History VideoGame / Persona3

Every night [[WhenTheClockStrikesTwelve when the clock strikes midnight]], a phenomenon called "[[TheHiddenHour The Dark Hour]]" occurs. During this "hidden" hour of the day, ColourCodedTimestop 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.

''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 UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 and later the UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable. It released in Japan on July 13th, 2006, in North America on August 14th, 2007, and in Europe on February 29th, 2008.

An UpdatedRerelease, ''Persona 3 FES'' was released for the UsefulNotes/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 UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork as a [=PS2=] Classic for [=PS3=] only.

A VideoGameRemake, ''Persona 3 Portable'', was also released on the UsefulNotes/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, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS, and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch on January 19, 2023. A physical release, courtesy of Limited Run Games, was released in late 2023.

A second remake (this time in full HD and built on Unreal Engine), ''VideoGame/Persona3Reload'', was announced on June 11th with a release set for February 2, 2024. It will release on PC, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, and UsefulNotes/PlayStation5. Although the game will include [[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 will not feature ''[[PlayableEpilogue The Answer]]'' or the Female Protagonist.

* ArtifactTitle: The Xbox and [=PlayStation=] 4 releases keep the ''Portable'' subtitle, despite not being on the [=PlayStation=] Portable, or a portable system in general. Zig-Zagged in the Nintendo Switch's case, due to its nature of being a hybrid console, and the PC, due to the ability to play on portable devices like laptops or handheld [=PCs=] like the Steam Deck. The port gives a nod to this by having the save/load screen a recreation of the UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable one.

** In the request where you retrieve a handheld game console from Junpei, he mentions the handheld console's name being the "[[UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable COMPstation Portable]]". Must be a twist of fate.

** The Oracle command and the Summer Dream fusion spell were reworked in ''Portable'', but the English translators just copied the battle text from the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 version. This is often mistaken for a bug, when it is actually the battle messages not matching the new effects.

** Messiah's artwork shows that the Persona carries Thanatos' coffin lid cape on a chain tied around one of his arms; whilst this detail is present in the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 versions of the game, the coffin lids are missing from Messiah's model in ''Persona 3 Portable''.

** Her brother Theodore from the [[UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable PSP]] version is just as dangerous in combat, and possibly even more of a FishOutOfWater when it comes to dealing with human society.

* LogoJoke: The logos for ''Persona 3'' and ''Persona 3 FES'' use a custom [=7x7=] pixel typeface. With the logo for ''Persona 3 Portable'', it switches to the same typeface used in the UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable branding for the ''Portable'' portion of the logo.

%%* UsefulNotes/PatronSaints: The source of Fuuka's initial Persona, Lucia. Better known as Saint Lucy, she was a martyr from [[UsefulNotes/{{Italy}} Syracuse]] who was sentenced to death after refusing to burn a sacrifice. Holy spirits prevented her body from being moved even as guards tried to take her away, and bundles of wood were strewn about her and ignited, but would not burn. Lucia foretold the punishment of Syracuse's governor, Paschasius, and the end of the persecution, along with how several other members of the government would meet their end. Angered by this, Paschasius ordered his guards to [[EyeScream gouge Lucia's eyes out]], but she could still see and continued her prophesying. Finally, Lucia was killed when her throat was slashed, and in her death, she became revered as the Christian patron saint of the blind. In-game, Lucia the Persona wears bandages covering her eyes and throat, and Fuuka's bullying is likely an allegory for Lucia's unfair persecution and murder. Also as a Persona, Lucia allows Fuuka to [[MissionControl provide oversight for the party]] by scanning enemies and receiving information on the location of Shadows, fitting for Lucia's role as a prophet.

* TransgenderFetishization: During the BeachEpisode where the guys go out and try to pick up a girl, they find a girl that's interested in them only to discover that she is transgender/crossdressing. The scene is PlayedForLaughs and is one of the few examples of a girl who is aggressively pursuing sex.

A VideoGameRemake, ''Persona 3 Portable'', was also released on the UsefulNotes/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, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS, and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch on January 19, 2023. A physical release, courtesy of Limited Run Games, will be released in 2024.

** In ''The Answer'', the final door SEES opens is also the first one they entered in the beginning (the one that leads to Paulownia Mall).

* GoWaitOutside: Because the game follows a strict calendar time outside the dungeon, where each day is divided into time periods that some actions will advance. The antique shop owner always requires a day (or two, for everyone's ultimate weapons) to produce requested weapons.

* {{Pyrrhic Victory}}: The main game. Congratulations, you [[spoiler: saved the world and your friends from Nyx, and ended the dark hour... at the cost of you pulling a {{Heroic Sacrifice}} and leaving your friends behind, and it's shown in the Answer they don't take it well at first.]]

