Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable

 PSP
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 802 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 600 out of 802
  2. Mixed: 36 out of 802
  3. Negative: 166 out of 802
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  1. chess101
    Sep 2, 2010
    10
    THE PROS: great story line,solid game controls,graphics are great for a port both handheld and the composite cable on my 46" HD T.V look good,the game gives you a choice which affects the outcome of the story line, Long game play I have found some replayability in this game that can't be found in any other RPG,and the best con is if you decide to challenge levals that don't really provideTHE PROS: great story line,solid game controls,graphics are great for a port both handheld and the composite cable on my 46" HD T.V look good,the game gives you a choice which affects the outcome of the story line, Long game play I have found some replayability in this game that can't be found in any other RPG,and the best con is if you decide to challenge levals that don't really provide a challenge in order to rank up "death will be your challenge".
    THE CONS:you have to fight the same monsters over and over again (I do have to say this atleast the monsters do leval up which can surprise you and that I like)
    CONCLUSION: I love this game and it is the first one that I can"t seem to put down! (I have 56 games for my PSP GO) and this one has kept me playing at an addictive leval more than all the rest combined    … Expand
  2. tghm1801
    Mar 8, 2011
    10
    What can I say?
    Persona 3 Portable is a beast of a game, that is absolutely not to be missed.
    Joining the ranks of my other favourite PSP games (Birth by Sleep, Chains of Olympus, Peace Walker), Persona 3 Portable is an astonishing accomplishment in not only game design, but in scope and what can actually be done with the PSP. This game is huge - it contains two story campaigns (male and    What can I say?
    Persona 3 Portable is a beast of a game, that is absolutely not to be missed.
    Joining the ranks of my other favourite PSP games (Birth by Sleep, Chains of Olympus, Peace Walker), Persona 3 Portable is an astonishing accomplishment in not only game design, but in scope and what can actually be done with the PSP. This game is huge - it contains two story campaigns (male and female main character), both of which follow slightly different patterns with different options for friendship, romance, and other things. The gameplay is a hybrid between a relationship simulator, a tactical turn based strategy game, and exploration. The sections blend seamlessly into a fluid experience.
    The voice acting is usually brilliant, with a few exceptions here and there (I'm looking at YOU, Fuuka) and the art is outstanding. The music is also quite good, although it's a bit random and sometimes quite funny.
    Persona 3 Portable is a varied, fluid, exciting experience and is in my opinion and ESSENTIAL PSP game. Probably one of my favourite JRPGs of all time, and P3P has ensured that I always take my PSP with me when I leave the house (or am in bed!). Really, you cannot afford to miss this game. Buy it!    … Expand
  3. 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 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.
  4. Harouls
    Feb 12, 2011
    10
    Not only is this my favorite RPG of all time, this is my favorite game of all time.
    I'll try to put into words to the best of my abilities just how amazing this game is.
    One of the things that makes this game stand out in the RPG crowd is the phenomenal story. Without spoiling anything, I'll leave it at this; the story will make you reconsider why you live. Another amazing aspect of the    Not only is this my favorite RPG of all time, this is my favorite game of all time.
    I'll try to put into words to the best of my abilities just how amazing this game is.
    One of the things that makes this game stand out in the RPG crowd is the phenomenal story. Without spoiling anything, I'll leave it at this; the story will make you reconsider why you live.
    Another amazing aspect of the game is the turn based battle system. Not only are you now able to now control the allies in your party individually, but you can play through the game as a female character which opens up many new possibilities. My only gripe with this game is that it takes a while to really get into it but if you stick with it, you won't be sorry. Anyone who considers his or herself an RPG fan or simply a fan of gaming in general absolutely has to play through this game.    … Expand
  5. JRPG_fan
    Jan 25, 2011
    10
    one of my favourite JRPG and the best I have played on PSP, storyline is what I am after and this one delivers, big fan of the SMT series and for the moment they have only gotten better hope that cathrine will bring us some new surprises as well :)
  6. JRPGBen
    Jan 27, 2011
    10
    I think this is the best version of one of my favourite games, the option to play as a female main character and the changes to the combat make the game worth playing even if you've already played the PS2 versions.
  7. rossbr
    Jan 27, 2011
    10
    This was one of my favourite game on PS2. The PSP version is even better. The new campaign is great as are some of the new features. Definitely worth getting if you enjoyed the PS2 version.
  8. evanac
    Jan 27, 2011
    10
    This game is really awesome, even more so than the PS2 original and definitely the best SMT game so far IMO.

