Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth Reviews
Persona Q represents a bit of a risk, bringing together two RPG series that, despite their common parentage, focus on entirely different facets of the genre. But it works, with the Persona elements livening up the dungeon-crawling and the Etrian Odyssey components bringing some merciless old-school discipline to the unruly Persona sub-universe. Though admittedly fans of the two series will get the most from the crossover, this lively, complex adventure works as a great RPG by any standard.
This could've easily been a lazy attempt for Atlus to make money, but thankfully Persona's first entry on the Nintendo 3DS is an engaging and satisfying one, that's filled with love for the superb cast of Persona 3 and 4. The fusion of Persona and Etrian Odyssey works well and is made even more enjoyable by the absolutely incredible soundtrack. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is a deep and challenging experience, with dungeons to explore, shadows to annihilate and a great deal of replay value, this game is worth every penny.
Persona Q is an interesting fusion of two of Atlus' larger franchises. The dungeons are fun to explore, the battles are fun to fight, and it certainly feels like it carries the strengths of both games. Yet It is just awkward enough that it won't be a true replacement for Etrian Odyssey V or Persona V. It's a great introduction to both franchises for fans who've tried one and not the other, and on its own merits, it's a reasonably fun dungeon-crawler. A remarkably low difficulty level and some awkward design choices really hold back the game.
While Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is very much aimed at a core audience and may alienate potential newcomers, the fans are going to adore it. It keeps many aspects the series is famous for, while expanding a new and fun story with a ton of fan service. For fans of Persona it's a must-buy, and for those new to the genre it's worth a shot - even without getting all the in-jokes there's still a great game here.
A great entrant in the Persona series.
Persona Q is a fantastic game that does so many things right. If you're a Persona or Etrian Odyssey fan, then there's no doubt that you'll fall in love with this game. Even if you haven't played a game in either series and have an interest in JRPGs, you should still purchase Persona Q. Between the game's gorgeous art style, fantastic challenging gameplay, amazing soundtrack composed by Atsushi Kitajoh and Toshiki Konishi, and the entertaining character interactions, this is easily one of my favorite games of the year.
While deviating from the main series, Atlus definitely took their first Nintendo Persona title seriously. The main story easily can take over 40 hours to complete, not to mention the replay value from using the three different save slots to play from the perspective of the other team. The visual look is fun and thoughtfully designed, the gameplay is challenging and calls for a fair amount of planning and thought and the return of two Persona casts brings humor and interest to the overall plot and exploration.
[I]t is a 5-star game
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is well-worth your money if you're a fan of dungeon crawlers and JRPG's, the it can definitely provide hours of quality entertainment. The game is well-executed and although it has some shortcomings and it isn't always true to its roots, it manages to deliver an enjoyable experience that's worth recommending.
If you have a 3DS, and you like RPGs, you should buy Persona Q. If you've played any previous Persona games and liked them, buying Persona Q should be a no-brainer. If you hate RPGs, and by extension fun itself, I'm not sure why you're even reading this.
Persona Q combines fan service and brutal dungeons for a delightful crossover
While Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth takes numerous gameplay cues from Atlus' Etrian Odyssey franchise, this is an engrossing, expansive, and entertaining adventure that truly feels like a proper new chapter of the Persona series—one that masterfully blends together elements from both its past and its present.
A must for Persona and Etrian Odyssey fans alike
Whether you are fully on board the 'Persona 3 and Persona 4 for life train' or waiting patiently for this era to end with eyes set on Persona 5 (see video), Persona Q should not be ignored by the Persona fan. While this Atlus title isn't a fighting or dancing game like other Persona or future Persona titles, it returns to RPG elements. With that said though, this game plays and feels much more like an Etrian Odyssey game than previous games in the Persona franchise. To call Persona Q an Etrian Odyssey game reskinned with Persona characters is completely inaccurate though; this game is more of a unique offspring of the two.
In many ways, Persona Q is the perfect game for fans- it pays tribute to them and to what they love, while also keeping one eye squarely trained on the future.
Etrian Odyssey meets Persona in a not-quite-the-sum-of-its-parts game.
A remarkable blend of ideas makes this spinoff stand on its own
While Persona Q's story may be meaningless on its own, the dungeon crawling and strategic battle system are great challenges with an excellent cast to keep you company.
If there's a single downside, it's that with a cast of over 16 characters, only five of whom can physically be in your party, there's very little reason to play around with your party's composition.
Despite losing part of its complexity, Persona Q2 is a great way to enjoy the best from the Persona franchise characters in a fun, entertaining way. We might be in front of the last big title for the Nintendo 3DS.
Review in Spanish | Read full review