** The Japanese box art for ''Persona 3 FES'' features the Protagonist surrounded by a number of his school friends and Koromaru, whilst the American box art recycles the design used on the original release but replacing the three silhouettes with one of Aigis. Comparatively, the European box art features S.E.E.S lined up on one side of the box, facing off with their respective Personas on the opposite side.

** While it's not an official social link, a male main character is asked to show Elizabeth what sex is like during their last outing. The female main character can similarly win the affection of, and have an OptionalSexualEncounter with, [[DiscountLesbians Elizabeth]] or her younger brother Theodore. It's not clear exactly what Elizabeth and Theodore ''are,'' but whatever they are, it's not human, and as the game's {{Bonus Boss}}es they are just as if not more powerful than the above mentioned character.

* ShutUpHannibal: On January 31, [[spoiler:just below the top of Tartarus, Takaya confronts the heroes one final time, suggests that the end of the world is nigh and cannot be stopped, and asks why they are not celebrating the end of the world.]] Yukari responds succinctly:
-->'''Yukari:''' ''Will you shut up already!?''
** When he ''doesn't'' and continues his [[StrawNihilist nihilistic]] MotiveRant about "shining a light upon this darkened world", Junpei takes up the debate instead.
-->'''Junpei:''' ''You're so full of [[PrecisionFStrike shit]]! I'm not dying so you can have [[LiteralistSnarking a friggin' night-light]]!''

* DarkMagicalGirl:
** Chidori, a telepathic [[ElegantGothicLolita Gothic Lolita]] whose power is to heal others by draining her own life, [[spoiler:and who has known the day she would die since gaining her Persona]].
** Although a heroic example, Metis from ''The Answer'' gets ''extremely'' unhappy when it is even ''suggested'' she be left alone. It helps that her main color motif is black.

* ForWantOfANail: The [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable PSP]] version flirts with what would have happened had the main character been female instead of male. Of course, [[spoiler:the only thing she manages to do differently is indirectly save Shinjiro's life. Even then, he doesn't rejoin because he's in a coma for the rest of the game]].

** FES didn't introduce a new track for when the player successfully ambushes an enemy; ''Persona 4 Golden'' had "Time to Make History" and ''Persona 5 Royal'' had "Take Over". [=FES=] instead introduced a remixed version of the original's battle theme, "Mass Destruction" which plays during The Answer. ''VideoGame/Persona3Reload'' would eventually introduce a new battle track for successful ambushes called "It's Going Down".

** The title screen theme of ''FES'' is a rather melancholy piano instrumental. The credits theme for epilogue chapter ''The Answer'' is a cheerful, vocal remix of it.
** The protagonist is listening to a remix of the game's main theme in the opening, muffled from his headphones. [[spoiler:For the final boss, the song reappears in high-quality glory]].

** The first few days of the game have Yukari and Mitsuru telling you to go to bed, stating you must be tired. Cue to the end of the game [[spoiler:after you beat Nyx]] where the game beats you over the head with text boxes and characters saying you look exhausted and that you need to go to bed.

** Narratively speaking, the story begins when Death is sealed inside the protagonist when Aegis couldn't defeat him ([[FlashBack though this isn't revealed until very late in the game]]). The story ends when the protagonist uses his/her soul to seal Death away to prevent The Fall.

*** High Counter went from 50% activation rate in vanilla to 20% in ''FES''.

*** Byakko was nerfed hard between vanilla and ''FES''. In vanilla, Byakko was the Ultimate Persona of the Temperance Arcana and was a contender as one of the best Personas in the game. It was Phys-based with a very solid set of skills in Deathbound[[note]]High BP Slash skill, targets all enemies, 25% crit chance.[[/note]], High Counter[[note]]Passive, 50% chance to counter Phys attacks in vanilla.[[/note]], Endure[[note]]Survive with 1 HP upon taking a fatal hit.[[/note]], and Fist Master[[note]]Boosts damage inflicted with glove-type weapons.[[/note]]. Byakko's magic side was not bad either, being Ice-based (drains Ice as well) and having the all-target Mabufudyne as an innate skill, which can be boosted further with Ice Amp which Byakko can also learn. In ''FES'', Byakko's position is usurped by Yurlungur and changed to be Elec-based, but this change brought down Byakko's skill set to be less powerful. ''FES'' Byakko keeps Deathbound and Endure, but loses out High Counter and Fist Master. The Zio family dominates the magic side, but ''FES'' Byakko only learns Elec Boost by level up, requiring inheritance to get Amp. And though the change from draining Ice to Elec is obvious and the addition of Slash resistance is nice, ''FES'' Byakko gains an additional weakness to Fire (totaling 2 weaknesses counting Dark).

* GoingCommando: [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]]. Cute kid Ken asks the girls if they're wearing underwear under their kimonos during the New Year's festival (note that in several regions of Japan, kimonos really aren't worn with anything underneath), mentioning overhearing it from Junpei. The girls aren't very amused. When Ken later asks if Junpei was telling the truth, the protagonist can either confirm or deny or simply dodge the question.

