#CLASSIC JAPANESE AUTOS

[autodeluxe]

1985 MAZDA 626

[classiccarsincyprus]

Mazda MX-5

[thecargays]

Beauty in simplicity. 🇯🇵

[tofudriverr]

best duo

[automotivealchemy]

Mitsubishi Proudia Executive Luxury Sedan Concept

To continue with the Executive class of Mitsubishi, the mid level Proudia would stand out with it's wave grill design as well as 2+2 seating design in the Proudia Executive variant of this model. It would have the same engine and transmission options as the Debonair, however it would be supercharged. Also, it would be shorter than the Debonair as well as the Dignity. And it would have full time all wheel drive with the hybrid and V6 engine always engaged with the movement of this vehicle. The Proudia would be a car that is meant to be driven as well as be driven in, it would have a slightly higher performance feel without sacrificing comfort.

[techdriveplay]

The Most Affordable JDM Cars

When it comes to car enthusiasts, Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cars hold a special place due to their affordability, reliability, and performance. Whether you’re new to the automotive scene or a seasoned collector, finding the most affordable JDM cars can offer a gateway into a world of unique designs, impressive engineering, and motorsport history. These cars have garnered a global fanbase,…

[buyandsellcar]

[veoautos]

Toyota MR2 MK1 1986: La consagración del esfuerzo de Eduardo

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

Lamborghini Countach Widebody, 2024, by Liberty Walk. The Japanese tuner are offering a bodykit that extensively modifies the classic Italian supercar. Shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the modified Countach rides on deep-dish Rohana Forged wheels with Y-shaped spokes and Toyo tires

[sasaranurude]

Okay. I've been playing Tokyo Debunker today, since the release happened to catch me on a day when all I'd planned to do was write fanfiction. I just finished reading the game story prologue (it was longer than expected!), so here's a review type post. If you're reading this post not having seen a single thing about this game: it's a story-based joseimuke gacha mobile game that just released globally today. It's about a girl who suddenly finds herself attending a magic school and mingling with elite, superhuman students known as ghouls. If you look in the tumblr tag for the game you'll see what appears to be a completely different game from 2019 or so: they retooled it completely midway through development, changing just about everything about it due to "escalating competition within the gaming industry."

I'll talk about how this looks like a blatant twst clone at the end.

Starting with the positive: The story is charming. I enjoyed it thoroughly the entire time and am excited to read more. The mix between visual novel segments and motion comics was really nice--it broke things up and added a lot of oomph to the action or atmospheric scenes that visual novels generally lack. I like the art in the comic parts a lot. the live2d in the visual novel parts is... passable. Tone-wise, I think the story was a little bit all over the place and would like to see more of the horror that it opened on, but I didn't mind the comedic direction it went in either. The translation is completely seamless. The characters so far all have unique voices and are just super fun and cute. Of the ones who've had larger roles in the story so far, there's not a single one I dislike. It's all fully voiced in Japanese and the acting is solid. (I don't recognize any voices, and can't seem to find any seiyuu credits, so it seems they're not big names, but they deliver nonetheless.) Kaito in particular I found I was laughing at his lines a ton, both the voicing and the writing.

He's looking for a girlfriend btw. Spreading the word.

The problem is like. The gameplay is the worst dark-pattern microtransaction-riddled bullshit I've ever seen. Hundred passive timers going at all times. Fifty different item-currencies. Trying to get you to spend absurd amounts of real world money at every turn. There's like five different indicators that take you to various real-money shop items that I don't know how to dismiss the indicator, I guess you just have to spend money, wtaf. Bajillion different interlocking systems mean you have zero sense of relative value of all the different item-currencies. I did over the course of the day get enough diamonds for one ten-pull, which I haven't used yet. Buying enough diamonds for a ten-pull costs a bit under $60 (presumably USD, but there's a chance the interface is automatically making that CAD for me--not gonna spend the money to check lmfao), with an SSR rate of 1%. BULLSHIIIIIT.

There's like a goddamn thousand-word essay explaining the dozen different types of character upgrades and equippables and equippables for the equippables!! Bad! Bad game design! That's just overcomplicating bullshit to trick people into thinking they're doing something other than clicking button to make number go up! That is not gameplay!

