Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable

1. MKAUS

   Oct 17, 2010

   10

   My favourite PSP game yet, coming on the tail of Metal Gear and Kingdom Hearts (both of which I loved) that is a big call. I cannot recommendMy favourite PSP game yet, coming on the tail of Metal Gear and Kingdom Hearts (both of which I loved) that is a big call. I cannot recommend this game enough to RPG fans there has been proper care taken to make this PSP version as addictive and fun as the PS2 releases without making it feel watered down, and in my opinion it is the best version of all three.… Expand

   • 7 of 10 users found this helpful
2. VidyaBum

   May 19, 2015

   10

   While the lack of control of your character in the world(you control a dot which you move around and click on people to talk to them) isWhile the lack of control of your character in the world(you control a dot which you move around and click on people to talk to them) is slightly killing the great atmosphere that P3FES had, everything else is roughly the same or slightly better. Much better gameplay(which is still simplistic crap), better overall control(easier to move from room to room, lots of user-friendly buttons), and the new female protagonist adds several new social links and makes the whole game enjoyable all over again, if you can deal with the awkwardness that comes with playing as a female who actually expresses her feminity at all times.
   
   That's for the PSP speciality version.
   
   But as a whole, Persona 3 on PS2 or PSP is just about the best JRPG I have played in my entire life. It goes in a list of "best games ever" with Super Metroid or Final Fantasy VI.
   
   The greatest success of this game is without a doubt its tone and atmosphere. Persona 3 is dark. I mean really dark. It's a story of human tragedy, loss, sadness, regret, heroism, teenage life in its best sense(the learning about life sense), deep personal problems with relationships or self-image, impending doom, abandonment, deadly sickness, social violence and of course, rejecting the very desire to live further.
   
   It's a game where the characters make the most deep part of the game, as each of them is very well designed, but they all really come together as a wonderfully cohesive world, none of them ever breaking the dark and realistic tone of the game, except President Tanaka, who is over-the-top to the max, but is as enjoyable as it gets.
   
   The tone is excellently served by everything in the game, the music, the visual art style(which is kinda sucky sometimes), the characters, the story, the themes, everything in this game just screams sadness, depth and a profound love for the less side of life and human society. By itself, the tone makes this one of the best games ever.
   
   But the characters are the second most awesome part of it. From the best (Mitsuru, Akinari Kamiki, Tanaka, Shinjiro Aragaki, Aigis, Ryoji) to the least interesting (Mamoru, Kenji), there isn't a single bad apple or even a mediocre one. The least deep or most one-note characters still feel like complete and well-rounded imitations of real-life people. The social links all provide a new insight in life from a different personality, and there is no part of the social link planning that I dislike simply because no matter how much of a hassle it is to plan for all of that, the whole game is such an enjoyment for me that I never dislike the idea of planning for hours if I have to. I want all the social links at every playthrough, and it's not because of a completion spirit, it's just that they all are so good that I want to miss none.
   
   With that said, the whole soundtrack has a few flunks. Some hip-hop and jpop mixes come off as really wierd for a non-japanese like me, even as poor taste at the start; But I warmed up to all the tunes except for one or two over time. The vast majority of the soundtrack is an amazing hit though, especially songs like Brand New Days or the inevitable Aria of the Soul, which needs to be listened to on Youtube at least once if you never heard it.
   
   Graphically, it's weak. It's a late PS2 title yet FFX looks quite a lot better. Atlus doesn't have the resources of bigger devs and it shows. It's still an honest effort and the visual novel style of just showing characters' top half and faces works wonders in conversations, but it's not that great to look at as a whole.
   
   Gameplay...
   Well that's certainly THE weak point of this game. The appeal of P3FES and P3P is entirely in its glorious cast, tone and story(which I would never spoil but every plot twist and every new development of the story is just excellent), and I'd love to say that the gameplay perfectly accompanies that, but I'd be lying.
   
   In the social links gameplay, you get 1-5 lines to say while the characters talk to you all the time. It's a little weak that you can never propose anything like choosing where to go out with someone or having more conversation options. It still does the job.
   
   It's the battle system that just sucks. 4 elementals, 2 Instant death elements, 3 types of physical attacks. It's weak. It wouldn't be so weak if it was only part of the gameplay system, but because of the weak+all out attack system, it becomes the main feature of every fight.
   
