Persona OA Chat Log Translations: Ann

     This is a (incomplete) basic translation for the chat logs with each character in the Persona OA app.  English speaking users can use it to better understand the conversations in the app and make better choices when the characters ask questions.  As there is a lot of dialogue I have separated each character's interactions into a separate post.  Also, this does not include post-dungeon interactions in your room where you decide what stat boosting item to use.

     Please bear in mind, the translations may be off a bit but they should give you an idea of what is being said.  I took some creative liberty to make the translations sound more natural rather than making them direct word for word translations.

** (+1) (+2) (+3) Means this is how many music notes this response gives.

     I have not gone all of the way through the game yet so I don't have every character dialogue unlocked yet.  As I unlock more I will update this list.

Akira/Ren
Morgana
Ann
Ryuji
Yusuke
Makoto
Futaba
Haru
Akechi
Confidants (Sojiro, etc)

Ann

Scene 01
*Hey, you!  You're [Name], right?

*Sorry for calling you out like that.  I heard we got a new member and I just really wanted to know more about you

*I'm Ann Takamaki.  It's great to finally meet you..

[Options]

A --Nice to meet you too!

B --You're cute...

A

Yeah, having more friends is great.  It's really encouraging, you know...!

*[Name], let's do our best!

B

*Oh, really?

*I've been working out a lot lately.  I guess the results are finally showing, huh?

*Oh, do you have some time right now?

*I was thinking of getting some crepes.  Wanna come?

*I really want to check out this one shop that sells them.

*OMG, so gooood!  Sweets are just the best thing ever...!

*No way, they were having a half price toppings deal today... I think maybe I went a little overboard.

*When I get home I'm really going to have to burn off all these extra calories!

*No wait, I'm going to push myself even harder!

[Options]

A --Are you going on a diet?

B --You're really fired up

C --Don't you think you're being too hard on yourself?

A

*Well, I'm not sure I'd call it a diet.  Oh yeah, I never told you.

B(+2)

*Yup!  It's what I have to do if I want to be the best!

*Oh right, I didn't tell you.

C

*No way, not at all.  I can never be the best... if I don't prove I have what it takes.

*You see, I'm actually a model.  Even if I'm just newbie right now.

[Options}

A -- Being a model is amazing

B --I want to see your work

C-- Sign my chest (Ok, it really just asks for her autograph... But mine is better)

A(+1)

*So, I'm really just starting out!  Even so, I really want to work hard and become a great model one day!

B(+2)

*I've been in a few magazines!  I'll bring them with me next time.

C

*You want my- my autograph?  Are you for real?

*But I guess I should really start thinking about that kinda stuff, right?

*Oh, it's already getting pretty late.  Thanks for spending time with me today.

*It was really great getting to know you, [Name]!  I'm looking forward to working with you from now on as a member of the Phantom Thieves!

Scene 02 

*Oh...?  [Name].
*What a coincidence that we bumped into each other here.
[Options]
A --What are yo doing here?
B --Were you training?
C -- Were you doing a photo shoot?

A
*I'm running today.
*I'm a bit worried about my body...  I really need to get into better shape.

B
*Yeah, I'm out running today.
*It's really important to get into good shape, you know.

C
*No, not today.  I'm just out for a run.
*It's really important to get into good shape, you know.

*I need to keep pushing myself more and more, so I can be a great model.
*In order to accomplish my goal I'll keep on training as hard as I can.
[Options]
A --You're already sexy
B --You're thin enough already

A(+2)
*Really?!  Well, I'm glad you think so!
*Wait a minute, that's not right!
*That kind of thinking is really dangerous!

B
*tsk tsk tsk, it's no good just being thin.

*There are a lot of models who are way better than me.
*Looking at models you probably think just trying on clothes and taking photos looks like fun, right?
*But what you never see is that everyone is actually working really hard.
*And so... I'm going to work really hard too!
[Options]
A --Hang in there
B --You're really cool

A(+1)
*Yup!  I'm going to really give it all I've got and do my best!

B(+2)
*Thank you so very much.
*But you know, it'll be way cooler moving forward.

*Someday I'm sure I'll catch up to the top models.
*Oh... I guess I really got all fired up.  Sorry about that.
*Thanks for listening.

Scene 03 

*Hmm, which to get.
*I really can't tell...I'm not sure which one is the best choice...
*Huh?  Ah... [Name]!   Wow, talk about the right place at the right time!
*I'm shopping for beauty products and stuff to help me train.
*But I'm having a really hard time figuring out which to get.
*Now that you're here, what do you think I should get?
[Options]
A --Facial Massage Product
B --EMS Machine (EMS stands for Electric Muscle Stimulator.  It is used to work out your muscles)
C --Parfait

A(+1)
Oh, I guess you're right.  But how do you use it?  Wow!  Some sort of foam came out of it!
*I... I've never used something like this before.
*Hey, would you do me a favour and help me pick out more stuff?

