persona persona role playing video game developed fourth installment persona series franchise persona originally published playstation japan north american release game delayed issues publication official art book add disc titled persona containing director cut original game new epilogue released alongside japan territories release persona player takes role male high school student joins group students investigating time period day people aware player enters large tower containing shadows creatures feed minds humans fight shadows member sees able summon persona manifestation person inner self game iconic feature method members sees release firing gun like object called head addition standard elements role playing games includes elements simulation games game protagonist progresses day day school year making friends forming relationships improve strength battle official soundtracks persona persona portable arrangement album containing music multiple games persona series music game performed live concerts dedicated persona series persona seen manga adaption multiple radio dramas critical reception mainly positive reviewers enjoyed game social elements found combat environments repetitive persona epilogue said narrative closure original game criticized featuring simulation aspect persona playstation portable version titled persona portable released japan november north_america july remake adds ability play female protagonist new story elements music new interface designed original non canon anime set years events titled released japan later north_america fighting games continued storyline select members persona arena released respectively gameplay persona combines elements traditional role playing games simulation games game follows protagonist character balancing daily life going school building relationships people fighting evil beings known shadows mysterious day divided time zones common evening exception scripted events plot progression special events player free choose day spent activities causing time pass types activities characters interacted vary depending day week time day additionally activities limited protagonist attributes academics charm courage built performing activities making certain correct choices evening players choose visit game main dungeon build party experience gain new items day moon players participate boss battle order progress story main element game creatures monsters associated major persona set strengths weaknesses possess abilities ranging offensive support abilities passive abilities support character game main characters persona change form story progresses protagonist capable wielding multiple switched battles new created visiting velvet room multiple passing certain moves player create limited current level protagonist obtained shuffle time following battles previously obtained summoned persona fee velvet room additionally allows players quests certain items order obtain reward new series bonds formed game characters representing specific major spending time characters increase rank creating persona particular experience bonus granted possesses greater bonuses awarded depending rank performing certain activities carrying persona respective help bring social link closer increasing rank gives players ability create specific conversely negative actions incorrect dialogue choices dating multiple characters result prevent players fixed worst case scenario break effectively removing game combat game main dungeon visited evening provided conditions allow absence characters prevent player visiting night player order party members split explore area automatically attack shadows sight players eventually come boss floors player defeat powerful shadows order continue progress additionally certain floors halt progress tower story progresses occasionally innocent civilians winding certain floors rescuing civilians safely moon appears grants bonus rewards obtained police station spending time cause characters tired sick affect performance battle additionally protagonist tired sick activities studying night hampered players recover status taking certain items visiting going bed early battle occurs player comes contact shadow floor battle party consisting close proximity attacking shadow noticed player advantage whilst enemy gains advantage player attacked battles use press turn system allies enemies turns attack weapons items persona abilities tactics option player assign specific battle party member persona portable choose issue direct commands offensive attacks divided physical types strike slash pierce elements electricity wind light dark attributes shadows possess strengths weaknesses physical abilities use whilst support magic use exploiting enemy weakness performing critical attack characters knock opponent granting character extra turn enemies advantage ally weakness gain additional turn player manages knock opponents granted opportunity perform attack able party members assault enemies massive damage allies lose revived revival items abilities protagonist loses game end battle won players gain experience points divided party members earning experience allows increase level granting improved stats new abilities grant given teach new abilities raising protagonist level allow higher level summoned velvet room allow player carry end certain battles known shuffle time appear players select card set grant bonuses additional experience points cash restored health player new selecting cursed card cause extremely powerful monster death appear current floor plot setting story takes place japanese city called built funded experiments carried years ago created period time exists day time people aware select group people aren dark hour bends reality characters attend school day huge tower called known shadows area minds conscious shadows leave victims near states outside investigate learn shadows specialized execution squad sees created sees group high capable beings known combat shadows persona instruction manual describes second soul deep person heart entirely different personality emerges person confronted outside world persona users usually summon persona firing gun like object called head characters main character silent protagonist named player start game teenage boy orphaned child returning city grew years prior attend learning ability summon persona joins sees composed students school popular cheerful girl calm collected senior leads school boxing team president daughter head provides backup battle game progresses sees gains new members class clown protagonist best friend shy girl replaces support character female android designed fight shadows middle mother killed persona user member sees quit past events dog capable persona story persona begins protagonist transferring moving city learning ability summon persona asked join sees eventually elected leader combat additional members join sees time students attending recently discovered ability summon persona arm injury prevented fighting replaces team support member awakening persona ability protagonist transported proprietor says realm dream reality explains persona ability special member sees capable wielding multiple battle game velvet room player fuse create new encourages protagonist meet people form bonds known according power determine potential combat nights moon city attacked shadow