Part 9: 4/15: Wild Card, Bitches
Part 9: 4/15: Wild Card, BitchesKamoshidas got us on the ropes. Seems like we only have one option left...
Music: Suspicion
We gotta hurry up and go to that world and beat the shit outta that asshole!
...Were not beating him up. Were simply stealing his distorted desires. Can I assume that youve made up your minds about thisabout how he might suffer a mental shutdown?
...I have. Someone almost died because of him! I dont give a rats ass what happens to him anymore!
And you?
There you have it.
By the way, is gettin rid of a Palace hard ? Youve tried it before, right?
...When did I ever say that?
...Eh? WHAT!? Were you just pretendin to know!?
That assholes at it again ! So you came all this way to tell us that?
If youre going to deal with Kamoshida let me in on it too.
I cant just sit back and do nothing after what happened to Shiho!
This has nothing to do with you Dont butt your head into this
But it does! Shihos my--
I said dont get in our way!
..
...That was harsh.
We cant take her somewhere like that...
I hope that she doesnt torment herself over this. When it comes down to it, women dont hesitate.
We just gotta hurry up and deal with Kamoshida. Lets go already!
Huh? Phantom thieves?
Those who covertly sneak in and stylishly steal Treasurethat is what we become!
That sounds kinda cool! So we just gotta say the school, Kamoshidas name, and castle? Then we end up in bizarro world.
True. Theres no point in thinkin about it now. Well show that effin Kamoshida!
Lets go!
Theyre doing something on their phone? A name School ?
Music: King, Queen, and Slaves (Another Version)
That voice Sakamoto!? And are you Hamiru-kun!?
Wh-Wh-Why are you here!?
How should I know!?
Uh-oh, the cats making googly eyes.
I see. Perhaps she was dragged in because of that app thing. If multiple people can enter with the person who uses it, it stands to reason itll pull anyone nearby.
For real ?
Wait, so THIS is related to Kamoshida!?
Anyways, you gotta leave!
No!
The Shadows are going to find us if you make a scene.
No way! It talked!? Oh my god, its a monster cat !
Monster ?
You better explain whats going on! I wont leave until you do!
Looks like we gotta force her. But howre we supposed to do that?
Just take her back to where we came in. Thats how it worked last time, right?
O-Oh, yeah. Can you lend me a hand?
We cant deal with Kamoshida if we dont!
Well explain after everythings over!
Hey! And just where are you touching!?
Whoa, sorry, I didnt mean-- ...Thats not important!
You guys seriously-- Ah!?
Wed better be careful from now on when we use that app...
You shouldve checked the tools you used! Why do Ithe one who was just watchingknow more about it than you two!?
Sh-Shuddup! Geez, Takamaki found out right when we were startinoff We gotta deal with this fast!
That girls name is Ann Takamaki, right? Lady Ann
Oh jeez. Im not liking where this is going.
Were counting on you, Joker!
Joker? That a nickname?
Dont refer to it in such a lame way. Its a code name.
Its cool to have a code name, I guess. Its not that weird.
What kind of stupid phantom thief would use their real name!? Im not down for that! And theres no telling what kind of effect yelling our real names will have on the Palace. Its just a precaution.
So, whys he Joker?
Because hes our trump card when it comes to fighting strength.
Just go with it! Youre Joker!
It aint too bad, yeah?
Next up is you, Ryuji. Youll be Lets see Thug.
Are you pickin a fight with me!? Ill choose it myself! Hm When it comes to me, its gotta be this mask. Honestly, I actually kinda like it. What if we named me after this?
Fine Why not Skull then?
Ooh! That sounds awesome! Im Skull! What do we do about this ones code name?
How bout Mona?
Well, if Joker thinks its easier to call me that, then Ill go with it. All right. From here on out, were Joker, Skull, and Mona. We need to be absolutely thorough about using those code names from now on!
We can run faster, but at the risk of making ourselves easier to detect. Simple stuff thats really only useful for specific moments.
Looks like they dont know bout this way in yet.
Joker, Skull Are you ready? Lets go!
Music: Blood of Villain
Entertaining is certainly a word you could use to describe what happened, sure.
However, I cant allow that trash to ransack my castle! Strengthen the security! Kill them on sight! Ill reward whoever brings me their heads.
Death to the intruders!
Look at all those soldiers, idiot! Itd be suicide. And Im sure you dont want a repeat of last time. Besides, dont you want him to confess his sins? Theres no point beating him up. We need to steal his materialized desires The Treasure.
Fiiiine. So, where is it?
It has to be somewhere in the depths of this castle. Lets infiltrate further in while hes out here!
Whaddya wanna do? Should we kick its ass?
Hold on Hmmm This might be a good opportunity to teach you something All right, Joker! Are you ready to take it down?
>Lets go.