B(+1)
*Whoa!  It says anyone can build up their muscles just by putting this on their body!
*Just put these on your abs and before you know it you're ripped.
*Well, it sure sounds pretty good.
*Your advice is really helpful!
*Hey, would you do me a favour and help me pick out more stuff?

C
*Oh yeah, Parfaits!
*I saw some really delicious looking ones in a shop earlier...
*Hold on!  This isn't the time for that.  I'm trying to buy beauty products to help me to look more attractive!
*But then... I guess something that looks delicious is a beautiful product of sorts, in a way.
*Hey you.  Do you have some time to spare?  Would you please help me choose what to buy while I shop?

*Alright!  The shopping was successfully completed!
*I mean, I'm really sorry you had to waste so much time helping me.
*But you really saved me!  I'm so grateful.
[Options]
A --You're welcome
B --It was nice to team up together

A or B (Same)
*Someday I'll really have to thank you properly.
*And when I do I'll be even more beautiful thanks to the stuff we bought today!
*Well anyway, you should probably be going home now.

Scene 04
*[Name], over here!

*Sorry to just suddenly invite you here.

*Actually, I got these movie tickets free from work.

*I wanted to thank you for before... I wasn't sure but I thought maybe we could go see a movie together.

*Do you like movies?

[Options]

A --I don't watch them

B --I really quite like them

C --Anything but horror

A

*Oh, is that right?  But I really wanted to see this one.  It's the new action film everyone's been talking about.

*I bet you'll really enjoy this one, [Name]!  Let's go!

B(+1)

They're great, right?  This one is a recent popular action movie.  Let's go!

C

*Really?  You don't like those?  Actually... I'm not really good with those either.

*But this one is just a recent action movie I've been wanting to see.

*I bet you'll really enjoy this one, [Name]!  Let's go!

*So good... That was great!

*Especially the hero's sidekick.  That actress was great, wasn't she?!

*The action was exciting and super hot!

*I would love to be an action film actress too!  What do you think, [Name]?

[Options]

A --You'd be perfect

B --Can you do action?

C --You're not sexy enough for that

A(+2)

*Really?!

*...But, before all that I will still need to work hard on my modelling.

B

*Well... I'm not really sure.

*I mean is being a model really suitable for action films? Ahahaha

C

*Oh yeah, that actress in the movie was super sexy.

*I mean, I guess before I start thinking about all that I need to work hard on my modelling.

*Alright, I have to do my best and train hard from now on!

Scene 05 
*Sorry to be such a bother.  Thanks for meeting me here.

*Actually, my next modelling shoot is having me wear a maid uniform.

*I thought coming here would be good research.

*But... Coming here all by myself would be kinda hard...

*Well, you sure are a life saver.

[Options]

A --Do you like maid costumes?

B --Did you want sweets?

C --I'll have a cup of coffee

A

*Hm... Well, I guess.

*I mean, I don't dislike them but I don't think they're great or anything either.

B

*This is research for modelling!

*But, I guess... it would be rude not to order something now that I'm here.

C

*Whoa you started ordering right away!

*Do you... come here a lot?..

*Wow... These maids are amazing.  Their smiles and kindness really moved me.

*I guess maids work really hard while making it look effortless.  I'm not really sure I'll be able to portray one accurately...

[Options]

A --Let's study more

B --I'm sure you'll be moe (If you are unfamiliar with the slang term 'moe' you can read about it here)

A(+2)
*Yeah, good idea.

*That's why I like you so much.

*Ok, I'm going to try even harder!

B(+3)
*Really?!  Do you really think I could be a maid who's truly moe?

*I'll have to work really hard so everyone else will think so too!

*You know, I feel like I figured something out!

*When it's time to do my next photo shoot, I think I'll finally be able to do a decent job now.

*Ahaha.  Thanks for helping me out, [Name].

Scene 06 [Coming Soon]

Persona OA Chat Log Translations: Morgana

     This is a (incomplete) basic translation for the chat logs with each character in the Persona OA app.  English speaking users can use it to better understand the conversations in the app and make better choices when the characters ask questions.  As there is a lot of dialogue I have separated each character's interactions into a separate post.  Also, this does not include post-dungeon interactions in your room where you decide what stat boosting item to use or the intro/tutorial for the game.

     Please bear in mind, the translations may be off a bit but they should give you an idea of what is being said.   I took some creative liberty to make the translations sound more natural rather than making them direct word for word translations.

