Summary

Release Year: 2007
Genres: Role-playing game (RPG), Simulator, Visual Novel
Platforms: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3
Developers: Atlus
Publishers: Atlus, Atlus USA, Koei

Persona 3 FES: A Journey Through Darkness and Hope

Released in 2007 for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable, Persona 3 FES is an enhanced version of the critically acclaimed JRPG Persona 3. FES includes all of the content from the original game, as well as a new epilogue story, The Answer, which adds over 30 hours of additional gameplay.

Persona 3 FES tells the story of a group of Japanese high school students who are tasked with fighting against Shadows, creatures that prey on the minds of humans. The students are able to summon Personas, powerful manifestations of their inner selves, which they use to battle the Shadows.

The game’s story is dark and complex, exploring themes of death, grief, and the meaning of life. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the game’s world is rich and atmospheric. The gameplay is challenging and rewarding, and the game’s soundtrack is one of the best in the JRPG genre.

The Journey

The Journey is the main story of Persona 3 FES. It follows the protagonist, a high school student who transfers to Gekkoukan High School in April 2009. Shortly after arriving at the school, the protagonist is attacked by a Shadow and is saved by a mysterious girl named Aigis.

The protagonist soon learns that he is a Persona-user, and that he and his fellow students are members of SEES (Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad), a group of students who fight against Shadows. SEES is led by Shuji Ikutsuki, a teacher at Gekkoukan High School, and the group is tasked with investigating the Dark Hour, a hidden hour that occurs between midnight and 1:00 AM.

During the Dark Hour, Shadows roam the streets of Japan, preying on the minds of humans. SEES must use their Personas to fight the Shadows and protect the innocent. As the game progresses, the protagonist and his friends learn more about the Dark Hour and the Shadows, and they must face their own inner demons in order to save the world.

The Answer

The Answer is a new epilogue story that was added to Persona 3 FES. The story takes place after the events of The Journey, and it follows Aigis as she investigates the events of the Dark Hour and the disappearance of the protagonist.

The Answer is a challenging and rewarding experience that sheds new light on the events of The Journey. It also features new characters, new Personas, and a new ending.

Gameplay

Persona 3 FES is a turn-based JRPG. The player controls a party of up to three characters, and each character can summon a Persona to fight in battle. Personas have their own unique abilities and strengths, and the player must use strategy to exploit the weaknesses of their enemies.

In addition to battling Shadows, the player must also manage their time between exploring the game’s world, attending school, and building relationships with other characters. The player’s choices will affect the story and the ending of the game.

Characters

Persona 3 FES features a cast of well-developed and relatable characters. The protagonist is a silent protagonist, but the player is able to choose their gender and name. The other members of SEES include:

Junpei Iori: A cheerful and outgoing boy who is always looking for a good time.
Yukari Takeba: A shy and reserved girl who is struggling to come to terms with the death of her father.
Mitsuru Kirijo: A wealthy and intelligent girl who is the leader of SEES.
Akihiko Sanada: A strong and athletic boy who is struggling with his own inner demons.
Fuuka Yamagishi: A timid and insecure girl who is the navigator of SEES.
Ken Amada: A young boy who is struggling to cope with the death of his parents.
Koromaru: A loyal and intelligent dog who is the mascot of SEES.

Themes

Persona 3 FES explores a number of dark and complex themes, including death, grief, and the meaning of life. The game asks the player to confront their own mortality and to find hope in the face of adversity.

The game also explores the power of friendship and the importance of working together to achieve a common goal. SEES is a group of people from different backgrounds who come together to fight against a common enemy. Through their shared experiences, they learn to trust and rely on each other, and they form bonds that will last a lifetime.

Legacy

Persona 3 FES is considered to be one of the greatest JRPGs of all time. The game has been praised for its story, characters, gameplay, and music. Persona 3 FES has been re-released on multiple platforms, and it remains popular with fans today.

The Persona series has gone on to become one of the most popular JRPG franchises in the world. The latest game in the series, Persona 5 Royal, was released in 2020 and was met with critical acclaim. The Persona series has sold over 15 million copies worldwide, and it continues to grow in popularity.