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{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Short description|2006 video game}}
{{Good article}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Persona 3
| image = Persona3cover.jpg
| caption = Japanese cover art
| alt = Cover art depicting the protagonist in front of his Persona, along with the game's logo
| developer = [[Atlus]]
| publisher = {{Video game release|JP/NA|Atlus|EU|[[Koei]] (PS2)|AUS|[[THQ]] (PS2)|EU|Ghostlight (PSP)|WW|[[Sega]] (NS, PS4, Win, XBO, XSX)}}
| director = {{Unbulleted list|[[Katsura Hashino]]|Azusa Kido (''Portable'')}}
| producer = Katsura Hashino
| designer = {{Unbulleted list|Daisuke Kanada|Azusa Kido (''Portable'')}}
| programmer = {{Unbulleted list|Hirokazu Tohyama|Nobuyoshi Miwa (''Portable'')}}
| artist = {{ubl|[[Shigenori Soejima]]|Kazuhisa Wada|Mumon Usuda (''Portable'')}}
| writer = {{ubl|Yuichiro Tanaka|Azusa Kido (''Portable'')}}
| composer = [[Shoji Meguro]]
| series = ''[[Persona (series)|Persona]]''
| platforms = {{ubl|[[PlayStation 2]]|[[PlayStation Portable]]|[[Nintendo Switch]]|[[PlayStation 4]]|[[Windows]]|[[Xbox One]]|[[Xbox Series X/S]]}}
| released = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|July 13, 2006}}|'''''Persona 3'''''|'''PlayStation 2'''{{vgrelease|JP|July 13, 2006|NA|August 14, 2007|EU|February 29, 2008|AUS|March 6, 2008}}'''''Persona 3 FES'''''|'''PlayStation 2'''{{Video game release|JP|April 19, 2007|NA|April 22, 2008|EU|October 17, 2008|AU|November 13, 2008}}'''''Persona 3 Portable'''''|'''PSP'''{{vgrelease|JP|November 1, 2009|NA|July 6, 2010|EU|April 28, 2011}}'''NS''', '''PS4''', '''Win''', '''XB1''', '''XSX'''{{vgrelease|WW|January 19, 2023}}}}
| genre = [[Role-playing video game|Role-playing]], [[Social simulation game|social simulation]]
| modes = [[Single-player]]
}}

{{nihongo foot|'''''Persona 3''''',|ペルソナ3|Perusona Surī|lead=yes |group=lower-alpha}} released outside Japan as '''''Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3''''', is a 2006 [[role-playing video game]] developed by [[Atlus]] that is the fourth main installment in the ''[[Persona (series)|Persona]]'' series, which is part of the larger ''[[Megami Tensei]]'' franchise. It was originally released for the [[PlayStation 2]] in Japan in 2006 and in North America in 2007. It has received several enhanced re-releases and ports: '''''Persona 3 FES''''', an extended version featuring a new playable [[epilogue]] and other changes, was released for the PlayStation 2 in Japan in 2007 and worldwide in 2008. An abridged [[PlayStation Portable]] version, '''''Persona 3 Portable''''', was released in Japan in 2009, North America in 2010, and Europe in 2011, and ported to the [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[Windows]], [[Xbox One]], and [[Xbox Series X/S]] in 2023. ''[[Persona 3 Reload]]'', a [[Video game remake|remake]] of the core game for PlayStation 4, [[PlayStation 5]], Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, was released on February 2, 2024.

In ''Persona 3'', the player assumes the role of [[Protagonist (Persona 3)|a high school student]] who joins the "Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad" (SEES), a group of students investigating a temporal anomaly known as the "Dark Hour", during which its members can enter Tartarus, a tower containing monsters called Shadows. They battle the Shadows using a physical manifestation of their psyche called a [[Persona (series)#Personas|Persona]], which they summon by firing a gun-like object called an "Evoker" at their head. ''Persona 3'' incorporates elements of [[Role-playing game|role-playing]] and [[Simulation video game|simulation]] games, as the game's protagonist progresses day by day through a school year and forms relationships that improve their Personas' strength in battle.

Reception towards ''Persona 3'' was mainly positive; critics enjoyed its social elements, while some found its combat and environments repetitive. ''Persona 3 FES''<nowiki/>'s epilogue was said to give narrative closure to the original game, although it was criticized for not featuring its simulation aspects. ''Persona 3'' has also seen other related media, including the [[Fighting game|fighting games]] ''[[Persona 4 Arena]]'' and ''[[Persona 4 Arena Ultimax]],'' the rhythm game ''[[Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight|Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight]]'', soundtrack albums, musical concerts, [[Radio drama in Japan|radio dramas]], a [[manga]], a loosely connected [[Persona: Trinity Soul|anime series]], and an [[Persona 3 The Movie: No. 1, Spring of Birth|episodic animated film series]].

{{TOC limit|3}}

==Gameplay==
[[File:Persona3library.jpeg|thumb|left|The protagonist gains academic skills by studying in the school library. The upper-right area of the screen indicates the current date, time period, and phase of the moon.|alt=A teenage boy with blue hair sits at a desk in his school's library, studying. The dialogue box in the lower third of the screen reads, "You managed to solve a difficult problem!" The top-right area of the screen denotes that the date is June 8, the current time period is "After School," and the moon is full.]]

''Persona 3'' combines elements of traditional role-playing games and [[simulation video game|simulation games]]. The game follows the protagonist, who balances their daily life of going to school and building relationships with others with fighting the monstrous Shadows during the Dark Hour. Each day is divided into daytime and evening segments. Except for scripted events, such as plot progression or special events, the player is free to choose how each day is spent, with most activities causing time to pass. The types of activities and characters that can be interacted with vary depending on the day of the week and time of day. Additionally, some activities are limited by the protagonist's three attributes; Academics, Charm, and Courage, which can be built by performing various activities or making certain correct choices.<ref name="manual28">{{cite book |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES North American instruction manual |publisher=[[Atlus|Atlus U.S.A, Inc.]] |page=28 |year=2008}}</ref><ref name="manual25">{{cite book |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES North American instruction manual |publisher=[[Atlus|Atlus U.S.A, Inc.]] |page=25 |year=2008}}</ref> During the evening, players can choose to visit Tartarus, the game's main dungeon, where they can build their party's experience and gain new items. On the day of the full moon, players will participate in a [[Boss (video games)|boss]] battle to progress the story.<ref name="1UP-Persona 3 Preview">{{cite web |first=Ray |last=Barnholt |title=Previews: Persona 3 |url=http://www.1up.com/previews/persona-3 |website=[[1UP.com]] |date=May 8, 2007 |access-date=December 16, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018004736/http://www.1up.com/previews/persona-3 |archive-date=October 18, 2012 }}</ref>

===Personas and social links===
The main element of the game is the Personas, creatures and figures associated with the [[Major Arcana]] of the [[Tarot]].<ref name="GameSpot-Persona 3 Review" /> Each Persona has its own strengths and weaknesses and possesses various abilities, ranging from offensive and supportive abilities to passive abilities that support the character. While each of the game's main characters has their own Persona, some of which evolve during key moments in the story,<!-- If you can, cite this: The Persona of each character (excluding the protagonist) will change to a new, more powerful Persona during key game events.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} --> the protagonist is capable of wielding multiple Personas, which can be switched between battles.<ref name="manual2627">{{cite book |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES North American instruction manual |publisher=[[Atlus|Atlus U.S.A, Inc.]] |pages=26–27 |year=2008}}</ref> New Personas can be created by visiting the Velvet Room and fusing together multiple Personas, with the resulting Persona inheriting certain moves from the Personas used. The current level of the protagonist limits the Personas that a player can create.<ref name="manual2627" /><ref name="manual3839" /> Personas can also be obtained from Shuffle Time following battles, and previously obtained Personas can be summoned from the Persona Compendium for a fee.<ref name="manual3839">{{cite book |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES North American instruction manual |publisher=[[Atlus|Atlus U.S.A, Inc.]] |pages=38–39 |year=2008}}</ref> The Velvet Room also allows players to complete [[Quest (video games)|quests]], such as retrieving certain items, for rewards.

''Persona 3'' introduces {{nihongo foot|social links,|コミュ|komyu, lit. "commu," short for "community"|group=lower-alpha}} bonds formed with several of the game's characters which each represent a specific Major Arcana. They are ranked up by spending time with characters. When creating a Persona of a particular Arcana, an experience bonus is granted if that Arcana possesses a social link, with greater bonuses awarded depending on the rank. Carrying a Persona of a respective Arcana can help bring a social link closer to increasing in Rank. Maxing out a social link gives players the ability to create specific Personas of each Arcana. Conversely, negative actions, such as choosing incorrect dialogue choices or dating multiple characters at the same time, can result in a reversed or broken social link, with broken links preventing the player character from using Personas of that Arcana in battle until the link is repaired by reconciling with the character.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walenski |first=Niklas |date=2020-03-09 |title=Same but different - Comparing the Social Link System in Persona 3, 4 & 5 |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/same-but-different---comparing-the-social-link-system-in-persona-3-4-5 |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Tartarus and combat===
[[File:Persona 3 battle screen.png|thumb|right|A typical battle in ''Persona 3''. The portraits on the right-hand side of the screen indicate the status of the player's party.|alt=Four of the game's playable characters surrounds a group of three enemies. The camera is centered behind the protagonist, who is wielding a sword. A wheel-shaped menu of icons in the lower-left corner of the screen indicate available battle commands.]]
Tartarus is the game's main dungeon, which can be visited during the evening if the conditions allow it; for example, the absence of some characters can prevent the player from visiting Tartarus that night.<ref name="IGN-Persona 3 Review">{{cite web |first=Jeff |last=Haynes |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Review |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/807/807769p1.html |website=[[IGN]] |date=July 24, 2007 |access-date=November 22, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012014902/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/807/807769p1.html |archive-date=October 12, 2007 }}</ref> The player may order the other party members to split up to explore the area or automatically attack Shadows on sight. Players will eventually encounter boss floors, in which they must defeat powerful Shadows to continue progressing. Additionally, certain floors halt further progress through the tower until the story progresses.<ref name="manual2021">{{cite book |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES North American instruction manual |publisher=[[Atlus|Atlus U.S.A, Inc.]] |pages=20–21 |year=2008}}</ref> Occasionally, civilians will wander into Tartarus and wind up on certain floors; rescuing them safely before a full moon appears grants bonus rewards. Spending too much time in Tartarus can cause characters to become "Tired" or "Sick," which can affect their performance in combat; certain activities, such as studying at night, may be hindered if the protagonist is afflicted with this status. Players can recover by taking certain items, visiting the infirmary, or going to bed early.<ref name="manual2021" />

Battle occurs when the player comes into contact with a Shadow, with the battle party consisting of whoever is nearby. Attacking the Shadow without being noticed will give the player an advantage, whilst the enemy gains an advantage if the player is attacked first.<ref name="manual22">{{cite book |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES North American instruction manual |publisher=[[Atlus|Atlus U.S.A, Inc.]] |page=22 |year=2008}}</ref> Battles use the "Press Turn" system, in which allies and enemies take turns to attack using weapons, items, or Persona abilities.<ref name="GameSpot-Persona 3 Review">{{cite web |first=Kevin |last=VanOrd |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Review |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3/1900-6175580/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=July 24, 2007 |access-date=December 16, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141201180049/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3/1900-6175580/ |archive-date=December 1, 2014 }}</ref> Using the Tactics option, the player can assign specific battle AI to each party member; in ''Persona 3 Portable'', they may also choose to issue direct commands.<ref name="manual3132">{{cite book |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES North American instruction manual |publisher=[[Atlus|Atlus U.S.A, Inc.]] |pages=31–32 |year=2008}}</ref> Offensive attacks are divided into three physical types and six elements, attributes of which both Personas and Shadows may possess strengths and weaknesses against. Physical abilities cost [[Health (game terminology)|HP]] and elemental and support magic cost [[Magic (game terminology)|SP]]. By exploiting an enemy's weakness or performing a critical attack, a character can knock them down to gain an extra turn, which enemies can also do against party members.<ref name="IGN-Persona 3 Review"/> If the player manages to knock all opponents down, they may be granted the opportunity to perform an All-Out Attack, in which all able party members attack the enemies for massive damage.<ref name="GameSpot-Persona 3 Review"/> When a battle is won, players gain experience points that are divided amongst the party members. Earning enough experience allows Personas to increase in level, granting improved [[Statistic (role-playing games)|stats]] and new abilities.<ref name="manual2627" />

