The upcoming PlayStation Portable port of the original Shin Megami Tensei: Persona is due to be released on September 22, not long before Sony launches its UMD drive-free PSP Go. To take advantage of the timing, Atlus has announced that the game will be released simultaneously as both a retail game and a downloadable release on the PlayStation Network.

Both versions of the game will run gamers $39.99. However, Persona fans may want to consider picking up the UMD version of the game, which comes packed with a two-disc CD soundtrack at no additional charge. Those who decide to go the download route can expect the game to clock in at around 800MB, though Atlus says that number may get smaller via compression.

Atlus is a company known for its great retail pack-ins—it seems like nearly all of their releases come with at least a soundtrack CD—so it's good to see the company not abandon that tradition, while at the same time embracing digital distribution. It's unfortunate, though, that both versions of the game will cost gamers the same amount, in spite of the obvious benefits of the retail version.

Ben's thoughts

So you can pay $40 to download a digital version of the game, or pay the same amount for a case, a hard copy, as well as a free soundtrack? Atlus always creates wonderful retail packaging. I can't imagine anyone is going to go for the digital version here.