Persona 3 FES / Portable
BABY BABY BABY BABY BABY BABY BABY BABY BABY BABY!
Having left JRPGs for many years, I decided to try and get back into the J-groove once more. I was looking for something fun, different and stylish. Behold: Persona 3!
…Actually, I saw Persona 4 first, but I decided to give 3 a try. I had played P2 back on the original PlayStation back in the day. I really enjoyed the setting [compared to the fantasy ‘lets save the kingdom” stories present in many RPGs]. I did some research online and the census was “try P3 before playing P4. It’s very difficult to get into P3 after playing P4”.
I started playing P3 on my trusty [and phat] PlayStation 2. The reception at home was not very warm. The Misses and our dog hated it. The day to day high school activities did not go over well with them. I managed to defeat the first boss before “being kicked out” from our game room. So I decided to do the next best thing and take P3 on the go with Persona 3 Portable on the PSP.
It is an excellent port!
The major setback for me is that you can’t run around the environments compared to the PS2 version. Understandable of course, but that is probably my favorite aspect of the Persona games. Running around and rotating the environments, checking every possible detail. Plus, there are many funny moments that are lost in the cutscenes. To compensate the scenes are presented in sort of a storybook format where you only hear the sounds of what is going on around you. The characters fill up the screen on either side.
In Persona you level up in two different ways. The first method keeps it classic by leveling your character up by fighting. The second is through your “Social Links”. Basically, the more friends you have the better. You will be granted access to different [and more powerful] types of Personas.
Oh how naive was I.
Turns out besides that, the cornerstone of the game is actually “Fusing” Personas in order to create more powerful Personas. A lesson I learned until the Final Boss.
Turns out my last save is right before the final battle. My “best” Personas are too weak to damage the final boss. All of my Items are quickly used up.
It’s like being a one legged man in an ass kicking contest.
Persona 3 FES 4:3 X Persona 3 Portable 16:9
Instead of starting over I decided to let this one simmer for a bit. I’ll come back to Persona 3 soon enough, this time on the Playstation 2. There are many funny moments that I’m sure totally rock on the PS2 [thanks to the fully animated characters on screen].
For example, there is a section where you have to “wingman” 2 of your buddies who are cruising the beach looking for girls. Turns out neither of them have ever spoken to the opposite sex, so of course you have to step in and save the day.
Not to mention the handsome guy in the group is the guy wearing a speedo.
What ever shall I do?
Oh look, Persona 2 is also on the PSP.