==Story==
===Setting===
The story of ''Persona 3'' takes place in 2009 and is set in the Japanese city of {{nihongo foot|Tatsumi Port Island,|辰巳ポートアイランド|group=lower-alpha}} which the Kirijo Corporation built and funded. Experiments conducted ten years prior to the game's events created the {{nihongo foot|Dark Hour,|影時間|kage jikan, lit. "Shadow Hour"|group=lower-alpha}} a period of time that exists between days.<ref name="manual0405">{{cite book |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES North American instruction manual |publisher=[[Atlus|Atlus U.S.A, Inc.]] |pages=04–05 |year=2008}}</ref> During the Dark Hour, most people are turned into coffins and are unaware of it; however, there is a select group of people who aren't.<ref name="manual0405" /> In addition, reality is warped; Gekkoukan High School, where most characters attend school during the day, becomes a labyrinthine tower called Tartarus, where monsters called Shadows roam the area and prey on the minds of those still conscious,<ref name="IGN-Persona 3 Review" /> leaving them in near-catatonic states outside of the Dark Hour.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |developer=[[Atlus]] |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Mitsuru:''' A Shadow feeds on the mind of its prey; the victim becomes a living corpse. They're responsible for most of the incidents on the news, if not all of them.}}</ref> The "Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad," or SEES, was formed by a group of high schoolers to investigate and learn about the Dark Hour, Shadows, and Tartarus. They are capable of summoning beings called Personas to combat Shadows,<ref name="IGN-Persona 3 Review" /> which the instruction manual describes as being "a second soul that dwells deep within a person's heart. It is an entirely different personality that emerges when a person is confronted with something from outside this world."<ref name="manual0405" /> Persona users usually summon their Persona by firing a gun-like object called an Evoker at their head.<ref name="1UP-Persona 3 Preview" />

===Characters===
{{Main|Characters of Persona 3}}
The [[Protagonist (Persona 3)|main character of ''Persona 3'']] is a [[silent protagonist]] the player names at the start of the game, though he is canonically named Makoto Yuki.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5140871/persona-4-reflecting-the-self |title=Persona 4: Reflecting The Self |website=[[Kotaku]] |last=Alexander |first=Leigh |access-date=August 18, 2009 |date=January 28, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024010206/http://kotaku.com/5140871/persona-4-reflecting-the-self |archive-date=October 24, 2014 }}</ref> He is a teenager who, ten years before the game's events, was orphaned as a child following his parents' death, and is now returning to the city he grew up in to transfer to Gekkoukan High School.<ref name="manual0405" /> After learning of his ability to summon a Persona, he joins SEES, whose members include students of the school: Yukari Takeba, a popular and cheerful girl; Junpei Iori, a class clown and his best friend;<ref name="manual0607" /> Akihiko Sanada, a calm and collected senior and the leader of the school's boxing team; and [[Mitsuru Kirijo]], the president of its student council and daughter of the Kirijo Group's leader, who provides support during battle.<ref name="manual0607">{{cite book |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES North American instruction manual |year=2008 |publisher=[[Atlus|Atlus U.S.A, Inc.]] |pages=06–07}}</ref> Over the course of the game, SEES gains several new members: Fuuka Yamagishi, a shy girl who replaces Mitsuru as support; Aigis, a female [[android (robot)|android]] the Kirijo Group designed to fight Shadows;<ref>{{cite video game |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |developer=[[Atlus]] |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Junpei:''' She's so cute, but... she's a robot... / '''Shuji Ikutsuki:''' Anti-Shadow weapons were created ten years ago to combat uncontrollable Shadows. Aigis was the last to be made... and she's the only one that still remains today. / '''Mitsuru:''' An Anti-Shadow weapon... Does that mean she...? / '''Aigis:''' Yes, I am capable of operating the Persona "Palladion."}}</ref> Ken Amada, an elementary school student whose mother was accidentally killed by a Persona user;<ref>{{cite video game |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |developer=[[Atlus]] |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Mitsuru:''' We were in a residential area, but the Shadow was all we were thinking about... Aragaki was still new, and he momentarily lost control of his power... Unfortunately, there was a casualty: Amada's mother.}}</ref> Shinjiro Aragaki, a former member of SEES who quit due to past events;<ref>{{cite video game |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |developer=[[Atlus]] |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Akihiko:''' ...You still haven't made up your mind? / '''Shinjiro:''' ...Is that what this is about? / '''Akihiko:''' We've got four new members. Things have changed quite a bit since you left. We're more aggressive now. / '''Shinjiro:''' I'm not interested. / '''Akihiko:''' Think about it, Shinji. Don't let your power go to waste. / '''Shinjiro:''' My power ain't worth shit. / '''Akihiko:''' Shinji! / '''Shinjiro:''' I made up my mind a long time ago. I ain't going back. / '''Akihiko:''' You have to let the past go. What's done is done. It's time you moved on.}}</ref> and Koromaru, a dog capable of summoning a Persona.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |developer=[[Atlus]] |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Akihiko:''' Man... He's one tough fighter. He defeated that Shadow all by himself. / '''Junpei:''' Wait, does that mean... this dog's a Persona-user!?}}</ref>

===Plot===
====The Journey====
Makoto Yuki transfers to Gekkoukan High School and moves into a dorm in the city.<ref name="manual0405" /> On his third day in the city, during [[Witching hour|a mysterious 25th hour called the Dark Hour]], he is attacked by monstrous beings called Shadows and awakens to his Persona. After defeating them, he is recruited by the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (SEES), a group of Gekkoukan students dedicated to battling the Shadows and exploring Tartarus, a giant tower transformed from Gekkoukan during the Dark Hour. On nights of the full moon, the city is attacked by a Shadow more powerful than those in Tartarus. After several of these incidents, senior SEES member Mitsuru Kirijo is forced to reveal to the team the origin of Tartarus and the Dark Hour. Ten years earlier, the Kirijo Group, a research company Mitsuru's grandfather founded, began amassing and containing Shadows in an attempt to harness their power. However, the experiments went awry, allowing the Shadows to escape and assemble into twelve larger creatures.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |developer=[[Atlus]] |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Mitsuru:''' My grandfather was obsessed with Shadows. He wanted to harness their power, and create something extraordinary. / '''Fuuka:''' Harness their power? / '''Mitsuru:''' He assembled a team of scientists, and over several years collected a significant number of Shadows. / '''Junpei:''' He what!? Damn, that's freaking crazy! / '''Mitsuru:''' However... Ten years ago, during the final stages of the experiment, they lost control of the Shadows' power. Consequently, the nature of the world was altered. / '''Fuuka:''' You mean... / '''Mitsuru:''' Yes... Tartarus and the Dark Hour... By their account, the mass of Shadows they collected split into several large ones that then dispersed. These are the Shadows we've been encountering on nights when the moon is full.}}</ref> SEES' leader, Shuji Ikutsuki, informs them that if they defeat the twelve greater Shadows, Tartarus and the Dark Hour will disappear forever.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |developer=[[Atlus]] |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Shuji Ikutsuki:''' What if I told you that those twelve Shadows are the cause of everything? / '''Akihiko:''' Then, if we defeat them all, Tartarus and the Dark Hour will disappear...? / '''Shuji Ikutsuki:''' Exactly! That's what I was going to tell you earlier. See, it's good news, isn't it?}}</ref>

While vacationing in [[Yakushima]], Makoto meets and recruits Aigis, a Persona-wielding war machine who has an inexplicable need to be near him.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |developer=[[Atlus]] |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Yukari:''' Aigis!? How did you-- / '''Aigis:''' He was asleep, so I unlocked the door. / '''Yukari:''' That's unlawful entry! Didn't we tell you to stay in the command room at night!? / '''Aigis:''' I propose to be on standby in this room from now on. Is this acceptable?}}</ref> After defeating the twelfth and final Shadow, SEES learns that Ikutsuki deceived them. By destroying the greater Shadows, they have freed parts of the being Nyx, also known as the "maternal being", who will bring about the end of the world if fully restored.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |developer=[[Atlus]] |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Akihiko:''' You said the Dark Hour and Tartarus would disappear if we defeated the 12 Shadows. That's why we fought so hard! But, now-- / '''Mitsuru:''' ...What is your intention? It was all a lie, wasn't it? You knew from the beginning that the Dark Hour wouldn't disappear. / '''Shuji Ikutsuki:''' Excellent deduction, Mitsuru. Unfortunately, your realization has come too late. / '''Yukari:''' No... / '''Ken:''' ...You tricked us!? / '''Shuji Ikutsuki:''' Everything is as I planned... It is not unexpected that the Dark Hour and Tartarus remain. In fact, I never intended for you to rid the world of them. Quite the opposite, actually. / '''Fuuka:''' What do you mean? / '''Shuji Ikutsuki:''' The 12 Shadows were parts of a whole... They were destined to be reunited. ...And that was accomplished in no small part, thanks to your efforts. Soon, Death, the almighty, shall arise and bring forth the Fall...}}</ref> She is the creator of Shadows, and is drawn to Earth by the Appriser, or "Death". Ikutsuki is subsequently killed in a gunfight with Mitsuru's father Takeharu Kirijo.

SEES encounters the Appriser in the form of Ryoji Mochizuki, a recent transfer student to Gekkoukan High School.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |developer=[[Atlus]] |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Mitsuru:''' ...You know the "truth" about Shadows? / '''Ryoji:''' Yes. Shadows are here to facilitate the rebirth of the maternal being. She will begin to awaken as she is drawn to me... The Appriser. / '''Mitsuru:''' You? You're The Appriser?}}</ref> In December, Aigis and Ryoji reveal that the Shadow experiments performed ten years earlier created the Death Shadow, albeit in an incomplete state.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |developer=[[Atlus]] |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Ryoji:''' Ten years ago, a man collected a great number of Shadows and contained them in a laboratory... That's where I was born. ...But the unification was interrupted, and I awoke in an incomplete state.}}</ref> Unable to defeat the Shadow, Aigis sealed it within Makoto, who was a child at the time.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |developer=[[Atlus]] |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Aigis:''' Your strength was far greater than I anticipated. The only possible alternative was to seal you away... And as circumstance would have it, a suitable vessel was available: a human child standing nearby... So I did what was necessary.}}</ref> Its purpose is to usher Nyx into the world and bring about the extinction of Earth's life. Ryoji insists that Nyx cannot be defeated, but offers SEES an alternative. If they kill him, their memories of the Dark Hour and Tartarus will be erased, allowing them to continue life unaware of their impending death.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |developer=[[Atlus]] |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Ryoji:''' Nyx's coming cannot be avoided. But, it is possible to live in peace until she arrives. You'll have to... kill me. If I were to disappear, all memories of the Dark Hour would disappear with me, as would any recollection of the fate that awaits you. You won't remember anything.}}</ref>

On [[New Year's Eve]], the player must decide whether to kill or spare Ryoji. If Makoto kills him, the game cuts to Graduation Day as the members of SEES, except for Aigis, lose their memories of the Dark Hour and the Shadows and live in blissful ignorance until Nyx brings about The Fall and humanity dies. If he is spared, on January 31, SEES ascends to the roof of Tartarus to face him, who has transformed into the Nyx Avatar.<ref>{{cite video game |developer=[[Atlus]] |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Aigis:''' You are... / '''Yukari:''' Ryoji-kun...!? / '''Nyx Avatar:''' That was my name for a time... I didn't mind it. / '''Mitsuru:''' ...What's going on? Wait, are you...? / '''Nyx Avatar:''' I am merely a harbinger of the Fall... Although, Nyx and myself are now {{sic|one in}} the same.}}</ref> While they defeat Nyx Avatar, Nyx continues to descend to Earth. Makoto awakens the power of the "Universe", allowing him to seal away Nyx and return the world to normal.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |developer=[[Atlus]] |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Igor:''' Behold the last power you and I shall unveil... It is the power to bring about a new beginning, or the ultimate end. It may be possible now, with this newfound power... You may be able to defeat the one who cannot be defeated. What you have in your hands is the power of the Universe... Nothing is outside the realm of possibility for you now.}}</ref> On Graduation Day, Makoto and Aigis go to the school's roof, where Aigis thanks Makoto for giving her a purpose in life: protecting him.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3|developer=[[Atlus]]|date=August 14, 2007|quote='''Aigis:''' When I thought I might never see you again, something else became clear to me--what I wanted most. And so, I made up my mind. I decided that I would continue to protect you. I want to be your strength. I know I'm not the only one who can do this... but that's okay. My life will be worth living if it's for this reason... Thank you...}}</ref> Makoto, who has been feeling tired and unwell, then closes his eyes.

