When I heard that both Persona 3 and Persona 4, I was ecstatic. Both are some of the greatest examples of how a spin-off can become its own incredible thing, as these were the peak of the entire Persona franchise. For the most part, these remasters are completely sufficient ways to play these two JRPG classics. But I just can’t help but feel that we could have gotten a bit more.
Right off the bat, Persona 4 Golden fares best, though I suppose it had a bit of a trial run already when it came to PC after spending years on the PlayStation Vita (may it rest in peace.) It runs smoothly, the visuals are about as slick as they could look given their PS2 origins, and the sound quality is excellent. If you’ve never played Persona 4, you can’t go wrong with this version, as it’s still one of the greatest JRPGs ever made.
The story and characters of Persona 4 Golden are incredible and easy to care about. The ongoing mystery is intriguing, the setting is homey, and the themes of embracing and accepting yourself still hit hard. The mix of dungeon exploration and combat with developing social links and balancing a daily life remains unique and masterfully implemented, and the music is still unbeatable.
The added features in this remaster are certainly minimal. There’s an album to look back at social links and a helpful new Quick Save function that allows for last-minute saving outside of save points. Neither is a big feature but both are appreciated, and Persona 4 Golden is already a nice and complete package, so these are just pleasant little bonuses.
Persona 3 Portable is very specifically “fine.” You may have learned by now that there’s no truly definitive version of Persona 3. The PS2’s definitive version, Persona 3 FES, features the canon playable epilogue titled “The Answer,” as well as 3D environments, models, and movement outside of Tartarus. It didn’t have controllable party members or the female protagonist that Persona 3 Portable does, but the included features (especially “The Answer”) are very important.
Persona 3 Portable adds an entire female protagonist storyline, which is excellent. On the other hand, the sound is compressed and outside of Tartarus, the game feels closer to a visual novel than an RPG. It has handy quality-of-life changes like party members you can directly control (instead of leaving their fate to dodgy A.I.) and reviving from the start of a floor without using items or anything, but the compressed audio is noticeable and the lack of anime cutscenes that FES had is disappointing.
So having Persona 3 Portable is better than nothing, as it means people can play a version of Persona 3 more easily – one with its own features and benefits. I just really wish we got a definitive version this time around, as neither version of Persona 3 is complete. You’re either dealing with gameplay frustrations and no female main character route or an incomplete story with inferior sound quality and reduced roaming.
Given Persona 3 has what many fans consider to be the best story in the series, bolstered by excellent characters and real stakes, I’m glad that the basic narrative can be mostly experienced here. Everything that is present is great, as the combat is as strategic and fun as ever and the music is out of this world. The Quick Save feature is welcome here too since this version of Persona 3 Portable is decidedly less portable than it originally was, and stretches without save points can be long at times.
Both Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden are worth grabbing in this new remastered format if you’ve never played them or just want to re-experience some true classics. If you enjoyed Persona 5 or Royal and want to get into the games that came before, it’s fantastic that they are more accessible to the general public now.
It’s just a shame that Atlus didn’t go a bit further, as this was the perfect opportunity to create the go-to Persona 3 experience, which would fit nicely beside the brilliant Persona 4 Golden. I’m not sure the day will come when we get this mystical Persona 3, so until then, this is the best way to play it on your modern console.
MonsterVine was provided with review codes for Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden.
