GAME #160: PERSONA 3 FES
ABOUT:
Persona 3, also known as Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3, is a role-playing video game developed by Atlus. It is a part of the Persona series, a subseries of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise. Persona 3 was originally released on the PlayStation 2 in 2006 in Japan by Atlus; the North American release of the game was delayed until 2007 due to issues with the publication of the official art book. Persona 3 FES, a director's cut version containing a new playable epilogue among other changes, was released in Japan in 2007 and worldwide the following year.
In Persona 3, the player takes the role of a male high-school student who joins the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (SEES), a group of students investigating the Dark Hour, a time period between one day and the next that few people are aware of. During the Dark Hour, the player enters Tartarus, a large tower containing Shadows, creatures that feed on the minds of humans. To fight the Shadows, each member of SEES is able to summon a Persona, a manifestation of a person's inner self. The game's most iconic feature is the method by which the members of SEES release their Personas: by firing a gun-like object called an Evoker at their head. In addition to the standard elements of role-playing games, Persona 3 includes elements of simulation games, as the game's protagonist progresses day by day through a school year, making friends and forming relationships that improve the strength of his Personas in battle.
In Persona 3, the player takes the role of a male high-school student who joins the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (SEES), a group of students investigating the Dark Hour, a time period between one day and the next that few people are aware of. During the Dark Hour, the player enters Tartarus, a large tower containing Shadows, creatures that feed on the minds of humans. To fight the Shadows, each member of SEES is able to summon a Persona, a manifestation of a person's inner self. The game's most iconic feature is the method by which the members of SEES release their Personas: by firing a gun-like object called an Evoker at their head. In addition to the standard elements of role-playing games, Persona 3 includes elements of simulation games, as the game's protagonist progresses day by day through a school year, making friends and forming relationships that improve the strength of his Personas in battle.
PLAYTHROUGH:
Persona 3 FES is the 160th playthrough for Lets Play Nights. It's also the tenth playthrough for Season #8's Lets Play Nights. This is also the second game in the Persona Series to be played on the channel.
Persona 3 FES was announced as a playthrough on the channel on March 2nd, 2019. The playthrough began on March 6th, 2019 on the Second Slot for Lets Play Nights. The playthrough lasted a total of fifteen broadcasts concluding on June 17th, 2019.
Andy gave the game a 8 out of 10 in his final thoughts review of the game. Saying that playing Persona 4: Golden really spoiled him when it came to playing this game. While still enjoying the game and still thinks it was a fantastic and and incredible ride. He did say it took him much longer to start get invested into the story, but once it got going it kept going in a good way. He also felt that having the ability to only controlling the protagonist really does hinder the experience a bit. However he did like how much easier it was to do social links in this game, even if he felt not alot of them were amazing. He praised the soundtrack and thought it was fantastic, but preferred Persona 4's soundtrack just slightly more. He also disliked how inconsistent the difficulty spikes were in the game, especially when it came to exploring Tartarus. Saying one moment a boss would be easy, then the next would just be incredibly more difficult out of no where.
Persona 3 FES was announced as a playthrough on the channel on March 2nd, 2019. The playthrough began on March 6th, 2019 on the Second Slot for Lets Play Nights. The playthrough lasted a total of fifteen broadcasts concluding on June 17th, 2019.
Andy gave the game a 8 out of 10 in his final thoughts review of the game. Saying that playing Persona 4: Golden really spoiled him when it came to playing this game. While still enjoying the game and still thinks it was a fantastic and and incredible ride. He did say it took him much longer to start get invested into the story, but once it got going it kept going in a good way. He also felt that having the ability to only controlling the protagonist really does hinder the experience a bit. However he did like how much easier it was to do social links in this game, even if he felt not alot of them were amazing. He praised the soundtrack and thought it was fantastic, but preferred Persona 4's soundtrack just slightly more. He also disliked how inconsistent the difficulty spikes were in the game, especially when it came to exploring Tartarus. Saying one moment a boss would be easy, then the next would just be incredibly more difficult out of no where.
TRIVIA:
- During The TGBD 8-Year Anniversary Show. During Andy's Top 10 List of Games of 2018-2019 List List. Persona 3 FES was ranked his third favorite game of the year.
- Persona 3 FES was a selectable choice during the 2K Follower 1st/Blind Playthrough Special Poll. A poll that had a list of games Andy never played, and the most voted for game would be one he would play on the channel. But unfortunately lost to both Kingdom Hearts: Re:Chain of Memories & Mother 3 in the voting.
- To keep with the Persona playthrough tradition. Andy named the Protagonist Andy Mankun for his playthrough.
- While the playthrough only featured just the original story, Andy did state at some point down the line he will revisit the game for a potential future playthrough of Persona 3: The Answer. He didn't do it in the playthrough due to hearing how hard it is and with the playthrough long enough as it was he wanted to move onto other things for the time being due to time constraints. However in 2022 for Leftover Nights, Andy would playthrough Persona 3: The Answer.
- Persona 3: FES was a runner up in The Playthrough of the Year Award for Season #8. As it ranked third in the voting.
- During The TGBD 8-Year Anniversary Show, Andy mentioned that during The Playthrough of the Year Award that this was Andy's third favorite playthrough of Season #8 for Lets Play Nights.
- The playthrough was announced two days before a certain moment occurred in the games calendar. The playthrough started two days following it.
- Sadly Andy was spoiled by the games ending. Months during other broadcasts certain jokes were made about the main protagonist and his fate in the game. So when the moment came he didn't really have much of an impact to him after it happened since he knew it was coming.
- Andy's favorite waifus in the game were Fuuka and Aigis.
- This was first game in the Persona Series played on the channel since Season #7 with Persona 4: Golden.
- This was the first time Andy ever played this game. Making it a 1st/Blind Playthrough.