powerful ones found incidents forced reveal team origin years earlier research company founded grandfather began containing shadows studied performed experiments order harness power experiments went allowing shadows escape assemble larger creatures affiliated major sees leader informs defeat greater shadows dark hour disappear forever year continues group adds persona users team protagonist encounter recently escaped laboratory kept despite having years reasons explain need near protagonist breaking room night monitor enlisted sees defeating twelfth final shadow sees learns destroying greater shadows freed parts known bring end world fully restored maternal creator shadows drawn earth death shadow death sees encounters disguised recent transfer student shadow experiments performed years earlier created death shadow albeit incomplete state unable defeat shadow sealed inside protagonist child time defeating greater shadows death shadow recreated purpose usher world bring extinction human race insists defeated offers sees alternative kill memories allowing continue life unaware impending death realizes wanted protect protagonist begins believe useless urges sees kill defeat encouragement friends gains resolve join sees attempt fight december new year eve player decide kill protagonist kills game cuts graduation day entirety sees barring losing memories shadows ending dark note prepare celebrate ignorance inevitably brings fall spared game continues january sees roof face transformed able defeat continues descend earth happening protagonist summoned reminds power determine potential protagonist hears voices friends encouraging strength grants power universe allowing seal away humanity world returns normal memories past year related lost members sees protagonist remember graduation day roof school members sees promised meet stop live graduation gives graduation speech rest sees suddenly regain memories group rush roof fulfill promise thanks protagonist giving purpose life protecting development design persona began development completion digital devil saga march details persona unveiled japanese gaming magazine addition announcing game japanese release date july page article detailed game premise combat systems social link system known community japanese version characters protagonist respective main character artist art director character artist previous persona titles gave job gain experience felt degree pressure designing characters want series fanbase goal players series feel supported persona series interview compared game aesthetic style manga citing use like persona flamboyant returned design character anime cutscenes persona animated animation production company interview magazine play lead director persona discussed decision party members directed artificial intelligence think fun party members controlled member characteristics personality vivid display objections raised persona development team notes system wasn received players game later use secondary party members described stylistic choice representing game theme conquering fear death bonds character person player influence things interacting persona include negotiation elements previous persona games allowed players talk enemies battle recruit earn money obtain items social elements successor persona considered equivalent negotiation system development team said interview negotiation isn gone factors big game feel like disguised localization localization handled process team worked leave original japanese content intact continuing trend started ideas team persona use medium introducing japanese culture western audience english speaking countries characters original japanese script retained according use added meaning text interview project editor explained process translation japanese humor things absolutely sense western culture replaced jokes somewhat parallel originals changes needed school tests based questions english language similar change second language original version english localized version second language changed french choice influenced appearance addition game references original altered references revelations persona music soundtrack composed entirely sole exception act composed released disc soundtrack japan july selection tracks soundtrack bundled north american release game arranged album titled burn persona released japan april contains arrangements tracks persona extended version song burn stated development opportunities fully realize music video games soundtrack features high use vocals consider special exceptional tune previous persona titles rearranged aria soul theme velvet room game battle theme mass destruction originally prototype reception positive went final game past hardware limitations original playstation required compose music samples felt music sound pretty cheap playstation allowed real time streaming music considers point finally able express music making worried pronunciation english lyrics returned compose new music persona released japan soundtrack contained original score arrangements music earlier games persona series snow queen composed remix theme revelations persona maya theme composed time castle composed remixes tracks persona innocent sin persona portable contains new background music heard player chooses control game new female protagonist game official soundtrack released japan november remakes persona persona add disc persona containing updates original game new epilogue player controls released japan april stand game director cut version persona overseas combined edition published north_america april europe october according game director subtitle derived word festival version game released ps2 classic players original persona given option transferring certain data original version save file player social related stats items expansion addition adding new content main game referred journey episode japanese version includes epilogue original story titled answer episode japanese version core gameplay answer similar journey social link system removed player attend school answer events answer begin march shortly end original game opening sequence revealed protagonist died characters speculate death related defeating school year ended closed soon reveals group attending school year dinner party sees members discover trapped day march repeating later large door like hole opens floor sees attacked anti shadow weapon similar midst fighting protect friends persona transforms original persona protagonist gains protagonist ability able subdue actions attempt end time skip save calls sister underneath abyss time cause time skip abyss contains seven doors contain multi floor dungeons similar design areas game combat takes place dungeon characters witness event past member sees seeing flashbacks characters event shown door relates person awakened persona seventh final door sees fights shadow like version protagonist defeating obtain key combining keys able end time skip leave presents sees alternative instead door use keys travel time fight death protagonist unable agree use keys characters determine fight decide claim keys fuse final key debating discover new door abyss time group uses final key travel moment protagonist sealed world explains purpose seal created protagonist seal away inherently evil prevent humanity despair calling bringing fall mankind despair wish