Out of many of the video games out there, the Shin Megami Tensei games do a wonderful job at being mature without being gratuitous. Rather than padding out the game with over the top mature content, such as jiggling boobs or excess violence, they fill their games with genuinely disturbing material. Many of the things that go on in any given SMT game can range from disturbing to flat out nauseating in concept but they are never without a point, which is more than some games could say.

This extends especially to Persona 3, the first Persona game to be labeled as a Shin Megami Tensei title. While the game itself may deviate from the quasi-consistent world established by the first two Persona games, it’s still an incredible title. When Persona 3 was released in 2007 a special edition of sorts was released shortly thereafter in Japan and the western fans of the game were immediately stricken with fear.

You see, Persona 3 didn’t truly have an ending – even the state of the main character was left up in the air. Only that special edition had the ending we so desperately yearned for and the fates have smiled upon us for Persona 3: FES has arrived on our shores.

Persona 3 tells the story of a young orphan who has returned to the part of Japan where he grew up. However, immediately upon arriving, things are clearly not as they seem. When the clock strikes midnight the sky becomes a sickly greenish and black color, electronics stop working and giant coffins can be seen where people stood.

This mysterious time, the Dark Hour, is a place only for demons and rare humans who can harness the power of their Persona. The Persona is an inner power that awakens within them and allows them, using a gun-like device called an Evoker, to summon that power from within them to fight the amorphous entities known as Shadows that rule the Dark Hour.

It bears nothing that some may find the concept of the Evoker disturbing. Seeing a group of teenagers, and one preteen, taking a gun-like device to their own bodies can be a bit… off-putting. By pointing this device at themselves and pulling the trigger they “blow” the Persona out of their bodies in a spray of blue shards. This lets the Persona out and allows them to harness its energy to battle their foes.

Actually playing Persona 3 is a peculiar beast, especially to us Western gamers. The game is broken up into two distinct, but intrinsically linked, game modes. During the day you will go through what is essentially a social phase. Going to school, completing tests, making friends, shopping for equipment and increasing your three social traits will all be done in varying degrees depending on how you choose to spend your time.

At night you will explore the Dark Hour, namely the gigantic tower, Tartarus. Playing in the Dark Hour is the biggest part of the game, and it’s similar to playing Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter. As you run around through one of the randomly generated floors, you will have to actually engage enemies by attacking them on the map.

If you strike them without being noticed, you get a free turn in the fight, but if they hit you first they will gain the free turn. Making your way through the 200+ floors is made simpler thanks to a reliable number of teleporters that allow you to teleport back to the entrance to save your game, recover health and switch your party members.

Persona 3 FES is essentially a bargain priced expansion, adding a whole new 30 hour adventure to the mix, in addition to making some changes to the original game. The main game is now called the Journey and a number of things have been added. You will find new Social Links, friendships that you make that power up your Persona, new scenes while interacting with others and some minor gameplay tweaks. Some of them are for the better but, sadly, a few of them actually for the worse. There is also a hard mode for those who enjoy a challenge that is immensely difficult.

The new game mode, aptly titled The Answer, is essentially a 30 hour dungeon crawl epilogue to the main game. Taking control of Aigis and the rest of the party from the main game you will explore level after level of a new dungeon called the Abyss of Time. While this new mode is fun in its own way there are a few major problems. First and most glaringly the mode is insanely difficult at times. Many enemies and bosses literally have no weaknesses so while they’re pummeling you into the ground with over powered spells you’re essentially trying to pick away at their health.

The other major complaint with The Answer is sadly one that can’t really be helped. Due to the nature of this mode and how it’s been set up there are no Social Links, no interaction with the outside world just lots of fighting. While it makes sense within the game it’s still disappointing as the social element is what really set Persona 3 apart from other turn based RPGs out there.

While not a graphical powerhouse, Persona 3 FES still looks really good. The whole game has a neat stylized anime look to it. It never goes over the top and is played mostly straight making for an interesting look to the game. The Persona look especially well designed and some are quite a sight when summoned.

Unlike some games that come from the Japan the voice acting in Persona 3 FES is top notch. Even Fuuka, the one character whose voice work was dubious in spots, has been given some new lines and some of her dialogue seems to have been re-dubbed. The music is a weird mix of pop, orchestral and almost opera tunes that oddly fit the game and is quite pleasant to listen to. During the course of the game some songs may get tiresome to hear but they’re genuinely fun songs.

Sure, Persona 3 FES sounds like all peaches and cream, but this great game is marred by a few things. You can die incredibly easy, especially early on, and watch literal hours of progress go right out the window. While not unique to this game, and indeed it is a part of all Shin Megami Tensei games, it does get to be a bit tiresome at times.

However if you can invest the eighty to one hundred hours to get through the main game as well as the thirty to play the epilogue there’s no reason not to own Persona 3. It’s an incredibly solid game experience that any RPG fan shouldn’t miss.

Tags: Japan, RPG

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