    Really fantastic - I am a late convert to Shin Megami Tensei (first game I played was Lucifer's Call/Nocturne) but this game ROCKS!
  9. ehlo
    Jan 29, 2011
    10
    This game is highly recommended for any fans of RPGs. I loved the original Persona 3 and so being able to play it on the go using my PSP is an absolute pleasure - but even better than that, rather than just port the game and be done with it they have added brand new content as well. The ability to now play as a female character adds a refreshing change of perspective so that it almostThis game is highly recommended for any fans of RPGs. I loved the original Persona 3 and so being able to play it on the go using my PSP is an absolute pleasure - but even better than that, rather than just port the game and be done with it they have added brand new content as well. The ability to now play as a female character adds a refreshing change of perspective so that it almost feels like playing a new game; add to that the tweaks that have been made to combat (for example allowing you to control all the characters in your party by turning off the AI) and the result is one of the best RPGs ever made and one of the best games to ever grace the PSP. If you love RPGs you won't be disappointed!… Expand
  10. seieko_pherdo
    Dec 2, 2011
    10
    Well it's Persona 2 AGAIN and this being the 3rd time it's graced the world with it's presence. Due to limitations and what not the game now adopts somewhat of a visual novel feel to it. As a person who has played the hell out of Persona 3:FES it's interesting to see the little changes. For one the battle system has adopted the Persona 4 style including the ability to command yourWell it's Persona 2 AGAIN and this being the 3rd time it's graced the world with it's presence. Due to limitations and what not the game now adopts somewhat of a visual novel feel to it. As a person who has played the hell out of Persona 3:FES it's interesting to see the little changes. For one the battle system has adopted the Persona 4 style including the ability to command your teammates because let's face it their not the smartest people in the world. It's easier to raise your social sats and earn money this time around. And the skill card system is a welcome addition. Now the people who get this are more than likely the have played a previous version of this game and like before the social links and japanese student life simulation is surprisingly entertaining as ever. And even after all this time the really emotional part still punch jut as hard even when you've seen them about 4-5 times before. But the best for me is the effort into the female portion of the game. And it isn't just for females and if you can handle the idea of playing as a girl there are lots of interesting things to be found, though the social links are divided oddly and the male can no longer use all but two weapons. The girl side may be better as it explains your teammates better and the emotions displayed by the female are nicely varied. So in short the game is a vast improvement on a already awesome game and it makes me look forward to Persona 5 a lot more considering the vast potential the female side has.… Expand
  11. AttackZach
    Oct 8, 2011
    10
    Persona 3 has been one of the most influential JRPG's of our time, successfully rebooting Atlus's most promising franchise. Since then, it's spawned an anime, a sequel, an expansion, and a whole legion of fans. Now, the expansive game spawning at least seventy hours, has brought itself over to the PSP. But it's not just a simple port, no, P3P brings an entirely new scenario where you playPersona 3 has been one of the most influential JRPG's of our time, successfully rebooting Atlus's most promising franchise. Since then, it's spawned an anime, a sequel, an expansion, and a whole legion of fans. Now, the expansive game spawning at least seventy hours, has brought itself over to the PSP. But it's not just a simple port, no, P3P brings an entirely new scenario where you play through as a female protagonist, opening new story paths and "social links".
    Which brings us to the mechanics of the gameplay. While there have been some cuts to make it more apt for the hardware (for example, travelling has been cut down to using a cursor, and the anime scenes have been removed to just stills), it doesn't affect the game TOO much. Sure, I did feel a bit more limited than the first time around, but it wasn't a make or break function. You play as a normal teenager in a Japanese high school, forcing yourself to juggle academics with your social life and free time. As you forge friendships and relationships with others, your strength in the second portion of the game, dungeon crawling through a seemingly endless tower and fighting monsters, increases. It's an interesting mechanic that works quite smoothly.
