<s>
released	O
outside	O
Japan	O
as	O
Shin	B-Application
Megami	I-Application
Tensei	I-Application
:	I-Application
Persona	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
is	O
a	O
2006	O
role-playing	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Atlus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
fourth	O
main	O
installment	O
in	O
the	O
Persona	B-Application
series	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
larger	O
Megami	B-Application
Tensei	I-Application
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Atlus	O
originally	O
released	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
July	O
2006	O
;	O
the	O
North	O
American	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
delayed	O
until	O
2007	O
due	O
to	O
issues	O
with	O
the	O
publication	O
of	O
the	O
official	O
art	O
book	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
FES	O
,	O
an	O
extended	O
version	O
containing	O
a	O
new	O
playable	O
epilogue	O
among	O
other	O
changes	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
2007	O
and	O
worldwide	O
the	O
following	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
the	O
player	O
takes	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
a	O
high-school	O
student	O
who	O
joins	O
the	O
Specialized	O
Extracurricular	O
Execution	O
Squad	O
(	O
SEES	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
group	O
of	O
students	O
investigating	O
the	O
Dark	O
Hour	O
,	O
a	O
time	O
period	O
between	O
one	O
day	O
and	O
the	O
next	O
that	O
few	O
people	O
are	O
aware	O
of	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
fight	O
the	O
Shadows	O
,	O
each	O
SEES	O
member	O
can	O
summon	O
a	O
Persona	B-Application
,	O
a	O
manifestation	O
of	O
a	O
person	O
's	O
inner	O
self	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
standard	O
elements	O
of	O
role-playing	O
games	O
,	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
includes	O
elements	O
of	O
simulation	O
games	O
,	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
protagonist	O
progresses	O
day	O
by	O
day	O
through	O
a	O
school	O
year	O
,	O
making	O
friends	O
and	O
forming	O
relationships	O
that	O
improve	O
the	O
strength	O
of	O
his	O
Personas	O
in	O
battle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
reception	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
mainly	O
positive	O
;	O
critics	O
enjoyed	O
its	O
social	O
elements	O
,	O
while	O
some	O
found	O
its	O
combat	O
and	O
environments	O
repetitive	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
FES	O
epilogue	O
was	O
said	O
to	O
give	O
narrative	O
closure	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
,	O
although	O
it	O
was	O
criticized	O
for	O
not	O
featuring	O
the	O
simulation	O
aspect	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
abridged	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
Portable	I-Operating_System
version	O
,	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
Portable	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
November	O
2009	O
,	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
in	O
July	O
2010	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
Europe	O
in	O
April	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Portable	O
was	O
also	O
released	O
for	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X/S	I-Device
in	O
2023	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
fighting	O
games	O
that	O
continue	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
SEES	O
,	O
Persona	B-Application
4	I-Application
Arena	I-Application
and	O
Persona	B-Application
4	I-Application
Arena	I-Application
Ultimax	I-Application
,	O
were	O
released	O
in	O
the	O
early	O
2010s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
has	O
also	O
seen	O
other	O
related	O
media	O
released	O
,	O
including	O
a	O
rhythm	O
game	O
,	O
multiple	O
soundtrack	O
albums	O
,	O
musical	O
concerts	O
,	O
radio	O
dramas	O
,	O
a	O
manga	O
,	O
an	O
anime	O
series	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
episodic	O
animated	O
film	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
combines	O
elements	O
of	O
traditional	O
role-playing	O
games	O
and	O
simulation	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
Persona	B-Application
has	O
its	O
own	O
set	O
of	O
strengths	O
and	O
weaknesses	O
and	O
possesses	O
various	O
abilities	O
,	O
ranging	O
from	O
offensive	O
and	O
support	O
abilities	O
to	O
passive	O
abilities	O
that	O
support	O
the	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Whereas	O
each	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
main	O
characters	O
has	O
their	O
own	O
Persona	B-Application
,	O
some	O
of	O
which	O
change	O
form	O
as	O
the	O