====The Answer====
The events of "The Answer" begin on March 31, shortly after the end of the original game. The opening sequence reveals that Makoto died at the end of "The Journey",<ref>{{cite video |url=http://g4tv.com/games/ps2/43629/Shin-Megami-Tensei-Persona-3-FES/review/ |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Fes Review |publisher=[[G4 (U.S. TV channel)|G4]] |access-date=August 30, 2009 |date=April 7, 2008 |time=0:30 |quote=The new adventure is called "Episode Aegis." It's basically a free sequel that's set after the events of the final battle in the original game. Of course, the character you played in that game perished at the end. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070552/http://g4tv.com/games/ps2/43629/Shin-Megami-Tensei-Persona-3-FES/review/ |archive-date=September 4, 2017 }}</ref> which the other characters speculate is related to him defeating Nyx.<ref>{{cite video game |developer=[[Atlus]] |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Ken:''' But I still wonder... Why did it happen? The doctors didn't find anything wrong with him afterward... It just seemed like he fell asleep, didn't it? /'''Fuuka:''' He must've used up all his power to protect us...at that last battle.}}</ref> The school year has ended, the dormitory is about to be closed, and SEES is drifting apart. During their last dinner party, the SEES members discover they are trapped in their dorm and the day March 31 is repeating.<ref name="GameSpot-Persona 3 FES Review" /> A large door-like hole opens in the dorm floor and SEES is attacked by Metis, an anti-shadow weapon similar to Aigis. While fighting Metis to protect her friends, Aigis awakens to the Wild Card ability, which Makoto previously had.<ref>{{cite video game |developer=[[Atlus]] |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Igor:''' In awakening to the power of the Wild Card, you are now bound to a contract. From this moment forth, you are our guest in the Velvet Room. / '''Aigis:''' Wild Card...? / '''Igor:''' Surely you know of which I speak: the ability to hold multiple Personas and wield their powers. Until recently, a young man with the same talent [the Protagonist of ''Persona 3''] was our guest here. / '''Aigis:''' ''[standing up in surprise]'' You...know of him? / '''Igor:''' Indeed I do.}}</ref> Aigis subdues Metis, whose actions were an attempt to end the time skip and save Aigis, whom she calls her "sister."<ref>{{cite video game |developer=[[Atlus]] |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Metis:''' The only way to survive is to somehow find a way to eradicate the Abyss of Time. / '''Ken:''' Eradicate it? How're we supposed to do that...? /'''Metis:''' I've already tried the simplest, most direct way: eliminating all of you. The Abyss of Time connected to this dorm, as if drawn to it. That, together with the way you can all perceive the time skips...it seems clear to me that you have a lot to do with the reason for this happening.}}</ref><ref>{{cite video game |developer=[[Atlus]] |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Metis:''' Um...Aigis? I promise to listen to what you say, so...could I...call you Sister...? / '''Aigis:''' Go right ahead. / '''Metis:''' Thank you...Sister!}}</ref>

Beneath the dormitory is the Abyss of Time, a multi-layered dungeon responsible for the time skips. At the bottom of each dungeon, the characters witness memories of themselves awakening to their Personas.<ref>{{cite video game |developer=[[Atlus]] |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Yukari:''' Ken-kun's story, Akihiko-senpai's story...Junpei's and Koromaru's, too. Mitsuru-senpai's is the one that makes it the most obvious. / '''Junpei:''' Huh...? I'm not following you here... / '''Yukari:''' What we've seen is each of our reasons for awakening to our Persona.}}</ref> At the bottom of the seventh and final door, SEES fights a Shadow-like version of Makoto, after which each of them receives a key. By combining the keys, they would be able to end the time skip and leave the dorm.<ref>{{cite video game |developer=[[Atlus]] |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Metis:''' You should be able to leave using those keys. Once you make it outside, the Abyss of Time should disappear on its own.}}</ref> However, Metis offers SEES an alternative: they can also use the keys to travel back in time to before the fight against Nyx and Makoto's death.<ref>{{cite video game |developer=[[Atlus]] |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Junpei:''' You're all about the here and now, right, Yuka-tan? I mean, you say it all the time—"You gotta look forward!" / '''Yukari:''' I...I...want to go back. To the time before the last battle... ''[...]'' If there's a way for him to come back...I'll take it, no matter what.}}</ref> Now unable to agree on how to use the keys, SEES descends into infighting.<ref>{{cite video game |developer=[[Atlus]] |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Yukari:''' *sigh* There's no use going around and around like this. We're never gonna reach an agreement. So if no one gives in...we'll have to settle this another way. / '''Fuuka:''' Another way...? Yukari-chan...you don't mean—!? / '''Yukari:''' Taking the keys by force... That'll work too, right?}}</ref> Aigis and Metis claim all eight keys, which fuse into the Final Key. After debating what to do, they discover a third, new door in the Abyss of Time, which the group uses to travel to when Makoto sealed away Nyx.<ref>{{cite video game |developer=[[Atlus]] |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Aigis:''' So this...is the miracle he performed. / '''Fuuka:''' What... What is this? /'''Metis:''' ...This is his life essence. As you can see, this is what happened. He himself became the Great Seal.}}</ref>

Metis explains that the purpose of the seal was not to seal away Nyx herself, but to prevent humanity's despair from calling out to her and bringing about the Fall once more. Their unconscious will to despair and wish for death constantly rebirths the monster Erebus, which summons Nyx to destroy the world; Metis implies that its contact with Nyx caused the Fall.<ref>{{cite video game |developer=[[Atlus]] |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Fuuka:''' This...isn't a Shadow... So many... All those people's... /'''Metis:''' As I thought: the seal's real purpose. It wasn't to hold back Nyx; it was a seal so that it couldn't be touched. / '''Mitsuru:''' What do you mean? / '''Fuuka:''' That monster...isn't a Shadow. It's the accumulated malice that came from the hearts of countless living people. All of them...deep down are calling Nyx!}}</ref> SEES realizes that the wishes that created Erebus also came from them, and so they fight and defeat it.<ref>{{cite video game |developer=[[Atlus]] |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Metis:''' Don't tell me you're going to fight that thing! It's impossible...it's just too big! / '''Mitsuru:''' This is a battle we can't run from. The feelings that gave birth to this abomination were inside me as well. Because I couldn't accept reality, I foolishly sought solace in a past filled with death and strife. There's no mistaking it: this monster is the reason for all our troubles. / '''Akihiko:''' You got that right. If we run away from this, we're off to a lousy start for our future. / '''Ken:''' That's what I think too... This was already a battle against myself.}}</ref> Mitsuru realizes that Erebus will return, as humans will never stop wishing for death.<ref>{{cite video game |developer=[[Atlus]] |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Mitsuru:''' To stop the heart's yearning for destruction...it's a formidable task. People try to keep death at bay, but without it, they lose sight of life. It may be that there's no way to fully eliminate this monster.}}</ref> After breaking the time skip and exiting through the dormitory using the Final Key, Metis, Aigis, and the rest of SEES learn that Metis is a manifestation of Aigis' rejected human emotions.<ref>{{cite video game |developer=[[Atlus]] |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Mitsuru:''' Metis... Who are you really? Won't you tell us? / '''Aigis:''' I think... she's the other me... I couldn't bear the pain of losing [the protagonist]...so I wished to be a mere machine again. ''[to Metis]'' You must be...the part of myself I wished away. My lonely sister, always being afraid of being left alone... You came to help me acknowledge and confront the pain of living. I finally understand... I only wish I had realized it much sooner.}}</ref> Aigis merges with Metis and embraces her humanity, while the members of SEES decide to make the best out of their lives to honor and respect Makoto's burden.<ref>{{cite video game |developer=[[Atlus]] |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |date=August 14, 2007 |quote='''Aigis:''' I know...it might not be possible because it's so sudden...but is there some ways...that I can back out of returning to the lab? Before, I thought...there was nothing left for me to protect, no reason to live. But now that I see otherwise...I'd like to go back to school with Yukari-san and everyone.}}</ref>

==Development==
[[File:Persona 3 AD.jpg|right|thumb|A Japanese ad for ''Persona 3'', created by the game's art director, Shigenori Soejima. The ad "contains three important game elements: school, Persona, and friendship."<ref>{{cite book |last=Soejima |first=Shigenori |title=Art of Persona 3 |publisher=[[Atlus]] |year=2007 |page=9}}</ref>|alt=Two male and one female student stand in a classroom. Behind and above the protagonist, who stands at the center, is the Persona Thanatos, a humanoid demon with eight coffins attached to its body via chains.]]

''Persona 3'' began development in 2003, after the completion of ''[[Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne]]'' and ''[[Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga|Digital Devil Saga]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gematsu.com/2013/08/a-message-from-persona-teams-katsura-hashino |title=A message from Persona Team's Katsura Hashino |author=Romano, Sal |publisher=Gematsu |date=August 13, 2013 |access-date=May 17, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150421191756/http://gematsu.com/2013/08/a-message-from-persona-teams-katsura-hashino |archive-date=April 21, 2015 }}</ref> In March 2006, the first details on ''Persona 3'' were unveiled in the Japanese gaming magazine ''[[Famitsū]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2006/030806a.html |title=New Persona, Metal Saga Games Announced |publisher=RPGamer |date=March 8, 2006 |access-date=May 2, 2010 |first=Bryan |last=Boulette |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621085042/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2006/030806a.html |archive-date=June 21, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In addition to announcing the game's Japanese release date of July 13, the three-page article detailed the game's premise, combat systems, and the social link system (known as "community" in the Japanese version). It also profiled three characters—the protagonist, Junpei, and Yukari—as well as their respective Personas: Orpheus, Hermes and Io.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2006/031706a.html |title=New Details, New Story for the Newest Persona |access-date=September 8, 2009 |last=Sloderbeck |first=Matt |author2=Adrienne Beck |date=March 17, 2006 |publisher=RPGamer |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206173021/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2006/031706a.html |archive-date=February 6, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The main character artist and art director for ''Persona 3'' was [[Shigenori Soejima]].<ref name="SoejimaInterview">{{cite book |chapter=Shigenori Soejima Interview |title=Shigenori Soejima Art Works 2004-2010 |publisher=Udon Entertainment |isbn=978-1926778327 |pages=145–153 |date=July 1, 2010}} [https://megatengaku.wordpress.com/readings/artbooks/shigenori-soejima-art-works-2004-2010/ Transcript] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621210120/https://megatengaku.wordpress.com/readings/artbooks/shigenori-soejima-art-works-2004-2010/ |date=June 21, 2015 }}</ref> The previous ''Persona'' titles' character artist, [[Kazuma Kaneko]], gave the job to Soejima so he could gain more experience.<ref name="OtakuKaneko">{{cite journal |author=Kemps, Heidi |date=August 2008 |title=Game King: An Interview with Kazuma Kaneko |journal=[[Otaku USA]] |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=120–123 |publisher=Sovereign Media}}</ref> Soejima felt a degree of pressure when designing the characters as he did not want to disappoint the series' fanbase. The goal was to make players of the ''Megami Tensei'' series feel gratified that they had supported the ''Persona'' series. In an interview, Soejima compared the game's aesthetic and style to a fantastical [[manga]], citing its use of mecha-like Persona and Mitsuru's flamboyant styling. Soejima returned to design the character Metis for ''FES''.<ref name="SoejimaInterview"/> The user interface was designed to stand out during the game's marketing, with its blue-colored design intended to evoke a cool and stylish atmosphere.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/11/13/atlus-reveals-design-secrets-behind-persona-5s-distinctive-ui/ |title=Atlus Reveals The Design Secrets Behind Persona 5's Distinctive UI |author=Wong, Alistair |publisher=Siliconera |date=November 13, 2017 |access-date=November 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113195500/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/11/13/atlus-reveals-design-secrets-behind-persona-5s-distinctive-ui/ |archive-date=November 13, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The anime cutscenes for ''Persona 3'' and ''FES'' were animated by animation production company Point Pictures.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.point-p.jp/record/ |script-title=ja:アニメーション制作スタジオ ポイント・ピクチャーズ – Point Pictures |publisher=Point Pictures |access-date=July 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731224443/http://www.point-p.jp/record/ |archive-date=July 31, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In an interview with the magazine ''[[Play (US magazine)|Play]]'', lead director for ''Persona 3'' [[Katsura Hashino]] discussed why the decision was made to have party members be directed by an [[artificial intelligence]]: "I think it's more fun to have the party members controlled by their AI, so each member's characteristics and personality are on vivid display. There were no objections raised among the Persona 3 development team, either." He also notes that the system "wasn't well received" by players of the game.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.playmagazine.com/index.php?fuseaction=SiteMain.Content&contentid=1413 |title=Interview – Katsura Hashino |magazine=[[Play (US magazine)|Play]] |access-date=August 22, 2009 |date=March 5, 2009 |last=Patterson |first=Eric |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328002518/http://mag.gomorning.com/index.php?fuseaction=SiteMain.Content&contentid=1413 |archive-date=March 28, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Later, the use of AI for the secondary party members was described as a stylistic choice representing the game's theme of conquering the fear of death through "bonds": each character was their own person, and the player could only influence things by interacting with them.<ref>{{cite book |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 The Official Strategy Guide |publisher=DoubleJump Publishing |isbn=978-0979884863 |pages=302–303 |date=December 1, 2008}}</ref> ''Persona 3'' does not include the negotiation elements of previous ''Persona'' or ''Megami Tensei'' games, which allowed players to talk to enemies during a battle to recruit them, earn money, or obtain items. However, the social elements of ''Persona 3'' (and its successor, ''[[Persona 4]]'') are considered the equivalent of the negotiation system by the development team. Maragos said in a [[1UP.com]] interview that "negotiation isn't gone...And [it] still factors into Persona Fusion; it's still a big part of the game. I feel like it's disguised, but it's there."<ref name="1UP-p4localinterview" />