death constantly monster called summons destroy world implies contact caused fall prevented sees sees realizes wishes created came fight able defeat points return humans stop wishing death breaking time skip exiting door rest sees summoned pleasant surprise learn true origins manifestation personality distraught death protagonist longer wanted live like human wished return machine set free abyss time changes mind deciding continue attend school chosen earlier persona portable persona portable enhanced port playstation portable released japan november released north_america july came europe april april announcement revealed player option play female character selection aspects story persona gained protagonist different appearance assistant velvet room elizabeth replaced male equivalent named gender choice aspects social link stories addition new playable character new difficulty levels select alongside original game persona portable includes story original general changes plot regardless character choice game revised battle system draws elements added persona successor combat player able directly control character alternative utilizing game artificial intelligence ability guard added allies fatal attacks protagonist preventing death outside instead navigating game world directly controlling protagonist player guides screen area allowing interaction characters objects game includes voice acting original game characters shown world instead represented screen portraits addition anime cutscenes seen original persona replaced feature game graphics composed new musical tracks persona portable majority written female protagonist cameos characters persona added persona portable including playable character persona features cameo protagonist catherine persona shadow labyrinth persona shadow labyrinth dungeon rpg developed nintendo 3ds features characters persona ones persona includes gameplay elements odyssey series persona campaign starts weeks october alive available playable character sees prepares enter night pulled velvet room sent school seen searching area meet pulled strange school work order escape game released japan june north_america november europe november release original playstation version released japan sold copies week copies overall japan north american release persona shipped collector edition box containing game soundtrack disc page art book game original release date july encountered problem manufacturing art book days intended ship date instead shipping game book company decided push release weeks august issued press release explaining delaying game maintain quality package compromised revise abandon deluxe package persona released alongside original game forms regular edition containing director cut version new epilogue separate discs edition containing epilogue single disc persona expansion released simultaneously japan april time announced plans release outside japan announcement come february game north american release date revealed april exclusive limited edition bundle released november containing persona soundtrack disc edition cardboard sleeve edition game released april persona portable released stand game bundle package includes shirt desk calendar game bundle known persona portable sells month release persona portable sold copies japan north american release offered hat pre order bonus purchasing persona portable critical reception persona received positive reviews release earning metacritic score shane called game new concept best rpg hitting ps2 year praised excellent created direct actions party members battle felt created series dynamic battle system date ign criticized system finding occasionally result death player character causes game gave game score calling rare supernatural stating rpg fans genre shouldn miss gamespy praised social elements calling game social links universally fascinating suspected simulation elements probably biggest fans role playing games review wrote stress gamesradar found game teenage themes refreshing change games genre touch social common point life game informer found game environments weak game takes place tower review noted game roots series come foreign new players don know simply means ice attack catching persona received score metacritic slightly higher persona plot answer provides needed narrative closure story journey according called wonderfully enhanced version great rpg review recommends game new players finished original game gameplay answer criticized reviewers including social elements original game found new chapter interesting commented change classic hardcore rpg experience fighting grinding expense persona intriguing place reviews gamespy ign reiterated issues found original game inability directly control party members battle critics like ign criticized losing polish acclaimed receiving metacritic making best reviewed game website praised despite having released twice adventure worth playing echoed gamesradar ign gamepro received score famitsu reviewer wrote remake includes differences fun old players perfect scores websites gamepro went nominate game best game awards losing god war ghost best rpg losing mass effect websites specific coverage honored annual award rpgfan handheld best port considered inclusion shocking felt inclusion created edgy fits perfectly overall dark tone game similarly thought concept fit perfectly game dark tone found animations characters intriguing shocking time gamespot said continued use gets old gets awesome watch considering play seventy eighty hours saying remove persona worldwide release despite possible controversy said company receive criticism inclusion didn letters concerned parents persona named best role playing game famitsu gamespot rpgfan gamespy gave title ps2 rpg year award placed second ps2 games year ign placed persona fifteenth feature ps2 games time game awards ran march issue electronic gaming monthly included given award controversial game created controversy persona ended coming place decade list second place rpgfan past decade list according ign time persona ranks media merchandise characters produced japanese toy company include protagonist game parts weapon stored base alter japanese company released scale worn protagonist sold model japan version collaborated japanese publishing company publish game multiple strategy guides detailing character setting designs recently announced release english edition released june manga manga adaptation written illustrated published monthly japanese magazine went hiatus released began starting november moving official june volumes released anime non canonical spin anime titled persona aired japan starting january ran episodes taking place years events game anime features secondary character licensed released half season deluxe edition box sets original japanese audio track films june end newly released film announced persona receive film series adaptation produced directed main japanese voice actors original game reprised roles film series radio drama series radio dramas based persona persona released japan persona drama certain day summer features original story voiced game original cast vol links story epilogue released persona february june series character dramas released cds volumes respectively focus protagonist early volume story released
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3