What was your first introduction to Atlus?

[dragonlife29]

Ah, yes...I remember those days back in 1998--Bomberman World! :D I was really young back then, but there was something in the game (besides the game itself) that always stuck with me: the Atlus logo. I remember being entranced by the music that accompanied the flashy intro of said logo; so much so that I would always move to the rhythm while sitting down >_> To this day, I still remember the beat :D

Unfortunately, tragedy struck when my stupid self stepped on the game CD, ending my awesome sessions with the game =(

To this day, I've yet to play a better Bomberman game; though, I do have hopes for the WiiWare one...but I digress.

Anyway, I always remembered the name Atlus because of that game; but since I was really young and internetless (didn't read game magazines, either), I never knew about many other Atlus games...

Skip to 2004 (STILL internetless), I saw a very intriguing ad for a little game called Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne :D By then I was into some pretty weird crap, and I believe the word "sin" caught my attention (and, well, the redness of it all)--but something else caught my attention: Atlus! I was like, "Hey! That's the Bomberman people!!! :o" (Back then I didn't know the difference between developers/publishers) Suffice to say, I was very happy to see the return of Atlus in some way, and then when I got internet--finally--in '05, I really educated myself in what I had missed out on.

...but not enough because I totally ignored DDS =/ I wasn't that educated...*sigh*...I still remember that big-ass ad on the window of a Blockbuster I went to and saying, "Oh, that looks pretty interesting..." =/

Anyway, yeah--introduced to Atlus in '98, but didn't become a fan until many years later in '04-'05.

[sora4126]

Yeah, I got kinda late on the Atlus train. My first experience with Atlus was Trauma Center Under the Knife. The first one of course. Definitely awesome. I followed the Trauma Center series then just branched out from there with playing Atlus games. SMT makes me happy.

[jeffx]

Mid 90s. I bought / played their inconspicuous SNES titles such as Run Saber, BlaZeon and Super Valis IV (heck I even tried the Widget games) but it wasn't until Revelations: Persona that I seriously started paying attention to their releases. Crusader of Centy also left a marking impression on me, as it was one of their first RPG (-ish) games, so that really struck my fancy. I picked up most of their games along the way, except for the majority of the GBA titles and the odd sports game. I was also caught blinking my eyes when they released Cubivore and some of the 99/00 PSX titles.

[QBasic]

Persona 2. Though, I didn't even know what the hell Atlus was back then, nor did I care. Damn good game, still is today.

[ThreeLeafIvy]

Off the top of my head, I was going to say Trauma Center: Under the Knife, but a skim-through of the 'Kipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlus#Games_published_by_Atlus) reveals it to unwittingly actually be the just-as-excellent Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis, followed by (again unwittingly) Riviera: The Promised Land, and THEN Trauma Center. :) When I was searching for Trauma Center, that's how I learned about Atlus (and their notorious limited printing policy [of olde?]). In fact, when I did find the game tucked away in an E.B. Games in California, the cashier was shocked and declared me "damn lucky to find probably the only unsold copy in a several-dozen miles radius"! :lol:

[thinkfreemind]

I think it was SMT-DDS1. I remember getting some money on my birthday and I spent it on this game a couple days after release. Because I had just gotten a PS2 at the time (I hated the PS consoles for many years) I was on a RPG buying spree. It didn't take long before I noticed that most of the RPGs I was buying were localized by Atlus and by then I'd become addicted.

[RayFoxSith]

I believe my first Atlus game was Tail Concerto back in 2000.

[Sei]

I think it was Ogre Battle for Snes. Made a good enough impression that I got it for Psx, and then Tactics Ogre, and Persona, and well, yeah. Or Gun griffon, mighta been that. Good game, too.

[Fuyukaze]

Cosmo Tank for the gameboy.

Sei, Atlus released the PS1 and N64 Ogre Battles, Enix released the SNES one.

[Kid Marin]

Persona 2 EP, but i had seen screenshots of SMT II in Famitsu Weekly before.

[Sei]

Ah, wasn't sure. Gun Griffon then.

[Azriel Crusnik]

SMT: Nocturne.

[Sei]

And by Gun Griffon, I mean Space Griffon, good game too.

[Flußkönig]

Persona. I think that was my introduction, although I may have played some Atlus games before that one.

[System_Error]

Revelations: Persona.

[Numerrik]

The Atlus published Super Dodgeball Advance. if that doesn't count then P3:FES

[marune7701]

Oh it would have to be Maken X for the dreamcast for me it was pretty difficult never did beat it but got somewhere in the middle is where i left off

[Dirjel]

DDS 1.

That game was awesome.

[Kakizaki]

To this day, I've yet to play a better Bomberman game; though, I do have hopes for the WiiWare one...but I digress.

Have you ever played Saturn Bomberman on Bomberman 94 on PCE?

Anyway, my first experience with Atlus USA was via Rockin' Kats.

I didn't really start paying attention to them until I saw a spread for Devil Summoner on Saturn in Gamefan, and the title that really hooked me was MIP. I still play it to this day.

[mani]

shin megami tensei 1992..... ouch. I feel old.

[dragonlife29]

To this day, I've yet to play a better Bomberman game; though, I do have hopes for the WiiWare one...but I digress. Have you ever played Saturn Bomberman on Bomberman 94 on PCE?

Nah; I was too young and grew up as a Nintendo boy.

If they're the ones I think you mean, they're supposedly the best (didn't one support 11 players!?).

[Kakizaki]

^The Saturn one has a 10 player mode. I have sunk a lot of my life into playing Saturn Bomberman.

[unknown]

Bomberman Fantasy Race >____>

[Kakizaki]

^I really wanted to like that title, but I just felt it was a little clunky.

[Zephyr]

I fell in love with Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber in 2000, but didn't take notice of Atlus as a company until Disgaea: Hour of Darkness three years later. Ultimately Disgaea is what brought me back into the SRPG genre after a long lull.

[ReyVGM]

My first Atlus game was Tactics Ogre for the PSX. Finally someone brought it over :P

[Cascade Range]

Snowboard Kids N64 <3

[Logick]

First Atlus game: Run Saber
First game which got me to notice Atlus: Persona

[massaker]

DDS1. I was impressed by the design of the demons. Then Nocturne which I think is the best rpg ever made. Persona lately has been very impressive aswell, if a little "light". I'm now awaiting SMT4, I shall play ninja gaiden untill thus glorious day is apon us.

[Burin le Savage]

Snowboard Kids N64 <3

Seconded.

[PFV]

I didn't really start paying attention to them until I saw a spread for Devil Summoner on Saturn in Gamefan, and the title that really hooked me was MIP. I still play it to this day.I remember that spread; I wanted Devil Summoner so bad when I saw it.

I think my first title was Power Instinct, but I'll play it safe and say Persona.

[shimo]

My first game was Summon Night for the GBA.After Yggdra Union for GBA, I have noticed Atlus ever since.

[Xfraze]

Snowboard Kids N64 <3

Seconded.

<-- Looks like we have a third

[thinkfreemind]

shin megami tensei 1992..... ouch. I feel old.
No need to feel old. Had I only known then what I know now.

[drunkmoron]

My first Atlus game was Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis. How I miss the Tactics Ogre series

[Fuyukaze]

Somehow, I'm not surprised by the lack of NES games being listed.

[PFV]

^You shouldn't be. There was, what, three Atlus NES titles?

[jeffx]

Four:
Golf Grand Slam
Rockin' Kats
Wacky Races
Widget

I played the Widget NES game on its release year, just never bought it. There was also a SNES version. I also remember it being extensively featured in Nintendo Power. I just wouldn't call it my introduction to Atlus because it has very little in common with the games they publish now.

One more title pops to mind: Dungeon Explorer. While it wasn't published by Atlus USA, it was definitely my first Atlus (co) developed game. I played the CRAP outta it with my grandma, who was a TG16 fanatic. Then I guess my introduction dates to 1990.