    What's even better than that is the fantastic plot. Never was I bored or uninterested in the venture which follows your character through about one year of his life at his new school. When he (or she) is recruited by the S.E.E.S. extracurricular club (which in secret fights monsters in the tower of Tartarus), he/she discovers that an impossible hour of time begins between one day and the next. It's very well done. Match all this up with beautiful graphics and soundtrack, and you have an enthralling experience unlike anything you've played before.    … Expand
  12. hao-sama
    Oct 15, 2011
    10
    Great port, and it's the best thing since sliced bread! I found The Answer to be wholly unnecessary, so i don't care if it wasn't included in this thing. I like the changes, like the battle navigation, as well as party control, and the fact that the social link increases don't take as long. Plot wise, it is of course, extraordinary, because it is Persona 3. I love how you have breaksGreat port, and it's the best thing since sliced bread! I found The Answer to be wholly unnecessary, so i don't care if it wasn't included in this thing. I like the changes, like the battle navigation, as well as party control, and the fact that the social link increases don't take as long. Plot wise, it is of course, extraordinary, because it is Persona 3. I love how you have breaks between the hardcore grinding by going on a date or going to a school club like a normal japanese high school student. Definitely my favorite PSP game so far. It's a must-get if you like RPGs, and if you want them portable.… Expand
  13. BasilZero
    Jun 9, 2012
    10
    Overall one of the best RPGs and one of the best games made by Atlus, they've outdone themselves with this game as it has one of the best original storylines, deep character storylines, unique battle system, amazing music and beautiful art visuals. You will surely enjoy this game and spend many hours on it!
  14. Kenmei
    Jan 2, 2012
    10
    The addition of the female main character really adds a great reason to buy this game if your already a veteran of the PS2 versions. For everyone else, this is a VERY in-depth RPG that'll take up hours and days and weeks of your time. This is definitely not a game you can just blow through so be prepared to really invest alot of time here. However that's not a bad thing considering justThe addition of the female main character really adds a great reason to buy this game if your already a veteran of the PS2 versions. For everyone else, this is a VERY in-depth RPG that'll take up hours and days and weeks of your time. This is definitely not a game you can just blow through so be prepared to really invest alot of time here. However that's not a bad thing considering just the sheer amont of stuff you can go and do here. By comparison to the PS2 version, more specifically the FES title, this game has everything that game had and then some. The only thing not included in this version is the Answer portion of FES. However that certainly does not make or break this game whatsoever. Like I said before, the new Female MC really changes things up just enough to almost make it a fresh experience even for those who have already beaten the game. While the main story is still the same, the Dating Sim portion of the game is brand new and gives the game a fresh feel to it. There were some elements of Persona 4 that were added to make life easier as well, including the ability to control your teammates in battle, something that was a huge frustration for me on the PS2 version. For series veterans, there's enough here to make buying this an easy move to make. For people new to the series, this is your chance to experience what was and still is one of the best RPGs on the system that was defined by them. Pick it up today!… Expand
  15. Catsy
    Apr 30, 2013
    10
    Persona 3 Portable is a remake of the PS2 version of Persona 3. The story is about a group of students who enter a tower at their school which appears past midnight during an hour called the "Dark Hour". During the Dark Hour, shadows appear and wreak havoc. The team must destroy the strongest shadows and stop the Dark Hour for good.