===Localization===
The [[Language localisation|localization]] of ''Persona 3'' was handled by Yu Namba and Nich Maragos. During this process, the team worked to leave as much of the original Japanese content intact, continuing a trend started with ''[[Persona 2: Eternal Punishment]]''. One of the ideas had by the team for ''Persona 3'' was to use it as a medium for introducing Japanese culture to a Western audience.<ref name="DesPanel"/><ref name= "SMTnamba"/> While localizing ''Persona 3'' for English-speaking countries, the [[Japanese honorifics|honorifics]] used by the characters in the original Japanese script were retained. According to Maragos, their use "[added] so much more meaning to the text".<ref name="1UP-p4localinterview">{{cite web |last=Fitch |first=Andrew |date=July 8, 2008 |title=Anime Expo: Atlus Talks Persona 4, Trauma Center's Future |url=http://www.1up.com/news/anime-expo-atlus-talks-persona |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228183558/http://www.1up.com/news/anime-expo-atlus-talks-persona |archive-date=February 28, 2013 |access-date=August 19, 2009 |website=[[1UP.com]]}}</ref> In an interview with RPGamer, project editor Yu Namba explained that during the process of translation, some of the Japanese humor, "things that made absolutely no sense in western culture…were replaced with jokes that at least somewhat parallel the originals."<ref name="RPGamer-p3interview">{{cite web |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q2-2007/060307b.html |title=Run to the Sun – Atlus Interview |publisher=RPGamer |date=June 3, 2007 |access-date=December 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112123124/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q2-2007/060307b.html |archive-date=January 12, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> One of the changes that needed to be made was to the school tests, which were based around questions on the English language. A similar change was Mitsuru's second language: in the original version it was English, but for the localized version her second language was changed to French. This choice was influenced by her cultured appearance. In addition, in-game references to the original ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' were altered to references to ''[[Persona 2]]''.<ref name="DesPanel">{{cite web |url=http://www.destructoid.com/anime-expo-08-atlus-shin-megami-tensei-panel-94038.phtml |title=Anime Expo '08: Atlus' Shin Megami Tensei panel |author=North, Dale |website=[[Destructoid]] |date=July 7, 2008 |access-date=May 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402172351/http://www.destructoid.com/anime-expo-08-atlus-shin-megami-tensei-panel-94038.phtml |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name= "SMTnamba">{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2015/07/20/localizing-persona-an-interview-with-atluss-yu-namba/ |title=Localizing Persona: An Interview With Atlus's Yu Namba |author=Ward, Robert |publisher=Siliconera |date=July 20, 2015 |access-date=July 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720213530/http://www.siliconera.com/2015/07/20/localizing-persona-an-interview-with-atluss-yu-namba/ |archive-date=July 20, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Music===
The original soundtrack for ''Persona 3'' was composed by [[Shoji Meguro]].<ref name="semo-p3japan">{{cite web |url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/p/persona3.shtml |title=Persona 3 Original Soundtrack (Japan) |publisher=[[Square Enix]] Music Online |access-date=August 15, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817103342/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/p/persona3.shtml |archive-date=August 17, 2009 }}</ref> It was released as a two disc soundtrack in Japan by [[Aniplex]] on July 19, 2006. A selection of tracks from the full soundtrack was bundled with the North American release of the game.<ref name="semo-p3us">{{cite web |url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/p/persona3us.shtml |title=Shin Megami Tensei Persona 3 Original Soundtrack (Japan) |publisher=[[Square Enix]] Music Online |access-date=August 15, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817103508/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/p/persona3us.shtml |archive-date=August 17, 2009 }}</ref> An arranged album, titled ''Burn My Dread -Reincarnation: Persona 3-'', was also released in Japan by Aniplex on April 18, 2007. It contains eleven arrangements of tracks from ''Persona 3'', as well as an extended version of the song "Burn My Dread."<ref name="semo-bmdr">{{cite web |url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/p/persona3arr.shtml |title=Burn My Dread -Reincarnation: Persona 3- |publisher=[[Square Enix]] Music Online |access-date=August 15, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817103349/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/p/persona3arr.shtml |archive-date=August 17, 2009 }}</ref> Meguro stated that the development of ''Persona 3'' was one of his first opportunities to fully realize his music in video games. The soundtrack features a high use of vocals. A tune from previous ''Persona'' games he brought back was "Aria of the Soul", the theme of the Velvet Room. The game's battle theme, "Mass Destruction", was originally just a prototype, but the reception to it was so positive that it went into the final game.<ref name="Persona3Liners">Meguro, Shoji. "''Persona 3 Original Soundtrack'' liner notes." (in Japanese) Aniplex. July 19, 2007 SVWC-7380~1 [http://www.game-ost.com/albums/492/persona_3_original_soundtrack/ Scans] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418185937/http://game-ost.com/albums/492/persona_3_original_soundtrack/ |date=April 18, 2015 }} Retrieved on 2015-05-17.</ref> In the past, the hardware limitations of the original [[PlayStation]] required him to compose music in 100-200 [[kilobyte]] samples, which he felt made the music sound "pretty cheap". The move to the [[PlayStation 2]] allowed for real-time [[Streaming media|streaming]] of music. Meguro considers this "the point at which [he] was finally able to express [his] music without making any compromises". He was also worried about the pronunciation of the English lyrics.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Patterson, Eric L. |author2=Kohama, Dai |date=2008 |title=The horrors of reality TV... Persona 4 |journal=[[Play (US magazine)|Play]] |issue=December 2008 |publisher=Fusion Publishing}} [https://megatengaku.wordpress.com/readings/interviews/play-the-horrors-of-reality-tv-persona-4/ Scans] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623052403/https://megatengaku.wordpress.com/readings/interviews/play-the-horrors-of-reality-tv-persona-4/ |date=June 23, 2015 }}</ref>

Meguro returned to compose new music for ''Persona 3 FES''. Released in Japan by Aniplex on May 3, 2007, the soundtrack contained the original score for ''FES'', as well as arrangements of music from earlier games in the ''Persona'' series.<ref name="semo-fesost">{{cite web |url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/p/persona3fes.shtml |title=Persona 3 Fes Original Soundtrack |publisher=[[Square Enix]] Music Online |access-date=August 15, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817103152/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/p/persona3fes.shtml |archive-date=August 17, 2009 }}</ref> "The Snow Queen", composed by Kenichi Tsuchiya, is a remix of the theme in ''[[Revelations: Persona]]''. "Maya's Theme", composed by Kenichi Tsuchiya, and "Time Castle", composed by Toshiko Tasaki, are remixes of tracks from ''[[Persona 2: Innocent Sin]]''.<ref name="rpgfan-fesost">{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Damian |title=RPGFan Soundtracks – Persona 3: FES OST |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/persona3-fes/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109134305/http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/persona3-fes/index.html |archive-date=January 9, 2010 |access-date=August 15, 2009 |publisher=RPGFan}}</ref> ''Persona 3 Portable'' contains new background music, which can be heard if the player chooses to control the game's new female protagonist.<ref name="P3P-Upgrades" /> The game's official soundtrack was released in Japan by Aniplex on November 25, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/p/persona3psp.shtml |title=Persona 3 Portable Original Soundtrack |publisher=[[Square Enix]] Music Online |access-date=May 2, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414013424/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/p/persona3psp.shtml |archive-date=April 14, 2010 }}</ref>

==Promotion and release==
The North American release of ''Persona 3'' shipped as a [[Special edition|collector's edition]] box containing the game, a soundtrack disc, and a 52-page art book. The game was originally scheduled to release on July 24, 2007. However, Atlus encountered a problem with manufacturing the artbook several days before the intended ship date. Instead of shipping the game without the book, the company decided to push its release back three weeks, to August 14. Atlus issued a press release explaining that they were delaying the game to maintain the quality of the package, which would have been "irreparably compromised" if they had "revise[d] or abandon[ed] the deluxe package."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/news/persona-3-date-august-14 |title=Persona 3 Gets a New Date: August 14 |date=July 25, 2007 |access-date=August 23, 2009 |last=Hayward |first=Anthony |website=[[1UP.com]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018004804/http://www.1up.com/news/persona-3-date-august-14 |archive-date=October 18, 2012 }}</ref>

===''Persona 3 FES''===
{{nihongo foot|''Persona 3 FES''|ペルソナ3フェス|Perusona Surī Fesu|group=lower-alpha}} is an add-on disc for ''Persona 3'' containing updates to the original game, a new Hard difficulty option, as well as a new [[epilogue]] in which the player controls [[List of Persona 3 characters#Aigis|Aigis]]. ''FES'' was released in Japan on April 19, 2007, as both a stand-alone game and a cheaper "Append" disc that requires having the original game to be played.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gantayat |first=Anoop |date=2006-12-11 |title=PS2 Gets More Personable |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/12/11/ps2-gets-more-personable |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160718121501/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/12/11/ps2-gets-more-personable |archive-date=July 18, 2016 |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en}}</ref> Overseas, the combined edition was published in North America by [[Atlus USA]] on April 22, 2008,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=February 25, 2008 |title=Atlus Pulls the Trigger on Persona 3 FES for North America |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/02/25/atlus-pulls-the-trigger-on-persona-3-fes-for-north-america |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713070953/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/02/25/atlus-pulls-the-trigger-on-persona-3-fes-for-north-america |archive-date=July 13, 2017 |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en}}</ref> and in Europe by [[Koei]] on October 17, 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Purchese |first=Robert |date=2008-07-21 |title=FES edition of Persona 3 in October |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/fes-edition-of-persona-3-in-october |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530182452/https://www.eurogamer.net/fes-edition-of-persona-3-in-october |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |access-date=2024-08-28 |work=[[Eurogamer]] |language=en}}</ref> According to the game's director, Katsura Hashino, the subtitle "Fes" is derived from the word "festival".<ref name="RPGFan Persona 3 FES">{{cite web |author=Chris Winkler |date=December 7, 2006 |title=Atlus Announces Persona 3 Director's Cut |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/news/2006/1585.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024123226/http://www.rpgfan.com/news/2006/1585.html |archive-date=October 24, 2007 |access-date=November 22, 2007 |publisher=RPGFan}}</ref> This version of the game was re-released as a PS2 Classic on PSN for the [[PlayStation 3]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chun |first=Simon |date=April 6, 2012 |title=Persona 3: FES coming to PSN next week {{!}} RPG Site |url=https://www.rpgsite.net/news/1506-persona-3-fes-coming-to-psn-next-week |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406184448/http://www.rpgsite.net/news/1506-persona-3-fes-coming-to-psn-next-week |archive-date=April 6, 2014 |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=www.rpgsite.net |language=en}}</ref> Players of the original Persona 3 are given the option of transferring certain data from the original version's save file, such as the player's compendium, social-related stats, and maxed social link items.

''Persona 3 FES'' was first released alongside the original game in two forms: the "Regular Edition" — containing both the "director's cut" version of ''Persona 3'', and the new epilogue on a standalone disc, and the "Append Edition", which has the same content but requires the original Persona 3 disc to be inserted before playing initially, and after creating save data it can be played alone.<ref name="rpgamer-p3fesannounce">{{cite web |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/news/japan/jj120706.html#5 |title=Atlus Expands Persona |publisher=RPGamer |first=Jordon |last=Jackson |date=December 7, 2006 |access-date=August 19, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830045913/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/japan/jj120706.html#5 |archive-date=August 30, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> ''Persona 3'' and its expansion were released simultaneously in Japan on April 19, 2007. At the time, Atlus had no apparent plans to release ''FES'' outside Japan.<ref name="RPGamer-p3interview" /> Confirmation did not come until February 2008, when the game's North American release date was revealed to be April 22, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/news/persona-3-fes-confirmed-north |title=Persona 3 FES Confirmed For North America |last=Whiting |first=Mark |website=[[1UP.com]] |date=February 25, 2008 |access-date=August 19, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018004833/http://www.1up.com/news/persona-3-fes-confirmed-north |archive-date=October 18, 2012 }}</ref> An exclusive [[Amazon.com]] limited edition bundle was released on November 28, 2008, containing the ''FES'' edition of the game along with the same ''Art of Persona 3'' artbook and ''Persona 3'' soundtrack disc that were packaged with the North American release of the original game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Persona 3 FES with Soundtrack CD and Artbook - PlayStation 2 (Limited) |url=http://www.amazon.com/Persona-FES-Soundtrack-Artbook-Playstation-2/dp/B001G0MG8W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1228140054&sr=8-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311155642/https://www.amazon.com/Persona-FES-Soundtrack-Artbook-Playstation-2/dp/B001G0MG8W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1228140054&sr=8-1 |archive-date=March 11, 2024 |access-date=March 11, 2024 |website=[[Amazon.com]] |publisher=}}</ref> The ''FES'' edition of the game was also released on PSN on April 10, 2012.<ref name="ignpsn">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/04/06/persona-3-fes-coming-to-playstation-network |title=Persona 3 FES Coming to PlayStation Network |last=Moriarty |first=Colin |date=April 6, 2012 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=January 20, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009233345/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/04/06/persona-3-fes-coming-to-playstation-network |archive-date=October 9, 2012 }}</ref>

The expansion to ''Persona 3'', in addition to adding new content to the main game (now referred to as ''The Journey'', or ''Episode Yourself'' in the Japanese version), includes a new epilogue to the original story titled ''The Answer'', or ''Episode Aegis'' in the Japanese version. The core gameplay of ''The Answer'' is similar to that of ''The Journey'', although the daily life system has been removed with the player no longer attending school.<ref name="GameSpot-Persona 3 FES Review" /> The Answer would be added, under its Japanese name, to [[Persona 3 Reload|''Persona 3 Reload'']] as the last dlc content within Reload's expansion pass, tweaking aspects which stemmed from complaint about the original version to make it more enjoyable and adding the [[Joker (Persona)|Persona 5 version of Joker]] as a boss battle.