[Kakizaki]

^You know, I see Atlus listed on the title screen for the NA version, but I'm not 100% certain that DE wasn't developed by Hudson / and or Red Co. in Japan.

edit - Blah, Maybe I am wrong. I see some staff members from Atlus JP.

[PFV]

Four:
Golf Grand Slam
Rockin' Kats
Wacky Races
Widget

So close! :(

[jeffx]

On the other hand, I'm pretty confident DE2 was completely dev'd (but not credited) by RED and not by Atlus. They had a very close relationship with Hudson Soft, given their Bonk's Adventure mandate. Oh that's right, Atlus also worked on the first Bonk game.

I still hate myself for not buying the American DE2 for 15$ new at a Radio Shack clearance sale in 95.... thinking it'd still be there the next day.

[Kakizaki]

The relationship between Hudson and Red Co stems much deeper and further back than Bonk. Hudson and Red had collaborated on many titles that were on the PCE before, Tengai Makyou for example, and after PC Kid Genjin.

There is a ton of uncredited work as well.

[mymerrilymemory]

persona 2 when it came out.
Needless to say I was way to young to be playing M titles back then. Those were the days...

[Xfraze]

Four:
Golf Grand Slam
Rockin' Kats
Wacky Races
Widget


Woa, Wacky Races was Atlus? I guess that was the first game I ever played from them.

[sora4126]

Wacky Races was Atlus!! :surprise:
Then my first Atlus exp was waaaaay earlier than I thought.

[unknown]

^I really wanted to like that title, but I just felt it was a little clunky.

It was indeed clunky, but still pretty fun once you get used to the controls and figure out how to do that jump bump dash thing against the wall.

[Master Zombots]

Summon Night - Swordcraft Story was my first Atlus title. It was, and still is, awesome! :)

http://www.dignews.com/admin/screenshoot/summon_night_art_01.jpg

http://www.dignews.com/admin/screenshoot/summon_night_art_02.jpg

[Calamari]

Revelations: The Demon Slayer for the original game boy. (you know, the HUGE one)

[unknown]

I loved the first Summon Night game for the GBA.

[VMan]

Controlling the player/womanizer that is Meis Triumph (Thousand Arms)

[Master Zombots]

I loved the first Summon Night game for the GBA. I know! Bring us Summon Night Craft Sword Monogatari: Hajimari no Ishi, Atlus? It's worth the three year wait. ;)

[Einherjar]

Mine is...... Riviera the promised land!
Oh wait.... it is?

Actually yeah, I guess it is. Could have sworn it's not...

[cj iwakura]

Revelations: Persona.

[Camanche]

Nocturne.

[Crabman]

I kept seeing the SMT titles everywhere in the late 90's...now, I was a huge Nintendo fanboy back then - cut me and I think I'd bleed Virtual Boy Red - but I was a sucker for artstyle, and damn did Persona 2 look good! I didn't have a PS1, though, and wouldn't get one till 2002.

Then I got a GameCube...and my game was a choice between Cubivore and Metroid Prime. Any game which encourages humping must be half decent. I got MP instead though.

Then I kept reading about them in this magazine called GMR...they used to really love Nocturne and DDS, handing out 9s and 8s and stuff. But again, no PS2.

When I got the PS2 in 2007, I wanted to get Nocturne because it sounded pretty badass...but couldn't find it anywhere. This was when I learned that Atlus games were pretty rare finds :( But this podcast I listen to was hyping up this upcoming "Persona 3" quite a bit and I decided I'd check it out. It came out and I was so damn tempted...but I wasn't totally sold on it (wasn't really an RPG fan) until the podcast hyped it up more, to the point where I had to get it. Lo and behold when I finally get around to buying it the game is nowhere! It took a couple days of calling around and a favour from a friend back home to grab me a copy. He played it, liked it so much he went back to the store to get his own copy :)

So yeah...Reading Week 2008 was the first time I actually played an Atlus game, and it was good. Persona 3 showed me that RPGs can have the freedom so lacking in other staples of the genre. Still haven't beat it yet (though damn close!), but I appreciated Atlus' way of doing things so I picked up DDS and Nocturne (FINALLY) when they were reprinted a while back.

[punkrocker_271]

My first was summon night swordcraft story

[greydrak]

Revelations: The Demon Slayer for the original game boy. (you know, the HUGE one)

Me too!
Loved that game, especially recruiting the later monsters were a huge pain but so worth it.

Ogre battle 64 was also a good one, I think I actually noticed the Atlus symbol there when I played it, mainly because I loved the snes OB:MotBQ and I bought OB64 right away and saw the Atlus logo.

Though my Atlus streak didn't continue until recently with P3 and others.

[ShadowRaskolnik]

I think that Tactics Ogre for the PS1 was the first Atlus game I played.

[JeremyR]

I think it was Persona, the first one, for the PS1. Pretty bad introduction, as that game was pretty awfully localized (including adding a cringe inducing stereotype to it). Didn't get very far and traded it in for something.

[Hamel]

Riviera

but the first real Atlus title (as in developed by Atlus) was DDS1 I think

[bullman422]

Revelations Persona (Persona One)

Despite the crappy translation and silly racial change to Mark (who in there right mind would ever use that as an avatar? :P ), I still enjoyed the game a lot and have been a megaten fan ever since.

[dunno001]

Hmm... I don't remember which older Atlus titles I've played, since I didn't really track companies back when I was young. The game that made me step back and take notice was Etrian Odyssey, which I picked up used on a whim. Of course, I loved it, and preordered 2 the moment it was announced. (I've also gotten a few other people playing the series...) Afterwards, I went frantically looking for P3, to no avail. A Gamestop said it was still in print for $30, and they expected some in about a month. It took a little longer than that, since it was a week later that FES was announced. Naturally, I had to go back and find the older games... I've managed to get all the Persona games for a semi-reasonable price except for the first one. (Even the import of Innocent Sin only set me back $50.) But now... well, most of the current catalog is here, save for the ones on systems that we don't own in this house...

[jj984jj]

I bought Tsugunai: Atonement while waiting for RPGs to hit the PS2, no clue about Atlus at that point of course. I didn't realize they existed until I read this article:
http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/shinmegamitenseinocture/news.html?sid=6106620

[Zandrena]

While I was probably involved with Atlus much earlier than I recall (I only started to pay attention to the start-up sequence for games recently) my first distinct Atlus experience was the Summon Night Sword Craft Story series. I was so happy to see localization that didn't completely destroy the characters; no homophobic censorship and humour that appeals to the player and not just a narrow audience. After that, I researched Atlus USA and I've been stalking them as an Atlus Faithful since.

[SinZinDetta]

Tactics Ogre

[bigprivera]

does anyone remember snowboard kids....


i think that was atlus...i may be wrong:confused:

[dragonlife29]

Lots of very early introductions, here--some with games I've never even heard of.

And yeah, Snowboard Kids was Atlus :) ^

[Kain Mare]

Kartia: The Word of Fate for the PSX.
I wanted to know everything there was about Atlus... if I knew then what I knew now. That's why I am a stalker of Atlus. ::points to signature:: My collection would be larger than it already is.

[JMAN]

Hmm, mine may have been Steambot Chronicles. Not quite sure on that.

[Emilio Morales]

Guilty Gear, and Persona 2 Eternal Punishment! :P

[ultradust]

relly can't remember... too old... :devil:

[Zachalmighty]

My first experience with them was OG 1 than I later bought P3, OG 2, then I got myself Nocturne, DDS, and finally both EO's.

[Kakizaki]

relly can't remember... too old... :devil:

Surprise us. How old?

[Olethros]

^ This could be interesting.

[CoarseDragon]

I know I picked up Persona (the first one) when it first came out. I also picked up Ogre Battle. Not sure which came first the Ogre or the Igor?

[Terash Cas]

I think I rented Ogre Battle for the PSX and I remember not being able to figure out how to do anything.

