Line #131 VideoGame/Persona3


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/persona_3.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:''[[ThematicThemeTune I will burn my dread.]]''[[labelnote:note]]From left to right: [[BromanticFoil Junpei]], [[MessianicArchetype the Protagonist]], and [[PluckyGirl Yukari]]. In the back: your personal GuardianEntity, [[TheGrimReaper Thanatos]].[[/labelnote]]]]
3
4	->''Death is not a hunter unbeknownst to its prey.\
5	One is always aware that it lies in wait.\
6	Though life is merely a journey to the grave,\
7	it must not be undertaken without hope.\
8	Only then will a traveler's story live on,\
9	cherished by those who bid him farewell.''
10	-->-- '''Igor, Master of the Velvet Room'''
11
12	''Persona 3'' is an UrbanFantasy RolePlayingGame, and the [[NumberedSequels third numbered sequel]] in the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' {{JRPG}} franchise's ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' [[{{Spinoff}} sub-series]], developed by Creator/{{Atlus}} for the Platform/PlayStation2 and later the Platform/PlayStationPortable. It released in Japan on July 13th, 2006, in North America on August 14th, 2007, and in Europe on February 29th, 2008.
13
14	Every night [[WhenTheClockStrikesTwelve when the clock strikes midnight]], a phenomenon called "[[TheHiddenHour The Dark Hour]]" occurs. During this "hidden" hour of the day, a ColourCodedTimestop occurs and normal humans are transmogrified into coffin-like objects, unaware of the world around them. What's more, evil creatures called [[TheHeartless Shadows]] appear to prey on the minds of humans, inflicting a zombie-like condition commonly known as Apathy Syndrome.
15
16	You are a NewTransferStudent moving to Tatsumi Port Island to attend Gekkoukan High School. Soon after settling into your new dormitory, you are discovered to have "[[TheChosenOne the potential]]": the ability to remain as a human within the Dark Hour, and to fight the Shadows with [[SummonMagic a mysterious inner-power]] called "Persona". Recruited into the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad ([[FunWithAcronyms SEES]]), a [[AddedAlliterativeAppeal secret student society]] dedicated to fighting the Shadows, you now have to balance your school life, your social life ''and'' your new demon-hunting life.
17
18	The game is split into two main sections: "Day" and "Dark Hour". During the "Day" sections, your main goal is to attend school and [[DatingSim build up friendships with the people]] around you, known as "[[RelationshipValues Social Links]]". As the strength of your Social Links increases, so do the power of the Personas that you can use in the "Dark Hour" section. When not attending school you can do other things like seeing movies, hanging out at the arcade or even getting a part-time job, which all increase your Academic, Charm and Courage stats so you can improve your Social Links further.
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20	The "Dark Hour" section is a dungeon-crawling RPG with random-generated dungeons and a turn-based battle system. Your main goal is to advance up the floors of Tartarus, a mysterious EvilTowerOfOminousness that only appears during the Dark Hour and seems to hold the key to the mystery of the Shadows. The battle system itself is called "1 More!", a stripped-down version of the Press Turn system from ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'' and ''VideoGame/DigitalDevilSaga''. If you hit the elemental weakness of an enemy, you knock it down and are immediately awarded an additional action. Furthermore, knocking down all the enemies in the group allows you to perform an "[[BigBallOfViolence All-Out Attack]]", which hits every enemy for major damage. However, the enemies are also awarded additional actions for knocking ''you'' down.
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22	An UpdatedRerelease, ''Persona 3 FES'' was released for the Platform/PlayStation2 in Japan on April 19th, 2007, in North America on April 22th, 2008, and in Europe on October 17th, 2008. It includes an [[NintendoHard extremely difficult]] [[PlayableEpilogue epilogue chapter]] called "The Answer," more Personas, additional story events in the game, and a Hard Mode. This version has since been rereleased on the Platform/PlayStationNetwork as a [=PS2=] Classic for [=PS3=] only.
