'Persona 5' release date pushed back; characters introduced

 Screengrab/ Persona 5 website

"Persona 5," a Japanese role-playing game (RPG) developed by Altus for Playstation 3 (PS3) and PS4, will have a delay in its launch, which was originally slated for 2015. 

In a statement, the game's developers said that they had to change the previously announced launch date due to some works on the development of the game. It says that they had to work on the storylines and different world settings, as well as some of its technical details.

The game's developers gave its assurance, though, that all of these developments are well on its way. Altus announced that "Persona 5" is now scheduled to be released in Japan in the summer of 2016, followed by a release in the United States in the same year.  

Meanwhile, "Persona 5" also released an update to four of its character's storylines and introduced each character's persona.

Ryuji Sakamoto is a 16-year-old transferee student of Shujin High School. He is a known troublemaker who figures in school fights. His initial persona is "Captain Kidd," a pirate with a skull head who rides a smiling pirate ship. "Captain Kidd" is reminiscent of the buccaneer William Kidd of the 17th century who was tried and executed for charges of piracy.

Ann Takamaki is a half-American, half-Spanish sophomore student attending the same high school. She is outgoing and innocent but doesn't have a lot of friends because of her looks. Her initial persona is "Carmen," a lady who wears a bright, red flamenco dress, and a panther mask. She uses two miniature butlers with heart-shaped heads attached by a rose vine. "Carmen" is reminiscent of the bohemian character who appears in novels and opera.

Morgana is a mysterious creature who was saved by Ryuji and the other protagonists. She appears mostly like a cat but hates being called as such. She has the ability to shape-shift into other things. She has a yellow bandana for a collar and wears a utility belt. Morgana's initial persona is "Zorro," a swordsman who wear a mask to hide his identity. He wears a belt designed with a "Z" as his trademark. Morgana's persona is reminiscent of "Zorro" who is also a famous thief.

Yusuke Kitagawa is a handsome young man who has blue hair and gray eyes. He is an honor student in an art course at the Kohoshi Public High School. Although orphaned by his mother at a very young age, he displays exceptional talent in painting. He lives under the tutelage of the famous Japanese painter, Madarame. "Goemon" is Yusuke's persona, a stylish character who brandishes a huge pipe and has a face of a Kabuki actor. Yusuke's persona is reminiscent of the ninja "Ishikawa Goemon," a known outlaw hero in Japan who used to steal from the rich to give to the poor.

Altus also released the latest trailer for "Persona 5." Watch it here.

 

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