Music: Last Surprise
Theres another use for Hold Ups besides simply defeating enemies. Shadows are beings born from peoples hearts, so naturally, they can talk too. In other words, you can communicate with them. Get it? If you talk to them when theyre cornered, they might offer money or items since they dont want to die. In fact, talking has a better chance of scoring something great, as opposed to just offing them*.
*This isnt true. Well, its not true yet. We dont have the Confidant abilities that make going for rare items or lots o cash possible, so most of what we get from these guys is going to be junk. Keeping in mind that the battle immediately ends after a successful negotiation, and that enemies left undefeated because of this dont give money or experience, theres really only one reason wed want to talk at this point in the game instead of just launching into an All-out Attack. Well get to that in a second.
Well then, lets do the first step: Knock all the enemies down, and do a Hold Up!
Music: Talk
It cant get worse than this Whatre you going to do with me!?
Huh? So youll let me live if I just give you money?
Well, something along those lines Now let it be money or items. Just cough it up!
But, this happened so suddenly I actually dont have anything on me I-I usually do though, you know!?
W-Wait, what? Oh This isnt how I was planning this to go. Uh Anyway, it cant be helped if thats the case. Time for you to go to hell.
W-Wait!
Sorry, but were in a hurry.
No, wait up! Cant we work something out? Dont kill me, please! Wont you let me go?
Ugh! Sorry, but that sounded really lame. That was the best one-liner you could come up with? I say cheesy stuff like that all the time too, though. I guess Im more like you than I thought. Whoa, I feel different! Somethings happening!
What the !? Whats going on!?
Im an existence that drifts about in the sea of humanitys souls My real name is Pixie! Im Pixie! From now on, Ill live on inside your heart!
What was that just now ? What happened!?
I-I have no idea! I wasnt expecting that either...
Crap, they noticed us!
We can hold multiple Personas, just like in 3 and 4. Having a specific Persona active means gaining that Personas respective skills and elemental affinities. We can only switch once per turn, though.
Pixie is strong against Electricity and Blessed and weak against Gun, Ice, and Curse. Stats arent great, but all we want is that Zio.
I-Is that the Shadow from earlier!? Dont tell me Did you take in the Shadows appearance and powers as a Persona!?
Lets try to get this one on our side.
So thats yer move? ...Then I guess Ill talk first. Ill decide if Im gonna help you after. I gotta say, youve been a pretty inconsiderate host. You oughta show more hospitality. Couldnt you at least make me a cup of tea or somethin? Hell, thatd be real polite.
Red veins are bad news, as you might have guessed.
...Hey. Wont you listen ta my dyin request? I wanna have some of yer hospitality. What kinda hospitality will you show me at the end of my life?
Well, I guess Ill try to worry more like a young person while Im runnin away!
And just like that, were ejected back into the fight because we failed miserably. In addition to red veins for displeasure, there are also yellow notes for answers Shadows will accept and blue sweatdrops for neutral. Neutral gives items and notes lead to the Shadow joining. A Shadows reaction to specific answers is determined by its nature.
From the games digital manual:
These are the kinds of answers each personality likes. The real challenge, then, is just figuring out what answer from the selection is vague or kind, which isnt always as easy as it sounds.
I should also mention that we can only recruit Shadows that are at or below Maakus level, so no recruiting powerful enemies.
He sealed the enemys appearance and powers into his mask, and made it his new Persona Ive never seen anyone do that before didnt even know it was possible!
Of course it is! Only one heart exists per person, so normally a person can only have one Persona! But this this is incredible! That ability will give us a huge advantage in battle! All right, try to do that even more if the opportunity arises! You better help out too, Skull!
Hell yeah! Well hold every last one of em up!
Its worth noting now that were free that Maaku and his Personas level separately and at very different rates. Personas require quite a bit more experience to level, in fact. We can only hold six at the moment, so theres incentive to get rid of old ones. But thats not really relevant quite yet.
Theres nothing we can do here right now. Lets try elsewhere.
In that chest we find a new knife for Maaku. Its good to upgrade when we can, even if it only affects our melee attack.
We get some new Personas while were here, but the real reason I took this picture is because they changed Pyro Jacks name to Jack-o-Lantern and Im not over it.
A safe room. We can discuss our strategy inside. There are a lot of places even I dont know about in here
Outside
Music: Disquiet
I just said the words Sakamoto said, and I ended up--
Huh?
Aaaaaaaah!
Just gettin this fars been a real pain in my ass!
Its all because you guys provoked Kamoshida, you know. Still he seems to be awfully on guard...
Anyways, howre we supposed to steal that Treasure thing?
Dont be so hasty. First, well need to secure an infiltration route.
A what ?
A path to the Treasures location. But honestly, I think well need a little more manpower in order to accomplish this. At the very least, one more person would be nice
Gee, I wonder who.
Hey, you say you dont have your memories and all, but somehow you still know about that kinda stuff? Do you think this things really got amnesia?
I should really stop making the cat sad.
