Persona 3 Portable Reviews
It’s one of the greatest JRPG’s of all time, and surely will the devout elated to revisit on their respective platform, or will newcomers abuzz on how pivotal its third entry truly is to what would become the biggest role-playing series, ever.
Persona 3 Portable is still a title worth playing, despite the missing content from the FES version. The game is already complete in and of itself, featuring hours and hours of gameplay and tons of replayability. It’s a solid title in terms of the fun turn-based mechanic, the nearly addictive dungeon exploration of Tartarus, and meeting a cast of colorful characters that you will surely be attached to by the end of your campaign.
Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden are two brilliant examples of the perfect port. Though the graphics and features might not be as shiny as newer titles, the stories they tell, gameplay they offer, and the wealth of content that can be explored ensure these games stay relevant and allow them to hold their own, even against modern contenders. Enough time has passed to merit a revisit for old fans, but the launch across all platforms makes these games even more accessible and allows a whole new generation of players to experience them for the first time.
Ultimately, both games remain fantastic additions to any JRPG fan's game library, with Persona 4 Golden by far the more refined and exciting experience. While re-releasing the same games on multiple platforms isn't necessarily the most enthralling action from a long-time Persona follower's perspective, it's nice to see classics continue to become more accessible to potential newcomers. The preservation of this series is important, and if in the process of that the best way to play them emerges - like the case of Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden on Switch - then that's just an added bonus.
If you can look past this, you are rewarded with one of ATLUS’ most impactful works of art in the most accessible way possible. The art is not lost, even if I wish there was a version where we could have had the best of all worlds. Persona 3 Portable, as a game, is incredible and this revisit has made me realize how much it means to me. I get the disappointment, I do, but as a modern version, I think it holds up alright. This game deserves better, and I think if the backgrounds weren’t sticking out like a sore thumb this would be a glowing recommendation. As of now I can really just say that if you play this on Nintendo Switch you’re in for a good time.
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.
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
The years of Persona 3 Portable being in its prime at this point have long since passed. However, that doesn’t mean that the game is any less enjoyable or worthwhile than it was in its heyday. Carefully straddling the line between modern and classic Persona titles, Persona 3 Portable is a phenomenal title sporting an enchanting style all of its own and double the content of the original Persona 3. The argument between whether Persona 3 Portable or Persona 3 FES stands as the “ultimate Persona 3 title” is still something that goes on to this day, but Persona 3 Portable will always be the winner in my book.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
Persona 3 Portable is a game that, on one hand, has themes that haven’t aged well. On the other, it makes for a compelling adventure that still holds up well today. The combat feels repetitive and sometimes it feels like you’re on an endless loop with the floors, but a core Persona experience stil manages to shine through
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 offers a dark yet engaging story you’ll get lost in for many hours. It has a great cast of characters and is backed by an amazing set of music tracks. I would have loved if the game did manage to include some of the additional content that was found within the FES release of the game and traversing through some of the Tartarus sections does become repetitive, which is a shame because it’s the primary section of hand’s on gameplay the game offers. But those things aside, you’re still in for a very fun and rewarding experience that offers a lot of player choice. It’s great to see Persona 3 getting some love again, and hopefully it’s just the start of things to come again celebrating the Persona series from ATLUS.