story	O
progresses	O
,	O
the	O
protagonist	O
is	O
capable	O
of	O
wielding	O
multiple	O
Personas	O
,	O
which	O
can	O
be	O
switched	O
between	O
battles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Personas	O
can	O
also	O
be	O
obtained	O
from	O
Shuffle	O
Time	O
following	O
battles	O
,	O
and	O
previously	O
obtained	O
Personas	O
can	O
be	O
summoned	O
from	O
the	O
Persona	B-Application
Compendium	O
for	O
a	O
fee	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
creating	O
a	O
Persona	B-Application
of	O
a	O
particular	O
Arcana	O
,	O
an	O
experience	O
bonus	O
is	O
granted	O
if	O
that	O
Arcana	O
possesses	O
a	O
social	O
link	O
,	O
with	O
greater	O
bonuses	O
awarded	O
depending	O
on	O
the	O
rank	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Carrying	O
a	O
Persona	B-Application
of	O
a	O
respective	O
Arcana	O
can	O
help	O
bring	O
a	O
social	O
link	O
closer	O
to	O
increasing	O
in	O
Rank	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Battles	O
use	O
the	O
"	O
Press	O
Turn	O
"	O
system	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
both	O
allies	O
and	O
enemies	O
take	O
turns	O
to	O
attack	O
using	O
weapons	O
,	O
items	O
,	O
or	O
Persona	B-Application
abilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Using	O
the	O
Tactics	O
option	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
assign	O
specific	O
battle	O
AI	B-Application
to	O
each	O
party	O
member	O
(	O
in	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
Portable	O
,	O
they	O
may	O
also	O
choose	O
to	O
issue	O
direct	O
commands	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
story	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
in	O
2009	O
and	O
is	O
set	O
in	O
a	O
Japanese	O
city	O
called	O
built	O
and	O
funded	O
by	O
the	O
Kirijo	O
Corporation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
instruction	O
manual	O
describes	O
Persona	B-Application
's	O
being	O
"	O
a	O
second	O
soul	O
that	O
dwells	O
deep	O
within	O
a	O
person	O
's	O
heart	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Persona-users	O
usually	O
summon	O
their	O
Persona	B-Application
by	O
firing	O
a	O
gun-like	O
object	O
called	O
an	O
Evoker	O
at	O
their	O
head	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
character	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
a	O
silent	O
protagonist	O
named	O
by	O
the	O
player	O
at	O
the	O
start	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
learning	O
of	O
his	O
ability	O
to	O
summon	O
a	O
Persona	B-Application
,	O
he	O
joins	O
SEES	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
composed	O
of	O
students	O
at	O
his	O
school	O
:	O
Yukari	O
Takeba	O
,	O
a	O
popular	O
,	O
cheerful	O
girl	O
;	O
Akihiko	O
Sanada	O
,	O
a	O
calm	O
and	O
collected	O
senior	O
who	O
leads	O
the	O
school	O
's	O
boxing	O
team	O
;	O
and	O
Mitsuru	O
Kirijo	O
,	O
the	O
Student	O
Council	O
President	O
and	O
daughter	O
of	O
the	O
head	O
of	O
the	O
Kirijo	O
Group	O
,	O
who	O
provides	O
backup	O
during	O
battle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
game	O
progresses	O
,	O
SEES	O
gains	O
several	O
new	O
members	O
:	O
Junpei	O
Iori	O
,	O
a	O
class	O
clown	O
and	O
the	O
protagonist	O
's	O
best	O
friend	O
;	O
Fuuka	O
Yamagishi	O
,	O
a	O
shy	O
girl	O
who	O
replaces	O
Mitsuru	O
as	O
a	O
support	O
character	O
;	O
Aigis	O
,	O
a	O
female	O
android	O
designed	O
by	O
the	O
Kirijo	O
Group	O
to	O
fight	O
Shadows	O
;	O
Ken	O
Amada	O
,	O
an	O
elementary	O
schooler	O
whose	O
mother	O
was	O
killed	O
by	O
a	O
Persona-user	O
;	O
Shinjiro	O
Aragaki	O
,	O
a	O
former	O
member	O
of	O
SEES	O
who	O
quit	O
due	O
to	O
past	O
events	O
;	O
and	O
Koromaru	O
,	O
a	O
dog	O
capable	O
of	O
summoning	O
a	O
Persona	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
begins	O
on	O
April	O
7	O
,	O
2009	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
protagonist	O
transferring	O
to	O
Gekkoukan	O
High	O
School	O
and	O
moving	O
into	O
a	O
dorm	O
in	O
the	O
city	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
learning	O
his	O
ability	O
to	O
summon	O
a	O
Persona	B-Application
,	O
he	O
is	O
asked	O
to	O
join	O
SEES	O
and	O
is	O
eventually	O
elected	O
as	O
leader	O
in	O
combat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additional	O
members	O
join	O
SEES	O
over	O
time	O
,	O
all	O
students	O
attending	O
Gekkoukan	O
:	O
Junpei	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
only	O
recently	O
discovered	O
his	O
ability	O
to	O
summon	O
a	O
Persona	B-Application
;	O
Akihiko	O
,	O
whose	O
arm	O
injury	O
prevented	O
him	O
from	O
fighting	O
;	O
and	O
Fuuka	O
,	O
who	O
replaces	O
Mitsuru	O
as	O
the	O
team	O
's	O
support	O
member	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
awakening	O
to	O
his	O
