After playing through Persona 3 again after a 10 year gap since my last playthrough, I think my feelings of the game have solidified much more strongly.
Ultimately, I find that a game like Persona 3 is a lightning in a bottle scenario that is difficult to replicate in its current form. Every creative decision creates a sense of cohesion that is so unique and so perfect for this game and this game's themes alone.
Death is a fitting theme for a development studio worried about the prospect of shutting down for good if the game didn't become a success, and for that reason there is a strong conviction to every aspect of the thematic design of this game. Every decision, from the UI, to character design, story motifs and gameplay structure not only helps give the game a strong and unique identity that sets it apart from anything at the time, but also helps reinforce the game's broad and heavy-hitting themes.
Of course, not every decision pays off. As the first entry in the series that tried to stray far away from the standard dungeon crawling formula of Shin Megami Tensei, it is only natural that many poor decisions came as a result. Persona 3's structure is filled with many decisions that get in the way of a smooth experience, from uneven pacing to poor gameplay balance, but despite all this there is a soul to Persona 3 that not even its successors have managed to replicate.
For all the improvements made to the formula in later games, they never quite achieved the level of emotional resonance and thematic transcendence as Persona 3. The game was made with a certain mindset, creative drive and inexperience that made it greater than the sum of its parts. For that reason, it is an essential RPG classic. A journey worth embarking on that will give you plenty to think about and cherish for years to come.
NOTE: This review is of the main campaign known as "The Journey". I have a separate review reflecting my thoughts of "The Answer" campaign by itself.
Ultimately, I find that a game like Persona 3 is a lightning in a bottle scenario that is difficult to replicate in its current form. Every creative decision creates a sense of cohesion that is so unique and so perfect for this game and this game's themes alone.
Death is a fitting theme for a development studio worried about the prospect of shutting down for good if the game didn't become a success, and for that reason there is a strong conviction to every aspect of the thematic design of this game. Every decision, from the UI, to character design, story motifs and gameplay structure not only helps give the game a strong and unique identity that sets it apart from anything at the time, but also helps reinforce the game's broad and heavy-hitting themes.
Of course, not every decision pays off. As the first entry in the series that tried to stray far away from the standard dungeon crawling formula of Shin Megami Tensei, it is only natural that many poor decisions came as a result. Persona 3's structure is filled with many decisions that get in the way of a smooth experience, from uneven pacing to poor gameplay balance, but despite all this there is a soul to Persona 3 that not even its successors have managed to replicate.
For all the improvements made to the formula in later games, they never quite achieved the level of emotional resonance and thematic transcendence as Persona 3. The game was made with a certain mindset, creative drive and inexperience that made it greater than the sum of its parts. For that reason, it is an essential RPG classic. A journey worth embarking on that will give you plenty to think about and cherish for years to come.
NOTE: This review is of the main campaign known as "The Journey". I have a separate review reflecting my thoughts of "The Answer" campaign by itself.