** FES didn't introduce a new track for when the player successfully ambushes an enemy; ''Persona 4 Golden'' had "Time to Make History" and ''Persona 5 Royal'' had "Take Over". [=FES=] instead introduced a remixed version of the original's battle theme, "Mass Destruction" which plays during The Answer.

** Also, in [=P3P=], you can dress the guys up in butler outfits, even Koromaru and there are new {{Sexy Santa Dress}}es for Aigis, Mitsuru and Yukari. Aigis in particular looks great and gives the funniest quote in the whole game to boot.

* FestivalEpisode: Has two: The Summer Festival on August and the New Year's Festival on January 1st.
* FetchQuest: Most of Elizabeth's requests fall under this category. She'll usually demand X number of some item found from specific enemies. And some of them require you to hunt down the game's MetalSlime.

** The opening has a shot of the main dorm the protagonist is staying in overlayed with shots of Pharos, Ryoji, and the protagonist himself, heavily implying all three are linked.

** Also, [[spoiler:[[OptionalBoss The Reaper]]]] has exactly 4444 HP.

** Happens to the S.E.E.S (except Koromaru) as they obtain their respective Ultimate Persona, especially [[spoiler:Junpei who receives his in the middle of a fight against Strega, while the others simply obtain theirs in their free time.]] This upgrade is also reflected in gameplay as their resistance upgrades into an immunity and they begin learning stronger skills in the higher levels.

* UnbrokenVigil:
** Yukari keeps one for the Protagonist, after they collapse and spend a week in a coma after awakening to their power.
** Junpei holds one for [[spoiler:Chidori]], after their capture and hospitalisation following the September Full Moon.

** Almost the entire soundtrack is in English, despite being sung entirely by Japanese people. Lotus Juice's rapping doesn't sound too bad because he was raised in America, but Yumi Kawamura's vocals can be very, very difficult to make out. The only Japanese vocal songs in the game are the credits themes of both ''the Journey'' and ''the Answer'', and "Soul Phrase", the new intro theme for the ''Portable'' remake.

A VideoGameRemake, ''Persona 3 Portable'', was also released on the UsefulNotes/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 on PC, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS, and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch on January 19, 2023.

* ThreeAmigos:
** The dynamic between the Protagonist, Junpei, and Yukari. Tellingly, this is maintained even in the Bad Ending, wherein [[spoiler:everyone loses their memories of the past year]].
** Akihiko, Mitsuru, and Shinjiro were also the original founding members of SEES. Interesting enough, they're also the only two characters Mitsuru is on first name basis with as well.

* TwoGuysAndAGirl: Let's see the groups of three introduced in the plot (though for the second and third points, the protagonist is a wild card case for ''Portable'', thus, this trope only applies if the player chose the male protagonist's route):
** The initial members of S.E.E.S. (the third-years) - Akihiko, Shinjiro, and Mitsuru
** The initial playable party members (the second-years) - The male protagonist, Junpei, and Yukari
** The people present at the [[spoiler:flashback scene at Moonlight Bridge]] - The male protagonist, Ryoji, and Aigis
** The members of Strega - Takaya, Jin, Chidori

** The Glossary description for New Year's Eve [[spoiler:mentions the choice of either killing Ryoji or having everyone's knowledge of the Fall erased... except the later is the result of the former. The correct choice is to spare Ryoji and fight Nyx, or kill Ryoji and erase everyone's knowledge of the Fall]].

* GeniusBruiser: Once your Academics reach level 6, the protagonist officially becomes a "Genius". They're probably also the one dishing out the most damage in Tartarus.

* ManualLeaderAIParty: You can choose your allies' style of moves (general, offensive, healing, etc.) but not control their actions directly. ''Portable'' and ''Reload'' added direct control option to them, although in ''Portable'' it defaults to "Act Freely" A.I. control and has to be changed manually.

* MomentKiller: Happens to the protagonist and Yukari at Yakushima Island (courtesy of Junpei, of course...).

* NobodyHereButUsBirds: During the trip to Kyoto, the guys stay in the hotsprings when they change over to the girls' turn. In ''Portable'', at one point the male protagonist can attempt to distract Yukari by imitating a cat. When she questions if it was a fox, [[TooDumbToLive he can insist it was a cat.]]

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Subverted with [[spoiler:Ikutsuki.]] After TheReveal, it seems that all of his [[spoiler:terrible jokes]] were just an act to throw off suspicion. However, a video of him in FES shows that [[spoiler:he still makes those jokes when no one is around, and he finds them genuinely funny.]]

* OldSaveBonus: Creating a new game in ''FES'' when you have save data from the original ''Persona 3'' lets you carry over the following from that save; Your Academics, Charm, and Courage rankings, discovered Fusion Spells list, any key items you possess that unlock Persona fusions, and your Persona compendium (However, the Personas in your compendium will be reset to their base level, stats, and skills).