In terms of the actual gameplay, there is none. The battle system is full auto. There might be teambuilding, but from what I've seen so far, most of that consists of hoping you pull good cards from gacha and then clicking button to make number go up. There's occasional rhythm segments but there's no original music, it's just remixes of public domain classical music lmao. I'd describe the rhythm gameplay as "at least more engaging than twisted wonderland's," which is not a high bar

At least there's a cat in the rhythm bit.

And like, ok, I gotta remark on how derivative it is. Like I mentioned in my post earlier, this game is unabashedly aping twisted wonderland's setting and aesthetic. (That said, most of the stuff it steals from twst is magic school stuff that twst also basically stole from Harry Potter, so...?) However, it isn't exactly like twst: in this one, the characters say fuck a lot and bleed all over the place and do violence. Basically, the tone is a fair bit more adult than twst's kid-friendly vibe. (Not, like, adult adult, and I probably wouldn't even call it dark--it's still rated Teen lol. Just more adult than twst.)

Rather than just being students at magic school, the ghouls also go out into the mundane world to go on missions where they fight and investigate monsters and cryptids. Honestly, the magic school setting feels pretty tacked-on. The things that are enjoyable about this would've been just as enjoyable in about any other setting--you can tell this whole aspect was a late trend-chasing addition, lmao. So, yeah, it's blatantly copying twst to try to steal some players, but... Eh, I found myself not caring that much. Someone more (or less) into twst than me may find it grating.

Character-wise, eh, sure, yeah, they're a bit derivative in that aspect too, but it's a joseimuke game, the characters are always derivative. Thus far the writing & execution has been solid enough that I didn't care if they were tropey. If I were to compare it to something else, I'd say the relationship between the protagonist and the ghouls feels more like that of the sage and wizards in mahoyaku than anything from twst. There's some mystery in exactly what "ghouls" are and their place in this world that has me intrigued and wanting to know more about this setting and how each of the characters feels about it. I have a bad habit of getting my hopes up for stories that put big ideas on the table and then being disappointed when they don't follow through in a way that lives up to my expectations, though.

So, my final verdict: I kind of just hope someone uploads all the story segments right onto youtube so nobody has to deal with the dogshit predatory game to get the genuinely decent story lol. Give it a play just for the story if you have faith in your ability to resist dark patterns. Avoid at all costs if you know you're vulnerable to gacha, microtransactions, or timesinks.

[seat-safety-switch]

It's weird to think of the cars of your youth being exported elsewhere. In Japan, there is a strong and confident subculture dedicated to taking classic American cars and driving them around their compact megacities. It's not a stretch to say that there are more pristine-condition GMC Astros in that tiny island nation than there are in the land of its birth.

What kind of relationship do they have to a vehicle that they never got to see new? One that they never sat in as a child at the yearly auto show? As we play with their Skylines, they enjoy the comfort of our Trailblazers. It is hard to understand the appeal, but it is certainly a "grass is greener" situation. Maybe they just think an unreliable car is a strange and entertaining novelty? Hey look, I've never seen a car with bad grounds before, they say to each other, and invite their mechanic buddies over, who also remark on the amount of casting flash left over on the coolant bottle. You can make an injection mould with a seam that sloppy?

Certainly, I can't speak to the Japanese mindset on these vehicles. I could ask someone who actually lives there, but it sounds like I might accidentally embarrass myself, or give the whole game away by inadvertently telling them that the Pontiac Sunfire actually sucks out loud. And I'd be lying to say that I don't enjoy a little bit of the mystery surrounding the shitboxes that they've given up on and exported into my country. What's that weird robot voice talking about whenever I turn the car on? Nobody can tell, but it sure sounds cool, and cool is what cars are about. Knowing things is what another, lesser, hobby is about. Maybe chess, or performing CPR on strangers for the adrenaline rush. Not this one.

Maybe it doesn't matter. We have what we enjoy, and they have what they enjoy. Europeans? I'm sure they have cars too, and some of them seem very exotic, but none of them are showing up on a roll-on/roll-off ferry in huge numbers at the local port. And their manuals are in a language I can actually read, which is a huge turn-off. If I can read them, then I might know something about them. See previous complaint.