[Coritj]

Hmm, that's actually a good question. I think the first I heard of Atlus was probably Disgaea. Although I did not actually buy the game until many years after its release.

[Asellus]

My first Atlus game....? Hmmm, it would have to be Tail Concerto. I remember thinking, 'Oh, how cute~!' It seriously made me think all sorts of happy fluffy thoughts...and then I played Persona: Revelations.

Since then I don't think about happy fluffy thoughts anymore. What can I say? I love my Dark/gothic/post apocalyptic/supernatural atlus games~! Heh. :p

[Manly Biceps]

Asellus? As in Asellus from SaGa Frontier?

[Clephas]

My first Atlus game was Ogre Battle for the SNES. God, that game was fun. I always thought it was sad that more of the Ogre Battle games didn't get localized.

[Asellus]

Asellus? As in Asellus from SaGa Frontier?

Yep! I actually 'liked' Saga Frontier. :) It was kooky as hell and I kept dying in all the battles but I liked the characters. Asellus was my favorite. Her storyline was, I thought, the best out of all of them.

I find it interesting that you actually remember the game! Not many people do and they don't get the reference. So, um...cool! Kudos to you, Mr. Manly Biceps~! :p

[Manly Biceps]

Asellus? As in Asellus from SaGa Frontier?

Yep! I actually 'liked' Saga Frontier. :) It was kooky as hell and I kept dying in all the battles but I liked the characters. Asellus was my favorite. Her storyline was, I thought, the best out of all of them.

I find it interesting that you actually remember the game! Not many people do and they don't get the reference. So, um...cool! Kudos to you, Mr. Manly Biceps~! :p

Nah, Red had the best story. I liked how the game scaled boss fights depending on how many battles you before you hit the boss. You could finish each character's quest in under 45 minutes if you just ran straight for the boss.

[Luna]

Snowboard Kids!

But I actually started likeing the company Atlus with SMT:Nocturne.

[Asellus]

Asellus? As in Asellus from SaGa Frontier?

Yep! I actually 'liked' Saga Frontier. :) It was kooky as hell and I kept dying in all the battles but I liked the characters. Asellus was my favorite. Her storyline was, I thought, the best out of all of them.

I find it interesting that you actually remember the game! Not many people do and they don't get the reference. So, um...cool! Kudos to you, Mr. Manly Biceps~! :p

Nah, Red had the best story. I liked how the game scaled boss fights depending on how many battles you before you hit the boss. You could finish each character's quest in under 45 minutes if you just ran straight for the boss.

Oh, yeah? I guess I should give Red another go then. I didn't get his story at first but back then I didn't get most things. Oh, and the tip about the battles is useful! I'll definitely take it to heart the next time I play. Thanks! :)

[StrikeRaider]

Fine I'll post in this thread due to peer pressure. My first one was Bomberman World and I remember hating the Atlus logo because it was too fing loud and I couldn't skip it. I never really even noticed Atlus till P3 though so I'm guilty of that.

[dragonlife29]

Whoa, someone else with Bomberman World!? Awesome.

I loved the logo opening XD

[dunno001]

Well, after looking up a list of Atlus games that Atlus did any work on (Yes, I know, I cheated...), apparently my first one was Kwirk. Of course, this made me pull out the old dinosaur stuff... :P

[Asch]

Mine is Snowboard Kids, if you wanna count that as an Atlus game.

[Saburo Hikari]

My first Atlus game was a late one: Streambot Chronicles. It was a pretty interesting game. I loved the work that was put into the game, especially that hilarious starter's book!

My favorite Atlus game so far is Persona 3. Soon Persona 4 when it comes out.

[Soushi_Grapple]

Controlling the player/womanizer that is Meis Triumph (Thousand Arms)

Same here. Thousand Arms is also responsible for my Ayumi Hamasaki fandom =) Thankfully they left the original opening and endings huh? lol I remember getting stuck on the map pretty early in the game so I tracked down the guide too ;)

However, I didnt really get into ATLUS games until playing Digital Devil Saga. The plot and style of the game had me so hyped up and I preordered the deluxe pack off Amazon. ^^ Still working on completing DDS2, though.. ><;

[Hossaria]

My first Atlus game was Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, since I can't find Megaten games anywhere (I'm not even sure if they're translated or published in South Korea), I usually import an american version.

[Kakizaki]

^I thought that is what this is:

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-43-77-9-49-en-15-shin+megami+tensei+III-70-3e9.html

[Hossaria]

^I thought that is what this is:

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-43-77-9-49-en-15-shin+megami+tensei+III-70-3e9.html

That's the first time I ever saw a korean version of nocturne, but it is out of stock, what a pity...

[Tsuko]

My first Atlus game was Tactics Ogre The Knight of Lodis

[Hossaria]

I'm not even sure if they're translated or published in South Korea
I was actually exaggerating, since I bought both DDS: Avatar Turner on a local gamestore.

[Kakizaki]

^Ah, I see.

[GFSummoner]

I always thought it was Thousand Arms. It was an awesome RPG+Dating Sim mashup. I loved it. I still use the memory card stickers lol.

But I recently found out that Brigandine was an Atlus product too. I only rented Brigandine was I was 9. I had no understanding of video games and I did not get very far.

[Arcana]

First Atlus game?

Since I live in Italy, here there aren't much good games, and a friend of mine told me to try Stella Deus: The Gate of Eternity on Ps2. That was my very first game on PS2 and my first love too.

Then I played Persona 3; Persona 3 FES, and now I'm waiting for P4 and SMT: Imagine.

[Raithgar]

Brigandine was the first game I played from Atlus, But didn't fit the mold of the games I was into at that time.. Also tried one of the Ogre* games (the one that was sold via KB Toys).

*My bro in law still has his copy which I'm hoping to snag if he is ever crazy enough to sell his PSX collection.

The first game that made me take notice of Atlus was Magna Carta, then moved onto Nocturne.

[ArcSwordsmaster]

My first game was Luminous Arc, that i reconized as Atlus anyways. I'm pretty sure I have other Atlus games, but I found Luminous Arc particularly fun so I took note of the companoies involved in it.
:D

[Shyrangersmrpg]

Trauma Center: Under the Knife was the second game I bought for DS - and my introduction to Atlus.

Since then, I've found many other titles they've published...and purchased them with fervor.

[Hank_Peters]

I grew up on the Snowboard Kids titles. I only really started to notice who Atlus was as a publisher during the GBA games, and I've tried to get as many of their games as possible.

[persona3rocks]

um mine was snowboardkids i think but persona 3 just caught my eye again:lol::lol:

[malismag]

My first Atlus title was oddly enough Persona 1.

[dragonlife29]

Trauma Center: Under the Knife was the second game I bought for DS - and my introduction to Atlus.

Since then, I've found many other titles they've published...and purchased them with fervor.I like you already :D

[RV0LVr]

All I remember is that it was on the PSX/PS1 don't know the titles but I remember the word "ATLUS" pops up quite frequently in my game choices since I didn't really pay attention to the publisher,developer,creator,etc. as long as the game's good back then.

[Evila]

Earliest Atlus title I remember playing is Tail Concerto. Good times. :D Might have played something else they released in English before that, but I honestly don't remember, since I used to go through rental games at the speed of light back then.

[Rein]

My first Atlus game was Guilty Gear. I remember playing it at a friend's house way back when his older brother had just gotten it.

After that Atlus and I didn't cross paths until Magna Carta in '05. I loved the uniqueness of the game and when I went to see other Atlus titles I found that they were anything but mainstream.

[ceifadorx]

My first atlus game was tactics ogre. Enjoyed so much that game

[earl437]

Tactics Ogre. It was also my first PS1 game.