Persona	B-Application
ability	O
,	O
the	O
protagonist	O
is	O
transported	O
to	O
the	O
Velvet	O
Room	O
,	O
which	O
its	O
proprietor	O
,	O
Igor	O
,	O
says	O
is	O
a	O
realm	O
between	O
"	O
dream	O
and	O
reality.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Igor	O
explains	O
to	O
him	O
that	O
his	O
Persona	B-Application
ability	O
is	O
special	O
:	O
he	O
is	O
the	O
only	O
member	O
of	O
SEES	O
capable	O
of	O
wielding	O
multiple	O
Personas	O
in	O
battle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
year	O
continues	O
,	O
the	O
group	O
adds	O
two	O
more	O
Persona-users	O
to	O
their	O
team	O
:	O
Ken	O
and	O
Koromaru	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
midst	O
of	O
fighting	O
Metis	O
to	O
protect	O
her	O
friends	O
,	O
Aigis	O
's	O
Persona	B-Application
,	O
Athena	B-Application
,	O
transforms	O
into	O
Orpheus	O
,	O
the	O
original	O
Persona	B-Application
of	O
the	O
protagonist	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
seeing	O
several	O
of	O
these	O
flashbacks	O
,	O
the	O
characters	O
discern	O
that	O
the	O
event	O
shown	O
in	O
each	O
door	O
relates	O
to	O
how	O
that	O
person	O
had	O
awakened	O
to	O
their	O
Persona	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
began	O
development	O
in	O
2003	O
,	O
after	O
the	O
completion	O
of	O
Shin	B-Application
Megami	I-Application
Tensei	I-Application
:	I-Application
Nocturne	I-Application
and	O
Digital	B-Application
Devil	I-Application
Saga	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2006	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
details	O
on	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
were	O
unveiled	O
in	O
the	O
Japanese	O
gaming	O
magazine	O
Famitsū	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
character	O
artist	O
and	O
art	O
director	O
for	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
Shigenori	O
Soejima	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
previous	O
Persona	B-Application
titles	O
 '	O
character	O
artist	O
,	O
Kazuma	O
Kaneko	O
,	O
gave	O
the	O
job	O
to	O
Soejima	O
so	O
he	O
could	O
gain	O
more	O
experience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
goal	O
was	O
to	O
make	O
players	O
of	O
the	O
Megami	B-Application
Tensei	I-Application
series	O
feel	O
gratified	O
that	O
they	O
had	O
supported	O
the	O
Persona	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
interview	O
,	O
Soejima	O
compared	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
aesthetic	O
and	O
style	O
to	O
a	O
fantastical	O
manga	O
,	O
citing	O
its	O
use	O
of	O
mecha-like	O
Persona	B-Application
and	O
Mitsuru	O
's	O
flamboyant	O
styling	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
anime	O
cutscenes	O
for	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
FES	O
were	O
animated	O
by	O
animation	O
production	O
company	O
Point	O
Pictures	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
interview	O
with	O
the	O
magazine	O
Play	O
,	O
lead	O
director	O
for	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
Katsura	O
Hashino	O
discussed	O
why	O
the	O
decision	O
was	O
made	O
to	O
have	O
party	O
members	O
be	O
directed	O
by	O
an	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
:	O
"	O
I	O
think	O
it	O
's	O
more	O
fun	O
to	O
have	O
the	O
party	O
members	O
controlled	O
by	O
their	O
AI	B-Application
,	O
so	O
each	O
member	O
's	O
characteristics	O
and	O
personality	O
are	O
on	O
vivid	O
display	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
were	O
no	O
objections	O
raised	O
among	O
the	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
development	O
team	O
,	O
either.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
,	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
AI	B-Application
for	O
the	O
secondary	O
party	O
members	O
was	O
described	O
as	O
a	O
stylistic	O
choice	O
representing	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
theme	O
of	O
conquering	O
the	O
fear	O
of	O
death	O
through	O
"	O
bonds	O
"	O
:	O
each	O
character	O
was	O
their	O
own	O
person	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
player	O
could	O
only	O
influence	O
things	O
by	O
interacting	O
with	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
does	O
not	O
include	O
the	O
negotiation	O
elements	O
of	O
previous	O
Persona	B-Application
or	O
Megami	B-Application
Tensei	I-Application
games	O
,	O
which	O
allowed	O
players	O
to	O
talk	O
to	O
enemies	O
during	O
a	O
battle	O
to	O
recruit	O
them	O
,	O
earn	O
money	O
,	O
or	O
obtain	O
items	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
social	O
elements	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
(	O
and	O
its	O
successor	O
,	O
Persona	B-Application
4	I-Application
)	O
are	O
considered	O