[classiccarsincyprus]

Datsun Bluebird 190 B

[thecargays]

It’s a ‘90s themed week!

Freedom Factory’s Cars, Coffee, and Helicopters 🚗☕️🚁🇺🇸

[satoshi-mochida]

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake launches November 14 - Gematsu

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store on November 14, Square Enix announced.

Here is an overview of the game, via Square Enix:

About

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a stunning reimagining of the beloved masterpiece and narrative beginning to The Erdrick Trilogy— the first three games of the mainline Dragon Quest series. Featuring vibrant HD-2D graphics, new and modernized features, and a refined narrative, players are invited to set out on an epic fantasy adventure to save the world from a dark evil. Years ago, the great hero Ortega bid farewell to his wife and child as he set off on a quest to defeat the villainous Archfiend, Baramos. Ortega failed his quest, and Baramos still threatens the world. Now, on their sixteenth birthday, Ortega’s only child is summoned by the king of Aliahan and entrusted with a mission of the highest import: to take on Ortega’s quest, vanquish Baramos, and save the world. Accompanied by a band of travelling companions chosen in the beginning of the game, players are immersed in a vast HD-2D world full of towns, dungeons, and caves, meet fascinating characters, and fight ferocious monsters in enhanced turn-based battles. Rebuilt for modern audiences, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake gives existing fans the chance to re-experience a beloved RPG experience and its expanded offerings like never before, while also being a perfect starting point for newcomers to discover one of the most influential RPG franchises in gaming history.

Key Features

A Fully Modernized Remake of the Original – Stunning HD-2D visuals fuse pixel art with 3D graphics, bringing players into the world of Dragon Quest III like never before, along with an improved and modernized UI, and other quality of life improvements.

Traditional Dragon Quest Style Battles – A refined take on the classic turn-based battle system, featuring new animations, additional improvements such as an adjustable battle speed, an auto-battle setting, and more.

Immersive World – Deep exploration of a vast world map with an abundance of rich and captivating locations to discover, challenging players to overcome many unexpected encounters during the journey.

Experience a Timeless Musical Score – An immersive, authentic, and diverse musical composition that captures the timeless essence and magic of the Dragon Quest universe.

Pre-Order Bonuses

Pre-orders for the standard physical or digital edition of DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake will include a free Trouble-Free Travel Kit in the game. The Trouble-Free Travel Kit contains the following items:

Elevating Shoes x1

Seed of Strength x3

Seed of Defence x3

Seed of Agility x3

Seed of Life x3

Seed of Magic x3

Collector’s Edition

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Standard Edition physical game

Collectible game storage box for both Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake and Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake

Dragon Quest III character, monster and logo acrylic blocks complete set

Including 20 vocations, 2 boss monsters, and logo

The Adventurer Accessory Kit (Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake in-game items)

Ring of Strength x1

Dragon Scale x1

Words of Wisdom x1

Cat Suit x1

Exclusive digital wallpapers x2

The Trouble-Free Travel Kit (as detailed)

Watch a new trailer below. View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.

Release Date Trailer

English

Japanese

[tilbageidanmark]

Movies I watched this week (#182):

3 tap-dancing Bojangles-related musicals:

🍿 The Band Wagon is maybe not the "very best" of Vincente Minnelli's musicals, but some of its numbers are classics (It introduced the tune 'That's Entertainment' and the opening dance with a real-life, black shoe-shine man was unique.) But all this melted away at exactly mid-point, when Fred Astaire first falls for Cyd Charisse, as they take a stroll through Central Park, and start dancing together in the dark - that scene was transcendental. Even the Steve Martin and Gilda Radner Joke recreation 30 years later was nice...

Bojangles didn't appear in this movie, but his name 'Bill Robinson' kept being compared to 'Bill Shakespeare' throughout. (Screenshots Above).

🍿 Besides 'Carmen Jones', I haven't seen many of the so-called 'Race Films' before, 'Segregated Cinema' produced to black audiences, with an all-black cast. Stormy Weather is one, a plot-less musical starring the wonderful Lena Horne, Bojangles, Cab Calloway, The Nicholas Brothers, Fats Waller and 'Play it again, Sam' Dooley Wilson...