[Avarice]

My first introduction was shin megami tensei nocturne and digital devil saga 1. I have sense fell in love with there art direction and gameplay. I also purchased DD2 and devil summoner 1 and wish that they would make persona 5 on ps3 to see it in all it's HD goodness (already pre-ordered persona 4:))

[EternalSwordsman]

My first Atlus game was "Riviera: The Promised Land" for GBA. A while after that I picked up Etrian Odyssey, and then everything kinda snowballed. Now I've moved to SMT, and am searching for some of the older games in the series...

[Las Lobos]

*in sophisticated voice* Well I was a naive child growing up, getting hyped up for every Final Fantasy title to be released then I released (as I grew) that they just didn't do it for me anymore (if at all). Then I turned to a game called "Nocturne" and I loved it, the maturity of it and everything then I got "Odin Sphere" and loved it then "Persona 3 FES" (I was lucky enough to get the last copy. ATLUS definitely delivers when it comes to RPG's and I'm glad I grew up and out of the over-hyped Square Enix games (no offense to SE fans) *end sophisticated voice*

Almost forgot Guilty Gear (what's wrong with me?)


FIN

[BornofFire_420]

My first Atlus game was Persona 2.

[DokaponObsesed]

Uh I think Disgaea afternoon of darkness and Disgaea 2 cursed memories are Atlus if not then I just here for dokapon boards.

[ayrnieu]

I bought a Growlancer I/II special edition set for the PS2, and was so amazed at the games that I made note of the 'Atlus' on the side, and then looked for more games from them. And actually ever since then I'd walk into a GameStop or such, look through the selection, and then say "aha! Atlus!" and buy whatever it was on the spot. It's a winning strategy :-) If it says Atlus or Nippon Ichi, I hardly even look at the box until I get home with the game. There's no other brand in anything that's done so well by me. So, thanks.

Aside: I got Etrian Odyssey II today, and now have the Japanese and English versions of both games!

[VamP]

Mine was Tactics Ogre iirc. I've played so many games since back then it's hard to remember.

[MwarriorHiei]

Snowboard Kids N64 <3

Seconded.

Third'd

in fact, i was introduced to atlus from some magazine ad i remember seeing. i though "huh, cool name"

[rimbaud]

The chink-chink sound played during the N64 logo in Ogre Battle. Music to my ears.. ;)

[DokaponObsesed]

Uh my obsesing over Dokapon Kingdom?

[ArmedDragoon]

Technically, my first Atlus game was the first Trauma Center, it was a cool game and all, but I didn't really get into the loop until I started hearing loads of praise towards a game called "Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne". I was intrigued by the reviews and the game's atmosphere, so I hunted it down. A year or two later, I've hunted down pretty much any SMT related title that's been released in the states. I've also indulged myself in Atlus's non-SMT related products and they're great too. My poor wallet...

[sfried]

One of the few GBA games I was eyeing on based on curiosity was Riviera. I'd thought "really, they make a game like this on GBA?" was something novel, something I'd want to be able to play. When EGM (or was it NP?) first published an article about it being localized, I knew it would be a day one purchase for me considering the obscurity of the title.

Since then there has been association of Atlus being regarded as the next "Working Designs" in terms of publishing some quality games that would never have found a way here through conventional means.

[Olethros]

^ Ha! Atlus as the next Working Designs. I love it!

[Robo Noise]

I think my first Atlus game was probably Thousand Arms. I borrowed it from a friend not really know what it was and fell in love with it. And the instruction booklet had so much cool bonus stuff in it, notes about the translation, interviews and art...

Yeah, I pretty much figured Atlus was awesome from then on. Just recently found myself a copy of the game too! :D

[angelofragnarok]

The beautiful game known as Rhapsody was my first introduction to Atlus. I was hooked ever since that game came out. It's too bad that Nippon Ichi Software picked it back up for the DS release, because I really enjoyed listening to those "magical treasure boxes" that sang "A-T-L-U-S U-S-A" to you. Also, the english voices for the songs were awesome! :D *runs off to dust off his PS1 and play again*.

[Radiant-Cadenza]

My first Atlus game was Riviera: The Promised Land, for the GBA, I believe.
*Points to avatar*

[Manic Expressive]

The damn best PS2 RPG in existence..

SMT III: Nocturne.

[Kakizaki]

^No way? That was your first? ;)

[Muckamuck]

My very first intro to Atlus was the interesting trailer for Rhapsody on an Official Playstation Magazine demo disc. I didn't play the game, but I distinctly remember the Atlus USA jingle when the logo came up at the end.

I suppose the first Atlus game I actually owned would be Persona 2: Eternal Punishment. And I still haven't finished it yet.

[Delition]

I feel alone on this one. The first one I remember playing was Jack Bros. on the Virtual Boy. I pretty much went from that one to Nocturne, and spread out from there. I just wish I had owned a copy of Jack Bros. prior to these last few years. I might be alone on this opinion, but I almost think Jack Bros. is worth playing the Virtual Boy, headaches and all.

Edit: I actually forgot that there was a bridge between Jack Bros. and Nocturne, which was Lunacy on the Saturn.

[slayn]

I think Revelations: Persona was the first Atlus game I bought.

[FatalDmg]

Refer to my Avatar for your answer.

Always have been a fan of Atlus since the early 90's with the bomberman series.. ever since then I've been a follower.

[James Fiend]

Ogre Battle for N64.

[troabarton333]

i'd have to say disgaea was my first atlus game i really played, although i played some ogre battle on 64. I love the shin megami tensei series, and i hope they'll remake the first two persona games and clean up the graphics. i tried playing the first one on ps one and i couldn't do it due to the game graphics during battle especially.

[Hamel]

I can understand P1 (Arg 1st person view) but P2 was ok

[Tivor]

I think Revelations: Persona was the first Atlus game I bought.

Same here.

[FangzV]

In all honesty, I never really paid attention to who made a game until Persona 3.
I'm pretty sure that Trauma Center: Second Opinion was my first Atlus game, looking back. But like I said, I never paid attention, so it may not be.

But I'm going to count P3 as my introduction to Atlus because it's where I actually paid attention to who made the game.

[Dragoneye]

I first heard about Atlus through the promos for Persona 3.. and was not disappointed. I got a really good impression of their quality in localization from that game alone.

An impression that's somewhat waning now that I found out they have issues with disk printing..

[magitalon]

Very recently.

I think it was around the time when I tried Trauma Center: UtK2 on the Nintendo Channel. I thought it was the best game in the world.

[mAn-kAt]

My first game that I played was Persona 3. I was slow (Also, I didn't really go for some of those "off the Radar" games because when I got money, it was the only money that I was going to get for a long time).

[tokoshi_x]

It was Ogre Battle 64 for me. Of course, I wasn't really into the whole game industry then, and only played whatever game was brought to me by my parents. Stumbled upon Ogre Battle 64 in a rental store, not sure what made me rent it, but I certainly didn't regret it.

Started getting deeply involved with video games sometime in 2004, and it wasn't until Persona 3, where I became fully interested in Atlus. Even though I did play games like Super Dodgeball Advance and Trauma Center: Under the Knife before that.

[aetaslupus]

The very first one I actually played was Nocturne but the first one I actually bought was DDS 1 followed by 2 when it came out.

[Ashilyn]

My first introduction to Atlus? Hm. Probably either Tactics Ogre or Kartia, with Persona 1 not far behind. I admit I was never much of a TO fan, but Kartia and Persona 1 really hooked me, the latter of which naturally set me down the path of loving SMT games for years to come.

[soldat]

my first atlus game was trama center, but my favorite was persona 3. that was the first game i actually cared that atlus made

[Rampage Ghost]

After Squaresoft became Square Enix and started releasing crap I lost my Final Fantasy addiction and decided to check into other companies. I picked up Disgaea and since then whenever I go to buy a game, I'm really looking for Atlus or Capcom logos.

[Snow Wood]

My first Atlus title was Run Saber. But what drew me in was the N64 Ogre Battle. From that point on it was history, as they say.

[SickleCellAnemia]

^Nice avatar, Snow Wood.

[Snow Wood]

Thanks! ^^ I figured it would do until I could whip up something more "Atlus-y".