** (+1) (+2) (+3) Means this is how many music notes this response gives.

     I have not gone all of the way through the game yet so I don't have every character dialogue unlocked yet.  As I unlock more I will add the new translations.

[Dialogue links soon to come]
Akira/Ren
Morgana
Ann
Ryuji
Yusuke
Makoto
Futaba
Haru
Akechi
Confidants (Sojiro, etc)

Morgana

Note for Mona Dialogue: Mona often uses the word Wagahai to refer to himself.  This is a very arrogant/pretentious way of saying "I".  This doesn't really translate to English very well but it is an important part of the character's speech.

Scene 01
*Hey, you're the newcomer, right?  Joker was just telling me all about you.
[Options]
A --Who are you?
B --A talking cat...?
C -- Yeah Mona

A or B or C (Same outcome)
*That's pretty rude.  I am [Morgana] a member of the great Phantom Thieves!

*Hey you, you can use Persona right?
*Because I said I'd cooperate, I'll be your teacher, and share my knowledge of how to become a Phantom Thief.
[Options]
A --Is that right?
B -- It sure seems that way.
C --I think I understand.

A or B or C (Same outcome)
*Hm, I dunno... Is this really the right person?  Just in case, can you confirm your name?
[After Entering your name]
*Say what, it really is you after all?  Ok [Name], let's start exploring!
[Options]
A --Where?
B --Exploring?

A or B (Same outcome)
*It's called Mementos.  It's the place you'll be exploring from today on.
*I'll explain the details later.  Come on!

Scene 02
*Today I'll teach you what you need to know to be a Phantom Thief.

*First of all, I'll explain the most important thing for a Phantom Thief to have!  You wouldn't want to start without knowing this one, right?

*The most important thing for a Phantom Thief is--... [Name], What do you think it is?

[Options}

A --A disguise

B --Gun skills?

C --Being a thief is bad

A

*Yeah, I guess that's important too.  You couldn't be a very good thief if people knew your true identity, after all.

*However, there is more than that to being a Phantom Thief.  Which is...

B (+1)

*I guess that is pretty important.  However, that's not it.

*Before handing a weapon, there is something much more important you need.

*And that is...

C

*It seems you know your stuff.  That is very true...

*Yep, being a thief is definitely a bad idea...!

*Well, I guess that's all for today.  I'll just be on my way now.

*...What?  That's it.  I said we're all done here...!

*Fine, if you're finally ready to take this seriously.  The most important thing about being a Phantom Thief is...

*It's having conviction!

*What we're stealing is a target's distorted heart.

*By eliminating the distortion, we can force the target to have a change of heart.

*A person without conviction can never change the hearts of others.

*So to be a Phantom Thief...  Conviction is the most important thing.

[Options]

A --Cool

B --That's pretty complicated

C --Moving on, I'm super hungry.

A(+2)

*Nyafufufufu...I guess it is pretty cool, huh [Name]?

B

*Well, I'm sure you'll understand soon enough.

C

*You're making me really nervous about all this, you know...

*But, now that you mention it, I guess I'm getting pretty hungry too...

*Well, anyway, don't worry.  I'm going to teach you everything you need to know.

Scene 03

*[Name], I already explained that conviction is the most important thing for a Phantom Thief to have.
*But that's not all.  Today I'll tell you what else you need to be a Phantom Thief.
*The Phantom Thieves are always on the side of the weak.
*Help the weak and punish those who oppress them (Direct translation: Help the weak, punish the strong)
*Today you'll practice doing this as a Phantom Thief.
*In other words, you'll be helping people.  After helping them out you'll disappear without ever revealing your true identity...
*How about it, [Name]?  Think you can pull it off?
[Options]
A --It depends
B --Seems hard
C --Let's change into our Phantom Thief disguises

A
*Well, that's true but... Couldn't you at least try?

B
*Be more confident.  You're going to help a lot of people, right?
*Don't worry.  This is your chance to do some good, so get out there.

C
*Uh, this is the real world.  We can't do that here.
*If you don't take this seriously you're going to cause me a lot of trouble, you know.

*For now just see if you can find anyone who's in trouble.
*Hm... Who to choose...
*Oh!  Hey look over there!  Do you see someone who looks like they're in trouble?
*It looks like there are some tourists from a foreign country over there.  Quick, this is your chance, [Name].  Let's go help them out!
[Options]
A --I can't speak English
B --I think I'm going to throw up (Direct translation is spit, but I'm guessing they mean throw up)
C --I-- can I... help you

A(+1)
*That's fine!
*It's all about feeling.  That's what Ann told me.  Come on, [Name], give it a try!

B
*Hey, it's alright to be scared!  I'm here to back you up in case of an emergency.  Come on!

