Is Persona 3 better than 4? Why Persona 3 Portable is better?

Persona 3 and Persona 4 are two of the most popular games in the Persona series, a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise. Both games feature high school students who use a mysterious power called Persona to fight against supernatural threats.

However, there are many differences between the two games, such as the setting, the themes, the gameplay, and the characters. Here is why Persona 3 Portable, a remake of Persona 3 for the PSP, is better than Persona 4:

First of all, Persona 3 Portable has a darker and more mature story than Persona 4. Persona 3 deals with themes such as death, grief, sacrifice, and the meaning of life. The game takes place in a city that is plagued by a phenomenon called the Dark Hour, a period of time when most people turn into coffins and monsters called Shadows roam the streets.

The main characters are members of a secret organization called SEES, who use their Personas to explore a mysterious tower called Tartarus and prevent the end of the world. The game has a lot of emotional moments and twists that make the player question their choices and values.

Persona 4, on the other hand, has a lighter and more comedic story than Persona 3. Persona 4 takes place in a rural town that is affected by a series of murders linked to a TV world. The main characters are students who use their Personas to enter the TV world and rescue people who are kidnapped by a mysterious killer. The game has a lot of humor and slice-of-life scenes that make the player bond with the characters and enjoy their daily lives.

While both stories are well-written and engaging, I prefer Persona 3 Portable’s story because it has more depth and impact than Persona 4’s story. Persona 3 Portable makes me feel more invested in the fate of the characters and the world, and it challenges me to think about important issues that are relevant to real life.

Secondly, Persona 3 Portable has more gameplay options and features than Persona 4. Persona 3 Portable is a remake of Persona 3 that adds many improvements and changes to the original game. One of the most notable changes is that Persona 3 Portable allows the player to choose between a male or a female protagonist, which affects the dialogue, the social links, and the romance options in the game. This adds more replay value and diversity to the game, as the player can experience different perspectives and relationships.

Another change is that Persona 3 Portable introduces direct control over party members, which was absent in Persona 3. In Persona 3, the player could only control their own character, while the other party members acted according to AI commands. This could lead to frustration and difficulty in some battles, as the AI could make suboptimal or unpredictable decisions. In Persona 3 Portable, the player can switch between direct control and AI commands at any time, which gives them more flexibility and strategy in combat.

Other changes include new difficulty levels, new Personas, new costumes, new music tracks, new events, new endings, and more. All these changes make Persona 3 Portable more enjoyable and accessible than Persona 4, which is mostly unchanged from its original release.

Finally, Persona 3 Portable has more memorable and likable characters than Persona 4. Persona 3 Portable has a large cast of characters that have distinct personalities, backgrounds, motivations, and arcs. The game does a great job of developing each character through their social links, which are optional side stories that reveal more about their lives and problems. The game also shows how each character grows and changes throughout the story, as they face their fears and overcome their challenges.

Persona 4 also has a large cast of characters that have their own traits and stories. However, I find them less interesting and relatable than Persona 3 Portable’s characters. Some of them are too stereotypical or one-dimensional, such as Yosuke (the goofy best friend), Chie (the tomboy), or Teddie (the mascot). Some of them are too annoying or unlikable, such as Yukiko (the bland princess), Kanji (the loudmouth), or Rise (the idol). Some of them are too underdeveloped or irrelevant, such as Naoto (the detective), Marie (the amnesiac), or Adachi (the cop).