[AdrianMorales]

Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 on the GBA. Amazing game:)

[Oksweet]

Persona 3: FES, yea I know shut up -_-;

[triump]

Persona 4 :D man i love that game

[System_Error]

Get out of here, really?

[moss257]

My first introduction to Atlas?... I thought I never heard of Atlus until Izuna... But my real first introduction to Atlus was Bomberman World for the playstation!
Of course back then I never really cared who made the games I played... >_>
Glad I know now!

[Eddie Van Helsing]

Ah, yes...I remember those days back in 1998--Bomberman World! :D I was really young back then, but there was something in the game (besides the game itself) that always stuck with me: the Atlus logo. I remember being entranced by the music that accompanied the flashy intro of said logo; so much so that I would always move to the rhythm while sitting down >_> To this day, I still remember the beat :D

The first Atlus game I remember playing was the original Persona, on the PlayStation. I was in college at the time, and reading a lot of Jung as part of a required psychology course, so the title immediately caught my eye. I bought it, and persevered through the game despite having to wait a minute for the game to load before every battle in order to beat it. I did pay around $60 for it, after all, so I wanted to get my money's worth.

Unfortunately, Atlus USA must not have the budget to localize the original Persona as well as they've done Nocturne, Avatar Tuner, and subsequent Megaten games. In fact, I had avoided Persona 2: Eternal Punishment on the PlayStation because of the load times in P1, and because (and I mean no disrespect), the translation of P1 reminded me of how Carl Macek butchered Macross and some other titles to come up with Robotech.

After I got married, my wife found a copy of Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne sitting on the used games shelf at the local EB while we were shopping. I had heard about SMT from games discussions on FARK.com, but my wife was sold on the game because it featured Dante from Devil May Cry. We played it together, and bought the first Avatar Tuner game on the strength of the trailer included with Nocturne.

[Eddie Van Helsing]

Persona 4 :D man i love that game

Yeah, it's awesome, but I've I got some harsh words for the guys who decided to make the fishing minigame mandatory in order to max out a certain Social Link.

[cbrate]

My first Atlus? SMT: Nocturne and boy was it a disappointment.
The game mechanics were fine. Perhaps different to other RPGs I'm used to but they worked well. The thing that irked me was the bare corridors and limited character animations. I mean it. Characters lips don't move when they talk, they don't even blink, they slide forward instead of running when they attack and the game world is a series of empty hallways that occasionally has a cardboard box in the corner to break the boredom.

I thought "ok, it might be limited to Nocturne where demons have come and humans have been pretty much wiped out" but no, I tried DDS1 and DDS2 and it's the same sterile, lifeless visuals
Makes me wish they'd put more effort into their games.

I think I'll stick to the SRPGs.

[Eddie Van Helsing]

I thought "ok, it might be limited to Nocturne where demons have come and humans have been pretty much wiped out" but no, I tried DDS1 and DDS2 and it's the same sterile, lifeless visuals. Makes me wish they'd put more effort into their games.

I guess it's a matter of taste. I had no objections to the design choices that irked you. In fact, I saw a stylish minimalist approach where you saw sterility.

[Agedbrain]

It was I believe Metal Saga, funny thing was that no one knew what the game was about, cause no one played the game. I have been playing from this company ever since.

[Kakizaki]

My first Atlus? SMT: Nocturne and boy was it a disappointment.
The game mechanics were fine. Perhaps different to other RPGs I'm used to but they worked well. The thing that irked me was the bare corridors and limited character animations. I mean it. Characters lips don't move when they talk, they don't even blink, they slide forward instead of running when they attack and the game world is a series of empty hallways that occasionally has a cardboard box in the corner to break the boredom.

I thought "ok, it might be limited to Nocturne where demons have come and humans have been pretty much wiped out" but no, I tried DDS1 and DDS2 and it's the same sterile, lifeless visuals
Makes me wish they'd put more effort into their games.

I think I'll stick to the SRPGs.

lol....Wow to all of this.

[Eddie Van Helsing]

lol....Wow to all of this.

I know what you mean. Considering that DDS uses the same Press Turn system as Nocturne, isn't it fair to say that DDS uses the Nocturne engine?

[Kakizaki]

^Yeah, but I was commenting on much more from that post. More than I even care to comment on.

Granted it is just someone's opinion and they are entitled to it, but to call out Nocturne's graphics engine kind of irks me -- especially considering the size and scope of some of the environments and the fact they are fully viewable in 3-D. I honestly felt that Nocturne's engine was able to portray KK's character designs quite effectively.

[Eddie Van Helsing]

Granted it is just someone's opinion and they are entitled to it, but to call out Nocturne's graphics engine kind of irks me -- especially considering the size and scope of some of the environments and the fact they are fully viewable in 3-D. I honestly felt that Nocturne's engine was able to portray KK's character designs quite effectively.

Let me put it to you this way: Megaten is the only reason I still have a PS2.

[Zeta_Nova]

Technically, it wasn't til' SMT Persona 3, the first L.A and that you guys annouced an extended version of P3. P3FES.

[Fadzuar Sabastian]

Brigandine

[bullman422]

The first Atlus game I remember playing was the original Persona, on the PlayStation. I was in college at the time, and reading a lot of Jung as part of a required psychology course, so the title immediately caught my eye. I bought it, and persevered through the game despite having to wait a minute for the game to load before every battle in order to beat it. I did pay around $60 for it, after all, so I wanted to get my money's worth.

Unfortunately, Atlus USA must not have the budget to localize the original Persona as well as they've done Nocturne, Avatar Tuner, and subsequent Megaten games. In fact, I had avoided Persona 2: Eternal Punishment on the PlayStation because of the load times in P1, and because (and I mean no disrespect), the translation of P1 reminded me of how Carl Macek butchered Macross and some other titles to come up with Robotech.

Though the translation of Persona One was laughably bad (not to mention horribly Americanized), Persona 2: Eternal Punishment was a huge improvement. Atlus's budget probably still wasn't much bigger, but thankfully they wre able to work with those who originally made the game in Japan for a much smoother translation. I think the load times were a little better too though that might still be debatable since I haven't re-played the game in years.

[Chewbaccaguy]

Persona 2 but then again, i didnt know what Atlus was until Trauma Center, the first one

[Kakizaki]

While I can agree with a lot of the criticisms regarding the localization of the first Persona, the load times aren't bad at all. I still play it a decent amount.

[Pibbman]

Persona 4 :D man i love that game

If that's the case, then you should get Persona 3: FES next.

[freakcan]

The first game developed by Atlus might be Trauma Center for the Wii. I only played it briefly at a friend's house though. The first I will play a significant amount of will be Etrian Odyssey II or P3: Fes.

[Ido]

The first game that I remember playing from Atlus (note the word remember :P) is Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure at about the time it came out. Although it was the shortest RPG I had ever played, I quite enjoyed it. And a few months ago I saw the game at a friend of mine place and it reminded that I still had a savefile right before the end and I finished the game once more in front of my friend. So much fun ^_^

[Rebochan]

Kartia, which I rented the hell out of back in the day. I finally broke down and got a copy off eBay a few years ago because I missed it so much. A long-lost classic. Ironically, I played it because Atlus ran an ad for it in Mixxzine, the original magazine for what is now Tokyopop. I recognized the Amano art and just had to check it out on that alone. I wish more people would have heard of it, it was such a great story and a really unique strategy game.

Ironically, despite having had ample opportunity before that, my first SMT game was Digital Devil Saga and my first Persona was Persona 3. And that's despite the fact that Kartia even had an ad for Revelations: Persona in the box! Man I took my sweet time.

[Yet Another Tim]

Izuna, seeing how the $19.99 price tag got me sold to it; it also became my crash course on roguelikes and introduction to not only Atlus USA, but also to Success Corp.

