Atlus is known for giving games a single-print run and essentially making every game they release a rarity.  While the reasoning is debatable, most people believe that they go about it this way in order to be respectful to the collectors who buy their titles and keep them in business. That in mind, it’s a bit surprising to find out that Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 is being re-released under the moniker of Persona 3 FES. 

FES isn’t just a standard re-release, though, as a 30-hour expansion that is known as “The Answer,” is included.  In “The Answer” you play as Aigis to discover exactly what “time skips” are and why members of S.E.E.S from Persona 3 are stuck in the same day.

The most shocking part of the announcement is the budget price of $29.99 that FES is going to retail for. That’s an incredibly low price for a game that promises a collective amount of over one hundred hours in game play. 

Some collectors are upset that Atlus is re-releasing the game, but due to the lack of physical extras included, its very likely that the original Persona 3 will maintain it’s value, sans a few possible fluctuations. 

Atlus considered releasing nothing but an append disc that was only playable to those who had the original Persona 3, but that would alienate a massive group of potential fans from getting to experience the series.

If the extra 30 hours of game play wasn’t enough to sell you, then the fact that you  can upload your original data from Persona 3 should definitely convince you. But, if that’s still not enough, then there’s always the fact that new missions, personas, and other things are being added to the original game.

There’s no denying that Atlus takes great care of their fans.  The collectors who are upset at the potential decrease in value should take solace in the fact that sundry more people will now have the opportunity to play such an excellent game.

Expect a full write-up of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES soon after it’s release date of April 22nd.

[Neat picture added by Brian.  I'm not as familiar w/ SMT as the author, Dant, so I dunno what it is...]