I have read lots of reviews for this game, but this is my opinion of all of them. How could all of the good reviewers get it soooo wrong! Some just went on and on about it being unrealistic, some that the voice acting was off, some that story sucked, that the kids didn’t get what was happening quicker, and that the music annoyed them. Well enough of that. First this is not a game for everyone, and I understand that. Being a big fan of Japanese RPG’s and also someone that is trying to play them all (but not quite having the time to do so). I really do understand why some people will find this game strange.

Well to clear it up, this is a game that we are lucky to have. Because there are loads like it in Japan, the dungeon crawler with a mix of a dating-sim, where a lot of your time is spent just living a student life (dating girls), and your free time is spent levelling your character.

What is missed by so many is the name of the game, PERSONA! Characters you can bring forth in battle to use abilities that they have learned or that you have managed to gain for them by various different methods. I had great fun with this game, I love the school life section. It’s funny, the characters are hilarious, you can date girls (think I said that one before) learn a thing or two from the questions in class. You are also given a lot freedom of options on which friendships to advance, or you could ignore this and go and get some noodles.

Then there is the dungeon-crawl, of which you can decide how much time you put into. And although repetitive by western standards, isn’t nearly as bad as some reviews have said, some of the reviewers (not the one on nowgamer) obviously have never played a JRPG in their lives.

Then there is what I was taking about earlier, the name of the game. PERSONAS! Collect them, try to level them all up, or pick a few you like, or try and make an uber one by combining some that you have. I really do believe that all the work and designs that have gone into this game should have warranted it a better score in nearly all the reviews that I have read.

The music is great, if you like J-pop, and really adds to your school life adventure. Also comes with a soundtrack in England, so grab the game quick if you’re a fan of Shin Megami’s former work.

Ok to sum up. Buy it if you like JRPG’s, and I don’t mean final fantasy, I mean hardcore JRPG’s. Do not buy it if you want an action game or western style RPG, this is not the game that will stop you playing Killzone 2 or Left 4 dead. If neither apply to you, I would urge you to simply get it, it’s cheap, comes with a great soundtrack and to complete will take you a good 70-90 hours, I’m on my second play through now ;-)

I’m not having a go at the review on this site; I’m having a go at all of them, but in a nice way. It’s not realistic, but that’s what the Japanese are great at.

I suck at reviewing I know, this was in a rubbish attempt to make people see that there is a great game in something that has received mostly average to slightly above.

dslayer1066.
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