Persona 3 celebrates its 15th anniversary today. It first released in Japan on the 13th July 2006 for the PlayStation 2, and its impact on the RPG landscape has been significant. With its supreme sense of style, outstanding soundtrack, and addictive gameplay mix of turn based dungeon crawling and social links, Persona 3 is really the game that established Atlus as a more well-known developer — especially here in the West.
Persona 3 also pioneered the character-bonding blueprint for Persona 4 and Persona 5, both of which went on to be even more popular than their predecessor. Without Persona 3 and the innovations that it brought to the table, Persona wouldn't be the franchise that's stealing people's hearts 15 years later.
However, despite its age, Persona 3 is still a fantastic RPG. While parts of its gameplay loop are undoubtedly dated — and lacking the quality of life improvements implemented by its successors — its excellent, dread-tinged atmosphere remains.
We'd lose our minds over a remake or remaster of Persona 3 — and you never know, it might actually happen. Atlus is currently teasing seven Persona projects that will be revealed over the course of a year, starting in September. Here's hoping that we get a chance to return to this classic on modern PlayStation consoles.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 21
This was the first Persona game that I've played and still to this day, my personal favorite. I remember the feeling of emptiness after beating the game and kept replaying it over and over again. P4 and P5 are great but P3 had the most impact to me.
Probably my favourite of the series. Just love the stylings and the more macabre tone.
I took a punt on this game because the dude in the game shop recommended it and it was an absolute treat. I wish they'd port it to PS4/5 etc.
My favourite persona game. Honestly I just need a remastered port with trophies lol.
Back when I used to spend my life at GameStops browsing through their games and picking up whatever JRPGs I could find (it was a magical time when I stumbled upon Disgaea and the Mana Khemia games) I ran into Persona 3 the collector's edition on sale. Box art looked cool enough so I snagged it but once I got home and popped the game in and was treated to that smooth opening...I knew I was in for something special. I never really lost sleep playing a game but I literally could not put the game down...the only other time I would experience this was when I first got my hands on Fallout 3.
Persona is a great series...even though I feel like it's losing its steam a little lately.
I played P5R, P3P and P4G last year for the first time. Whilst I enjoyed P5R the most, P3P was very much a close second. P4G didn't click quite as much as the other two for me, though possibly because I'd only just played the other two games recently and I should have taken a break
I'd love to see a modern remaster of FES, or some super remaster which contains all of the content across the various games. Even if I did spoil the new story content in FES for myself.
Such a wonderful game. The atmosphere is really dark and macabre, and the story is excellent. It's perhaps my favourite Persona story thus far. A remaster that incorporates the feMC additions and battle system of Persona 3 Portable, alongside FES' epilogue, would be brilliant, as there's never been a truly definitive way to play the game.
I just played this for the first time recently and while I loved the story and characters I am sorry the random element to the turn based combat SUCKED. It was sooo frustrating. Just cast Patra, Junpei!!!!
My memory of Persona 3 includes going to my local GAME shop on release here in the UK, and cautiously asking the sales assistant if he had heard of "Shin Megami Tensei Persona 3". I was just a teenager!
He laughed and said "oh Persona 3, yeah we've got it". He told me that the shop had only gotten FIVE copies in for release, which convinced me to buy it there and then. Maybe he was taking the piss, but I didn't care, because it ended up being one of my favourite ever games.
I like Persona 4 and Persona 5 better overall, but Persona 3 is still near and dear to my heart!
I only just played Persona 3 a couple years ago. (thanks PS3 backwards compatibility!) I agree the atmosphere is top notch and the story had me hooked the entire way. Sure Tartarus wasn't great, but everything surrounding that was wonderful.
If there is a game that deserves a remake out there, it's definitely Persona 3. I'd love to not need to tell people who want to try Persona 3 the difference between Fez and Portable!
I liked it, quite a lot in fact when I first played it. Though the thing about Persona (3-5 at least) is that they're extremely reliant on its story & dialogue for entertainment, meaning that its extremely ill suited for a replay. Ultimately without the story & cutscenes to support it, it's just a mindless dungeon crawler with very little flavor coupled with the "free time" aspect which feels more like a chore (which to be fair, I felt even on the first playthrough).
Great game - also loved 4 and 5. It has turned into a sure thing at this point.
Just love the Art Direction in P5. Really excited to see what they will make with even a better canvas now with the PS5.
The game desperately needs a remake, but it's nonetheless a classic. Top-notch soundtrack too. Until that remake happens I'll Burn My Dread, holding my Deep Breath Deep Breath that it comes out and fills me with Joy.
I played Persona 3: FES a little while back through the PS3, and absolutely loved it. If I wasn't busy reviewing Ace Attorney right now, I'd consider finally loading up Persona 2
Persona 3 Portable was the first game in the series I played and I loved it- it's still my favorite Persona game by quite a bit. Tartarus (sp?) isn't as memorable as later dungeons in the series, but the story and aesthetic is just so dark and interesting it's unmatched in my opinion.
@MrSensical
But if it doesn't come out, I hope you won't resort to Mass Destruction out of anger!
A yes, the first Persona game.
I am betting on a remaster, alongside persona 5 arena.
I never had the pleasure of playing it but if we get a remaster/remake i hope we get it with improvement of life updates i have no issues with turnbased. And a good gone not a halfarsed HD update one with next to no effort put in and DLC put in.
@Yomogi FACT P3 STILL MY FAV I STILL GOT MY PS2 AND PLAY IT MORE THAN P4 & P5 I PLAY SMT TOO STILL FOR PS2
@CynicalGamer really? Trophies are pointless i want to play it period remastered
@Ceropapi that is a perfectly fine stance to have.
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