C
*Why are you saying that to me?  You're way too nervous!
*It's alright.  I'm here to back you up in case of an emergency.  Come on!

*You did it, [Name]!  It looks like you really helped out that tourist.  They seemed pleased!
*You did well today.  I'm so proud.
*Were you able to understand a little about what it means to be a Phantom Thief?
*Let's do our best from now on!

Scene 04
*[Name], today I'll teach you how to be stealthy like a proper Phantom Thief.
*First off, to avoid being noticed you need to walk quietly.
*If you can't do that you won't be a very good Phantom Thief.
*Creeping about silently.  This is how we successfully steal treasures.
*This is the secret to being a great Phantom Thief!  What do you think?  Are you impressed?
[Options]
A --Wow!
B --Can you do it, Morgana?
C --Not really

A(+3)
*Right?
*However, if you can stay calm, you'll be able to do it too.
*You know, it's still possible for you to catch up with the rest of us!

B
*Wow, that's a pretty stupid question...
*Creeping around is what I've done my whole life, don't you get it?

C
*Great... you're so dry...
*You'll soon understand our greatness!  Get ready, [Name].

*Let's move on to the next thing!
*The next special skill you'll need is...  Being fast!
*I don't just mean walking quickly.  It is also important for a Phantom Thief to be able to ambush an enemy which requires speed.
*Ninja stealthiness...  Do you know how to train for that?
[Options]
A --Running?
B --Watch ninja films?
C --I don't have a clue!

A(+1)
*That is the correct answer!  But just running normally won't do.
*You have to run without making any noise.  Come on, we'll do it together!

B
*You think you could figure it out just by watching movies?
*Movies may help but today we are going to do special training by actually moving our bodies.
*Is this alright with you?  We need to run without making any noise.  Come on, we'll do it together!

C
*You don't have to say it so confidently!
*Is this alright with you?  We need to run without making any noise.  Come on, we'll do it together!

*Yeah.  You're really getting it now, right?
*Your so lucky!  Not everyone is fortunate enough to be taught by a pro like me.
[Options]
A --I learnt a lot! (Direct translation is 'Good Study')
B --Let's run more
C --I'm hungry now

A(+3)
*Nyafufufu...  If you keep that up you're going to embarrass me.

B(+2)
*Whoa, you're really motivated.
*I think we've done enough running for today.  You don't want to push your body too hard, right?

C
*If you move more, you burn more calories and get hungry...  That's just how the body works.

*Alright, lets go home and rest for the day.
*[Name], keep working hard from now on!


Scene 05
*You're really starting to seem like a real Phantom Thief, [Name]!
*Let's do our best again today.
*Now that you've mastered being covert you're ready to learn how to search for enemies...!
*Learn enemy positions and situations...  This is an important skill for any Phantom Thief to learn.
*We can't always rely on navigation support from Futaba.
*Ok, let's start training.
*I'm going to hide somewhere in this park.  You are going to have to find me within the time limit.
[Options]
A --Easy
B --What do you mean 'Search for enemies'?
C --Hide and Seek...

A
*Don't get cocky.

B
*You--, weren't you paying attention to anything I just said...?!
*When we start I'll be hiding, so your job will be to search for me.

C
*Wrong!  This is serious Phantom Thief training!  Don't let your guard down.

*We will be alternating between chasing and hiding.  Make sure you don't make a sound, ok?
*Well, let's get started!
*Whoa, you found me in no time!
*That makes 5 wins and 5 losses...  I guess that makes today's training a draw.
*Not too shabby, don't you think?  Not bad for the first time.
*You have a real knack for this, [Name].
[Options]
A --I'm just a good student
B --I can't even move anymore

A(+3)
*It seems like this training is really helping you.
*I look forward to watching you grow!

B
*Well, I did my best today so it was probably pretty hard for you.

*There's still a lot more skills I need to teach you.
*Let's keep doing our best moving forward.
[Options]
A --Leave it to me
B --Easy as Pie (Direct translation: Asameshimae which literally means Before Breakfast.  However this is an idiom and is not to be taken literally)
C --Can we take a taxi home?

A(+2)
*That's a pretty confident reply... I gotta say, I'm moved...
*I think you'll be a great addition to the Phantom Thieves!

B(+1)
*That's a pretty confident reply... I gotta say, I'm moved...
*I think you'll be a great addition to the Phantom Thieves!

C
*Isn't that super expensive, [Name]?  If you're that rich we should get sushi...
*You really shouldn't be wasting money.
*As part of your special training we should walk home.  (NOTE:  This is roughly a 3 hour walk according to Google Maps)

*By the way, you seem to have the basics down.  It may be time to teach you some more challenging skills soon.
*Well, do you want to know what skills you'll be training for next?
*Nyafufufu...  Let's just say it's something really special so you should be looking forward to it!