(Of the many versions of ‘Stormy Weather’, my favourite is by Ben Webster).

🍿 First watch: That's Entertainment! is a terrific compilation film, released by MGM in 1974 to celebrate the studio's 50's anniversary. It includes highlights from about 100 song and dance numbers performed by MGM enormous stable of stars and appearances by many, many of the stars from these 50 years. Since I'm getting more and more into musicals, I watched it with a giant smile on my face. 9/10.

2 (actually 3) sequels were released later, and I'm going to watch them as well. I'm also going to visit the movies of some of the famous performers (Esther Williams!) I haven't seen before.

Note; Fred Astaire is by now one of my all-time favorite actors, bar none. He has 50 screen credits on IMDb, and I've only seen about 15 of them, but I'm going to plough through the rest.

🍿

Something’s Got to Give (1962) is Marilyn Monroe's very last film, and the only one showing her butt-gloriously-naked. It's a remake of the 1940 Cary Grant screwball comedy 'My favorite wife'. It was made by George Cukor, with Dean Martin and Cyd Charisse. But it's mostly remembered because it was unfinished, due to Marilyn Monroe's death.

🍿

Finally, Miyazaki's last film The boy and the heron became available. Auto-biographical, philosophical, full of pathos and whimsy, it is not the best Ghibli, but it's important as the (surely) last film from Miyazaki.

It tells of a conflicted war-time world and the flight of fancy of an orphan boy looking for his mother. Waruwaru creatures replace the Sooth-spirits from the previous films.

🍿

Another Japanese romance film, Haru from 1996. A young man and a young woman meet via the first generation online chats, two years before 'You've got mail'. Like a boring Éric Rohmer, I couldn't get into it, and quit after 30 minutes. (^ ─ ^)

🍿

Re-watch: I've been bored with much mediocrity, so I had to go back to Tati’s debut feature, the masterpiece Jour de fête (The original 1949 B&W version). Magical joy and simple physical comedy of the purest type (Fighting a bee! Raising a flag post!). I can't remember the last film with so many spontaneous belly laughs one after the other. And the innocent, idealized rusticity of a French village as it may, or may have not, have existed 100 years ago, with geese in the alleys, goat on a string, hay, rooster crows, and friendly pubs. 💯 score on Rotten Tomatoes. 10/10. ♻️. Extra: How Tati Directs Beautiful Comedy, an interesting YouTube essay from ‘This Beautiful Fraud’.

🍿

2 by Pixar’s Kelsey Mann:

🍿 I loved the first ‘Inside Out’ and saw it many times, with Adora, and, later, without. I was excited to wait for the new Inside out 2. But it’s clearly a product of lesser qualities. The 13 year-old hockey-loving Reily enter “Puberty”. This is depicted with genuine fondness, and is a joy to behold. But the manufactured world of her inner thoughts, which worked before, when they were few and clearly defined, is now muddled, loud and artificial. It suffers from being a sequel, a financial construct which rarely works. 4/10.

🍿 His first short, Party central (2013) was a Monster University appendage, a zero-calories suck-fest. 1/10.

🍿

2 by French Guillaume Canet, both with François Cluzet:

🍿  "User name: Concert. Password: Olympia."

My 3rd or 4th re-watch of the tense nail-biter Tell no one. A modern slow-built Hitchockian thriller about an innocent doctor accused in the murder of his wife. The director, good-looking actor Guillaume Canet, decided for some reason to play the role of the sadistic rapist

The first time I saw it, I awarded it 7/10. But now I give it a 9/10. The final explanation ties the many twists too tightly and nicely together perhaps, but It's still a terrific 'Guilty Pleasure'. Highly recommended! ♻️.

🍿  His Little white lies is an ensemble drama, a bit like 'The big Chill', with many current French stars: François Cluzet, Marion Cotillard, Benoît Magimel, Jean Dujardin... A group of about 15 close friends deal with small personal problems, after one of them, the 'Glue' that held them together, is gravely injured in an accident. In the opening of the film, he rides his bike drunk in the empty streets of Paris, and a van suddenly crashes into him (All in one shot, just like the beginning of Erin Brockovich.)