===''Persona 3 Portable''===
{{nihongo foot|''Persona 3 Portable''|ペルソナ3 ポータブル|Perusona Surī Pōtaburu|group=lower-alpha}}, an enhanced remaster of ''Persona 3'' for the [[PlayStation Portable]], was released in Japan on November 1, 2009,<ref name="P3P-1UP">{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/news/persona-3-psp-port |title=All About Persona 3's PSP Port |first=Kevin |last=Gifford |date=August 18, 2009 |access-date=August 18, 2009 |website=[[1UP.com]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018004727/http://www.1up.com/news/persona-3-psp-port |archive-date=October 18, 2012 }}</ref> and released in North America on July 6, 2010.<ref name="P3P-ATLUSUSA">{{cite web |url=http://www.atlus.com/p3p/home.html |title=Official Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable Website |access-date=January 20, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123131338/http://www.atlus.com/p3p/home.html |archive-date=January 23, 2010 }}</ref> It was released to the majority of Europe on April 29, 2011, and the UK on April 28, 2011. The announcement in ''[[Famitsū]]'' revealed that the player would have the option to play as a female protagonist. This selection alters some aspects of the story: the first Persona gained by the protagonist, Orpheus, has a different appearance and [[Igor (Persona)|Igor]]'s assistant in the Velvet Room, Elizabeth, can be replaced with a male equivalent named Theodore.<ref name="Famitsu">{{cite web |url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/1227161_1407.html | script-title = ja:『ペルソナ3ポータブル』謎の敵"シャドウ"に挑む特別課外活動部 |publisher=[[Famitsū]] |date=September 5, 2009 |access-date=May 3, 2010 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214723/http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/1227161_1407.html |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }}</ref> The gender choice also alters some aspects of the social link stories. In addition to the new playable character, there are two new [[difficulty level]]s to select from alongside the original game and FES's three. ''Persona 3 Portable'' only includes the story of the original ''Persona 3'', otherwise referred to as "The Journey";<ref>[http://www.atlus.com/p3p/home.html Atlus.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123131338/http://www.atlus.com/p3p/home.html |date=January 23, 2010 }}</ref> however, general changes have been made to the plot, regardless of character choice.<ref name="P3P-1UP" />

The game's revised battle system draws on elements added in ''Persona 3'''s successor, ''[[Persona 4]]''. In combat, the player is able to directly control every character, as an alternative to utilizing the game's artificial intelligence. The ability to guard has been added, and allies will take fatal attacks for the protagonist, preventing their death.<ref name="Famitsu" /> Outside of Tartarus, instead of navigating the game world by directly controlling the protagonist, the player guides an on-screen cursor around an area, allowing interaction with characters and objects. The game includes the voice acting of the original game, although characters are not shown in the world, instead being represented by on-screen portraits. In addition, the anime [[cutscene]]s seen in the original ''Persona 3'' were replaced to feature in-game graphics.<ref name="P3P-Upgrades">{{cite web |author=James Quentin Clark |date=December 24, 2009 |title=RPGFan Reviews – Persona 3 Portable |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/Persona_3_Portable/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708203135/http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/Persona_3_Portable/index.html |archive-date=July 8, 2010 |access-date=May 3, 2010 |publisher=RPGFan}}</ref> [[Shoji Meguro]] composed 10 new musical tracks for ''Persona 3 Portable''; with the majority of them being written for the female protagonist's playthrough.<ref name="P3P-Upgrades" /> Several [[Cameo appearance|cameos]] of characters from other Atlus games were added to ''Persona 3 Portable'', including [[List of Persona 4 characters#Yukiko Amagi|Yukiko Amagi]] from ''Persona 4''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/1228533_1407.html |script-title=ja:『ペルソナ3ポータブル』天城雪子が登場 |publisher=[[Famitsū]] |date=October 16, 2009 |access-date=May 3, 2010 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325064558/http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/1228533_1407.html |archive-date=March 25, 2010 }}</ref> and Vincent Brooks from  ''[[Catherine (video game)|Catherine]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2010/08/18/catherines-connection-to-persona-3-portable/ |title=Catherine's Connection To Persona 3 Portable |publisher=Siliconera |date=August 18, 2010 |access-date=December 15, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312103341/http://www.siliconera.com/2010/08/18/catherines-connection-to-persona-3-portable/ |archive-date=March 12, 2016 }}</ref>

''Persona 3 Portable'' was released as a stand-alone game and as part of a bundle package, which included a T-shirt and desk calendar.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.famitsu.com/sp/091006_p3p/ |title=ペルソナ3 ポータブル DXパック 注文受付中！ |publisher=[[Famitsū]] |access-date=May 3, 2010 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315192659/http://www.famitsu.com/sp/091006_p3p/ |archive-date=March 15, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/persona-3-portable-dx-bundle-bonuses-revealed/ |title=Persona 3 Portable DX bundle bonuses revealed |first=Griffin |last=McElroy |date=September 21, 2009 |publisher=[[Joystiq]] |access-date=November 12, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629203226/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/persona-3-portable-dx-bundle-bonuses-revealed/ |archive-date=June 29, 2011 }}</ref> In North America, Atlus U.S.A. offered Junpei's baseball cap as a pre-order bonus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.atlus.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7035 |title=ATLUS reveals pre-order bonus "JUNPEI" Baseball cap |date=April 28, 2010 |first=Aram |last=Jabbari |access-date=February 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119135718/http://atlus.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7035 |archive-date=November 19, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A port of ''Persona 3 Portable'' was released for [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[Windows]], [[Xbox One]], and [[Xbox Series X/S]]  on January 19, 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atlus-confirms-january-release-for-persona-3-portable-and-persona-4-golden/ | title = Atlus confirms January release for Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden | first = Andy | last = Robinson | date = October 8, 2022 | accessdate = October 8, 2022 | work = [[Video Games Chronicle]] | archive-date = October 8, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221008113225/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atlus-confirms-january-release-for-persona-3-portable-and-persona-4-golden/ | url-status = live }}</ref> [[Limited Run Games]] announced that September that they would distribute special physical versions of ''Persona 3 Portable'' for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Xbox consoles in limited quantities alongside a similar release for ''[[Persona 4 Golden]]'' on the aforementioned platforms. Limited Run will release three variations of ''Persona 3 Portable''<nowiki/>'s physical version, including a standard physical copy, a "Grimoire Edition" that packages the game in a special [[SteelBook]] case, a Grimoire Book box and slipcover, and a "S.E.E.S. Edition" that additionally comes with a replica of the Evoker used by the main party to summon Personas, as well as a 3D shadow box that depicts the cut-in graphic for the All-Out Attack sequence. Pre-orders for the physical releases went live on September 29, 2023 and remained active until November 12, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yang |first=George |date=2023-09-25 |title=Persona 3 Portable, Persona 4 Golden Getting Physical Editions for Consoles |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/persona-3-portable-persona-4-golden-getting-physical-editions-for-consoles |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>

===''Persona 3 Reload''===
{{Main articles|Persona 3 Reload}}
''Persona 3 Reload'' is a [[Video game remake|remake]] of ''Persona 3'' created in [[Unreal Engine 4]], and was released on February 2, 2024 for PlayStation 4, [[PlayStation 5]], Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lada |first1=Jenni |title=Persona 3 Reload Remake Officially Revealed at Xbox Games Showcase |url=https://www.siliconera.com/persona-3-reload-remake-officially-revealed-at-xbox-games-showcase |website=[[Siliconera]] |access-date=June 11, 2023 |date=June 11, 2023 |archive-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611172155/https://www.siliconera.com/persona-3-reload-remake-officially-revealed-at-xbox-games-showcase/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Campbell |first1=Evan |title=The New Persona Games Are Coming To PC And PlayStation, But Only One Is Heading To Switch |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-new-persona-games-are-coming-to-pc-and-playstation-but-only-one-is-heading-to-switch/1100-6515210/ |website=Gamespot |access-date=June 14, 2023 |date=June 14, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Kat|last=Bailey|date=August 23, 2023 |title=Persona 3 Reload Release Date Announced by Sega |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/persona-3-reload-release-date-announced-by-sega |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en}}</ref> It was announced on June 11, 2023, after footage of it had leaked in April 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bailey |first1=Kat |title=Persona 3 Remake Rumors Pick Up Steam Amid Leaked Footage and More |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/persona-3-remake-rumors-pick-up-steam |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=June 11, 2023 |date=April 11, 2023 |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512133637/https://www.ign.com/articles/persona-3-remake-rumors-pick-up-steam |url-status=live }}</ref> Producer Ryouta Niizuma stated the team prioritized remaking the original ''Persona 3'' and excluded the epilogue from ''FES'' and the female protagonist from ''Portable''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-12 |title=Persona 3 Reload Won't Have The Answer or FeMC, Has Some FES Content |url=https://www.siliconera.com/persona-3-reload-wont-have-the-answer-or-femc-has-some-fes-content/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Siliconera |language=en-US |archive-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612223058/https://www.siliconera.com/persona-3-reload-wont-have-the-answer-or-femc-has-some-fes-content/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, "The Answer" was added under the name "Episode Aigis" via [[downloadable content]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Kat |date=2024-03-06 |title=Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis DLC Is the FES DLC Fans Have Been Waiting For - Xbox Partner Preview |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/persona-3-reload-episode-aigis-dlc-announced-xbox-partner-preview |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=IGN |language=en }}</ref> The English release features a predominantly new voice cast, with the exception being Tara Platt, who voiced Mitsuru and Elizabeth in the original reprising her role as the latter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persona 3 Reload New Voice Actors Revealed, Characters Have Been Recast |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/persona-3-reload-new-voice-actors-revealed-characters-have-been-recast/1100-6515084/ |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=GameSpot |archive-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611214151/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/persona-3-reload-new-voice-actors-revealed-characters-have-been-recast/1100-6515084/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Reception==
===Critics===
{{Video game reviews
| 1UP = A−<ref name="1UP-Persona 3 Review" /><br />A (''FES'')<ref name="1UP-Persona 3 FES Review" />
| GRadar = 9/10<ref name="GamesRadar-Persona 3 Review" />
| GI = 8.5/10 (''FES'')<ref name="GI-Persona 3 FES Review" />
| Fam = 33/40<ref>{{cite web |title=Persona 3 – Famitsū Score |url=http://www.digitaldevildb.com/archived.php?url=/tony/games/persona3/reviews.php |publisher=Digital Devil Database |access-date=November 11, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221083856/http://www.digitaldevildb.com/archived.php?url=%2Ftony%2Fgames%2Fpersona3%2Freviews.php |archive-date=February 21, 2009 }}</ref>{{Unreliable source|date=August 2023}}<br /> 32/40 (PSP)<ref name="p3p-fam-1up">{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/news/japan-review-check-tekken-6_3 |title=Japan Review Check: Tekken 6, Final Fantasy Gaiden |first=Kevin |last=Gifford |date=October 21, 2009 |website=[[1UP.com]] |access-date=November 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720173927/http://www.1up.com/news/japan-review-check-tekken-6_3 |archive-date=July 20, 2012 }}</ref>
| GSpot = 8.5/10<ref name="GameSpot-Persona 3 Review" /><br />8.5/10 (''FES'')<ref name="GameSpot-Persona 3 FES Review">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3-fes-review/1900-6189760/ |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES Review |first=Kevin |last=VanOrd |date=April 23, 2008 |access-date=August 18, 2009 |website=[[GameSpot]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602054134/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3-fes-review/1900-6189760/ |archive-date=June 2, 2016 }}</ref>
| GSpy = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="Gamespy-Persona 3 Review">{{cite web |title=GameSpy: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Review |url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/persona-3/808090p1.html |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=[[GameSpy]] |first=Patrick |last=Joynt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513090301/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/persona-3/808090p1.html |archive-date=May 13, 2008 }}</ref><br />{{rating|4.5|5}} (''FES'')<ref name="Gamespy-Persona 3 FES Review">{{cite web |url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/persona-3-fes-/869026p1.html |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES |first=Patrick |last=Joynt |date=April 23, 2008 |access-date=August 18, 2009 |publisher=[[GameSpy]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410042102/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/persona-3-fes-/869026p1.html |archive-date=April 10, 2009 }}</ref>
| GT = 9/10<ref>{{cite web |title=Gametrailers.com – Persona 3 – Review |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-persona-3/23708 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=[[GameTrailers]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604180802/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-persona-3/23708 |archive-date=June 4, 2009 }}</ref>
| IGN = 8.3/10<ref name="IGN-Persona 3 Review" /><br />8.8/10 (''FES'')<ref name="IGN-Persona 3 FES Review">{{cite web |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/868/868494p1.html |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES Review |first=Jeff |last=Haynes |date=April 22, 2008 |access-date=August 18, 2009 |website=[[IGN]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209084242/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/868/868494p1.html |archive-date=February 9, 2009 }}</ref>
| MC = 86/100<ref name="Metacritic-original">{{cite web |title=Metacritic: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |access-date=May 27, 2014 |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204011927/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3 |archive-date=February 4, 2015 }}</ref><br />89/100 (''FES'')<ref name="Metacritic-fes">{{cite web |title=Metacritic: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3-fes/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |access-date=May 27, 2014 |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604141935/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3-fes |archive-date=June 4, 2015 }}</ref><br />89/100 (PSP)<ref name="metacritic.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3-portable/critic-reviews/?platform=psp |title=Metacritic: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=May 27, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425002807/http://www.metacritic.com/game/psp/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3-portable |archive-date=April 25, 2015 }}</ref><br>81/100 (PC){{r|MCPC}}<br>80/100 (PS4){{r|MCPS4}}<br>87/100 (XSXS){{r|MCXSXS}}<br>81/100 (NS){{r|MCNS}}
| award1Pub = [[Famitsu]]
| award1 = [[List of Game of the Year awards|RPG of the Year]]<ref name="Famitsu-Award"/>
| award2Pub = [[GameSpot]]
| award2 = RPG of the Year<ref name="GSpot-Award"/>
| award3Pub = [[GameSpy]]
| award3 = PS2 RPG of the Year<ref name="GSpy-Award"/>
| award4Pub = RPGamer
| award4 = RPG of the Decade<ref name="RPGamer-Award"/>
| award5Pub = RPGFan
| award5 = RPG of the Year<ref name="RPGFan-Award"/>
| PCGUS = 80/100 (PC)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shearon |first=Andrea |date=2023-01-17 |title=Persona 3 Portable review |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/persona-3-portable-review/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=[[PC Gamer]] |language=en |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119122659/https://www.pcgamer.com/persona-3-portable-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| PSQ = 8/10 (PS4)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramsey |first=Robert |date=2023-01-17 |title=Review: Persona 3 Portable (PS4) - Brooding JRPG Is Still Superb |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/persona-3-portable |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=[[Push Square]] |language=en-GB |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119122701/https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/persona-3-portable |url-status=live }}</ref>
| NLife = {{rating|7|10}} (NS)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vogel |first=Mitch |date=2023-01-17 |title=Review: Persona 3 Portable - A Fine Series Entry, Though One That's Tough To Return To |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/persona-3-portable |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |language=en-GB |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119122659/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/persona-3-portable |url-status=live }}</ref>
| HCG = 4/5 (NS)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beck |first=Adam |date=2023-01-17 |title=Review: Persona 3 Portable - Hardcore Gamer |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-persona-3-portable/435929/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=HardcoreGamer |language=en-US |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119122701/https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-persona-3-portable/435929/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| NWR = 8/10 (NS)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rudek |first=Jordan |date=January 17, 2023 |title=Persona 3 Portable Review - Review |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/62581/persona-3-portable-switch-review |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Nintendo World Report |archive-date=January 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117210724/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/62581/persona-3-portable-switch-review |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

