TOKYO - Atlus held a secret event last Sunday at Velfare, a discotheque in Roppongi, Tokyo. The show was open to a select group who won tickets and, of course, press and industry insiders. The show was to announce the latest game in its popular RPG series, Megami Tensei, Persona 2: Tusmi (Sin), for the PlayStation. As it sounds, this is the sequel to Persona.

　　As is always the case in this series, the game is set in the near future. The world is much closer to life as we know it now than the worlds featured in other games. Actually, it is set a few years after the prequel game, so you may see some familiar characters from Persona in this one. The game's main characters are high schoolers just like in Persona.

　　The main theme of the game is a rumor. A mysterious disease spreads through the high school where the main character attends. Previous to the disease's appearance, there was a rumor surrounding the town that said that the school's insignia was cursed and if people wore it, their future would be destroyed. The rumor becomes a reality. You will face these rumors and urban legends throughout the game, with the path you choose affecting your gameplay. Your choices will affect these rumors. The main character, Tatsuya Suo, has the ability to summon Persona, his alter ego, for some reason. He and his friends will research these rumors and fight their own fate.

　　Much of the game is still a mystery. But as we saw the footage from the actual game, you could tell there will be lots of enhancement in terms of the battle system, talking, and combining systems for monsters. Persona 2 for PlayStation is slated for release this summer in Japan.

　　As for the show, Atlus didn't forget to amuse the audience with more than just a standard game announcement. The series' producer Koji Okada and character designer Kazuma Kaneko, two guys who like to wear black suits and shades, made an appearance and told people about the game. The editors in chief of Dengeki PlayStation, Hyper PlayStation, The PlayStation, Famitsu PS, Famitsu, and the famous editor of the Megami Tensei series gathered on stage and talked about the game and the series. And there was a fashion show for school uniforms from the game, designed by Kazuma Kaneko. Lastly, there was a live performance of the songs from the series too. Actually Koji Okada played drums for one song. There was a lot of entertainment for the fans of the Megami Tensei series.

　　In related news, the PlayStation version of Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers will contain a playable demo of Persona 2: Tsumi. In the demo you play from the start of the game to just before the first boss. Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers is slated for an April release in Japan.