It's semi-interesting, meandering drama, especially as they spend leisure time on 'les grandes vacances' at a beach house, boating, eating fresh oysters, playing the guitar, and enjoying the pretty locales. But at 2.5 hours long, it lost its focus halfway in. 3/10.

🍿  

Sean Penn is a decent director. He's also driven to get involved with large-scale disasters around the world, in Sudan, Haiti, New Orleans after Katrina, Etc. Superpower is the 4th of his 8 movies directed by him that I've seen. It's a semi-personal documentary about the war in Ukraine and the special relationship he managed to develop with Volodymyr Zelensky (He interviewed him on the day before the invasion, and again on the night of the invasion). It's not too insightful, but he did put himself at harm's way to make it. This war is too tragic and historically-significant to be ignored.

(I was going to follow that up with the other doc., '20 Days in Mariupol', but didn't).

🍿 '

“The muzzle of the Luger looked like the mouth of the Second Street tunnel, but I didn’t move.”

Raymond Chandler's Los Angeles is a 1988 documentary, narrated by Richard Widmark. It tells of a fascinating British writer living in a mythical and dark city. And specifically about the 'The Clifton bombing' affair of 1938. Corruption at City Hall and crooked Police Force, the real-life morbid inspiration to the much sunnier 'Chinatown'. But the doc. itself is not very good.

How come nobody ever made a movie about the gambling ships out in the water outside long beach and Santa Monica, f. ex. 'The Rex'?

🍿

A random Vimeo short, Caroline, was not what I expected from the poster! A mother to 3 small kids, is under a lot of stress, and leaves them in a parked car while she goes of for a quick job interview. It's so raw, and tense, and harrowing, it's really hard to sit through. Amazingly realistic, I don't ever want to see it again. Celine Held, the director, who also plays the mother, is a force to be reckoned with. 9/10. [*Female Director*]

🍿

2 silent Buster Keaton 2-reelers:

🍿 The Paleface (1922) is filled with very out-dated racial trops. Villainous oil barons are murdering Indians with impunity, stealing the deed to their land, and banishing them from said lands. The 'Redfaces' are bumbling, scalping 'savages' who burn palefaces at the stake. There's even a nod to good ol' asbestos. But there are some outrageously daring stunts here, as he falls a few times from great heights.

🍿 Obviously, Keaton was not a golfer. He tried, but soon found himself in prison, mistaken for Convict 13 (2020), and sentenced to be hanged.

🍿

Throw-back to the Adora Art project:  

Buster Keaton Adora.

Adora in Los Angeles.

Inside out Adora.

🍿  

(My complete movie list is here).

[demifiendrsa]

Persona 3 Reload - Akihiko Sanada Character Trailer

Japanese version

Mitsuru Kirijo Character Trailer

Japanese version

Fuuka Yamagishi Character Trailer

Japanese version

■ Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (New S.E.E.S. Combat Uniform)

This remake updates the classic combat uniforms worn by the party members when exploring Tartarus. Check out all-new character art of the Akihiko Sanada, Mitsuru Kirijo, and Fuuka Yamagishi in their new gear!

Akihiko Sanada (voiced by Alejandro Saab in English, Hikaru Midorikawa in Japanese)

Weapon: Fists

Unique Persona: Polydeuces

Specialization: Electricity, Striking

Theurgy: Lightning Sphere

Captain of the boxing team who puts up his fists in battle.

His unique Persona, Polydeuces, specializes in electric and strike-type skills. His Theurgy skill Lightning Sphere deals heavy electric-type damage to all enemies, regardless of their affinities.

—Akihiko’s Persona: Polydeuces

Akihiko‘s unique Persona is Polydeuces. In Greek mythology, he was a hero gifted with immortality as the son of the god Zeus and mortal Leda. He and his elder brother Castor were renowned for their skill in fist and sword combat.

Mitsuru Kirijo (voiced by Allegra Clark in English, Rie Tanaka in Japanese)

Weapon: Rapiers

Unique Persona: Penthesilea

Specialization: Ice

Theurgy: Blizzard Edge

As a member of the fencing team, she wields a rapier in battle.

