Shin Megami Tensei: Persona

 PSP
  • Publisher: Atlus
  • Release Date: Sep 22, 2009
User Score
4.5

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 262 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 92 out of 262
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 262
  3. Negative: 145 out of 262

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  1. SteveM
    Sep 25, 2009
    10
    Buy this game. Period. Random battles are a good thing. Especially when the battles are this damn interesting. The choices you are provided in battle are extremely diverse. Honestly, this game holds up today because no one has copied this formula since this game was released 13 years ago, which is insane because the battle system is so satisfying. Graphics are dated, but you quickly get Buy this game. Period. Random battles are a good thing. Especially when the battles are this damn interesting. The choices you are provided in battle are extremely diverse. Honestly, this game holds up today because no one has copied this formula since this game was released 13 years ago, which is insane because the battle system is so satisfying. Graphics are dated, but you quickly get used to them and they do the job. And the story is excellent...sure, it can be glanced at and dismissed as a semi-standard tale (though not really; it really is pretty damn original), but the details are so wacky and unique that it makes it fresh...once again, 13 years later. Don't listen to critics condemning this as an archaic RPG. This game was ahead of the (current) curve in 1996. It may not have all the bells and whistles of current RPG's, but it's got heart, and a lot of it. And perfect music. Really great music. Go for it! I've never posted a review on Metacritic and simultaneously been more sure of my recommendation.… Expand
  2. silentlea
    Mar 1, 2011
    10
    Like SteveM said, buy it. Now. The quality of the gameplay and storytelling in Persona far far outweighs the slightly dated battle graphics. Honestly, after you're an hour in you won't even care. Especially as the presentation in every other regard is gorgeous. I rate it higher than P3P, and that's saying something.
  3. BasilZero
    Nov 20, 2011
    9
    Shin Megami Tensei Persona is a enhanced remake of the PSX classic Persona Revelations. The game has a new interface and a complete makeover in the graphics department. The music has been remixed and a few new additions to the spells and skills have been added. Along with that Atlus added the Snow Queen Arc which is a separate storyline once unlocked when beating the game which was neverShin Megami Tensei Persona is a enhanced remake of the PSX classic Persona Revelations. The game has a new interface and a complete makeover in the graphics department. The music has been remixed and a few new additions to the spells and skills have been added. Along with that Atlus added the Snow Queen Arc which is a separate storyline once unlocked when beating the game which was never in the original. Players who loved the first person game will surely love this game as it retains most of its original gameplay mechanics but added it with a tweak in graphics.… Expand
  4. TheNotuJP
    Apr 11, 2013
    10
    Thought provoking first person dungeon crawler with demon negotiation, 2 really different from each other and huge routes, 4 total endings, good characters, great music (can get a bit repetitive but it's still ipod worthy), great experience, not really suited for casual gamers who hate difficulty, specially if you're not used to this type of game, basically it's: you suck you don'tThought provoking first person dungeon crawler with demon negotiation, 2 really different from each other and huge routes, 4 total endings, good characters, great music (can get a bit repetitive but it's still ipod worthy), great experience, not really suited for casual gamers who hate difficulty, specially if you're not used to this type of game, basically it's: you suck you don't advance. It's that simple, that said, I think everybody should try this out, even if you are a terrible gamer and use a walkthrough, it's still worth it for the story.… Expand
  5. slim1985
    Dec 3, 2014
    9
    it has flaws but this jrpg is amazing the compelling story line and the amazing soundtracks the high monsters encounter is a bit frustrating as a SMT fan its a must
  6. ChristianAnime
    Jan 16, 2020
    8
    This being the first game in the sub-series, I found it really fun to play, the encounter rate is terrible, the game alone has an ok story with good characters. It is my least favorite persona no doubt, I still had my fun with this game.
  7. XDanielol
    Jul 28, 2022
    10
    Amazing game, even in 2021 I loved every part of it, the story, the characters, the soundtrack, and yes, also the random battles are very cool. I recommend it for everyone.
  8. retr0_1992
    Aug 19, 2021
    10
    I put an 10/10 because this game deserves more love. I love this game and I think is really underrated. The aesthetics, the story, the gameplay and the music are great. Not perfect of course, some dungeons are a pain in the ass, and the encounter rate is really high. But this game is an 8/10
  9. GChenierr
    Feb 28, 2022
    9
    As a persona, rpg, retrogaming fan, I was really surprised of how this game was good compared to what everyone was telling me

    Except for the amount of battles you have to do, which I am kinda habituated, considering farming is an important thing in RPGs, especially old ones, the game is just great imo I would say the music first Even if for some songs, the original ones on the PSX are    As a persona, rpg, retrogaming fan, I was really surprised of how this game was good compared to what everyone was telling me

    Except for the amount of battles you have to do, which I am kinda habituated, considering farming is an important thing in RPGs, especially old ones, the game is just great imo

    I would say the music first
    Even if for some songs, the original ones on the PSX are better, the new battle songs and School Days is good, and the boss battle song is imo, the best Boss normal battle song of all persona game, considering P6 isn't out ATM

    You may like persona 1, or you may not, if you like the persona series, retro games, turn based RPGs, hard rpgs, and don't really care about the quality of the graphics, you may have more chances to like this game

    If you're new to the persona series, except if you like hard old turn based rpg with long period of farming and are opened to new concepts, you shouldn't really begin by this one, I mean you really shouldn't

    This Persona game is, in the majority of things, the most similar to Persona 5, and probably Persona 2, but I haven't played persona 2, also that it is apparently the sequel of persona 1

    If you play I hope you'll be able to enjoy this game as I did, but one advice:

    Don't expect this game to be good, that is probably that one fact that made me love this game, the fact that it was really better than I had expected, so considering that, tell you also that I may just like it because I'm weird, I'm an huge persona fan, and that I'm only 17, so my video game experience isn't that big

    So put you in the head "This game's bad but I must try it to be sure"    … Expand
  10. Webes
    Dec 5, 2020
    10
    My favorite game of all time gods gift to this world would play again, why you may ask, because brown pooped his pants in the 6th grade
  11. Alex2492
    Aug 16, 2021
    10
    Achei o jogo muito bom! A história é interessante, mas infelizmente é inferior a maioria dos os outros da série
  12. ShinyViola
    Apr 24, 2022
    10
    10 cause this game gets to much hate, still worth playing to this day and should be
  13. RandowGuy
    May 16, 2022
    8
    Mesmo sendo tecnicamente o pior persona, foi o que eu mais me diverti jogando, bem divertido. Sinto que as pessoas criticam muito os controles, eu me adaptei fácil mesmo sendo o primeiro jogo que jogo nesse estilo.

Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Best PSP Game of 2009
9
#9 Most Discussed PSP Game of 2009
6
#6 Most Shared PSP Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 30
  3. Negative: 1 out of 30
  1. Gamervision
    85
    It may be unfair to compare the first game in a series to titles that came much later, but in a post-Persona 4 world such comparisons are inevitable. That being said, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona is a great game in its own right, and worthy of being in the collection of any RPG fan.
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  2. Destructoid
    85
    For both new and old series fans, it's really fun to see how one of the most popular role-playing game series started out.
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  3. RPG Fan
    91
    Persona for the PSP was a killer trip down memory lane with a pair of high-definition rose-colored glasses. The new upgrades made the experience smoother without sacrificing the game's integrity.
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