Scene 06 [Coming Soon]
*

Persona OA Battle Tips

     If you haven't read my tutorial on how to play Persona OA without knowing Japanese then please check it out here first.

     If you are struggling with the dungeons (Palaces, Mementos) then this might help.  Have you worked your way through a dungeon several times and can't seem to complete it?  When you tap on it in the map does it say Boss, even though you've fought it several times?  You may need to read the feedback from your team mate to determine what changes to make to beat that dungeon. Not sure how to?

Let Me Explain!

     When you exit a dungeon and scroll down through all that amazing loot you picked up during exploration, you may notice you have a little word bubble at the bottom from whatever companion went in with you.  If there is anything mentioned in brackets then they are telling you that a change needs to happen for you to defeat the boss or further explore the dungeon.  Take note of whatever the kana looks like if you can't read it.  It will correlate with either a stat on your player stat list (The star you can access from the map screen in the top right corner) or a stat on your persona.

     If it's a persona stat it can easily be fixed by simply switching to a persona that has a higher level in that particular stat.  In the image to the right you can see that Ryuji mentioned we needed greater Strength to progress further.  If you look at your Persona stats you can see it is the top stat listed.  Just scroll through until you find the one with a high strength stat and choose it for the battle.

     If you need to increase a player stat it could take longer.  This is doubly true if you can't read the dialogue because it means you wont know what books or games or movies or magazines or what not you are reading/watching/playing and thus wont know what stat they are going to increase.  Though even if you can read the text sometimes it isn't obvious which stat that is going to improve.  In this case you may just want to keep an eye on that stat and play a different dungeon until then.

     You can see an example of what 'm talking about in the graphic to the left.  If it's too small to see you can simply tap the image to enlarge it.

     This should help you get a better edge at beating a dungeon.  As you play and open more dungeons you will also open up different difficulties for past dungeons.  Each dungeon shows you the level you should be to play them so keep that in mind.  This isn't just your player level, you should try to keep this in mind with the persona and companion you choose to take with you as well

     Another issue you mat have is that your companions aren't levelling or that you have stopped getting post dungeon interactions with them.  In the companion selection screen where you choose your persona and team mate to explore with, look under your chosen character.  If their level bar is locked then you can not level them up until you improve a particular stat.

     On the right you can see what this will look like.  Under the bar it will tell you what stat you need to improve to continue levelling this character.  Again, you do not need to be able to read this in order to know what it means.  You can simply match the stats up to the text.  In the image to the left it says I need Knowledge of 4 or more.  You can see the number value is 4.  Before the number it will list the stat.  Simply match that to the player stats star and when that symbol reaches rank 4, you're good to go (Or whatever stat needs to be whatever level for the character you are stuck on).  Until your stat is high enough, focus on levelling other characters instead. Just like in the Persona 5 game.  If you aren't a high enough rank to hang out with that character there is no point wasting a day hanging out with them.

     For me, Ryuji hit the lock really fast because I explored with him almost exclusively.  What can I say, Ryuji is best boy.

     I hope this helps you guys get further in the game!  Let me know if there's anything else I can elaborate on.

How To Play Persona O.A.

Persona O.A.
     This is a great app for any fan of Persona games (Which are usually played via playstation).  This is doubly true for fans of Persona 5.  Persona O.A, is a Persona 5 game in the form of an app.  You play as yourself, but you wield multiple Persona and meet up with the members of the Phantom Thieves, travelling through Mementos and special event Palaces to steal hearts and gain levels.

     A lot of people complain because the application is Japanese only.  Though knowing Japanese certainly makes the game play easier and more enjoyable, English speaking users can still play the app so long as they know what to do.  I've decided to make a tutorial on how to play this app for those who can't read Japanese.  This will cover the basic functions of the app.  There is a great deal of dialogue in the story cut scenes that will not be covered here.  To view translations for those go here.

     Upon loading the app for the first time you'll be guided through the game elements and account set up by Sae Niijima.  I have created some graphics to take you through the account setup.  Click them to expand the images to a larger size if you find them difficult to read.

     Above you can see how to set up your new account.  If you have an existing account and know your user code, you can enter it in through the data transfer method.  Below you can see how to enter your name into the next section.

     Once you are able to start playing you will always start the app on the main home screen.  The home screen character and background changes every time you reload it.  It pulls from various characters in Persona 5 like the main characters and confidants.  They will have a quote under them as well but this isn't really important.  It is just a fun element of the game, so don't worry about not being able to read it.  The things you need to know on this page can be seen in the graphic below.