''Persona 3'' received positive reviews upon its release, earning a Metacritic score of 86.<ref name="Metacritic-original" /> Shane Bettenhausen of ''[[1UP.com]]'' called the game a "refreshingly new take on the ''MegaTen'' [''Megami Tensei''] concept", and "the best RPG hitting the PS2 this year." He praised the "excellent" AI created to direct the actions of party members during battle, which he felt created "the series' speediest and most dynamic battle system to date."<ref name="1UP-Persona 3 Review">{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/persona-3 |title=Persona 3 Review |last=Bettenhausen |first=Shane |access-date=August 22, 2009 |date=August 14, 2007 |publisher=[[1UP.com]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018004841/http://www.1up.com/reviews/persona-3 |archive-date=October 18, 2012 }}</ref> Jeff Haynes from ''[[IGN]]'' criticized the system, finding that it would occasionally result in the death of the player's character, which causes a [[game over]].<ref name="IGN-Persona 3 Review" />

''[[GameTrailers]]'' called the game "a rare supernatural delicacy", stating it is an RPG that fans of the genre shouldn't miss out on. ''[[GameSpy]]''{{'s}} Patrick Joynt praised the social elements of ''Persona 3'', calling the game's social links "almost universally fascinating." While he suspected the simulation elements would "probably be the biggest hurdle" for fans of role-playing or ''Megami Tensei'' games, in his review, he wrote that he "can't stress enough how well-done it is."<ref name="Gamespy-Persona 3 Review" /> Heidi Kemps of ''[[GamesRadar]]'' found the game's teenage themes to be "a refreshing change" from those of other games in the genre, as they touch on "the social awkwardness common at that point in life."<ref name="GamesRadar-Persona 3 Review">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/ps2/review/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3/a-2007081511577988075/p-2 |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |last=Kemps |first=Heidi |date=August 16, 2007 |access-date=August 22, 2009 |publisher=[[GamesRadar]]. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616051126/http://www.gamesradar.com/ps2/review/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3/a-2007081511577988075/p-2 |archive-date=June 16, 2011 }}</ref> ''[[Game Informer]]''{{'}}s Joe Juba found the game's environments to be weak, as "most of the game takes place within one tower [Tartarus]." In his review, he also noted that the game's roots in the ''Megami Tensei'' series would come across as foreign to new players. "If you don't know anything about fusing Personas, or simply that 'bufu' means 'ice attack,' you have some catching up to do."<ref name="GI-Persona 3 FES Review">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200708/R07.0724.1124.03675.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610133556/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200708/R07.0724.1124.03675.htm |archive-date=June 10, 2008 |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Special Edition review |first=Joe |last=Juba |access-date=September 8, 2009 |magazine=[[Game Informer]]}}</ref>

''Persona 3 FES'' received a score of 89 on Metacritic, slightly higher than that of ''Persona 3''.<ref name="Metacritic-fes" /> The plot of The Answer provides "much-needed narrative closure" to the story of The Journey, according to Shane Bettenhausen.<ref name="1UP-Persona 3 FES Review">{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/persona-3-fes |title=Persona 3 FES Review |last=Bettenhausen |first=Shane |access-date=August 22, 2009 |date=April 22, 2008 |publisher=[[1UP.com]]. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018004851/http://www.1up.com/reviews/persona-3-fes |archive-date=October 18, 2012 }}</ref> Kevin VanOrd called ''FES'' a "wonderfully enhanced version of an already-great RPG"; in his review, he recommends the game to new players and those who had already finished the original game.<ref name="GameSpot-Persona 3 FES Review" /> The gameplay of The Answer was criticized by several reviewers for not including the social elements of the original game.<ref name="GameSpot-Persona 3 FES Review" /><ref name="IGN-Persona 3 FES Review" /><ref name="Gamespy-Persona 3 FES Review" /> VanOrd found the new chapter to be "less interesting" because of this. Jeff Haynes commented that the change "harkens back to a classic, more hardcore RPG experience of fighting and grinding", while done at the expense of what "made ''Persona 3'' so intriguing in the first place."<ref name="IGN-Persona 3 FES Review" /> The reviews of GameSpy and ''IGN'' reiterated issues found with the original game, such as the inability to directly control party members in battle.<ref name="IGN-Persona 3 FES Review" /><ref name="Gamespy-Persona 3 FES Review" />

While some critics like ''[[IGN]]'' criticized ''Persona 3 Portable'' for "losing some of its polish", it was as acclaimed as ''FES'', receiving an 89 out of 100 from [[Metacritic]],<ref name="metacritic.com"/> making it the third best reviewed [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]] game on the website.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/release-date/available/psp/metascore |title=All PSP Video Game Releases |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=May 27, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709000431/http://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/release-date/available/psp/metascore |archive-date=July 9, 2014 }}</ref> It was praised for, despite having been released twice already, being an adventure worth playing again. This was echoed by ''[[GamesRadar]]'', ''IGN'', ''[[1UP.com]]'' and ''[[GamePro]]''.<ref name="metacritic.com"/> One of the reviewers from ''[[Famitsu]]'' wrote that the remake includes "enough differences in the Social Links to make it fun even for old players.",<ref name="p3p-fam-1up" /> and perfect scores from websites such as ''[[Destructoid]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-review-persona-3-portable-178053.phtml |title=Review: Persona 3 Portable |first=Dale |last=North |date=July 2, 2010 |website=[[Destructoid]] |access-date=February 5, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808011210/http://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-review-persona-3-portable-178053.phtml |archive-date=August 8, 2010 }}</ref> and ''GamePro''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/215739/persona-3-portable/ |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable Review |first=Heidi |last=Kemps |date=July 6, 2010 |magazine=[[GamePro]] |access-date=February 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607174025/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/215739/persona-3-portable/ |archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> ''GameTrailers'' went on to nominate the game for "Best PSP Game" in their awards, losing to ''[[God of War: Ghost of Sparta]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/video/best-psp-game-of-the/708645 |title=Best PSP Game HD |date=December 21, 2010 |publisher=[[GameTrailers]] |access-date=February 5, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225234304/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/best-psp-game-of-the/708645 |archive-date=December 25, 2010 }}</ref> and "Best RPG", losing to ''[[Mass Effect 2]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/video/best-rpg-game-of-the/708629 |title=Best RPG HD |date=December 23, 2010 |publisher=[[GameTrailers]] |access-date=February 5, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226171642/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/best-rpg-game-of-the/708629 |archive-date=December 26, 2010 }}</ref> Three websites specific to coverage of RPGs honored it in annual award postings, namely RPGamer (Best Re-release),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/awards/2010/results/rerelease.html |title=Best Re-release |date=January 20, 2011 |publisher=RPGamer |access-date=February 15, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302114843/http://www.rpgamer.com/awards/2010/results/rerelease.html |archive-date=March 2, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> RPGFan (Best Traditional RPG on Handheld),<ref>{{cite web |date=January 21, 2011 |title=Best Handheld Traditional RPG |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/features/go2010/trad-handheld.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117081629/http://www.rpgfan.com/features/go2010/trad-handheld.html |archive-date=January 17, 2011 |access-date=February 15, 2011 |publisher=RPGFan}}</ref> and RPGLand (Best Port).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rpgland.com/sega/rpgs-of-2010-awards/ |title=Best Port |date=February 13, 2011 |publisher=RPGLand |access-date=February 15, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216083616/http://rpgland.com/sega/rpgs-of-2010-awards/ |archive-date=February 16, 2011 }}</ref>

