Review for Person Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth. Nintendo 3DS game, the video game was released on 29/11/2018
Riding the wave of success with Persona 5, one of the best titles on PlayStation 4 last year, ATLUS decides to grant an appearance to the Phantom Thieves also on 3DS, a console that is now seeing the sunset. However, some titles - also very good ones - continue to be released. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth is one of them, undoubtedly an enjoyable JRPG, generally speaking, and a must have for fans of the Persona series. The title debuts today in Europe, only on 3DS.
All together, once again
This time with an extra cast of characters. If in Persona Q: Shadows of the Labyrinth we saw SEES from Persona 3 and the Investigation Team from Persona 4, in this second non-canonical chapter we see the infamous Phantom Thieves joining this already large roster. As will be analyzed by some characters, the three groups will come from different timelines (for example: Ryuji recognizes Rise, who over the years has become a successful idol, but the latter claims to be only a student at the beginning with the world of show-biz). The huge cast of this crossover will wander through the various labyrinths scattered within a Cinema, apparently related to Hikari, a mysterious and very shy girl whose presence has a significant impact on the plot.
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth follows a bit the traits of its predecessor, especially from the point of view of the development of the storyline and narration. Different themes are metaphorically represented in each labyrinth, like the human heart, the search for their own identity or what transpires from modern society as the three teams advance relentlessly to conclude this journey that will allow them to return to their respective timelines. Also in this crossover we will enjoy the presence of the Velvet Room and the services of Caroline and Justine from Persona 5, but also of the previous residents, Elizabeth and Theodore from Persona 3 and Margaret and Marie from the fourth installment of the series. The female protagonist of Persona 3, still confirmed as a non-canonical character of the series, and Goro Akechi from Persona 5 will also be playable.
Red, yellow and blue lights twinkle in the battlefields
If you know the Etrian Odyssey series, imagine a battle system very similar to his. Strategy, in Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, matters even more than a good average of character levels. Facing the mazes will not be easy at all and the Bosses and FOE (monsters on the map and indicated by an icon, frighteningly stronger than random enemies) will give you a hard time. Fortunately, you can count on more than twenty characters, with unique peculiarities and weaknesses, and the assistance of the Sub-Person. The latter is a secondary Person that does not affect the development of the base Person (Arsene of Joker, for example), but can be changed according to the eventualities and consequently change the strengths and weaknesses of the aforementioned character. As happens in the previous JRPG, also here all the characters of all the cast can have at least one Sub-Person, making the party much more balanced than the original titles, where only the protagonist (holder of the power of the Wild Card) could have more than one Persona.
All this leads to an almost infinite number of combinations to face the Cinema and its ordeals, with a solid turn-based battle-system that also sees the different functions added in the original titles. In fact, we have the follow up from Persona 3 and 4, in which a member not active in battle temporarily joins for an additional attack and the Baton-Pass introduced in Persona 5, which allows you to transfer your boost to an ally. The All-Out Attack also remains, a gem of the series as versatile as it is aesthetically fascinating.
Persona's unique style still hits the mark
The unmistakable touch of Atlus is felt once again. Although we do not enjoy the presence of Meguro and Soejima, as in the central and canonical titles of the series, in Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth we witness the mastery of Kitajoh, already known thanks to some previous participations in Persona 3, for the sound arrangement and all debut of Oribe for the artistic direction. The result is more or less the fans of the series can expect in an expected title on Nintendo 3DS: tough teams like Phantom Thieves, Investigation Team and SEES made adorable in their cartoon models in an adventure accompanied by an arrangement including a mix of retro. -pop, acid jazz and rap, thanks to the presence of Lotus Juice. There are also several reinterpretations of some historical tracks from the series.
It's time to brush up on the 3DS. One last pearl comes to light in Europe and is called Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth. A real challenge to Etrian Odyssey for JRPG fans looking for the thrill of difficulty and the satisfaction of being able to win, in an adventure that sees the cast of the last three main titles of the Persona series as protagonists. All this results in a mixture of graying ordeals alternated by a large and varied cast that will always get a laugh from the players, especially the fans of the series. Once again, Atlus hits the mark. Could it be for the entry of the Phantom Thieves on the scene? Also, but that's just one of the many reasons why Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth is a must have.
► Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth is a JRPG type game developed and published by ATLUS for Nintendo 3DS, the video game was released on 29/11/2018