the	O
equivalent	O
of	O
the	O
negotiation	O
system	O
by	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Maragos	O
said	O
in	O
a	O
1UP.com	O
interview	O
that	O
"	O
negotiation	O
is	O
n't	O
gone	O
...	O
And	O
 [ it ] 	O
still	O
factors	O
into	O
Persona	B-Application
Fusion	O
;	O
it	O
's	O
still	O
a	O
big	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
localization	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
handled	O
by	O
Yu	O
Namba	O
and	O
Nich	O
Maragos	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
this	O
process	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
worked	O
to	O
leave	O
as	O
much	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Japanese	O
content	O
intact	O
,	O
continuing	O
a	O
trend	O
started	O
with	O
Persona	B-Application
2	I-Application
:	I-Application
Eternal	I-Application
Punishment	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
of	O
the	O
ideas	O
had	O
by	O
the	O
team	O
for	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
to	O
use	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
medium	O
for	O
introducing	O
Japanese	O
culture	O
to	O
a	O
western	O
audience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
localizing	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
for	O
English-speaking	O
countries	O
,	O
the	O
honorifics	O
used	O
by	O
the	O
characters	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
Japanese	O
script	O
were	O
retained	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
in-game	O
references	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
Shin	B-Application
Megami	I-Application
Tensei	I-Application
were	O
altered	O
to	O
references	O
to	O
Persona	B-Application
2	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	O
soundtrack	O
for	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
composed	O
entirely	O
by	O
Shoji	O
Meguro	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
sole	O
exception	O
of	O
"	O
Adventured	O
Act	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
composed	O
by	O
Yosuke	O
Uda	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
contains	O
eleven	O
arrangements	O
of	O
tracks	O
from	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
an	O
extended	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
song	O
"	O
Burn	O
My	O
Dread.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Meguro	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
one	O
of	O
his	O
first	O
opportunities	O
to	O
fully	O
realize	O
his	O
music	O
in	O
video	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
tune	O
from	O
previous	O
Persona	B-Application
titles	O
he	O
rearranged	O
was	O
"	O
Aria	O
of	O
the	O
Soul	O
"	O
,	O
the	O
theme	O
of	O
the	O
Velvet	O
Room	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
past	O
,	O
the	O
hardware	O
limitations	O
of	O
the	O
original	B-Device
PlayStation	I-Device
required	O
him	O
to	O
compose	O
music	O
in	O
100-200	O
kilobyte	O
samples	O
,	O
which	O
he	O
felt	O
made	O
the	O
music	O
sound	O
"	O
pretty	O
cheap	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
move	O
to	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
allowed	O
for	O
real-time	O
streaming	O
of	O
music	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Released	O
in	O
Japan	O
by	O
Aniplex	O
on	O
May	O
3	O
,	O
2007	O
,	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
contained	O
the	O
original	O
score	O
for	O
FES	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
arrangements	O
of	O
music	O
from	O
earlier	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
Persona	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
The	O
Snow	O
Queen	O
"	O
,	O
composed	O
by	O
Kenichi	O
Tsuchiya	O
,	O
is	O
a	O
remix	O
of	O
the	O
theme	O
in	O
Revelations	B-Application
:	I-Application
Persona	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Maya	O
's	O
Theme	O
"	O
,	O
composed	O
by	O
Kenichi	O
Tsuchiya	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Time	O
Castle	O
"	O
,	O
composed	O
by	O
Toshiko	O
Tasaki	O
,	O
are	O
remixes	O
of	O
tracks	O
from	O
Persona	B-Application
2	I-Application
:	I-Application
Innocent	I-Application
Sin	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
Portable	O
contains	O
new	O
background	O
music	O
,	O
which	O
can	O
be	O
heard	O
if	O
the	O
player	O
chooses	O
to	O
control	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
new	O
female	O
protagonist	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
North	O
American	O
release	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
shipped	O
as	O
a	O
collector	O
's	O
edition	O
box	O
containing	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
a	O
soundtrack	O
disc	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