Shane Bettenhausen considered the inclusion of Evokers "a ballsy and shocking move" on the part of Atlus, but felt their inclusion created "an edgy sensibility that fits perfectly with the overall dark tone" of the game.<ref name="1UP-Persona 3 Review" /> Similarly, Joe Juba thought the concept fit "perfectly" with the game's "dark tone".<ref name="GI-Persona 3 FES Review" /> Jeff Haynes found the animations of characters using their Evokers to be "intriguing and shocking at the same time".<ref name="IGN-Persona 3 Review" /> While previewing ''Persona 3'' for ''GameSpot'', Kevin VanOrd said that the continued use of Evokers "never gets old and it never gets any less awesome to watch, and considering that you could play this for fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty hours or more, that's saying something."<ref>{{cite video |people=Gallup, Rich; Gerstmann, Jeff; VanOrd, Kevin |title=On the Spot – 07/26/07 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/shows/on-the-spot/?series=on-the-spot&event=on_the_spot20070726 |website=[[GameSpot]] |time=39:50 |access-date=November 12, 2009 |date=July 26, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106020921/http://www.gamespot.com/shows/on-the-spot/?series=on-the-spot&event=on_the_spot20070726 |archive-date=November 6, 2012 }}</ref> Atlus USA did not remove the Evokers from ''Persona 3'' for its worldwide release, despite the possible controversy. Nich Maragos from the localization team said on ''1UP.com''{{'}}s ''[[1UP Shows and Podcasts#Retronauts|Retronauts]]'' podcast that the company did not receive any criticism for their inclusion. "There was never any [[Jack Thompson (activist)|Jack Thompson]]-ing…we didn't get any letters from concerned parents."<ref>{{cite video |url=http://download.gamevideos.com/Podcasts/Retronauts/R121008.mp3 |format=[[MP3]] |title=Retronauts Episode 61: 12/10/2008 |people=Barnholt, Ray; Bettenhausen, Shane; Fitch, Andrew; Maragos, Nich; Parish, Jeremy |publisher=[[1UP.com]] |date=October 12, 2008 |access-date=November 12, 2009 |medium=Podcast }}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S and Switch versions of ''Persona 3 Portable'' received "generally favorable reviews", according to [[Metacritic]].<ref name=MCPC>{{Cite web |title=Persona 3 Portable for PC Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3-portable/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Metacritic |language=en |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119122659/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/persona-3-portable |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=MCPS4>{{Cite web |title=Persona 3 Portable for PlayStation 4 Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3-portable/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Metacritic |language=en |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119122701/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/persona-3-portable |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=MCXSXS>{{Cite web |title=Persona 3 Portable for Xbox Series X Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3-portable/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Metacritic |language=en |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119122701/https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-series-x/persona-3-portable |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=MCNS>{{Cite web |title=Persona 3 Portable for Switch Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3-portable/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Metacritic |language=en |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119122702/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/persona-3-portable |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Sales and accolades===
''Persona 3'' sold 127,472 copies in its first week and 210,319 copies overall in Japan by 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sony PS2 Japanese Ranking |url=http://www.japan-gamecharts.com/ps2.php |date=November 2, 2008 |publisher=Japan-GameCharts |access-date=February 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230005343/http://www.japan-gamecharts.com/ps2.php |archive-date=December 30, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://garaph.info/softwareindividual.php//gid/2467 |title=GID 2467 - Persona 3 - PS2 |publisher=garaph.info |access-date=June 28, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712033106/http://garaph.info/softwareindividual.php/gid/2467 |archive-date=July 12, 2012 }}</ref> ''Persona 3 Portable'' sold over 158,000 copies in Japan within its first month of release.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/big-in-japan-oct-26-nov-1-bayonetta-tekken-6/1100-6239321/ |title=Big in Japan Oct. 26-Nov. 1: Bayonetta, Tekken 6 |first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |date=November 6, 2009 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=January 13, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070552/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/big-in-japan-oct-26-nov-1-bayonetta-tekken-6/1100-6239321/ |archive-date=September 4, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/big-in-japan-nov-2-8-pro-evolution-soccer-2010/1100-6240137/ |title=Big in Japan Nov. 2-8: Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 |first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |date=November 13, 2009 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=January 13, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070554/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/big-in-japan-nov-2-8-pro-evolution-soccer-2010/1100-6240137/ |archive-date=September 4, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/big-in-japan-nov-9-15-j-league-pro-soccer-club/1100-6241032/ |title=Big in Japan Nov. 9-15: J-League Pro Soccer Club |first=Tom |last=Magrino |date=November 20, 2009 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=January 13, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007064111/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/big-in-japan-nov-9-15-j-league-pro-soccer-club/1100-6241032/ |archive-date=October 7, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://psp.ign.com/articles/104/1048348p1.html |title=PSP go Falters in Japan |first=Anoop |last=Gantayat |date=November 20, 2009 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=May 2, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126063623/http://psp.ign.com/articles/104/1048348p1.html |archive-date=November 26, 2009 }}</ref>

''Persona 3'' was named the best role-playing game of 2006 by ''Famitsu'',<ref name="Famitsu-Award">{{cite web |url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2007/04/20/103,1177037473,70570,0,0.html |script-title=ja:速報！ ファミ通ゲームアワード2006開催！ 各受賞タイトルを一挙発表！ |date=April 20, 2007 |publisher=[[Famitsu]] |access-date=December 22, 2009 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609104517/http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2007/04/20/103%2C1177037473%2C70570%2C0%2C0.html |archive-date=June 9, 2009 }}</ref> and of 2007 by ''GameSpot'' and ''RPGFan''.<ref name="GSpot-Award">{{cite web |title=GameSpot's Best of 2007: Best Role-Playing Game Genre Awards |website=[[GameSpot]] |url=http://www.gamespot.com/special_feature/bestof2007/genreawards/index.html?page=10 |access-date=November 11, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408003553/http://www.gamespot.com/special_feature/bestof2007/genreawards/index.html?page=10 |archive-date=April 8, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="RPGFan-Award">{{cite web |title=RPGFan Feature - Games of 2007 |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/features/go2007/index2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103044949/http://www.rpgfan.com/features/go2007/index2.html |archive-date=November 3, 2008 |access-date=November 1, 2008 |publisher=RPGFan}}</ref> GameSpy gave the title its 2007 PS2 RPG of the Year award and placed it second in the 2007 PS2 Top 10 Games of the Year.<ref name="GSpy-Award">{{cite web |title=GameSpy's Game of the Year 2007: PS2 Winners Recap |publisher=[[GameSpy]] |url=http://goty.gamespy.com/2007/ps2/7.html |access-date=October 30, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017140333/http://goty.gamespy.com/2007/ps2/7.html |archive-date=October 17, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=GameSpy's Game of the Year 2007: PS2 Top 5 |publisher=[[GameSpy]] |url=http://goty.gamespy.com/2007/ps2/5.html |access-date=October 30, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017140328/http://goty.gamespy.com/2007/ps2/5.html |archive-date=October 17, 2012 }}</ref> ''Persona 3'' was nominated for Best RPG at the 2007 [[Spike Video Game Awards]], but lost to ''[[Mass Effect (video game)|Mass Effect]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frederick |first=Logan |date=December 11, 2007 |title=Spike TV 2007 Video Game Award Winners Announced |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/spike-tv-2007-video-game-award-winners-announced/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331002926/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/spike-tv-2007-video-game-award-winners-announced/ |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |access-date=June 7, 2023 |website=The Escapist}}</ref> ''1UP.com''{{'s}} 2007 game awards, which ran in the March 2008 issue of ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'', included ''Persona 3'', given the award for "Most controversial game that created no controversy".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=2007 1UP Network Editors' Choice Awards |author=1UP Staff |date=March 2008 |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis|Ziff Davis Media]] |issn=1058-918X |issue=226 |page=65 |quote=[[Rockstar Games|Rockstar]]'s [[Hot Coffee minigame controversy|Hot Coffee sex scandal]] and [[Bully (video game)|''Bully'']]'s boy-on-boy kissing's got nothing on this PS2 role-player's suicide-initiated battles or subplot involving student-teacher dating.}}</ref>

''IGN'' placed ''Persona 3 FES'' fifteenth in their feature "The Top 25 PS2 Games of All Time".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/772/772296p3.html |title=The Top 25 PS2 Games of All Time |author=IGN PlayStation Team |website=[[IGN]] |date=August 10, 2009 |access-date=November 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228201618/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/772/772296p3.html |archive-date=February 28, 2009 }}</ref> In 2010, ''Persona 3'' was listed first on ''RPGamer''{{'s}} "Top RPGs of the Decade" list,<ref name="RPGamer-Award">{{cite web |title=Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 |publisher=RPGamer |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/features/decade/decade-1.html |access-date=February 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110111957/http://www.rpgamer.com/features/decade/decade-1.html |archive-date=November 10, 2014 }}</ref> and second place in ''RPGFan''{{'s}} "Top 20 RPGs of the Past Decade" list.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 20 RPGs of the Past Decade |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/features/Top_20_RPGs_of_the_Last_Decade/2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007220315/http://www.rpgfan.com/features/Top_20_RPGs_of_the_Last_Decade/index.html |archive-date=October 7, 2014 |access-date=February 5, 2011 |publisher=RPGFan}}</ref>

==Legacy==
An [[internet meme]] about a typo turning the game's signature song "Burn My Dread" into "Burn My Bread" went viral.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kawase |first1=Ayuo |title=Popular Persona 3 song, "Burn My Dread", distributed as "Burn My Bread" due to a typo |url=https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20210113-436/ |access-date=1 October 2024 |work=Automaton |date=7 July 2021 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230227033213/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20210113-436/ |archive-date=27 February 2023}}</ref>

===Spin-offs and tie-ins===
{{Main|Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth|Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight|Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth}}

''[[Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth]]'' is a dungeon crawler RPG developed for the Nintendo 3DS. It features both the characters from ''Persona 3'' and the ones from ''Persona 4'' and includes some gameplay elements from the ''Etrian Odyssey'' series. The ''Persona 3'' campaign starts two weeks before October 4. Just as SEES prepares to enter Tartarus that night, they are pulled into the Velvet Room and sent to a school they have never seen before. While searching the area, they meet the amnesiacs Zen and Rei and the Investigation Team, the latter of whom have also been pulled into the strange school: they must now work together to escape. The game was released in Japan on June 5, 2014, North America on November 25, 2014, and Europe on November 28, 2014.

A [[rhythm game]] based on the setting and characters of ''Persona 3'', titled ''[[Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight]]'', was released for the PlayStation 4 and [[PlayStation Vita]] in Japan in May 2018 and worldwide in December 2018, alongside ''[[Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight]]''.{{refn|{{nihongo|PlayStation Vita|In western countries, the game received no physical copies and was only sold on the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation Vita}}}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/12/24/persona-5-dancing-star-night-persona-3-dancing-moon-night-release-japan-may-24-2018/|title=Persona 5: Dancing Star Night And Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night Release In Japan On May 24, 2018 - Siliconera|date=December 24, 2017|work=Siliconera|access-date=December 24, 2017|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224183841/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/12/24/persona-5-dancing-star-night-persona-3-dancing-moon-night-release-japan-may-24-2018/|archive-date=December 24, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight launch December 4 in the Americas and Europe |url=https://gematsu.com/2018/08/persona-3-dancing-in-moonlight-and-persona-5-dancing-in-starlight-launch-december-4-in-the-americas-and-europe |website=Gematsu |date=August 9, 2018 |access-date=9 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809215619/https://gematsu.com/2018/08/persona-3-dancing-in-moonlight-and-persona-5-dancing-in-starlight-launch-december-4-in-the-americas-and-europe |archive-date=August 9, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

''[[Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth]]'' serves as a sequel to ''Persona Q''. The game was released for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan on November 29, 2018, and worldwide on June 4, 2019. The game retains the casts from ''Persona 3'' and ''Persona 4'', joined by the Phantom Thieves of Hearts from ''[[Persona 5]]'' and the female protagonist from ''Persona 3 Portable''.

===Related media===
====Merchandise====
Several figurines of the characters have been produced by Kotobukiya, a Japanese collectible toy company. They include the protagonist of the game, Aigis, Mitsuru, and Akihiko.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kotobukiya.co.jp/kotobukiya/figure_pvc_p3.shtml |script-title=ja:フィギュア ペルソナ３ |publisher=Kotobukiya |access-date=August 29, 2009 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802132251/http://main.kotobukiya.co.jp/redirect.html |archive-date=August 2, 2012 }}</ref> The figurines have interchangeable parts, such as an Evoker or weapon, which can be stored in the base. Alter, another Japanese company that specializes in collectibles, has also released 1:8 [[Scale model#Terminology|scale]] figurines of Elizabeth, Aigis, and Mitsuru.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alter-web.jp/figure/08/10_2/index.html |title=Elizabeth – ALTER |publisher=ALTER |access-date=October 24, 2009 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107023232/http://www.alter-web.jp/figure/08/10_2/index.html |archive-date=January 7, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alter-web.jp/figure/07/10_1/index.html |title=Aigis – ALTER |publisher=ALTER |access-date=November 30, 2007 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211135448/http://www.alter-web.jp/figure/07/10_1/index.html |archive-date=December 11, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alter-web.jp/figure/08/06_2/index.html |title=Mitsuru – ALTER |publisher=ALTER |access-date=February 1, 2008 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127140919/http://www.alter-web.jp/figure/08/06_2/index.html |archive-date=January 27, 2008 }}</ref> The headphones worn by the protagonist are sold by Audio-Technica, model ATH-EM700(Japan-only version).<ref>{{cite web |title=Ear-Fit Headphones ATH-EM700 |url=http://www.audio-technica.co.jp/atj/sc/ath-em700/index.html |publisher=[[Audio-Technica]] |access-date=October 4, 2009 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917152810/http://www.audio-technica.co.jp/atj/sc/ath-em700/index.html |archive-date=September 17, 2009 }}</ref> Atlus collaborated with the Japanese publishing company [[Enterbrain]] to publish the game's multiple [[strategy guide]]s and an artbook detailing character and setting designs.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}

====Manga====
A [[manga]] adaptation of ''Persona 3'' written and illustrated by Shūji Sogabe was published monthly in the Japanese magazine ''[[Dengeki Maoh]]'' until it went on hiatus once ''Persona 4'' was released. However, it began serialization again starting November 7, 2011, moving from ''Dengeki Maoh'' to Atlus's official ''Persona Magazine.''<ref>{{cite news |date=October 18, 2011 |title=Monthly Persona Magazine Launches on November 7 |work=[[Anime News Network]] |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-10-18/monthly-persona-magazine-launches-on-november-7 |url-status=live |access-date=June 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122083645/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-10-18/monthly-persona-magazine-launches-on-november-7 |archive-date=January 22, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Persona 3 Game-Based 4-Panel Manga Serialized Online |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-01-31/persona-3-game-based-4-panel-manga-serialized-online |work=[[Anime News Network]] |date=January 31, 2008 |access-date=September 8, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519020500/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-01-31/persona-3-game-based-4-panel-manga-serialized-online |archive-date=May 19, 2015 }}</ref> As of February 2017, 11 volumes have been released.<ref>{{cite book |script-title=ja:ペルソナ3 11 (電撃コミックス) [コミック] |id={{ASIN|4048926853|country=jp}} |language=ja}}</ref>

