An Explanation for the Person 3: FES Review

I feel like I should explain the Persona 3 review a bit more.

I started playing Persona 3: FES in 2008. At first it seemed like an okay RPG. The dating simulation part was okay, the story was okay, the characters were okay, and the fighting seemed reasonable enough.

But then the combat became more difficult. Bosses started to feel more unfair. I was spending more and more time running around the Tartarus trying to make enough money to buy equipment so I might stand a chance against the next boss.

At least I think that is how it went.

Meanwhile the story was not getting any better, nor was the characters. But it was impossible not to grow a little attached to them and their stupid story after spending so many virtual days with them.

Around hour fifty I realized I wasn’t having any fun. But I did not want to stop because I did not want those past fifty hours to be for nothing.

After another fifty hours and a disgustingly unfair final boss and I had beaten the game. I actually did a crazy laughter thing after I had finished it. But unfortunately I still had that damn epilogue, and I wanted to know the entire story.

So I started it, even though I did not really care about the characters too much. I learned quickly that this epilogue was the worst parts of the combat without any good parts. After a couple of bosses I quit, since it was clear that this was going to take a while. I still don’t get how people found time to beat this game before me.

I stopped for a while but eventually tried playing again only to get frustrated again and stop. This continued into 2009, as I became more annoyed by the game but unwilling to let it go. I forgot about what happened in the main game.

In mid 2009 I decided on a more systematic way of finishing it. I would fight a boss, and then play another game. This worked an eventually I beat it in 2010.

When I wrote the review I had to look up some things to remind me what happened in the main game. Boss fights appeared differently, but the same tediousness remained the same. That is why I felt like the review missed some things.

I didn’t cover the AI, which even now is still spotty in my mind. I know the bosses’ AI sucked, but I’m not sure why. I know that the allies’ AI sucked because, while it was nice that they learned what attacks did not work, they could not learn when to heal people properly.

Long story short, Persona 3 is awful game that is extremely addictive. I would recommend avoiding it at all costs, it’s not worth it. I’ll probably get Persona 4 because I’m already sucked in, but if anybody ever reads this I would advise you to stay away.