    The remake of the game features a Female gender which    Persona 3 Portable is a remake of the PS2 version of Persona 3. The story is about a group of students who enter a tower at their school which appears past midnight during an hour called the "Dark Hour". During the Dark Hour, shadows appear and wreak havoc. The team must destroy the strongest shadows and stop the Dark Hour for good.

    The remake of the game features a Female gender which changes social links from people at school to the SEES members. She's also given a few romance options and her starting persona is coloured differently than the boy's.

    I really enjoyed P3P's story it was dark, serious, and much bigger than imagined. It really felt like a massive adventure by the end of the game, like I had spent my time well and not wasted it on a different JRPG.

    The characters of P3P are normal high school students. They are united by a common goal and also by their own struggles and challenges. SEES members live in a dorm together dedicated to investigating the Dark Hour, however, all of them have struggles with their parents. One has an alcoholic father, another's expects her to be a doctor like their other relatives. The pain of their memories unites them as a team.

    A bit of an upside is that their Personas evolve relating to the story, rather than making their social link max level.

    I also enjoyed the music of P3P. As it's a portable game, and a remake, the music selection is really just a rehash of the Persona 3 music. The soundtrack itself only comes with about 10 songs on it and even then, some of those are from the previous game. The songs in this also relate back to the story of the protagonist. The same goes with the opening animation.

    Combat... I really loved the combat. So much. I never played Persona 3, but in P3P, you are given the ability to take control of your team mates and use their skills instead of setting a fighting mode and hoping for the best. Team mates can also be separated and sent to explore other parts of the dungeon. Fighting alone or with one other character increases the amount of XP you'll get per battle. Team mates can even level up without you battling with them.

    So all-in-all, P3P is a good remake of the PS2 version of Persona 3 and gives veterans of the series a change to experience a different side of the story.    … Expand
  16. KalanYamato
    Aug 7, 2014
    10
    August 2014 Edit:

    I've finished this game and I'm already near the end of the female campaign. At this point, Persona 3 Portable stands as the best RPG I've so far played on the PSP. The story remains incredible and combat with end-game Personas is a lot of fun. Still way better than Persona 4 and The Answer. Original July 2014 review (was a 9/10): You can study for exams in    August 2014 Edit:

    I've finished this game and I'm already near the end of the female campaign.
    At this point, Persona 3 Portable stands as the best RPG I've so far played on the PSP. The story remains incredible and combat with end-game Personas is a lot of fun.

    Still way better than Persona 4 and The Answer.

    Original July 2014 review (was a 9/10):

    You can study for exams in this game.
    10/10

    On a serious note, Persona 3 Portable isn't your common RPG - blending the visual novel and RPG genres with hard fantasy is one hell of a mix and makes for an excellent and exciting story, complimented by a balanced and addicting battle system. I'm sure the home console version is better in some aspects - but if you're a fan of this series and/or you need an excuse to play your PSP, this game is the best one you can find right now.

    Being the sucker I am for a good story, I fell in love (no pun intended) with this game quickly. One problem I've found, however, is that the introduction is extremely slow - on par with games like Kingdom Hearts 2, but not as confusing; just long as hell without necessity.    … Expand
  17. Welterweight426
    Jun 9, 2012
    10
    The PSP port of Persona 3 is both better and worse than the original. On one hand, it has more content and it streamlines some of the more awkward aspects of Persona 3, like equipment. However, the cutscenes and the map have been made slightly less active, so to speak. Cutscenes dont really exist in this game. There are moments where you have conversations but now you dont really see theThe PSP port of Persona 3 is both better and worse than the original. On one hand, it has more content and it streamlines some of the more awkward aspects of Persona 3, like equipment. However, the cutscenes and the map have been made slightly less active, so to speak. Cutscenes dont really exist in this game. There are moments where you have conversations but now you dont really see the conversation. You see a head pop up and hear the dialouge. Its a minute detail that does not take away from the game, though. Despite that minor flaw, Persona 3 Portable is still an amazing game.… Expand
  18. StaticSpine
    Dec 7, 2012
    10
    This is my first time to play Persona series. When I started playing the game I thought "what's all this Manga school stuff??" But then I got caught by the plot and by the gameplay. The game is very catchy and addictive. The combination of JRPG and Dating Sim works well! I liked the Social Link system, the background of most of them is awesomely written and is interesting to evolve toThis is my first time to play Persona series. When I started playing the game I thought "what's all this Manga school stuff??" But then I got caught by the plot and by the gameplay. The game is very catchy and addictive. The combination of JRPG and Dating Sim works well! I liked the Social Link system, the background of most of them is awesomely written and is interesting to evolve to uncover the stories of the characters. The NPCs AI is pretty decent. Overall, the best game I've played on PSP by far.… Expand
  19. Tjackson31692
    Mar 8, 2013
    10
    ersona 3 has been one of the most influential JRPG's of our time, successfully rebooting Atlus's most promising franchise. Since then, it's spawned an anime, a sequel, an expansion, and a whole legion of fans. Now, the expansive game spawning at least seventy hours, has brought itself over to the PSP. But it's not just a simple port, no, P3P brings an entirely new scenario where you playersona 3 has been one of the most influential JRPG's of our time, successfully rebooting Atlus's most promising franchise. Since then, it's spawned an anime, a sequel, an expansion, and a whole legion of fans. Now, the expansive game spawning at least seventy hours, has brought itself over to the PSP. But it's not just a simple port, no, P3P brings an entirely new scenario where you play through as a female protagonist, opening new story paths and "social links". Which brings us to the mechanics of the gameplay. While there have been some cuts to make it more apt for the hardware (for example, travelling has been cut down to using a cursor, and the anime scenes have been removed to just stills), it doesn't affect the game TOO much. Sure, I did feel a bit more limited than the first time around, but it wasn't a make or break function. You play as a normal teenager in a Japanese high school, forcing yourself to juggle academics with your social life and free time. As you forge friendships and relationships with others, your strength in the second portion of the game, dungeon crawling through a seemingly endless tower and fighting monsters, increases. It's an interesting mechanic that works quite smoothly. What's even better than that is the fantastic plot. Never was I bored or uninterested in the venture which follows your character through about one year of his life at his new school. When he (or she) is recruited by the S.E.E.S. extracurricular club (which in secret fights monsters in the tower of Tartarus), he/she discovers that an impossible hour of time begins between one day and the next. It's very well done. Match all this up with beautiful graphics and soundtrack, and you have an enthralling experience unlike anything you've played before… Expand
  20. Frioniel
    Jun 6, 2013
    10
    P3P being the portable version of Persona 3 is a underrated masterpiece. There are many draws in the game, the main ones being story and characters. But the anime style and clearly Japanese soundtrack are great too.