====Anime====
{{See also|Persona: Trinity Soul|List of Persona: Trinity Soul episodes|l2=list of episodes}}
A non-canonical spin-off [[anime]] to the ''Persona'' series titled ''[[Persona: Trinity Soul]]'' aired in Japan starting in January 2008 and ran for twenty-six episodes. Despite being a standalone installment in the franchise, the anime takes place ten years after the events of ''Persona 3'' and borrows certain plot elements, featuring Akihiko as a secondary character and the usage of Persona suppressors.<ref>{{cite news |title=Persona 3 Game Adapted as Television Anime for January |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-11-07/persona-3-game-adapted-as-television-anime |access-date=November 7, 2007 |date=November 7, 2007 |work=[[Anime News Network]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412151131/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-11-07/persona-3-game-adapted-as-television-anime |archive-date=April 12, 2015 }}</ref> [[NIS America]] licensed the show and released it in two half-season deluxe edition box sets with the original Japanese audio track in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=NIS America Goes Anime |url=http://rpgland.com/news/nis-america-goes-anime/ |publisher=RPGLand |access-date=February 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209085131/http://rpgland.com/news/nis-america-goes-anime/ |archive-date=December 9, 2012 }}</ref>

====Films====
{{Main articles|Persona 3 The Movie: No. 1, Spring of Birth|Persona 3 The Movie: No. 2, Midsummer Knight's Dream|Persona 3 The Movie: No. 3, Falling Down|Persona 3 The Movie: No. 4, Winter of Rebirth}}
In June 2012, it was announced that ''Persona 3'' would receive a four-part film series adaptation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-06-10/persona-3-rpg-film-adaptation-confirmed |title=Persona 3 RPG's Film Adaptation Confirmed |work=Anime News Network |date=June 10, 2012 |access-date=June 10, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613172720/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-06-10/persona-3-rpg-film-adaptation-confirmed |archive-date=June 13, 2012 }}</ref> It was produced by [[Anime International Company|AIC ASTA]] (first film) and [[A-1 Pictures]] (films two through four). The first film was directed by Noriaki Akitaya, the second and fourth by [[Tomohisa Taguchi]], and the third by Keitaro Motonaga. The main Japanese voice actors from the original game reprised their roles in the film series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.p3m.jp/staff/index.html |title=PERSONA 3 THE MOVIE |publisher=P3m.jp |access-date=July 17, 2013 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513174952/http://www.p3m.jp/staff/index.html |archive-date=May 13, 2015 }}</ref>

====Radio drama====
Several series of [[Radio drama in Japan|radio dramas]] based on ''Persona 3'' and ''Persona 3 FES'' have been released in Japan. ''Persona 3 Drama CD: A Certain Day of Summer'' features an original story voiced by the game's original cast.<ref name="dramacd-summer">{{cite web |url=http://www.lantis.jp/new-release/data.php?id=8b02023952ecfca1a6bbf5ac6248406b |title=オリジナルドラマ～A CERTAIN DAY OF SUMMER～ |publisher=[[Lantis (company)|Lantis]] |access-date=May 12, 2010 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122144050/http://www.lantis.jp/new-release/data.php?id=8b02023952ecfca1a6bbf5ac6248406b |archive-date=January 22, 2012 }}</ref> ''Persona 3 Drama CD Vol. 2 -Moonlight-'' links the story of ''Persona 3'' and the epilogue released with ''Persona 3 FES''.<ref name="dramacd-moon-vol2">{{cite web |url=http://www.fwinc.co.jp/package/FCCT-0051.php |title=ドラマCD Vol.2 -Moonlight- |publisher=[[Frontier Works]] |access-date=May 12, 2010 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724000706/http://www.fwinc.co.jp/package/FCCT-0051.php |archive-date=July 24, 2011 }}</ref> From February to June 2008, a series of character dramas were released as five CDs. The volumes respectively focus on the protagonist and Ryoji;<ref name="dramacd-char-vol1">{{cite web |url=http://www.fwinc.co.jp/package/FCCT-0066.php |title=キャラクタードラマCD Vol.1 |publisher=[[Frontier Works]] |access-date=May 12, 2010 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724000713/http://www.fwinc.co.jp/package/FCCT-0066.php |archive-date=July 24, 2011 }}</ref> Junpei and Chidori;<ref name="dramacd-char-vol2">{{cite web |url=http://www.fwinc.co.jp/package/FCCT-0067.php |title=キャラクタードラマCD Vol.2 |publisher=[[Frontier Works]] |access-date=May 12, 2010 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724000735/http://www.fwinc.co.jp/package/FCCT-0067.php |archive-date=July 24, 2011 }}</ref> Fuuka, Ken, and Aigis;<ref name="dramacd-char-vol3">{{cite web |url=http://www.fwinc.co.jp/package/FCCT-0068.php |title=キャラクタードラマCD Vol.3 |publisher=[[Frontier Works]] |access-date=May 12, 2010 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724000821/http://www.fwinc.co.jp/package/FCCT-0068.php |archive-date=July 24, 2011 }}</ref> Yukari and Mitsuru;<ref name="dramacd-char-vol4">{{cite web |url=http://www.fwinc.co.jp/package/FCCT-0069.php |title=キャラクタードラマCD Vol.4 |publisher=[[Frontier Works]] |access-date=May 12, 2010 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724000845/http://www.fwinc.co.jp/package/FCCT-0069.php |archive-date=July 24, 2011 }}</ref> and Akihiko, Shinjiro, and Koromaru.<ref name="dramacd-char-vol5">{{cite web |url=http://www.fwinc.co.jp/package/FCCT-0070.php |title=キャラクタードラマCD Vol.5 |publisher=[[Frontier Works]] |access-date=May 12, 2010 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724000929/http://www.fwinc.co.jp/package/FCCT-0070.php |archive-date=July 24, 2011 }}</ref> In early 2009, a two-volume side story about Mitsuru was released.<ref name="dramacd-newmoon">{{cite web |url=http://www.fwinc.co.jp/package/FCCT-0087.php |title=ペルソナ３ > ドラマCD New moon |publisher=[[Frontier Works]] |access-date=May 12, 2010 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207025932/http://www.fwinc.co.jp/package/FCCT-0087.php |archive-date=February 7, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="dramacd-fullmoon">{{cite web |url=http://www.fwinc.co.jp/package/FCCT-0088.php |title=ペルソナ３ > ドラマCD Full Moon |publisher=[[Frontier Works]] |access-date=May 12, 2010 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930195053/http://www.fwinc.co.jp/package/FCCT-0088.php |archive-date=September 30, 2011 }}</ref>

====Stage production====
{{Main articles|Persona 3: The Weird Masquerade}}
''Persona 3'' was adapted into five live stage musicals, with the first one performed in 2014. The series of plays were first announced in August 2013<ref>{{cite news |first=Joseph |last=Luster |url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2013/08/13-1/persona-3-the-weird-masquerade-turns-the-rpg-into-a-stage-play |title='Persona 3: The Weird Masquerade' Turns the RPG into a Stage Play |work=[[Crunchyroll]] |date=August 13, 2013 |access-date=August 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218001239/http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2013/08/13-1/persona-3-the-weird-masquerade-turns-the-rpg-into-a-stage-play |archive-date=February 18, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> and were written by Kumagai and Kotora Kagurazuka, with music by Meguro. The plays included separate shows for both the male and female protagonists, who were named Sakuya Shiomi and Kotone Shiomi, and had minor dialogue and scenes unique to each protagonist.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_kakusei/cast.html |title=PERSONA3 -ペルソナ3-｜青の覚醒｜CAST |language=ja |publisher=Index Corporation |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116211555/http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_kakusei/cast.html |archive-date=January 16, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The plays starred [[Shouta Aoi]] as Sakuya, [[Kana Asumi]] as Kotone, Maho Tomita as Yukari, [[Genki Okawa]] as Junpei, Yuki Fujiwara as Akihiko, [[Asami Tano]] as Mitsuru, Marina Tanoue as Fuuka, [[ZAQ]] as Aigis, and Waku Sakaguchi and Tomonori Suzuki as Ken. The musicals were also broadcast live on [[Niconico]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.nicovideo.jp/niconews/ni048536.html |title=舞台「PERSONA3 the WM ～群青の迷宮～」配信決定！ |language=ja |publisher=Niconico |date=September 14, 2014 |access-date=December 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140917030725/http://blog.nicovideo.jp/niconews/ni048536.html |archive-date=September 17, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> and a behind-the-scenes special aired on [[Tokyo MX]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://s.mxtv.jp/anime/p3wm/ |title=舞台『ペルソナ3』 ～人気の秘密を暴く～｜アニメ｜TOKYO MX |language=ja |publisher=Tokyo MX |access-date=December 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909213153/http://s.mxtv.jp/anime/p3wm/ |archive-date=September 9, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first play, ''Persona 3: The Weird Masquerade: The Blue Awakening'' ran from January 8–12, 2014, at Theater G Rosso,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_kakusei/stage.html |title=PERSONA3 -ペルソナ3-｜青の覚醒｜STAGE |language=ja |publisher=Index Corporation |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330050605/http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_kakusei/stage.html |archive-date=March 30, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and was given a home release on May 14, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_kakusei/other.html |title=PERSONA3 -ペルソナ3-｜青の覚醒｜OTHER |language=ja |publisher=Index Corporation |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612102048/http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_kakusei/other.html |archive-date=June 12, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The Blue Awakening'' followed events up to Fuuka's inclusion into the party.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_kakusei/about.html |title=PERSONA3 -ペルソナ3-｜青の覚醒｜ABOUT |language=ja |publisher=Index Corporation |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330050459/http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_kakusei/about.html |archive-date=March 30, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

''The Blue Awakening'' was followed up with a sequel, ''Persona 3: The Weird Masquerade: The Ultramarine Labyrinth'', which ran from September 16–24, 2014, at Theater 1010<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_meikyu/about.php |title=PERSONA3 -ペルソナ3-｜群青の迷宮｜ABOUT |language=ja |publisher=Index Corporation |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331033828/http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_meikyu/about.php |archive-date=March 31, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-08-09/more-of-2nd-persona-3-stage-play-cast-shown-in-costume/.77461 |title=More of 2nd Persona 3 Stage Play's Cast Shown in Costume |work=[[Anime News Network]] |date=August 9, 2014 |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704011728/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-08-09/more-of-2nd-persona-3-stage-play-cast-shown-in-costume/.77461 |archive-date=July 4, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and was given a home release on January 28, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_meikyu/goods.php |title=PERSONA3 -ペルソナ3-｜群青の迷宮｜GOODS |language=ja |publisher=Index Corporation |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331033915/http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_meikyu/goods.php |archive-date=March 31, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The play follows in-game events from July to early November. Richard Eisenbeis from ''[[Kotaku]]'' reviewed the play favorably, approving of its casting and special effects, but felt that the musical numbers were "out of place" and the protagonists had "zero personality."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/persona-3-works-as-a-stage-play-but-less-so-as-a-music-1641989448 |last1=Eisenbeis |first1=Richard |title=''Persona 3'' Works as a Stage Play, But Less So as a Musical |website=[[Kotaku]] |date=October 3, 2014 |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830080132/http://kotaku.com/persona-3-works-as-a-stage-play-but-less-so-as-a-music-1641989448 |archive-date=August 30, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A third musical, titled ''Persona 3: The Weird Masquerade: The Bismuth Crystals'' ran from June 5–13, 2015,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_kessyo/ticket.php |title=PERSONA3 -ペルソナ3-｜蒼鉛の結晶｜SCHEDULE |language=ja |publisher=Index Corporation |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330131536/http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_kessyo/ticket.php |archive-date=March 30, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and was given a home release on September 30, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_kessyo/cast.php |title=PERSONA3 -ペルソナ3-｜蒼鉛の結晶｜GOODS |language=ja |publisher=Index Corporation |date=June 5, 2015 |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330131353/http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_kessyo/cast.php |archive-date=March 30, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_kessyo/news_0605.php |title=『PERSONA3 the Weird Masquerade ～蒼鉛の結晶～』DVD化決定！ |language=ja |publisher=Index Corporation |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612105604/http://www.clie.asia/p3wm_kessyo/news_0605.php |archive-date=June 12, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The fourth and fifth stage plays, ''Persona 3: The Weird Masquerade: Act 4: Indigo Pledge'' and ''Persona 3: The Weird Masquerade: Final Act: Beyond the Blue Sky'', ran from April 14–23, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clie.asia/p3wm/#schedule |title=PERSONA3 THE WEIRD MASQUERADE Schedule and Ticket |language=ja |publisher=Index Corporation |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830053902/http://www.clie.asia/p3wm/#schedule |archive-date=August 30, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|http://www.atlus.com/persona3/home.html}} (''FES'')
* {{Official website|http://www.atlus.com/p3p/}} (''Portable'')

{{Persona series}}
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