Her unique Persona is Penthesilea, who specializes in ice skills. Her Theurgy skill Blizzard Edge deals heavy ice-type damage to one enemy, regardless of its natural affinity.

—Mitsuru’s Persona: Penthesiliea

Mitsuru’s unique Persona is Penthesilea. An Amazonian Queen from Greek mythology, known for her strong sense of honor and exceptional beauty.

Fuuka Yamagishi (voiced by Suzie Yeung in English, Mamiko Noto in Japanese)

Unique Persona: Lucia

Specialization: Support

Theurgy: Oracle

Though she doesn’t fight enemies directly, she provides invaluable help from the sidelines. Her support skills can analyze enemy affinities, assist in exploring Tartarus, and more. Her Theurgy skill, Oracle, casts random buffs on allies.

—Fuuka’s Persona: Lucia

Fuuka’s unique Persona is Lucia. A saint and martyr who died during the persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire. It is said that even after she was blinded by her persecutors, she was still able to see the miracle of the holy spirit.

■ The Towering Labyrinth Tartarus

The Dark Hour exists between one day and the next, imperceptible to most. During this time, the looming labyrinth of Tartarus appears, teeming with Shadows ready to fight. Exploring this mysterious tower is better than ever in Persona 3 Reload, thanks to a fresh coat of paint and gameplay improvements.

Dash to traverse the labyrinth faster, and heal up your party in a single button press with Auto-Recover.

Breakable Objects

Within Tartarus, you will find breakable objects made from the remnants of Shadows. Destroying these may yield recovery items, sellable materials, and even Dusk Shards that can be used to open locked treasure chests!

Locked Treasure Chests

Scattered throughout Tartarus are treasure chests, some of which will be locked. The keys to these locks are special items called Dusk Shards. They will need to be spent to open the lock, but you’ll find the rewards more enticing than the rest.

Scouting by Party Members

After battle, you may have the opportunity to have a party member scout ahead. If you agree, they will temporarily split from the group to search for a route to the next floor. Once the rest of the party catches up, the scouting member will rejoin the group and hand over any items they found along the way.

Finding and Rescuing Missing Persons

Now and then, you may encounter missing persons who have been trapped inside Tartarus.

By rescuing them, you may receive rewards. Be on the lookout to help these people in need!

Shuffle Time and Major Arcanas

After winning a battle, you may enter a bonus round called Shuffle Time. The cards you choose can grant you beneficial effects and Personas. Rarely, you may find a Major Arcana card carrying a special effect that lasts for the remainder of the day, such as increased EXP gain or All-Out Attack damage.

Arcana Burst

Collecting all available Major Arcana cards will trigger an Arcana Burst. During Arcana Burst, Minor Arcana cards will rank up for increased effect for the rest of the day, making exploration all the smoother. Don’t miss your chance to grab Major Arcana cards when you see them!

Monad Doors

As you explore Tartarus, you may encounter towering Monad Doors. Beyond them lie rare treasure chests, protected by extra-powerful Shadows. Defeating these Shadows will allow you to draw special Major Arcana cards during Shuffle Time.

Monad Passages

Monad Passages can be found beyond certain Monad Doors. Within these long hallways lie formidable Shadows that will reward you with powerful weapons, character costumes, and other rare items upon defeat. If you’re confident in your combat abilities, taking on the challenge is well worth the effort.

Rare Shadows

You may encounter shining gold Rare Shadows as you explore. If they spot you, they’ll try to flee, but if you manage to defeat them, you’ll be rewarded with loads of experience and money. Very rarely, you may find a large Rare Shadow that has pilfered all the treasure on the current floor. Defeating it will reward you with not only experience and money, but also all the items the Shadow had collected.

The Reaper

If you remain on one floor for too long, The Reaper will appear—a terrifying enemy you’re not likely to stand a chance against. If you find yourself being stalked by The Reaper, turn tail and run!

The Clock at the Entrance

By operating the clock that can be found by the entrance to Tartarus, you can fully heal your party members’ HP and SP at the cost of seven Dusk Shards. Don’t be afraid to use it as the need arises.