[Kenji]

I was aware of Atlus ever since DDS came out, and that's also when I first heard the title Nocturne, since X-Play compared it to that. I wanted to get those games then, but I never got around to it (and so had to pay out the ass later).

I also played the Japanese Rule of Rose, which Atlus would later localize. I should've picked up the English version, especially since I really wanted Atlus to bring over Siren 2... but too late for that.

The first Atlus game I actually played, having been localized and published by Atlus USA, was P3. That opened the floodgates, lemme tell you...

[LadyRayna]

I think it was SMT for SNES.

[Kakizaki]

LR, you are from Brazil? Is that correct? I'm just curious. I have always read about the crazy game market there. Sounds interesting.

[Olethros]

LR is indeed from/in Brazil.

Unless she's a liar. She doesn't seem like a liar, tho.

[LadyRayna]

Yes, I am. Crazy market? What do you mean?

[Kakizaki]

^I mean there are a lot of systems that were popular there and had a much longer lifespan in Brazil -- like the Sega Master System. I have also read there is a pretty neat grey market with a lot of interesting, sometimes unlicensed, games and consoles.

[ceifadorx]

^I mean there are a lot of systems that were popular there and had a much longer lifespan in Brazil -- like the Sega Master System. I have also read there is a pretty neat grey market with a lot of interesting, sometimes unlicensed, games and consoles.

Blame tec toy for this. The increase the lifespan of mater system and genesis (here we called mega-drive). They launch mega-drive 2, 3 (only changing the design and the memory games in it) and master system 2, 3 (same way as the genesis)
Tec toy made some games for those system using a child comic book called "turma da mônica".
And yes i am from brazil too.

[four_black_hearts]

I'd played Atlus games before, but the first one I bought myself was Thousand Arms.

[LadyRayna]

^I mean there are a lot of systems that were popular there and had a much longer lifespan in Brazil -- like the Sega Master System. I have also read there is a pretty neat grey market with a lot of interesting, sometimes unlicensed, games and consoles.

Blame tec toy for this. The increase the lifespan of mater system and genesis (here we called mega-drive). They launch mega-drive 2, 3 (only changing the design and the memory games in it) and master system 2, 3 (same way as the genesis)
Tec toy made some games for those system using a child comic book called "turma da mônica".
And yes i am from brazil too.

There’s nothing much I can add except that the Dynavision, which is also made here, is a quite famous NES clone. Also, there’s the Polystation, which, contrary to its name, is a NES clone and is made in China. These consoles usually take licensed games and modify them, not only that but they claim that the console comes with I-don’t-know-how-many games when it’s actually the same games with some modifications.

Kaki, you seem to know quite a bit about the Brazilian video game industry. I’m impressed.

One last thing, Turma da Mônica is AWESOME.

[Kakizaki]

^I'm kind of a Sega nut. Stuff from Brazil constantly pops up in regards to strange or bizarre releases when digging for little known Sega console releases.

Sometime I will have to scan a pretty decent, but short, article regarding Brazil that was in Retro Gamer a couple of years back. I actually believe there is a picture of a Polystation.

"turma da mônica"I actually might know who this is. I believe some of my favorite games as a kid was converted into one of these titles.

edit - Found it. It was several of the Wonderboy titles that were converted into the Monica games. That is what I was thinking. I loved Wonderboy when I was a kid.

LR, if you liked the Monica games and have a way to play Japanese PS2 titles, you need this collection:

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-r-77-3-49-en-15-sega+ages+-70-1s1r.html

[Sepherest]

Snowboard Kids....back on the N64, I do believe.
But I didn't get seriously into their games until I saw the intro to Digital Devil Saga way back when on Techtv.

[Neveryll]

Hmmm my first Atlus game was either Thousand Arms or Kartia. I don't rememeber which I played first. I still have my Thousand Arms bonus disk somewhere around here. I remember playing the Nelsha trap wave over and over the first time I got it and getting a strange look from my wife of "What the heck is he doing... " :p

[PainKilleR-[CE]]

I missed out on the PS1 games somehow, but my first was either Disgaea or Tactics Ogre: Knight of Lodis.

After Disgaea, I started paying attention to DoubleJump Books (because they put out a pdf of the Disgaea guide for free), and the third or so guide they made was SMT:Nocturne. So Disgaea was good, and Atlus published that and DJ did the guide, and Phantom Brave was good (at least I thought so), though NIS published that themselves. Needless to say, as soon as I got Nocturne I started looking for every SMT game I could find (which wasn't much for a few more years).

Almost every game I've bought in the last 4 years (with peculiar exceptions) has been published by either Atlus USA or NISA.

[Auden]

My first atlus game was Rhpasody for the PSX. :P

my REAL intro to SMT was Nocturne, i still play it once in a while

[Twisting River]

If I'm remembering correctly, my first Atlus game was Snowboard Kids for the DS. I had never really heard of Snowboard Kids or Atlus until then, but the prospect of owning a snowboard game for the DS enticed me.

I ended up not liking the game much when I first played but when I came back to it a year later, it really grew on me. It was a lot of fun, I'm not quite sure why I was put off by it on my first try playing it but I'm glad I got back to it.

[TwelveMind]

My first introduction was Revelation Persona. Picked up the game cheap, but just couldn't get into it then. Was probably too young at the time. Sold it. Regret it. Now, I want it.

[tross]

My first Atlus title was the first Etrian Odyssey. Persona 3(the original), was the game that turned me into an Atlus fan though. Not that EO wasn't amazing, but I don't usually decide that I'm a fan of a developer/publisher, until I play at least two games that I could say I enjoyed. Those were both developed by Atlus too, rather than just localized by them. Izuna was the first Atlus title I bought that was just localized by them.

[Reynard]

My first Atlus game was probably Steambot Chronicles. I don't think I became a fanboy until I picked up P3 FES, however.

[Foryth]

I think it must've been either Ogre Battle : The March of the Black Queen or Crusader of Centy. Though I hadn't played Centy much.

[LadyRayna]

^I'm kind of a Sega nut. Stuff from Brazil constantly pops up in regards to strange or bizarre releases when digging for little known Sega console releases.

Sometime I will have to scan a pretty decent, but short, article regarding Brazil that was in Retro Gamer a couple of years back. I actually believe there is a picture of a Polystation.

"turma da mônica"I actually might know who this is. I believe some of my favorite games as a kid was converted into one of these titles.

edit - Found it. It was several of the Wonderboy titles that were converted into the Monica games. That is what I was thinking. I loved Wonderboy when I was a kid.

LR, if you liked the Monica games and have a way to play Japanese PS2 titles, you need this collection:

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-r-77-3-49-en-15-sega+ages+-70-1s1r.html

I'd love to see that article. Please let me know when you scan it.

When I said that Turma da Mônica was awesome I was referring more to the comics than to the games. I do own two Turma da Mônica games, but they're aimed for children (I haven't played them in years). Anyway, thanks for the link, that collection looks really interesting :)

[ceifadorx]

^I'm kind of a Sega nut. Stuff from Brazil constantly pops up in regards to strange or bizarre releases when digging for little known Sega console releases.

Sometime I will have to scan a pretty decent, but short, article regarding Brazil that was in Retro Gamer a couple of years back. I actually believe there is a picture of a Polystation.

"turma da mônica"I actually might know who this is. I believe some of my favorite games as a kid was converted into one of these titles.

edit - Found it. It was several of the Wonderboy titles that were converted into the Monica games. That is what I was thinking. I loved Wonderboy when I was a kid.

LR, if you liked the Monica games and have a way to play Japanese PS2 titles, you need this collection:

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-r-77-3-49-en-15-sega+ages+-70-1s1r.html

I'd love to see that article. Please let me know when you scan it.

When I said that Turma da Mônica was awesome I was referring more to the comics than to the games. I do own two Turma da Mônica games, but they're aimed for children (I haven't played them in years). Anyway, thanks for the link, that collection looks really interesting :)

I didint play all the turma da mônica games, but i remember played and liked a genesis game that was like a hack game (they remove all the original sprites and change for turma da mônica charactereres and change the script).
I dont remember the name of the original game but i do remember was a action rpg like game.