     I wouldn't worry too much about the Calendar, Twitter or P5A buttons.  If you want to watch the P5A with subtitles you can do so at Crunchy Roll.  The calendar will talk about upcoming events but it is all in Japanese, so unless you want to translate it don't worry about it.  The events will notify you when you start the app up if they are happening anyway.  The calendar is just to set up notifications for future events.

     The news also covers the more recent events, just like the calendar but again, it's in Japanese.  Just keep an eye on the dates so you know when something new is happening.

     The Event button shows you all the events (dialogues) in the game with the various characters.  You can see which you are missing and replay the ones you have already unlocked.

     You will start with some free PP (Persona Points).  You can spend these on the Persona Gacha which gives you a random Persona or skill card.  You can also spend your points on Persona wallpapers for your phone.  To use the Gacha, visit the Velvet Room at the bottom left.  To buy wallpapers, tap the More Options button on the top left.  You can see this screen below.

     The above graphic gives you a basic run down of the options here.  The only important ones are the Take The Day (I may have mistranslated this) option which gives you your data transfer code, and the Persona Point option.

     If you tap the Persona Points button you will be taken to the screen on the left of this text.  At the top left you have the Back button, the top right is your total PP.  You can scan QR codes with the top option or use the second option to type in codes.  The codes are obtained by purchasing official Persona products or from various magazines which release new codes every issue.  These magazines include PASH, Anime Japan, and several others.  A full list can be found on the official site.  If anyone gets access to the codes in these magazines and would like to share them, please leave a comment on this post.

     The bottom option is where you can spend your existing PP on special wallpapers.  The wallpapers cost quite a bit but when you purchase one you have options on what dimensions you would like to save the file as.  You will also unlock more wallpapers as you progress through the various dungeons.  Special seasonal events will allow you to unlock event exclusive wallpapers as well.  To be honest you can probably find any of these wallpapers online for free though.  Don't be like me and waste your PP on the wallpapers.

     If you access the Velvet Room through the home screen you will need to know what the various options given there are.  You can see the translations on the graphic below.

     You get your personas by playing the gacha.  There are more than one available usually.  Different gachas cost different amounts and give you access to different levels of persona.  There are also special event gachas that appear sometimes.

     The top gacha on the screen to the left is a special gacha.  It costs more (300PP for one draw) but you can get really amazing persona from it.  I got Futaba's persona on my first play.  However, all of the gacha only give you a chance at a persona.  You can alternatively get a skill card instead.  It's random so you never know if you'll get something good or not.

     If you do get a skill card you can use it on a persona by clicking the Skill Mastery button.  Skill cards have the skill type printed on as an image.  You can only use certain skill types on certain persona.  This is easy enough to figure out though.  If you look at your persona in Skill Mastery mode, at the bottom it shows what types of skills they can learn (And which they already have).  Below you can see the bottom skill area of a persona.  Below that is what a skill card option looks like in the skill select screen.  Clicking the cards image on the right of the skills will take you to your available skill cards so you can select one.  Once a card is used, it disappears.  Choose wisely.

     The compendiums are a way to see what personas and items you have gathered.  Looking at a Persona Compendium is a good way to see how strong it is.  You can also view the level that the personas you have are and how rare they are (More stars mean rarer persona).  I will show you what the stat translations are below.

Strength:
Magic:
Endurance:
Agility:
Luck:

     Those are what the stat options on the bottom left side say, in that order.  As you can see this persona has a lot of Luck but very little Strength.  Different dungeons are easier with different types of persona.  So it is good to collect a good range of persona with various stats and abilities.

     In order to level up your persona you;ll have to explore the dungeon areas such as Mementos and the special event Palaces.  Also please forgive the fact that I wrote Momentos instead of Mementos in all of my graphics.

     When you go to Mementos from the home screen you can choose which dungeon to explore.  More will unlock as you progress through the game and special Event Palaces will appear near the top of the list.  Each dungeon has a different difficulty level and recommended level written on it.  So choose the ones that will work best for you at the level that you are.  If you are unsure about what level you currently are, or what your personal stats are you can tap the button in the top right corner during dungeon selection.  It will take you to the screen to the left (You can change your name here if you want as well).

From the top, clockwise: Knowledge, Courage, Dexterity, Kindness, Charm

     After selecting a dungeon you get to choose one persona to take with you and one companion.  You can only choose from the characters you have met thus far.  You start with Morgana, then you meet Ann, then Ryuji, and so on.  The more dungeons you explore, the more characters you'll meet.

     Your persona, companion and yourself each will gain experience and levels when you are exploring a dungeon.  Below you can see what it looks like while you are exploring.