   In Persona, if you can strike an enemy with the type of attack it's weak to, it'll go into a "down" or "weak" state. If all the enemies are in such a state, you can launch a devastating all-out-attack. The problem is that about 80% of the enemies of the game have at least one elemental weakness. Logically, that means that about 80% of the fights are done WITH THE EXACT SAME TACTIC EVERY TIME. Grating is an understatement here, it's just outright boring as hell.
   
   The fights that don't use elemental weakness are also long and generally boring since the system is stiff.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
4. Sharfick46

   Jul 30, 2020

   10

   At least the best of the original game, yes, it has disadvantages, but still as a portable game, it is great

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
5. fsdu

   Oct 9, 2013

   9

   The most enjoyable way to play Persona 3. Although it doesn't have as much extra content as FES this is made up for by being a lovely port ofThe most enjoyable way to play Persona 3. Although it doesn't have as much extra content as FES this is made up for by being a lovely port of the original.
   
   For those unfamiliar with Persona on Shin Megami games this is the perfect place to start. While the first two games in the series are certainly playable 3 did everything right, blending dating sim and dungeon crawler in a way that neither are tedious.
   
   If you are the type that likes a more rounded ending though FES on ps2 is for you.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
6. Wingandwind

   Apr 18, 2020

   9

   This persona game is my favourite out of the persona series and honestly I think this is the best version of the game.
   
   The graphics wereThis persona game is my favourite out of the persona series and honestly I think this is the best version of the game.
   
   The graphics were honestly outdated even when the game was new, with square, clunky models that most games haven’t used since the 90’s. The soundtrack however is probably my favourite video game soundtrack with everything from bouncy pop to powerful emotional orchestra numbers.
   
   The battle system isn’t super complex and pretty clean, if you are familiar with Pokémon or other turn based battle you will pick it up very fast. It should be noted that it is a huge step up from the previous persona 2 and was a genuine and successful attempt to make the game better. However, it may come across as outdated to modern players. This version in particular has the option to play as a girl with different interaction, giving this version the best replay value.
   
   While the plot does have issues such as the game being so dark at times it is overbearing and villains that get very little development, is probably the best of the series with the strongest cast. Buy, rent, watch an LP, or skip? Buy if you can or beg Atlus to remake this game on a modern console.… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
7. Cafe_8bits

   Nov 14, 2019

   8

   Persona 3 is a great RPG by all means, and easy the best way to enter the Persona franchise. Its my favorite Persona game ever, but it hasPersona 3 is a great RPG by all means, and easy the best way to enter the Persona franchise. Its my favorite Persona game ever, but it has some issues and quality of life problems. Anyways, for me P3 is the most deep experience inside the franchise, and it talks about some heavy and dark themes, which we can correlate. (in some parts) The game dynamic´s about life and death is great, and this game was the kickoff for Atlus to reach out success as we know her now, with Persona 5 kicking the bucket, and Shin Megami Tensei 5 in the horizon.
   buuut... As i mentioned, P3 have some problems. The plot and overall theme is great, but the game play doesnt save the show. The dungeon crawling system is very repetitive, and many player will struggle to like Tartarus as a dungeon. But, i really like the melancholic and lonely feel that permeates this place´s atmosphere, and every time i hear its theme, i can´t do anything but remember my lonely spring nights playing it while i still was applying for my college admission exams.
   The point is: P3 its a great game, but its not perfect and aged kinda bad. But for me, this game have a tremendous amount of feelings involved. Either way, i have to be fair and give it a 7/10 for its problems. But don´t let it scare you away! Persona 3 its the best start possible for Persona, and even for SMT. I can´t recommend it enough.… Expand

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8. martizo

   Sep 26, 2020

   0

   the only reason for not give 10/10 is because in the final levels of the game, the repetitive gameplay is tiring, aside that, this game is athe only reason for not give 10/10 is because in the final levels of the game, the repetitive gameplay is tiring, aside that, this game is a art piece, is stand behind of the original ps2 but this port is not bad at all, for newcomers is the perfect entrance in j-rpg games. the story and in special the music is something you can remember in the instant you hearit don't matter how many years pass.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful

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