[raum215]

Last Bible Special for Game Gear in the Navy. Game Gear is the BOMB when at sea for ever. The first person view dungeons was awesome after darken ships. I still think the rocking of the ship and hum of the engine room added to the dungeon atmosphere.

Then, Kartia by time I got back home and got back into gaming.

[Onezanagi]

Well I had only played a few Atlus games up until recently. I never even really paid attention to who made them. Lately I've grown tired of newer games because they seem to focus on graphics so much that the story and gameplay suffers. So one day when I was browsing NeoGAF I saw a thread for Persona 4. It looked interesting so I ended up picking it up. It pretty much blew me away. I'm working on my 2nd playthrough and am waiting for Persona 3 FES to arrive in the mail. I've played a few others lately as well but none as fun as Persona 4. Which has become one of my all time favorites. After this semester is over and I have more free time I plan on buying some other SMT games.

[Quig]

I remember being completely involved in FFVII, then Working Designs became my publisher of choice. One the PS2 came out, I remember playing Growlanser Generations and then becoming interested in Atlus. I joined the Army, got deployed, came back and left games alone for a while, before diving into P3 FES. After that, I've been checking out the Atlus games for PSP, and PS3 down.

[Mcateersb]

I guess my first Atlus game was Shining Force for the GBA. The only companies i knew about were Enix and Square and never payed attention to anything else. It wasn't until Luminous Arc came out did I really take note of Atlus, and since then I have tried nearly every game released on a Nintendo system. Luminous Arc series is definitely my favorite though. And I'm kinda ashamed to say I haven't played a Persona game, but I'm picking up both versions of Demikids soon for some SMT-ness.

[xHaseox]

Persona 3:FES

I know, I'm a newb. ._. After Persona 3 FES I went back and bought all the PS2 SMT titles before it, and recently Persona 4. I plan on grabbing the PSOne Persona titles and the Demikid games eventually.

I've never played an Atlus title outside of Shin Megami Tensei. I guess I should start?

[Enzeru]

Trauma Center: UtK! I remember trying to track it down for forever (and finally getting it in the first month of release xD)! I loved it so much, I bought Second Opinion, and then New Blood (my favorite TC, and probably one of my favorite games in the world!), and finally UtK2 (best DS game).

And then Persona 3: FES. While looking up P3 stuff on the nets, I found Persona 4. It came out a month later, and I still constantly drool over the art book. In the middle of all that I found out about SMT in general, and I bought DDS. I just finished it and Nocturne should be coming in any day now.

[stalepie]

I think my first Atlus game was Persona. I was impressed by Kazuma Kaneko's drawings and the dark paranormal theme. I remember seeing SMT and Soul Hackers information in the back of GameFan too. Oh, and they did Virtual Hydlide? (I'm looking at their list on GameFAQs)... liked the graphics in that one, though I didn't realize how choppy it was before I played it many years later. I see they did, or brought over, Crusader of Centy -- didn't like that one. And they did Power Instinct? Wow, I remember that on the Genesis, and again, in previews in GameFan.

[EvilHero]

Mine was Run Saber. Didn't realize it was an Atlus game at the time, of course.

My first Atlus games that really made me take notice in the company were Persona and Kartia.

[Kakizaki]

I think my first Atlus game was Persona. I was impressed by Kazuma Kaneko's drawings and the dark paranormal theme. I remember seeing SMT and Soul Hackers information in the back of GameFan too. Oh, and they did Virtual Hydlide? (I'm looking at their list on GameFAQs)... liked the graphics in that one, though I didn't realize how choppy it was before I played it many years later. I see they did, or brought over, Crusader of Centy -- didn't like that one. And they did Power Instinct? Wow, I remember that on the Genesis, and again, in previews in GameFan.

See the SMT section here. I scanned some of those GF articles.

[Kari]

Ah, probably Snowboard Kids, though back then it was more about what games were fun than who published them. I didn't buy either, just rented them.
I remember being interested in Tail Concerto but never played it.
Does Growlanser Generations count since it's published by Atlus in Japan? I freaking love that game, but it was all Working Designs to me...I don't think I even knew that Atlus had a US branch at the time.

The first "published by Atlus in the US" one I actually bought was probably Riviera: The Promised Land. I think that's also the year I heard that Atlus = rare games, so I started preordering all of the Atlus releases for a while. I didn't get into SMT until last year...

[Burin le Savage]

Dear god there's a lot of Snowboard Kids fans here.

I started playing Eternal Poison here myself, my friend got it for me for Christmas since he knows I'm a sucker for SRPG-type games, pretty good.

- Burin

[banballow]

I think it was Persona 2...
... all I remember was a creepy guy with a bag over his head yelling "Persona... Persona... call out your Persona!!!".

[dragonlife29]

Trauma Center: UtK! I remember trying to track it down for forever (and finally getting it in the first month of release xD)! I loved it so much, I bought Second Opinion, and then New Blood (my favorite TC, and probably one of my favorite games in the world!), and finally UtK2 (best DS game).
<3 <3 <3

Man, you mentioning the original TC brings back memories! I remember it and Phoenix Wright being the "it" niche games everyone wanted, but couldn't find--I hunted down both titles vehemently and when I finally got them, the DS became one of the best machines I had ever owned...

I remember I had--that previous year--taken a liking to the medical field, so when I heard about it, I knew it was a definite purchase; unfortunately, I didn't have internet when it came out, and thus didn't know when it'd...well, come out. I believe I first saw it in one of my Nintendo Power magazines in the form of an ad, followed by the review on X-Play.

For Phoenix Wright, I had recently fallen in love with Law & Order SVU :D So, yeah...:oops: But I digress--TC is one of the best gaming franchises ever.

[Enzeru]

Trauma Center: UtK! I remember trying to track it down for forever (and finally getting it in the first month of release xD)! I loved it so much, I bought Second Opinion, and then New Blood (my favorite TC, and probably one of my favorite games in the world!), and finally UtK2 (best DS game).
<3 <3 <3

Man, you mentioning the original TC brings back memories! I remember it and Phoenix Wright being the "it" niche games everyone wanted, but couldn't find--I hunted down both titles vehemently and when I finally got them, the DS became one of the best machines I had ever owned...

I remember I had--that previous year--taken a liking to the medical field, so when I heard about it, I knew it was a definite purchase; unfortunately, I didn't have internet when it came out, and thus didn't know when it'd...well, come out. I believe I first saw it in one of my Nintendo Power magazines in the form of an ad, followed by the review on X-Play.

For Phoenix Wright, I had recently fallen in love with Law & Order SVU :D So, yeah...:oops: But I digress--TC is one of the best gaming franchises ever.
I spend awhile searching for PW, too. I was a little late to the party, but I found one Gamestop that had both PW and it's sequel. Unfortunately I could only afford one, but eventually I got the second one and the third when it came out. I should really replay the first one; I liked it better than the second. xD

I lost the first TC, though. ;_; But that's alright, since I still have Second Opinion. Putting together a broken arm=win. xD

[Mathurin47]

Ogre Battle 64 would have been my first Atlus game. Though it would be a few years and a few dozen RPGs before the connection was made and a fan was born.

[Sulf]

Skygunner was my first (I think, I never really paid attention to publisher names before this point). Played a friend's copy. A lot.

Eventually said friend moves and takes the game with him. I...I never found another copy ever again (and that's when I realized Atlus titles become freakishly rare).

Gawd I miss Skygunner...

[jin07]

I didn't know Snowboard Kids was Atlus. Yeah, that's my first Atlus game then. I thought it would be Skygunner. Ugh. The slowdown in Skygunner ruined it for me. I wanted to love it, but couldn't. It's one of the very few games I traded in.

[Pibbman]

I believe mine was Bonk's Adventure.

