Thanks toPersona 5’s success during the last console generation, all eyes will be fixed on its inevitable successor. However, with news that the lastthree mainline games are coming to Game Pass next year, there’s more than enough opportunity to delve into its past before looking to the future.Persona 3is the first of those included, arriving on the service in its portable form initially intended for the PSP. It’s a game with a huge legacy, but a limited following, and players will want to experience all it has to offer.
Persona 3is different from itsShin Megami Tenseicousin in many ways, but provided a solid foundation for thePersonaseries to develop upon. Its predecessors are great, but there were significant growing pains before developer Atlus hit its stride.Persona 3is the result of its hard work, and as the franchise moves further into the mainstream, it does so wielding many of the lessons that were learned with the third main entry.Persona 3is 16 years old, but even in 2022 it might be worth a playthrough.
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What Persona 3 Does Right
It’s common for eachPersonagame to have a unique art style, color palette, and tone, andPersona 3stands out even among its successors. Its story feels like an even balance of creepy, tense, and gothic, while also wielding the same upbeat tone that is expected of the series. Yukari, Akihiko, and Junpei are great side characters, and the twists and turns that litter the main narrative are truly memorable.
Not dissimilar to other entries,Persona 3explores the supernatural, but does so in a way that feels the most grounded in reality.Persona 4has players enter the TV to do battle, andPersona 5jumps the shark by allowing thePhantom Thieves the ability to enter the mindsof the people whose hearts they’re trying to change. Tartarus manifesting during the Dark Hour is the most engaging plot device of the three, and the use of guns known as ‘Evokers’ to summon personas is incredibly stylish. For what all it does well,Persona 3is a great game, even by 2022’s standards.
Persona 4 Outdoes Persona 3
PlayingPersona 3as an isolated experience is fantastic given it introduces systems, mechanics, and story beats that feel new and innovative. The characters are charming and the world-building is fantastic, but when it’s viewed in comparison to its sequel, one is clearly better than the other.Persona 4improved upon its predecessor in many waysto refine the formula. Taking the fundamentals ofPersona 3and wrapping them in a more engaging story and a unique setting, the journey with Chie, Kanji, Teddie, and others was unforgettable to many. Some even feel it makes going back toPersona 3unneccessary.
Playing each of thePersonagames is a huge commitment given how long they can be, so if there’s only one that players have time to experience it’s not likely going to bePersona 3. It’s a game that has great historical value, but seeing asPersona 4 GoldenandPersona 5upped the ante in so many ways, it’s hard to jump from one to the other.Persona 4is a better game, but if time isn’t an issue it can be insightful to see the advancements it made over another solid game.
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The Many Faces of Persona 3
As was shown in the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase,Persona 3 Portablewill be making its way to Microsoft’s subscription service, notPersona 3 FES. The latter is seen as the definitive version of the game, not unlikePersona 4 GoldenorPersona 5 Royal, so this is a curious decision.
Persona 3 is a Fascinating History Lesson
Persona 3is worth going back to in 2022, but perhaps not for the reason many would expect. It’s outdone by its successors in both presentation and gameplay, and the future is brighter than ever given howsuccessfulPersona 5is proving to be. Yet, the experience ofPersona 3is more than functional despite being over a decade-and-a-half old. Its progression mechanics, character development, and engaging story do well to carry the few outdated quirks that are still evident, but unlike plenty of other games from the mid-2000s, it’s surprisingly engaging.
A playthrough ofPersona 3would be justified because of its influence on later games. So much of the groundwork that it laid can be seen even inPersona 5, and that game is proof that the loop still works wonders in drawing new fans. The randomly generated dungeon of Tartarus may not be as lavish as thepalaces ofPersona 5, but the way it fits into the game’s design is fantastic.Personafans should be champing at the bit to experience the third mainline game when it launches on Game Pass, as it’s where the franchise solidified much of its charm.
Persona 3 Portableis available on PS2 and PlayStation Portable, with PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S versions releasing in 2023.