     This part of the game just requires you to wait.  You can exit the dungeon at any time by clicking the Finish Exploration button in the bottom left.  However, it is best to wait for the Investigation bar to fill up or the Security to be at 100 percent.  Because when either of these gauges fill, you will no longer be gaining items or experience. (UPDATE: Check out how to beat dungeons you get stuck on here)

     The game does not need to be open for exploration to commence.  If you want to play other parts of the app just click the Back button from this screen.  If you want to close the app, you can do that as well.  The exploration will continue until either security or investigation maxes.  Then you'll have to come back and tell it to finish so you can go to another dungeon.  If your security bar maxes before exploration does, don't worry.  You can always come back and continue to explore later.

     To the right you can see what it looks like when you complete an exploration.  You, your persona, and your companion rank ups are displayed as well as how close they are to get another level.  Scrolling down shows what items you found and how much PP you earned.

     After exploration you may trigger some dialogue with whatever companion you took with you into the dungeon.  If you can't read the dialogue you have two options.  Either you can click through it and guess at any dialogue options it gives you to choose, or you can use a translation app to help you translate the text.  Though these applications aren't always accurate.  You can see what I mean below.

     Like in the Persona 5 game, different options will have an effect on the affection of the character.  You'll get little music note animations if you choose the option that makes the character happy.  You will also be able to use items you found on your exploration, such as books, magazines, DVDs, etc.  An option to watch/read them will appear when you get home after your time spent with your chosen companion.  Depending on what you read or watch, you can boost different stats.  Boosted stats will help level companions as well as help you defeat certain dungeon bosses.

     After this you can go explore another (or the same) area.  This is pretty much the whole game.  If there is anything I missed that you want explained or elaborated on, just let me know.  I hope you enjoy playing this really cute Persona app game!

• Free
• Seller: Aniplex Inc
• Category: Entertainment
• Size: 113 MB
• Languages: Japanese
• Copyright: ©ATLUS ©SEGA All rights reserved.　©ATLUS ©SEGA/PERSONA5 the Animation Project

You must be at least 17 years old to download this app. Gambling and Contests

Easy JP

Easy JP App for iPhone
     Have you ever wanted to learn a little basic conversational Japanese?  Just can't seem to take the time to read the books or take a course?  Love those Japanese cartoon characters?  Well, you might want to try out this application then.
     You will have the opportunity to chat with three different female student characters.  I have provided screen captures of each of them for this review.
     The character will provide a speak bubble with the Kana (Japanese characters).  Above the Kana is the Romanji (roman characters allowing you to read the character phonetically).  This will help you with pronunciation   If you aren't quite sure, even with the Romanji, you may click the "Play Voice" key at the bottom center of the page.
     You also get the translation of this phrase in a bubble near the character.  it will be translated to simple English.  You will get another bubble, in addition to the translation bubble.  This one provides any notes such as when to use this phrase and so on.
     Think you have that phrase down?  Click the next button to move on to the next phrase.  You can also go back at any time by clicking the "prev" button.
     You may notice a "help" button at the top left.  This basically just informs you of the button functions, as I just have.
     You may get tired of learning the same 10 phrases over and over again.  If you feel you've mastered the available phrases, you can purchase additional phrases for 99 cents by clicking the "buy" button at the top right.  You will then be provided phrases 11-40.  I'd say 40 phrases of a new language is pretty fair for the price.
     It's a simple application.  Easy to navigate and easy to use.  The phrases are all very basic and could be very useful if visiting a new country.  The characters are standard Japanese school girl cartoons.  But you don't need to like cartoons to find this application useful.
     I really think this is a good application for someone learning Japanese for the first time.  The bright colours and cute character voices will also make this app appeal to a younger audience.  Learning a new language while you're young is always a step in the right direction.
Rating: 4.5/5

• Free
• Category: Education
• Released: Feb 17, 2012
• Version: 1.0
• Size: 17.7 MB
• Language: English
• Seller: Daidai Inc.
• © Daidai Inc.

Rated 4+

Japanese Pickup Lines

Japanese Pickup Lines for iPhone
     Are you spending the holiday alone?  You still have time to find a special someone to spend the end of the year with!  Don't give up!  Impress her with your vast knowledge of Japanese pickup lines!... What?  You don't know any Japanese pickup lines?... Well, then this is the application for you.
     Keep in mind that this application is full of "Pickup lines"... Pickup lines are terrible things you can say to someone you are attracted to that will almost gaurantee that they will never again want to speak to you.  However, if they are drunk enough, or you are cute enough, or they don't speak Japanese (So they don't know what you're saying), you might just have a chance!
     Many of these lines are useful for both males and females to use.  When you shake the device it will provide you with one pickup line.  The audio will play to show you how the phrase is said.  It will display both the Romanji and the English for the phrase.  The issue is, it does this very quickly.  Far too quickly for someone to truly memorize the phrase (Especially the longer ones).  So you may want to keep shaking and go through these a few times before trying to use them.
     Also, there are no options.  The entire application is controlled by you simply shaking it to get a new random pickup line.  There is no audio option, information option, review option...  These are all things that would have been useful for such an application.
     Below are some samples of pickup lines that this application provides.
 