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24	Another UpdatedRerelease, ''Persona 3 Portable'', was also released on the Platform/PlayStationPortable in Japan on November 1st, 2009, in North America on July 6th, 2010, and in Europe on April 28th, 2011. Alongside its VisualNovel-esque style, it also incorporates many of the gameplay improvements featured in ''VideoGame/Persona4''[[note]]such as the ability to Guard and directly control your party members[[/note]], includes five difficulty levels (including the HarderThanHard "Maniac" difficulty) and adds the option to choose a [[GenderFlip female protagonist]], which provides a different take on the game's plot. It also includes a few {{Call Forward}}s to ''VideoGame/Persona4'', but lacks the epilogue chapter featured in ''FES''. ''Portable'' was released digitally on PC, Platform/PlayStation4, Platform/XboxOne, Platform/XboxSeriesXAndS, and Platform/NintendoSwitch on January 19, 2023. A physical release, courtesy of Limited Run Games, was released in late 2023.
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26	A VideoGameRemake built on the MediaNotes/UnrealEngine, ''VideoGame/Persona3Reload'', was announced on June 11th, 2023 and released on February 2, 2024 for PC, Platform/XboxOne, Platform/XboxSeriesXAndS, Platform/PlayStation4, and Platform/PlayStation5. Although the game includes [[https://gbatemp.net/threads/persona-3-reload-wont-feature-the-answer-or-the-female-protagonist-will-have-some-fes-content.634479/ features and story elements]] from ''FES'' and ''Portable'', it does not feature the Female Protagonist. ''[[PlayableEpilogue The Answer]]'' will be added in September 2024 as DLC.
27
28	[[folder:Spinoffs]]
29	!!Major Spin-offs
30	* ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'': A fighting game sequel to both ''VideoGame/Persona4'', as the name suggests, and to ''3''. It features Aigis, Mitsuru, Akihiko, Elizabeth, and Labrys[[note]]A character previously only featured in a Japan only Drama CD[[/note]] three years after the events of the game, in addition to the cast of ''4''.
31	** ''VideoGame/Persona4ArenaUltimax'': The sequel, which adds Yukari, Junpei, Ken, and Koromaru to the playable roster, along with Fuuka in a support role.
32	* ''VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth'': A {{Crossover}} with ''VideoGame/Persona4'' for the 3DS. Takes gameplay from ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey''.
33	** ''VideoGame/PersonaQ2NewCinemaLabyrinth'': A sequel that also includes [=P3P=]'s female protagonist and the cast of ''VideoGame/Persona5''.
34	* ''[[VideoGame/Persona3DancingInMoonlight Persona 3: Dancing In Moonlight]]'': A dancing spin-off similar to ''VideoGame/Persona4DancingAllNight'' that was released on the Playstaion 4 and Vita on May 24, 2018 alongside ''VideoGame/Persona5DancingInStarlight''.
35
36	!!Crossovers
37	* ''VideoGame/BlazBlueCrossTagBattle'': A MassiveMultiplayerCrossover spinoff of ''Franchise/BlazBlue'', which also features characters from ''Persona 4: Arena'', ''VideoGame/UnderNightInBirth'', ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' and more.
38
39	!!Other Media
40	* ''Manga/Persona3'': A manga that details the events of the game. It provided the first of many official names for the protagonist - in this case, "Minato Arisato."
41	* ''Anime/PersonaTrinitySoul'': Premiered January 5, 2008. A spinoff anime that takes place ten years after the game, but [[CanonDiscontinuity outside of the official continuity]].
42	* ''Anime/Persona3TheMovie'': A BigDamnMovie tetralogy. The movies provide the second official name for the game's protagonist - "Makoto Yuuki."
43	** ''Spring of Birth'': Released on November 23, 2013.
44	** ''Midsummer Knight's Dream'': Released on June 7, 2014.
45	** ''Falling Down'': Released on April 4, 2015.
46	** ''Winter of Rebirth'': Released on January 23, 2016.
47	* ''Theatre/Persona3TheWeirdMasquerade'': A stage play that features either the male or female protagonist, depending on the date. Like the Manga and the Movie, this provides new official names for them - "Sakuya Shiomi" and "Kotone Shiomi", respectively.
48	* And ''many'' Japanese-only materials, including several {{novelization}}s, mobile games, and product lines.
49	[[/folder]]
50
51	----
52	!!This game provides examples of:
53	[[index]]
54	* Persona3/TropesAToD
55	* Persona3/TropesEToN
56	* Persona3/TropesOToZ
57	[[/index]]
58	----
59	->''Oh, I will run,''\
60	''Burning all regret and dread...''\
61	''And I will face the sun''\
62	''With the pride of the living...''

Context VideoGame / Persona3