You sure talk big, but what if it turns out youre just some stray cat in the end?
That cant be...
Princess ?
It doesnt matter now. We must take her back to King Kamoshida!
Whos this princess theyre talkin about ?
Morgana leaves.
And yet another question goes unanswered Stuff like the castle and that navigation app are mysterious but Morganas got em both beat.
Crap, sorry! What was I again? ...Oh yeah, Skull!
This is bad!
That was fast!
Your friend Lady Ann! Shes been taken by Shadows...!
Wait, what? We sent her home earlier.
If Lady Ann does indeed have the app, it could be possible.
Oh no Dont tell me it got put on hers just like mine !? Dammit! We let her out for her own safety, and she just came back in by herself !
We need to hurry and rescue her! Follow me! Ill guide you!
On our way back through the dining room, we see Morganas All-out Attack finisher. Its one of the better ones.
Along the way, Ryuji learns Lunge, a light Physical strike.
Look, Ill apologize for touching the armor without permission!
She totally doesnt get whats goin on!
Lets hurry! We have to save her!
Like in previous games, theyll warn you before big fights, which is always nice.
OK, lets go!
Music: Desire
So, this is the intruder.
Whos that...? More importantly, what is this place!? Whys the school turned into something like this!?
I cant believe you mistook my Ann for someone like her. Are you afraid?
What is that outfit ? Have you lost your mind?
I do as I please here. After all, this is my castle The world of my desires.
What the--!? Wait Is this some red-light district!?
What a lively slave.
This isnt funny! Enough of the bullshit, Kamoshida!
In that case she should be executed.
Are you kidding me ?
Is that what he thinks of the girls on the volleyball team !?
Just when I was about to start enjoying myself...
Whats the deal with this guy !?
You little !
...How many times are you gonna come back?
Kamoshida turns to Ann.
I bet youre just like those thieves. You came because youre pissed at me, huh? But, ah I forget that chicks name, but its your fault she jumped, you know.
Huh ?
...Holy shit. Thats okay, we need to repave this dudes face.
You bastard!
A guard approaches Ann.
..!
No!
Dammit !
Just sit back and enjoy the dismantlement show.
No! Dont!
*giggle* Youre such a perv!
H-Hey, whatre we gonna do!? Takamaki!
Thats more like it. You shouldve looked like this from the start.
Shiho Im so sorry...
Huh ? Youre right. Letting this piece of shit toy with me What was I thinking !?
Its like I always say. Slaves should just behave and--
...Shut up! Ive had enough of this Youve pissed me off, you son of a bitch!
Anns Awakening
Music: Awakening
Urgh !
Tell me Who is going to avenge her if you dont?
Such is the scream of the other you that dwells within I am thou, thou art I...
Music: Will Power
Ann kicks the guards sword into the air...
then jumps up and catches it
...and slices clean through her doppelganger.
You know what? Im not some cheap girl you can toy with you scumbag.
YOOO ITS MY MAN BELPHEGOR
No ones gonna stop me now!
Sadly, Carmen is not named after Carmen Sandiego. From the Megami Tensei wiki:
"Carmen is a fictive female [Romani] created by Prosper Mérimée. She first appeared in Mérimée's eponymous novella that was first written and published in 1845. The novella was adapted into a variety of different genres, most notably the opera Carmen by French composer Georges Bizet which diverges in significant points from Mérimée's original story.
Whatever the version, Carmen is generally depicted as a classic femme fatale who would take advantage of her beauty and charm to make men fall for her but quickly break the relationship once she is bored of her wooer and then looks for the next victim. Carmen is also usually seen smoking tobacco because she had once been working in a tobacco factory. She is later slain by a spurned ex-lover driven to a jealous rage after she leaves him. Though she knew he would be fated to kill her, she declares that she would rather die than allow herself to be bound to the will of another and that "Carmen will always be free".
Ann is interesting. Shes Yukiko in a lot of ways, but the ways in which theyre different honestly kind of kill her. Shes got the fire affinity as well as healing, and her stats and skills make her probably the partys most effective magic user. However, she has odd limitations in her skillset. Not only does she never learn any form of multitarget healing, which is a real bummer, even the niche spells she learns arent as useful as what other party members bring to the table. Ann can do a lot of damage, but shes one of the less flexible party members in a game that really rewards flexibility. This isnt to say shes not useful, because she learns skills like Tarunda (enemy attack down) and Dekaja (gets rid of enemy buffs) very early on. Its just that especially in the late game her limitations come into focus. Shes not as much Yukiko, who was an excellent all-rounder, as she is Chie from Golden, who can technically do tons of damage but becomes hopelessly outclassed in actual utility at certain points in the game. But hey, nuking shit with fires always good.
Ann and Carmen are voiced by Erika Harlacher, whos uh well, lets see... shes Videl in Dragon Ball Super and Kurapika in Hunter x Hunter, and thats all I really know her from.