    Gameplay is really fun, this version has the unique One more! battle system where if you attack a monster with it's weakness you get to attack again. But the monsters get    P3P being the portable version of Persona 3 is a underrated masterpiece. There are many draws in the game, the main ones being story and characters. But the anime style and clearly Japanese soundtrack are great too.

    Gameplay is really fun, this version has the unique One more! battle system where if you attack a monster with it's weakness you get to attack again. But the monsters get the same advantage if they attack you with one of your weakness'. It feels a little like you're cheating because you can wipe out the enemy before they ever even get the chance to move if you know what you're doing, it's a lot of fun once you get it down, it becomes almost like a rhythm

    This version also makes it easier to play in shorter bursts and adds the female protagonist which really does change things up. All this comes at the cost of the 3d world beautiful cut-scenes and the 20 hour story epilogue "The Answer", so what version to get should be determined by what system you have more than anything.

    Voice acting is some of the best in the business, and the character design is amazing especially if you like anime, I highly recommend the artbook to go along with it, the huge soundtrack is worth getting aswell

    The story is very dark (even the color scheme was made to reflect this) and will probably make you cry (I sure did). Finally one of the coolest aspects is that you have to commit pseudo suicide to summon your persona, each character has a different way of doing it and even after hundreds of hours it never gets old.