Costume Changes

You can freely change costumes from the menu while exploring Tartarus. Beyond the standard school uniforms and combat gear, the party can wear butler uniforms, swimsuits, and more. Change things up whenever you feel the need for a new look!

Fuuka’s Support Skills

Fuuka’s support is not limited to battle—she can assist with exploration as well! By pressing the Navi button while traversing Tartarus, you can select one of her unique support skills.

For example, Jamming allows you to avoid detection by Shadows on the floor, Shock Noise temporarily Distresses all enemies on the floor, and Sylphid Aura buffs all party members at the start of the next battle. Using skills like these will consume SP just like the rest, so don’t hesitate to use recovery items when she’s running low.

■ City Locals

Through daily life and being a member of S.E.E.S., you’ll get to know all kinds of people. These bonds are called Social Links, and by raising their ranks you can experience special scenes with them. You’ll find people from all walks of life around the city after school hours. Interacting with them will also strengthen your Persona abilities, so be proactive in building these relationships!

President Tanaka (voiced by Patrick Seitz in English, Bin Shimada in Japanese)

The president of a telemarketing company, famous for his catchy jingle and bombastic personality showing off products to the camera. He is extremely stingy and has a unique outlook on how to run his company. After spotting the Protagonist in the city, he devises a plan to use him as a model for his products.

Unconventional Monk: Mutatsu (voiced by Aaron Laplante in English, Shin Aomori in Japanese)

An irritable-looking monk who visits Club Escapade from time to time. He’s always seen with expensive cigars and gaudy gold rings, giving the impression that he hasn’t really let go of his earthly desires. Even so, he has quite a way with words and is known by his parishioners as a wise one with invaluable advice. Upon befriending the Protagonist, he begins to lecture him on his own philosophies.

Track Team Rival: Mamoru Hayase (voiced by Yong Yea in English, Yuuichirou Umehara in Japanese)

The ace of a rival school’s track team. He’s a national-level athlete who’s already received offers from colleges and companies. After seeing the Protagonist run during a summer competition, he sees his potential as a worthy rival.

MMO Buddy: Maya (no voice actor)

A player in a red dress that the Protagonist meets while playing an MMORPG called Innocent Sin Online. Going by the handle “Maya,” she dubs the Protagonist her partner “Tatsuya” and parties up with him. She’s always online on her days off, waiting for the Protagonist to log in.

Child of a Broken Home: Maiko Oohashi (voiced by Grace Lu in English, Hiyori Kono in Japanese)

An elementary school girl who can be found at the park next to Naganaki Shrine. She’s uneasy about her tumultuous home life as her bickering parents teeter on the edge of divorce. She spends time alone after school to avoid going home, and grows fond of the Protagonist after meeting him at the shrine.

Terminally Ill Young Man: Akinari Kamiki (voiced by Lucien Dodge in English, Hirofumi Nojima in Japanese)

A young man who doesn’t have long to live can be found on a bench at Naganaki Shrine. On weekdays he undergoes treatment for his illness, but he pushes himself to make it to the shrine on weekends. He wishes to leave his mark on the world by writing his own story, and shares his work in progress with the Protagonist as they continue to meet.

Bookstore Owners: Mitsuko Kitamura (voiced by Susanne Blakesless in English, Sanae Takagi in Japanese) and Bunkichi Kitamura (voiced by Andre Sogliuzzo in English, Naoki Tatsuta in Japanese)

An old couple who run the used bookstore, Bookworms, in Iwatodai Strip Mall. Bunkichi is a jovial fellow with a touch of memory loss, while Mitsuko is kind and responsible, always keeping the store in order—and Bunkichi in line. Their playful dynamic speaks to the strength of their long marriage. A number of years ago, they lost their son—a teacher at Gekkoukan—in an accident, and have come to see the persimmon tree he planted in the courtyard as their last memento of him.

■ Invitations Over Text

After school or on days off, characters you’ve forged bonds with may invite you to hang out. You can quickly travel to their location by using shortcuts directly in the text menu. Keep your eyes open, as each character has their own unique way of writing texts.

Persona 3 Reload will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (Steam, Microsoft Store) February 2, 2024 worldwide. It will also be available via Xbox Game Pass.