     Used correctly, some of these phrases may gain you the upper hand.  Used incorrectly, they may gain you a slap to the face.  Try not to lead with "Can I take you home?".

     This is an interesting application.  It provides several funny phrases.  I do like that they have audio to help with the speech aspect, though I would like the option to turn it off or repeat it.  I don't like that there are absolutely no options at all, actually.  And because of that, this wont get a great score at the end of the day.  But the app is clean and to the point.  Easy to use, displays a good variety of phrases.  I think anyone wanting to know how to try picking up a girl (Or guy) in Japanese might find this helpful.  Or, if nothing else, humourous.

Rating: 2.5/5

• Free
• Category: Education
• Released: Sep 24, 2009
• Version: 1.5
• Size: 2.1 MB
• Language: English
• Seller: Adan Vielma
• © 2009 LOLriffic Travel Language Tutors

Rated 12+ for the following:

• Infrequent/Mild Mature/Suggestive Themes
• Infrequent/Mild Sexual Content or Nudity
• Infrequent/Mild Profanity or Crude Humor
• Infrequent/Mild Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use or References

Dr. Moku's Hiragana Mnemonics LITE

Dr. Moku's Hiragana App for iPhone
     Having trouble reading Japanese?  Learning a new language is easy, as far as speaking.  But many times it's difficult to learn to 'read' a new language.  Especially if the characters used are not ones you are familiar with.  Hiragana is one of the 3 forms of Japanese writing (Also, Katakana and Kanji).  This application will help you memorize the various Hiragana characters!  It really works too!
     There are two features for this application.  You can study the characters, or take the quiz (There is also a "how to use" area).  Though there are many characters available in this free application, it does not provide tricks for learning all of the characters unless you upgrade (For a fee).  Fortunately I have found that (Because all the characters are in the quizzes) you can use the same method to create your own way of remembering the Hiragana not provided tricks for in the free version.
     So let's look at the tricks and Hiragana they provide...  You can view the characters manually or automatically.  Auto play will show the character and play the audio.  Manual will allow you do sort through them at your own pace.
     On the left you can see how they get you to remember the character.  This is actually an old trick I learned back in the 90s from a free Japanese class they provided in Georgia at the time.  You use the character to draw a 'picture' of something that makes the same sound as the character itself.
     The one on the left is "u" (oo).  So they drew it as a "Dude with the food".  This will help you remember the character's sound.
     The character's provided in the free version are U, E, O, Ku, Shi, So, Na, Ni, Hi, Fu, Ra, Ma, Mu, Ya, Wa.
     Clicking the audio icon in the top right corner will play the sound so you know you are pronouncing it correctly.
     Once you feel like you have a good handle on the characters, try the quiz.  You can do either Easy (10 questions), Hard (20 questions) or Master (All characters).  Now when I say "All" I mean, even the ones not provided samples for in the free version.  Not just "all" the free ones.
     One at a time it will give you a character and 4 choices.  Click the one you believe matches the character they show.  They will let you know if you got it right or wrong.  If wrong,it will show you the correct answer briefly, before moving on to the next character.  At the end it will let you know how many you got right.
     No matter how many you get right, Dr. Moku will say "Not Bad".  He'll assure you that you are doing well, and tell you that you need more practice.  However, if you get all of them correct he will be overjoyed!  He'll tell you that you did "Perfect" and let you know that you did well.  Below are screen shots of both of these.

     Some of the tricks I used for characters not given tricks for.  Ho as a farmer holding his garden hoe. He is an arrow pointing up like the symbol for a man (AKA "He").  N looks like a fancy letter N.  There are more, but I'll make you figure out your own tricks for memorizing the characters.

     One problem I did find is that when you start a new quiz, sometimes it will quit out of the quiz and go back to the menu for no reason.  This can be annoying.  So this application wont get a perfect score.  Otherwise I had no issues with this application.  It's cute, fun and useful.  It really is an effective way to learn to read Hiragana.

     If you want to learn more, they also have a Dr Moku application available for learning Katakana and one for Japanese Essentials.

Rating: 4.5/5

• Free
• Category: Education
• Updated: Aug 18, 2011
• Version: 1.05
• Size: 24.0 MB
• Language: English
• Seller: Bob Byrne
• © 2010 Bob Byrne

Rated 4+