    If you like JRPGS and/or anime or just a game with great all around everything then get this, you won't be disappointed    … Expand
  21. joex
    Sep 29, 2014
    10
    surely the best rpg for PSP. such a complete game that will make you have many long hours of fun. One of the best games I've ever played in my whole life
  22. stako
    Feb 17, 2014
    10
    I've rarely been at a loss for words when it comes to opinions on video games, but now I find myself in the first time I don't know how or where to begin. So I will just start at the beggining. A lot of people I've known or followed talked about the Persona series and I got this game recommended to me at least 10 times before I actually tried it, and the sad thing is that I tried itI've rarely been at a loss for words when it comes to opinions on video games, but now I find myself in the first time I don't know how or where to begin. So I will just start at the beggining. A lot of people I've known or followed talked about the Persona series and I got this game recommended to me at least 10 times before I actually tried it, and the sad thing is that I tried it because I was bored and I had nothing to do - my Vita was busy being dusty in the corner, I had no time to play big PS3 games (Persona 3 turned out to be bigger than the usual PS3 game, but I didn't know that) so I just decided to try whatever I hadn't tried on my beloved PSP. I just started with 3, because I didn't have any of the other ones, and frankly - it had the best review scores, so that was enough for me. I went in with a negative mindset - I'm not a big fan of JRPGs, neither am I a fan of long games or grinding. To me - a five hour polished story mode is all that is required. This game had three crucial parts to it that made me understand that it is a masterpiece. And I most certainly had no idea that this game will become my favorite game of all time. First crucial part: The intro - shocking and unexpected.
    P3 made a wonderful transition to the PSP. Some complain that most cutscenes are just voiceovers and portraits, but I liked that. I'm usually not a fan of weird japanese designs, but this game made me love its direction, because of two main reasons: it was faithful to it's own source material, meaning the abundance of other Shin Megami Tensei games, and because it was all done in real style with lots of polish that very few games ever achieve.
    Second up is the soundtrack. I have to be honest, at first I hated it. 10 hours in - I was singing along with it, and I had it on my MP3 player, and I still listen to it. It's an amazing soundtrack and a great example of what soundtracks can be - a very well done variant of sorts, because it does tell you how to feel, but it also escapes steriotypes, like the battle music having to be thrilling or scary. Also, the game is almost fully voice-overed in english - props!
    The gameplay is the best JRPG gameplay I've seen. I felt I had control in all the right places. The game knew exactly where the weak points of the JRPG genre are, and it made sure to tell me "Listen dude, this is stupid, so here is what you can do to make it fun and fluid". This is the first JRPG in which I've had actual fun with, but you have to play it to understand why.
    Lastly, and most importantly for me - the story. I have to admit here - I'm a sucker for high-school anime drama. But even at that, the story of Persona 3 really delves with some actual issues. I went in this expecting a silly and overexposed story, but it was surprisingly quite mature, as stated by the intro sequence, going to places that even mature games don't go. This game even may teach the player some things, if they are willing to learn, there is even a slight hint of symbolism in it, which I loved. Ofcourse, to some folks it's common knowledge - to me it was, but it didn't ruin the experience for me what so ever. I've never felt so attached to video game characters in my life - to movie characters - yeah, to book characters - absolutely, but to a video game? Never. But towards the ending of this game I felt that I was my protagonist - the people in the game were my friends and the game made sure that I care for them, and I really did. Second important reason prooving game is a masterpiece - it gives you multiple reasons on multiple levels to care about it's characters. From the little things like their AI not sucking during battle, to the big ones, like them actually having personality and developement throughout the story. Truth be told, I actually miss the characters now, and the memories of the Persona 3 story are also memories of my own, though that may sound farfetched. The story of the game itself isn't anything special when you think about it. In this case it's not so much about literal content - it's about pacing and the way the story is told - by making you feel you are an actual part of it and your actions cause actual consequences to the world, that the game tries it's best to make you a part of and for the most part - succeeds. I'm not saying it will work with everyone, I'm saying that it's very masterfully done. The last crucial proof point of this game is the ending. It's one of the most well-executed endings in gaming history and I loved it. And frankly - I didn't want it to end. I wasn't ready.
    In conclusion, I think the PSP edition is the deffinitve edition. This game is made for portable handhelds. But forget about that - I've never played a game as polished and well-constructed as this. No game has ever managed to keep me entartained for more than 10 hours - I'm not a patient man. And I've, personally, found enough reasons in this game to call it my favorite game. It comes highly recommended from me to everyone.    … Expand
  23. 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) 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),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) 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
  24. chayshirin
    Jun 25, 2016
    10
    From the very first scene I was hooked and couldn't get it out of my mind for 100 hours. Better story and characters than 4, though a bit darker and a lot sadder. Great experience overall.
  25. AakashA
