As somebody whose solely expertise with the Persona sequence lay with Persona 5, I dove into Persona 3 Moveable‘s PC re-release with one expectation: it is going to be previous and subsequently fairly unhealthy. Wanting again, was I naïve? Sure. And was I improper? I am delighted to report that I used to be catastrophically improper.
From what I’ve performed to date of Persona 3, I reckon it is properly price a whirl in the event you’re a newcomer, or a Persona 5 fan who’s involved {that a} sport from 2009 will not be all that good. Not solely does it stand by itself as a enjoyable highschool thriller with an alarmingly darkish undertone, it virtually acts as a enjoyable historical past lesson too.
Essentially the most shocking factor about Persona 3, to me not less than, is its parallels with Persona 5. For no matter motive, I assumed the sequence mirrored the likes of Remaining Fantasy, the place the universe is basically shared, however the video games are standalone of their themes and execution. Persona 3 is totally different in lots of respects, sure, and but it is structured so equally it’s kind of like taking part in an older, remixed model of Persona 5.
Persona 3’s setup is straight away acquainted to anybody who’s performed Persona 5, in that you are a excessive schooler who strikes to a brand new space and joins a brand new faculty. There may be, in fact, a darkish metaverse that is bled into the true world, inflicting folks to turn into – *checks notes* – coffins at midnight, or “Darkish Hour” as your folks name it. Common people are completely unaware of this occurring, and what’s even worse is that Shadows are feasting on the minds of these locked on this susceptible state. However it simply so occurs that you simply and your buddies are a uncommon breed who do not flip into coffins when the clock strikes 12. So, you band collectively to battle the Shadows in a gaggle known as SEES (Shadow Elimination Egg Sandwich).
The Shadows appear to reside on this mega-structure known as Tartarus. It is a massive procedurally generated dungeon that is positively a precursor to P5’s Mementos, together with your purpose being to ascend to the highest and crush Mrs. Mega Shadow. Exploration here’s a top-down-ish 3D affair, as you and your buddies push by corridors and encounter Shadows that’ll warp you to turn-based battle arenas. Once more, like P5, fight revolves round exploiting an enemy’s weak point to elongate your turns, and hopefully, knock the Shadowy bastards on their arses for these candy, candy All-Out assaults!
Whereas it may not be fairly as creative or flashy as P5’s turn-based fight, it is nonetheless a lot participating and can most definitely ramp up over the approaching hours, anyway. And it is enjoyable calling in your totally different personas and touchdown these oh-so satisfying vital hits. Whereas there is no bargaining with the demons you scrap, you are still capable of gather them by random card shuffles on the finish of sure fights. Yep, Igor and his Velvet Room are additionally there to splice totally different personas collectively too.
My favorite side of P5 lies in stuff exterior of fight, you realize, like hanging out in Shibuya or serving to clear your foster dad’s kitchen after he is had a busy day operating the native café. P3’s all about constructing these social hyperlinks too, as your bonds with mates could make all of the distinction in battle. In contrast to exploration in Tartarus, you may discover highschool and varied components of city by guiding a cursor throughout a static picture, or mentioning a menu and warping immediately to your goal. Which means the sport performs like a visible novel, besides that I reckon it is charming versus archaic, lending your interactions with superbly drawn buddies and backgrounds a chill really feel.
And even in the event you’re not a fan of visible novels, the energy of Persona’s characters will preserve you invested anyway. I imply, I might take a bullet for Yukari and Junpei having solely met them for just a few hours. One in all my solely gripes in the intervening time is the sport’s lack of steering. Sure, it is good at progressively introducing you to the standard: a day-by-day construction, a remarkably judgmental scholar physique, and stats like “Teachers” and “Guts” that may be upped by appropriately answering questions at school or collaborating in a burger-eating problem. Nonetheless, although, I’ve had moments the place I am a little bit misplaced as to how finest to spend my time (one thing P5 Royal nails) and the only issues like getting into Tartarus when Darkish Hour hits.
To this point, I am having a blast with Persona 3. It is maybe a bit extra stripped again than P5, which is simply pure given its age. However there’s nonetheless a improbable time available right here, as it’s totally a lot a historical past lesson in one in every of my favorite video games ever, due to its less complicated – however no much less attention-grabbing – takes on the demon-bashing and high-school stat-smashing I am keen on.
