Persona 1 and 2 Remakes: Is Atlus Finally Listening to Our Copium? - gaming article
The Persona Renaissance Might Finally Hit the Classics
Let’s be real for a second: if you’re a Persona fan, you’ve been eating good lately. We’ve had the Persona 3 Reload glow-up, the Episode Aigis DLC, and the massive hype train for the upcoming Persona 4 remake. It feels like every time we turn around, Atlus is dropping another gorgeous, stylish entry that makes us lose sleep for weeks. But if you’re one of the OGs who actually played the PS1-era titles, you’re probably sitting in the corner feeling like the forgotten middle child while everyone else gushes over Joker’s latest spin-off.
Is it fair? Absolutely not. Persona 1 and the Persona 2 duology are absolute legendary status, yet they’ve been gathering dust in the vault for years. But hold onto your hats, because we might actually have a reason to stop huffing the copium. Persona series producer Kazuhisa Wada recently dropped a hint that might just change everything for the series’ most neglected entries. I’ve been waiting for this news for a decade, and if you’ve ever wanted to see these hidden gems get the modern treatment, you’re gonna want to pay close attention to this.
Why the Persona 1 and 2 Drought is a Total Noob Trap
Look, I get why Atlus has been obsessed with the modern trilogy. Persona 3, 4, and 5 basically redefined what a social sim RPG is, and they print money like it’s going out of style. But skipping over the roots of the franchise is a massive noob trap. These games aren’t just “old games”—they contain some of the most mature, dark, and wild storytelling in the entire Shin Megami Tensei lineage.
The vibe of the original Persona games is totally different from the flashy, anime-style aesthetic we know today. They’re grittier, more occult-focused, and they feel like a fever dream compared to the polished high-school drama of the newer games. If you try to jump into them now without a guide or a massive hit of patience, you’re gonna have a rough time with the dated UI and the brutal grind. Giving them a full-blown remake would bridge that gap and let modern players finally experience where the magic actually started.
What Wada Actually Said (And Why It Matters)
In a recent chat with GamerBraves, Wada didn’t pull a “no comment” when asked about the possibility of remakes for the early titles. Instead, he dropped a massive hot take: he personally thinks it’s something they “definitely should do.” He even went as far as to say, “I think we have to do it.”
Now, keep your expectations in check—this isn’t an official announcement, and he admitted he can’t say for sure if it’s on the current roadmap. But hearing a lead producer admit that these games deserve a second life is the kind of validation the fandom has been craving. It’s not just fan-service; it’s a recognition that the series’ DNA is buried in those early scripts.
5 Things a Remake Needs to Fix (Or We Riot)
If they do pull the trigger on these remakes, they can’t just slap a new coat of paint on them and call it a day. There are some serious quality-of-life (QoL) hurdles that need to be cleared to make these playable for today’s audience:
- The Encounter Rate: Seriously, the random encounter rate in the original games is a test of patience that even the most hardcore grinders would struggle with.
- Modernized Combat: The current turn-based systems feel clunky by modern standards; they need that crisp, snappy feel we got in Persona 5.
- Visual Overhaul: We need that high-fidelity, cel-shaded aesthetic that makes the modern games look like a living anime.
- Better UI/UX: Navigating the menus in the PS1 versions is a nightmare; we need the slick, stylish interfaces we’ve grown to love.
- Voice Acting: Full voice acting for the main cast would go a long way in making these characters feel as fleshed-out as the modern protagonists.
The Current Atlus Roadmap: Why We’re Still Waiting
Right now, the team is laser-focused on the Persona 4 remake. Wada even mentioned that P4 is a massive, important title for him personally. It makes sense—if you’re a developer, you want to focus on the games that defined the series for the widest audience possible. They aren’t going to pivot to Persona 1 or 2 until they’re finished polishing the P4 project.
Think of it as the current meta. Atlus is moving through the catalog sequentially. Once the P4 hype cycle dies down and the dev team has some breathing room, that’s when the real talk about the classics will happen. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, but the fact that the conversation is happening at all is a huge win for the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Persona series pay-to-win?
Not at all. Persona games are single-player, narrative-driven RPGs. While some titles have DLC for cosmetic outfits or extra Personas, you can 100% beat every game in the series without spending a dime beyond the base game price.
Do I need to play the original games to understand the new ones?
Nope! Every main entry in the Persona series (from 3 onwards) is a standalone story with new characters and settings. You can jump into any of them without feeling like you missed out on the plot.
How long does it take to beat a standard Persona game?
These are massive time sinks. Expect to spend anywhere from 80 to 120 hours on your first playthrough if you’re doing the social links and side content. It’s a serious commitment, so clear your schedule!
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the fact that leadership at Atlus is even acknowledging the need for Persona 1 and 2 remakes is a massive vibe check for the future of the franchise. It’s easy to get lost in the hype of the latest high-def release, but preserving the history of this series is essential if we want to see it continue to grow. I, for one, would love to see a fully remade, modern version of the Persona 2 story—it’s widely considered one of the best plots in RPG history.
For now, we play the waiting game and keep the faith. If you’re as hyped as I am about the possibility of these classics coming back to life, sound off in the comments below! What’s your favorite moment from the early games, or are you a newcomer hoping to see where it all began? Bookmark this page and keep it locked here—I’ll be the first to update you the second we get a concrete announcement from Atlus.
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