Persona 3 Portable Reviews

Jung’s theory aside, Persona 3 is all about the time we have, how we choose to spend it and who we choose to spend it with. In this light, the game’s true mechanics shine. The relationships that we forge can—and this is probably true in life—affect our ultimate outcome. And time? Well, it’s hard to think of a better way to spend 50+ hours than getting points for scarfing down takoyaki and fighting bad guys.

Like a blessing from the JRPG gods, Atlus and Sega have shone their favour upon gamers and bestowed Persona 3 Portable to us to play on modern consoles. Hailing from the post-Golden Age of JRPGs in the mid-2000s, Persona 3 Portable was originally an updated version of the PS2 classic Persona 3; a dark, brooding teen drama which helped bring Persona into the wider JRPG fan consciousness. The Portable edition launched on PSP in 2009 and added a bunch of features not seen in the original release...

Persona 3 Portable is a remaster of a fantastic entry into the series and runs wonderfully on the Steam Deck so far!

Persona 3 Portable was a gem when it came to the PlayStation Portable nearly thirteen years ago, but it was very much meant for the hardware of its time. The remaster has no doubt been touched up, the vast majority for the better, but with that said, this does feel like a portable game from nearly twenty years ago. The PlayStation 2 versions may have been a better pick for remastering, despite losing out on some content. Regardless, Persona 3 Portable is still a fantastic entry, kicking off the subseries that ended up surpassing the mainline Shin Megami Tensei titles. It features a solid cast of characters, a remarkable storyline and an addictive combat system -- even though it hasn’t aged as well as we had hoped. Whether you’re a returning or Persona-curious gamer, this is a phenomenal value.

Persona 3 Portable stripped Persona 3 down to its bare essentials just to get the game running on the PSP. Playing that same game on a home console without any significant changes, even at a budget price, feels incredibly underwhelming, especially with Persona 4 Golden releasing alongside it. Yes, the skeleton of Persona 3 is still there. The problem is that there's hardly any meat on its bones. When you pair that with the fact that there still isn't a single definitive edition of Persona 3 on any platform 17 years after its release, it feels like Atlus is neglecting one of its most beloved games.

Persona 3 Portable on PS4 doesn’t do much at all to enhance what was already there to begin with, looking like a sharpened version of its former self. Regardless, there’s a strong entry here, exploring some darker concepts than the modern mainline games. It may not have the same style as the newer entries, but it sure delivers on concepts.

The story, characters, and overall loop of Persona 3 Portable are vital for anyone that is on the fence about the series as a whole. And despite showing its age a bit in sections, the combat is still rewarding and satisfying, solidifying the game's place as one of the premier RPG titles in all of gaming.

Experience the iconic, critically acclaimed RPG that reinvented the Persona series, Persona 3 Portable, now newly remastered for modern platforms.

But all that doesn’t make this a bad game. Persona 3 Portable is still a good way to experience what made that PlayStation 2 game so special. This port adds some new features, too. Namely custom difficulty options that can be changed on the fly, new language options, and a quick save feature (not needed for Series owners). Dual dubbing between English and Japanese, too. PC controls are fine, but the UI is a bit cumbersome to browse. Play Anywhere works great, per usual, and I loved how I could jump between my console and laptop when I was out and about.

This remaster may be closer to a simple upscale, but Persona 3 Portable is still an incredible game that set the standard for modern Persona. The game looks and runs great no matter what you play it on, with a few caveats. While this probably won’t settle the debate about P3’s definitive version, it’s great to have it easily available.

Persona 3 Portable ages like fine wine as an excellent JRPG that caters to handheld play sessions on Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck. The game's iconic style, incredible story, humorous cast, and emotional moments are beautifully remastered for modern platforms. The remaster's new features and quality of life improvements make this version the best way to play Persona 3 right away.

This isn't the definitive version of Persona 3 that it could have been, but it's hard to deny that the game is still highly enjoyable all the same.

Persona 3 Portable creates a compelling story and interweaves global danger with the importance of building up friendships around you. Portable brings with it some good enhancements even if it's not the 'perfect' way to play it. The Tartarus mega-dungeon however wears out its welcome quickly as you tediously climb.

Persona 3 Portable creeps along, but it's still top-class.

Persona 3 Portable on Switch is a dream come true for me. I have been fantasizing about this title coming to home console for years. However, Persona 3 is a PlayStation 2-era game and Persona 3 Portable started as a PSP-era remake. A remake for a handheld console at that. This game was always going to look old, and it definitely does. The question is whether one of the best games for the PS2 is still worth playing on Nintendo Switch.

While Persona 3 Portable’s monotonous slog through Tartarus might not have aged all that well, its narrative, characters, and soundtrack most certainly have. It’s great to finally experience the roots of the Persona franchise and the birth of the Social Link on Xbox.

To sum it all up, Persona 3: Portable is a definite must have for PSP owners. Whether you’re new to the series or not, it’s definitely a fun game with several hours worth of gameplay. While the port may be imperfect, it still does a decent job at capturing the PS2 experience and making it a nice, delectable, pocket-sized treat. A portable port of one of the arguably most popular PS2 JRPGs, it captures the core gameplay of the original and puts it in the accessible packaging of the PSP. While some aspects had to be sacrificed for the port due to the PSP’s limitations, it’s still every bit as enjoyable as the original game. If you loved Persona 3, then you’re definitely going to enjoy the portable version. If you’re completely new to the series, then this makes an excellent point of entry.

Persona 3 Portable is what happens when Persona 3 and Persona 3 FES decide to fuse together in one tiny handheld system. It basically contains all the improvements from FES and has a new female protagonist you can play as that adds new story options to the social links. My gut tells me to recommend this game to anyone with a PSP but I’m going to be honest and tell you this will be hit or miss with many people. You’ll either love wandering around in the Tartarus grinding up your party and building your social links or you’re going to hate how tedious it can all feel.

Here's another take on Persona 3 Portable. Does it still hold the appeal of the original when draped in feminine clothing?