bit-tech Shopping: Atlus Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES (PS2)

Rating: 10

Time with product: 4 Months

Strengths: Nearly two games in one

Weaknesses: Content not for everyone

Summary: Persona 3 was an excellent 3D dungeon crawler in the famed Shin Megami Tensei series of role-playing games from Atlus. Just released last year, it was a great purchase on its own. But this year, Atlus has taken it one step further by releasing the game yet again, along with its expansion (very nearly a completely new game) for an even lower price. Any fans of the genre should pick this up ASAP.

Rating: 8

Time with product:

Strengths: Great Game & Price for those that missed out on the original Persona 3 release

Weaknesses: There is a lot to do in the game so you may have many sleepless nights

Summary: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES is a continuation of the great Playstation series this time on the PS2. With Persona 3 FES, Altus added extra content and tweaks to the original which was already a great game. If you are not a fan of the traditional RPG grinding, this game may not be for you since it is a long game and will require so level grinding to beat some bosses. The high school setting works well for the story and the variety of characters you meet along the way are helpful in your battles. If you had a mild interest in the Persona series, this is a great title to pick up as it is jam packed with RPG goodness.

Rating: 10

Time with product:

Strengths: A re-release of the classic RPG Persona 3 but with improvements and tons of new content

Weaknesses: N/A

Summary: Persona 3 FES is a re-release of the Playstation 2 classic role playing game Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3. But it is much more than a simple reprinting, though that in itself would be much appreciated as the first game cost more originally ($50 vs $30 for FES) and is now nearly impossible to find at retail and commands a premium on the secondary market. Sure, Persona 3 FES doesn't come with the art book that the original came with, but it does come with an astounding amount of new content. There are two portions to the game: The Journey and The Answer. The Journey is the revamped main game from the original release. However, there have been several changes including more Personas (which are kind of like spirit representations of people you meet during the normal daytime), different tests taken during the daytime school work, and tons of new equipment to take into the dungeons (at night when the Shadows come out to do battle). You can bring over portions of your save file from the original game when restarting in FES and this will give you an advantage. Also, if you just want to play the entirely new content, you can simply move on to the second part, The Answer. This is a completely new follow-up to the original story and can be played right away if you desire. All in all, Persona 3 FES has got to be one of the greatest values out there for the RPG enthusiast. It not only makes a previously hard to find title more accessible and cheaper, but adds a vast array of improvements and new content to the original title.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: Great gameplay. Story. Content. Graphics.

Weaknesses: None

Summary: FEs is a rerelease of Persona 3, possibly the best game of 2007. Fes is a fantastic RPG. It does have adult themes so I would not recommend it for children. But otherwise it's a great game for teens onward. The story and gameplay are fantastic, there's ton of extra content, and the price is good. Buy it!

Rating: 10

Time with product: 4 Months

Strengths: Good blend of sim and RPG. Good character development and story. Great art style. Catchy tunes. Large variety of personaes. Value priced with bonus content.

Weaknesses: FES should have been released from the beginning.

Summary: Persona 3 FES is the director's cut to the original that includes some slight tweaks, additional personaes and an expansion adventure/dungeon after the original ending. The game is part JRPG, part dating sim where social interactions are key to developing your persona. As the hero and eventual defacto leader of a special group of kids who can summon personaes (in a disturbing yet oddly uncontroversial way), your goal is to unravel the mystery that surrounds your town at midnight by fighting the "Shadows" in the Tartarus tower but still attend school and make friends like any other teen. Similar to Persona 2, the game relies on personaes that are sealed in Tarot cards which Igor helps to fuse into much stronger ones in the Velvet Room. The key gameplay like many of the Shin Megami Tensei games is to summon the correct persona, exploit an enemy's weakness and take advantage of the battle. With its engrossing story, character development, mature content, social interactions, addicting gameplay and additional content, every RPG fan should have this game in their collection. My only minor gripe was that Atlus should have released FES in the first place but I cannot really complain since FES made it to North America. Remember to support this underappreciated franchise when Persona 4 comes to America.