    Jun 1, 2015
    10
    I was both excited and scared when this game got announced: I'm a HUGE fan of the persona series, with persona 3 being my most favorite rpg, and of course the hype got me and I was literally counting the days for its release. The things I heard the most were the obvious female protagonist and some other innovations, which I don't remember, but I was anyway gonna buy even if it was the sameI was both excited and scared when this game got announced: I'm a HUGE fan of the persona series, with persona 3 being my most favorite rpg, and of course the hype got me and I was literally counting the days for its release. The things I heard the most were the obvious female protagonist and some other innovations, which I don't remember, but I was anyway gonna buy even if it was the same exact game for the ps2. But I can clearly say, this is one of the best rpgs on the psp, if not THE best: the game not only is an improved version of the ps2 version, it also adds a "new" storyline with the female counterpart, meaning that the 2 stories, even if the same, are also different at the same time. The game is also very long (I finished in about 60-70 hours, 80+ with the secondary tasks and the additional fusions) which really strikes out considering that most of the rpgs on portable consoles aren't very long (unless you do the additonal stuff...of course). The combat is also very improved, basically taking the best parts from persona 4 (the possibility to control your members, for instance) and still remains one of the strong points of the game, together with the story. My only BIG complains are mostly 2: 1) the game has a very simplified interface outside the dungeon, meaning that you will NEVER control your character outside the dungeon, but only a cursor. I know that they did this in order to make more space for the game and luckily you will still see your characters during the dungeon exploration, and I'm ok with that, but it's going to take a while to get used to it. Luckily the navigation works perfectly: you can move easily anywhere by pressing the Square button (taken from persona 4) and the cursor is quite precise and works good. Overall, it's fine, just too bad that you'll basically never see your character(s) outside the dungeon, especially when there are a lot of costumes to unlock, Also, because of this, most of the cutscenes got cut as well. 2) NO FES! If this game had also Fes (the second part of the game, called "The Answer",that roughly lasts about 30 hours), this would be perfect, but unfortunely we only have few things from Fes (the possibility to choose different Stewards, some extra scenes, new persona, etc). Again, probably the lack of space made them cut the additional scenario, or else it would be perfect in all ways. And really, that's about it: the game is the same as the original, with a different interface, but with 2 very well detailed campaigns that aren't necessarily the same: they basically tell the same story with 2 different perspectives and, actually, it really encourages you play twice, doubling the hours and the ways to play the actual game. I personally recommend to try it out if you want a good rpg for your psp (it's a dungeon crawler RPG, the ideal for portable consoles) and even if there are some flaws (it can be slow if you don't install the game into your memory card) it still remains one of the best rpgs on the psp. Must try at all costsThis is the best "PSP" game i have ever played in my life.I think it is better than G.T.A. SERIES kingdom hearts .I hope you will also play the game as it is awesome .I hope they will release persona 4 golden in "PSP".… Expand
  26. ashketchum
    Jun 25, 2017
    10
    Persona 3 Portable is a fantastic game. It is a port of the original PS2 game. I would say that it is one of the foremost games of both the RPG and simulation genres. It has a charmingly unique art style, great but simple game mechanics as well as it's own distinct style. It has a fitting soundtrack, with several memorable pieces, and one of the most balanced difficulty curves in any gamePersona 3 Portable is a fantastic game. It is a port of the original PS2 game. I would say that it is one of the foremost games of both the RPG and simulation genres. It has a charmingly unique art style, great but simple game mechanics as well as it's own distinct style. It has a fitting soundtrack, with several memorable pieces, and one of the most balanced difficulty curves in any game I've played. However, the dungeon sections of the game get repetitive after a while, and they require minimal strategy compared to many other RPGs, though the designs of the dungeons are quite imaginative. The pros vastly outweigh the cons, though, and in the end, P3P was one of the most unique and memorable gaming experiences I have had.… Expand
  27. Samuspagno
    Oct 8, 2019
    10
    One of the best game in the world. Perfect plot, amazing characters very nice gameplay... I really love it
  28. skads7
    Nov 8, 2019
    10
    Una verdadera joya, una obra maestra, en la que nos cuestiona realmente, cual es sentido de nuestra existencia, Por qué y para qué vivimos.
    El verdadero significado de la amistad y la lealtad más allá de la vida y la muerte.
  29. Sna8solid
    Nov 15, 2019
    10
    Before at all i rate a 10 to equilibrate the game to his original rating, thanks to the Nintendo haters. In words my rating is 8. Positves, being portable,great graphics and a sweet protaginist. Negatives, looks like a visual novel, The answer chapter was missed.
  30. 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
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best PSP Game of 2010
2
#2 Most Discussed PSP Game of 2010
3
#3 Most Shared PSP Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 40 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 40
  3. Negative: 0 out of 40
  1. Games Master UK
    Jul 8, 2011
    83
    Minus the original cutscenes and Iwatodai's open world, P3P is still a classic RPG oddity. [Aug 2011, p.81]
  2. games(TM)
    Jul 3, 2011
    90
    Magnificent. [Issue#110, p.133]
  3. Play UK
    Jun 26, 2011
    78
    The story is absolute bobbins. [Issue#206, p.92]
See all critic reviews »