, huh, Atlus?
As for the game’s technical and artistic side, full praise goes to Shigenori Soejima, who managed to adapt his sleek, modern style into a more super-deformed aesthetic, better suited to Etrian Odyssey’s tone. This new visual identity isn’t just found in the elegant 2D artwork, but also in the polygonal character models and the brief animated cutscenes that punctuate major narrative moments.
Considering the effort the writers put into crafting a story that juggles two large casts from the numbered Persona entries—and into honoring a fandom that had long clamored for one final reunion before the much-anticipated Persona 5 hit PS3 and PS4—it’s safe to say the chosen art direction fits the tone of the game, without undercutting the more dramatic flourishes woven into the plot. Shoji Meguro, the long-time composer of the Persona series, is joined by Atsushi Kitajoh and Toshiki Konishi to deliver an outstanding soundtrack, mixing rearranged classics, select tracks from earlier games, and brand-new compositions that match the bold energy of the adventuring crew—complete with different background music depending on which protagonist you selected at the start.
Voice acting is present, although not every single line is voiced, and features the original English cast from Persona 3 and Persona 4 Golden. Unfortunately, Atlus opted not to include a Japanese audio track for die-hard fans who have followed the series since its PS1 days. It seems that English-only voicework is now a clear stance from the publisher.
Atlus delivers a crossover that leverages the complex yet rewarding gameplay engine of Etrian Odyssey, while bridging the narrative gap between the third and fourth entries in its flagship J-RPG franchise. While it may not be the ideal entry point for newcomers to Persona, Persona Q remains a notable and high-quality addition to the ever-growing J-RPG lineup on Nintendo 3DS.