[xeno]

That's kinda hard....I'm not sure actually...

I THINK it was Jack Bros on my Virtual Boy...but I am not sure...Sorry...:(

If I remember something earlier, I'll edit this post.

EDIT: Now that I think of it, it might be a demo of Thousand Arms, or Tail Concerto, that was my first EXP with Atlus.
Ever since then I had wanted to find some Atlus games, but they were too dang rare and expensive...Even now, of those 2 games, I JUST have Tail Concerto.

[CanuckGamer]

I go waaayyy back with Atlus. Almost to the very start. My first Atlus title that I owned was Wacky Races for the Nes. A very good platformer based on a cartoon I never watched :3
That being said, the first Atlus game I played was Dungeon Explorer. Which I think is about as far back as this place goes. I did not even know it was an Atlus game till the DS remake and Wii VC release.

[Kiyo]

Had to be Snowboard Kids for the N64, so cash.

[byrc]

TACTICS OGRE, one of the best psx games.

[Birthdayboy]

I played a bunch but i beleve it was the YS games.

[Shu]

Cosmo Tank. Awesome.

Didn't differentiate between publisher and developer at the time.

[ZeldaSushi]

My first Atlus game was the year the first Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja launched. I had been keeping tabs on the game for a few months through various websites and Nintendo Power and placed a pre-order on the game. I haven't necessarily played any other Atlus games since Izuna but I plan on picking up some pretty soon because I like the animation styles the characters in the games have.

[Natural Affinity]

It was Ogre Battle for me, I still go back and play it to this day.

[Xaevier]

I know I have most likely played more Atlus games than I realize but the first one that I actually realized it was Atlus would have to be Disgaea hour of darkness (still my favorite game to date)

[Arisato-kun]

Hehe mine would honestly be Persona 3.

[kagatoASUKA89]

Snowboard Kids N64

[Juanblue85]

My first Atlus game was SMT: Nocturne if I didn't follow this game when it was announced I wouldn't be here today. I played it and loved it in an instant. Now I own every PS2 SMT game released in North America. Keep em coming.

[Onyx_a87]

KWIRK, although didn't realize it until I got it again recently.

[8.5]

I think it was Revelations: Persona, but I didn't realize I loved Atlus till year before last when I played Innocent Sin.

I've been hunting everything ever since, realizing, of course, that a lot of great games I'd played over the years were Atlus titles.

[LoligodKamina]

probably SMT3: Nocturne

[Las Lobos]

Ok I take back what I said in my first post, my intro to ATLUS was Yddrasil Union.

[nesshin musha]

my first was SMT: nocturne and from there I've played every megaten game since. megaten is all I play anymore lol

[Genome]

The Robopon games for the GBC.


Man, just thinkng about them brings back good memories. lol

[babypuncher]

I want to say Tactics Ogre for GBA. But I played Snowboard kids 2 at a friends house in like the 4th-5th grade on the n64. Maybe before that but chances are slim.

[LuigiBoy7]

Summon Night: Swordcraft Story and Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 (I bought them at the same time), both for the GBA, which a friend recommended to me. They're currently my first and second favorite games of all time, so yeah. Though, at the time, I still didn't really know what Atlus was. I later bought Bomberman Land Touch for the DS (which was also super awesome), but it wasn't until shortly after I bought Izuna, also for the DS, that I found out what Atlus was.

[x_revenge]

well i bought a used ps2 along with all the games the guy had some years ago, he had smt lucifer's call, i had no idea what it was so i tried it and well, i'm happy i did

[X-Grunger]

power instict!!!
am i too old??'

[Magnus]

I played games by Atlus before but the one that got me hooked was Ogre Battle 64 after playing that amazing game I was hooked the gameplay the twisted story were truly amazing.http://www.retrogame-shop.com/shop/images/ogre%20battle64us2.jpg

[TTBadguy]

I'm not sure what the very first Atlus game I ever played was, but I do remember playing Kwirk at one point. I can say that the first Atlus game I loved was Persona.

[bullman422]

I believe mine was Bonk's Adventure.

Correct me if I am wrong but I'm sure that was from Hudson Soft as I had all the Bonk games for the TurboGrafx game system (including the Bonk Shooter Air Zonk).

[TTBadguy]

I believe mine was Bonk's Adventure.

Correct me if I am wrong but I'm sure that was from Hudson Soft as I had all the Bonk games for the TurboGrafx game system (including the Bonk Shooter Air Zonk).

Atlus and the Red Company actually developed Bonk's Adventure. Hudson Soft and NEC published it for the Japan and US markets, respectively.

[thesycophant]

I think the first Atlus USA-published game I played was actually Izuna 2 on its release last yaer. The first Atlus-developed game was Persona 3 which I first played in October. I fell in love fast.

[PantingFish]

Mine was with Persona 2 on PS1 I believe. From then on I've always bought Atlus games, some of the best RPGs, if not the best out there. I just hope they continue making all the great games as they have been.

[Elio]

I think for me it was Demi-kids Dark version.

I still haven't finished it though, I got nocturne a few month after and I was addicted to that and forgot about demikids :frown:

[Las Lobos]

oops I don't know why I said Yddrasil Union was my first I think it's cuz I went on hiatus after playing the first Persona then played Yddrasil after the second Persona and kinda forgot.

[Partof300]

I'm not really sure. My siblings and I loved Snowboard Kids and the second one. I remember playing Lufia: Runes of Lore (GBA) but that was many years after Kids. I also remember playing (and loving) Bomberman and I never knew Atlus made that game (same with Snowboard Kids). It's their RPGs that I think I'll remember most though.

Oh and I bought Hoshigami used only because it was the most expensive PSX game, I'm kind of a collector and low and behold it's an Atlus game!

[Elizabeth]

When I was fifteen I was watching X-Play one day when they reviewed Nocturne and I was completely in awe, shocked that such a game came to the US. Well, the problem was remembering such a title, which I didn't, but months later I walked into a Game Stop and saw it sitting on a shelf where I gleefully remembered: "Oh, yeah! I wanted to buy that!". Of course, I had to ask mommy's permission, which shockingly she gave (I guess she thought ever since she caved in and let me get Conker's BFD there wasn't much "damage" left that an M game could do).

Then slowly I discovered that Atlus brand = Pure awesomeness and picked up nearly every game they're released ever since. *Sigh* Oh how I wish I could've gotten Thousand Arms, though!

[Lord-Ginji]

Thousand Arms was my first intro to Atlus I got it as a B-day gift from my aunt when she randomly bought me a game from Wal-Mart and was glad she chose that game I loved it and still not tired of it when i play every few years but im actually still trying to buy a new copy since mine got scratches from when the cd's got loose and on a small move *sniff*

[demonight234]

I first got into atlus when I bought P3. Since then I've been keeping my eyes open for any other atlus games up at gamestop.

[ufofreek]

Persona 2 :)

[Discordancy]

I never knew that any of the persona games existed, to be honest; my opening Atlus title was Ogre Battle 64. I remember thinking that it was hard as all get-out, but considering that I was barely thirteen when I first played it, that's not surprising.

Now I've replayed it more times that I can count, and have always kept my eyes out for Atlus games since. There are literally five Gamestop stores in a radius around my city, as well as a few other non-mainstream game retailers - so finding things has never really been a problem.

[Arlyss]

Mine was Nocturne back when it came out, but I never really got into it. I played a couple other Atlus games on and off, but I didn't really appreciate them until Devil Summoner. Now I'm addicted to them, beat P4 and P3, playing through Nocturne and loving it now, and I ordered DDS1 and 2

[Shin]

Even I don't remember!
If Disgaea counts, then I'll say that.
Or I could go on and say Snowboard kids...
But for the one that got me into Atlus as a whole, Persona 3 FES

[RL Link]

Ha ha, it's kind of tough to remember. It's most likely Riviera: The Promised Land(GBA).

I most likely played other games before that, but my memory is pretty darn bad.