Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable Review for PlayStation Portable (PSP)

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable box art

System: PSP	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Atlus USA	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Atlus USA	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: July 6, 2010	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Mature	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

You can expect roughly the same experience on the PSP that you had on the PlayStation 2. The game's engine still looks great, and although the anime cutscenes have been axed in favor of still images and in-game visuals, the game still holds up. The voiceover for the game is still good, and the voice actors all do a great job here. However, the best part of the remake, as well as the original, is the game's score. The music here is definitely up there in quality with the best titles, and you won't soon forget the game's haunting score, especially during the game's dramatic final moments. Although the score hasn't been re-worked extensively for this remake, there are several new tunes that accompany the female character's new story.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable screenshot

The mechanics in Persona 3 Portable are almost identical to those in Persona 3, with a few small changes. The most notable of these changes is the change from self-guided third-person navigation to point-and-click style navigation. Although some fans may be disappointed with this change, I found that it sped up the gameplay and allowed those playing through the game for the second or third time to get to the plot/battle points easier than before. Plus, walking around never was the highlight of my Persona 3 experience, so I didn't really miss watching my character walk down the halls of Gekkoukan High School.

Persona 3 Portable is must-play material for JRPG fans. If you have never ventured into the world of Persona 3, now is the perfect time to jump in. Persona 3 Portable represents the best version of the game, and the compelling story, characters, and engrossing social links system will definitely make a fan out of any RPG enthusiast. However, the real treat is playing through Persona 3 Portable as a longtime fan of the series. With the improvements to the battle system and a new character to play, there is plenty left in the world of Persona 3 to explore. In case you were wondering, that ending is just as resonating the second (or third) time around.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.2

Graphics
Visuals look just as good on the PSP as they did on the PlayStation 2. Animations are slick, and character models sport plenty of detail.

4.3

Control
Point and click navigation controls are simple to learn, and menu-based battle system takes almost no time to learn to navigate.

4.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Voiceover is infrequent, but sounds good when it is there. The music is beautifully haunting.

4.8

Play Value
Persona 3 was an excellent game to begin with, and if you have never experienced it, Persona 3 Portable is a must-play title. However, if you have played it before, the extra content makes this title worth picking up and playing through again.

4.2

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Maximum Persona 3: The RPG that captured critics and fans alike achieves a new level of excellence. Built upon an enhanced version of the game, players will find numerous significant improvements, including the addition of Skill Cards, part-time jobs, a total of five difficulty settings (ranging from the newcomer-friendly "beginner" to the ultra-hardcore "maniac"), and most importantly, the ability to directly control your teammates in battle.

Gain a whole new perspective: The choice of your protagonist's sex at the start of the game has a dramatic impact on the game's intricate social dynamics. Persona 3 veterans will get a kick out of playing through the story from a new female perspective, gaining new Social Links, special events, and unique romantic opportunities.

Slick system enhancements: Improved playability permeates every aspect of the gameplay experience. One-button menu shortcuts, streamlined team equipment changes, incredibly short load times, and other tweaks and enhancements create an ideal pace for portable gaming.