Persona 3 Portable Reviews
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable is the third version of the popular title, originally released for PSP in 2009. It is now available on modern platforms as well, breaking away from the PSP's "bonds", but how well does it adapt to the current conditions? Christos Hadjisavvas... pulls the trigger and explores the re-release.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Persona 3 Portable has survived well and is still as enjoyable as it has always been. Of course, Atlus could have used the chance to animate some extra cutscenes for this port, but the lack thereof doesn't take away from the overall game. For anyone new to Persona, this is a must, and for anyone wanting to relive this infamous title, welcome back!
I wouldn't be lying if I called the PC version of Persona 3 Portable "an upscaled version of the original game". But that doesn't change the fact that Persona 3 Portable is a great game and I would blindly recommend it to anyone who hasn't played it.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Persona 3 Portable presents a look into how the foundation was set for what would become one of the most influential JRPG’s of the last few years.
A deep JRPG that marked the beginning of what today is one of the greatest role-playing sagas of today. Transparent, sicnero, imperfect and with an overwhelming psychedelic realism that touches you in the depths of the heart at the time. A work that is able to penetrate the mind of virtually anyone and feel reflected.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Although the repetitive and simplistic dungeon crawler level design and plot development left a little to be desired in terms of the potential of its concepts, Persona 3 was revolutionary for its series and remains especially interesting in atmosphere and in narrative concepts. Despite considerable visual limitations, Persona 3 Portable is the best version of the game, due to gameplay and quality of life improvements, as well as new content in the female route. The title is a must for Persona fans and, with some caveats, it is also recommended for anyone who is generally looking for a JRPG with social simulation and dark themes.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Many years after its original release, Persona 3 Portable is still a respectable JRPG, fully capable of immersing the player in its long, deliciously dark and thought-provoking plot. Not even its repetitive character or the omission of the improvements brought by Persona 3 FES are enough to dim the brilliance of this game that finds a home on the Switch as welcoming and natural as the PSP once was. Freed from exclusivity, it's time to discover or revisit one of Atlus' most important classics, and with its flexibility, Nintendo's console is the most appropriate way to do so. Recommended.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Jung’s theory aside, Persona 3 is all about the time we have, how we choose to spend it and who we choose to spend it with. In this light, the game’s true mechanics shine. The relationships that we forge can—and this is probably true in life—affect our ultimate outcome. And time? Well, it’s hard to think of a better way to spend 50+ hours than getting points for scarfing down takoyaki and fighting bad guys.
At times shocking and always intense, Persona 3 and it's re-release, Persona 3 Portable, is not a game you are likely to forget.
As a huge fan of Shin Megami Tensei in general, Persona 3 Portable cannot be ignored, and should not be. It spawned the series as we know it, and the updated version, though not as magnificent as it could be, is still leagues better than the original Playstation 2 version, and it has the additional character and bonus content that helps this title dominate a large block of your time.
It ultimately feels like a missed opportunity that Atlus didn't combine the features of both FES and Portable to create an official definitive version of Persona 3. Nonetheless, bringing Persona 3 Portable onto pretty much all modern platforms is appreciated, as the game maintains its charm despite its age. However, it's a little hard recommending this specific title to newer fans of the series especially with 5 Royal and 4 Golden already out there, as Portable suffers from some outdated design choices and cut corners. The soundtrack still slaps though.
While Persona 3 Portable isn’t perfect, it is still a viable way to experience one of the best games ever. This is by far the best Persona game of the series, it has the best pacing, the best music, the best art, everything. While this port is lacking some of the things that FES had that made it an all-time classic, it is still one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch, and that’s saying something.
This is a pair of incredibly beloved classic games available on modern consoles and PC, and available for *FREE* with Xbox Game Pass. While the graphics may show their age, the stories themselves are timeless and hold up right alongside the best modern-day video game narratives. They have moved from a relatively unknown franchise for me, to one of my fondest recent games. I have been completely swept away by the stories and captivated by the characters and gameplay and will be finishing Persona 4 Golden and moving on to finally play Persona 5 Royal after that.
Persona 3 Portable is a game with a darker tone and philosophical themes, with enjoyable gameplay but a repetitive tower of Tartarus. The main cast of characters is likable and social links provide interesting side stories. It may not have the same level of quality content as its successors, but it is still worth playing for fans of the series, but newcomers may prefer to start with a more recent entry.
There is so much more I could say about both of these games. I got into the series with Golden and have been wanting it to expand to more consoles ever since. It is great to finally see it everywhere and I hope the series continues that trend going forward. It is by far one of the best RPGs available and should be played by anyone who has ever had a passing interest in the genre. Do not skip this collection, while Persona 3 is a little rough in this day and age it is still an amazing game and Persona 4 Golden is well, the gold standard. I cannot recommend this package enough.
A blast from the past, Persona 3 Portable returns to the scene after thirteen years. With a few outdated quirks directly imported from the PSP rerelease, it's still a very fun game, although it might not be up to the standards of players that had Persona 5 Royal as their first foray into the series.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Persona 3 Portable is an excellent title that allows newer players, for a very affordable price, to gain access to one of the best RPGs on PlayStation 2…albeit in a “lite” version. Still, it would have made perfect sense to have been released a more complete version of this title or one witb added bonus components to this particular title (such as concept art, soundtrack, or producer commentary). However, some work by the publisher in revitalizing this particular title for the current market is notorious. If you liked Persona 5, you'll already know what to expect here: The bases where “everything” came from... in a more "Lite" way!
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
A remastered version for current consoles for the fans who haven't played Persona 3 yet. While the simple transplant without noticeable improvements disappointed majority of fans who have long awaited, its unique gameplay still has the charm even after all those years.
Review in Korean | Read full review
But what if you're brand new to the Persona series? Then we actually recommend you to get started with "Persona 5 Royal", the latest version of "Persona 5". Since the games do not build on each other and each devour 80 hours of play, it is worth getting started with the most modern and beginner-friendly offshoot. Then you can focus on the classic titles.
Review in German | Read full review
Whether you are a JRPG veteran or a Persona newcomer, Persona 3 Portable is a high-quality example of one of the best eras of the genre. The game is handicapped by a few shortcomings and could have done with some rebalancing and graphical updates, but still Persona 3 Portable reminds us where the series kicked things into high gear, while also showing how far JRPGs have come. An engaging, moody, and confronting experience that has plenty to offer to even the pickiest of players, Persona 3 Portable is a standout roleplaying adventure.