52-page	O
art	O
book	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
is	O
an	O
add-on	O
disc	O
for	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
containing	O
updates	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
a	O
new	O
epilogue	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
player	O
controls	O
Aigis	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
FES	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
April	O
19	O
,	O
2007	O
,	O
as	O
both	O
a	O
stand-alone	O
game	O
and	O
the	O
"	O
director	O
's	O
cut	O
"	O
version	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
re-released	O
as	O
a	O
PS2	B-Device
Classic	O
on	O
PSN	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
in	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
are	O
given	O
the	O
option	O
of	O
transferring	O
certain	O
data	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
version	O
's	O
save	O
file	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
compendium	O
,	O
social-related	O
stats	O
,	O
and	O
maxed	O
social	O
link	O
items	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
FES	O
was	O
first	O
released	O
alongside	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
in	O
two	O
forms	O
:	O
the	O
"	O
Regular	O
Edition	O
"	O
—	O
containing	O
both	O
the	O
"	O
director	O
's	O
cut	O
"	O
version	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
new	O
epilogue	O
—	O
as	O
two	O
separate	O
discs	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
"	O
Append	O
Edition	O
"	O
,	O
containing	O
only	O
the	O
epilogue	O
,	O
on	O
a	O
single	O
disc	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
its	O
expansion	O
were	O
released	O
simultaneously	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
April	O
19	O
,	O
2007	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
exclusive	O
Amazon.com	B-Application
limited	O
edition	O
bundle	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
November	O
28	O
,	O
2008	O
,	O
containing	O
Art	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
artbook	O
,	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
soundtrack	O
disc	O
and	O
the	O
FES	O
edition	O
in	O
a	O
cardboard	O
sleeve	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
expansion	O
to	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
adding	O
new	O
content	O
to	O
the	O
main	O
game	O
(	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
"	O
The	O
Journey	O
,	O
"	O
or	O
"	O
Episode	O
Yourself	O
"	O
in	O
the	O
Japanese	O
version	O
)	O
,	O
includes	O
an	O
epilogue	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
story	O
titled	O
"	O
The	O
Answer	O
"	O
(	O
"	O
Episode	O
Aegis	O
"	O
in	O
the	O
Japanese	O
version	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
,	O
an	O
enhanced	O
port	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
Portable	I-Operating_System
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
November	O
1	O
,	O
2009	O
,	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
on	O
July	O
6	O
,	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
selection	O
alters	O
some	O
aspects	O
of	O
the	O
story	O
:	O
the	O
first	O
Persona	B-Application
gained	O
by	O
the	O
protagonist	O
,	O
Orpheus	O
,	O
has	O
a	O
different	O
appearance	O
;	O
Igor	O
's	O
assistant	O
in	O
the	O
Velvet	O
Room	O
,	O
Elizabeth	O
,	O
can	O
be	O
replaced	O
with	O
a	O
male	O
equivalent	O
named	O
Theodore	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
Portable	O
only	O
includes	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
otherwise	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
"	O
The	O
Journey	O
"	O
;	O
however	O
,	O
general	O
changes	O
have	O
been	O
made	O
to	O
the	O
plot	O
,	O
regardless	O
of	O
character	O
choice	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
revised	O
battle	O
system	O
draws	O
on	O
elements	O
added	O
in	O
Persona	O
3'''s	O
successor	O
,	O
Persona	B-Application
4	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
combat	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
able	O
to	O
directly	O
control	O
every	O
character	O
,	O
as	O
an	O
alternative	O
to	O
utilizing	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
the	O
anime	O
cutscenes	O
seen	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
were	O
replaced	O
to	O
feature	O
in-game	O
graphics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shoji	O
Meguro	O
composed	O
10	O
new	O
musical	O
tracks	O
for	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
Portable	O
;	O
with	O
the	O
majority	O
of	O
them	O
being	O
written	O
for	O
the	O
female	O
protagonist	O
's	O
playthrough	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
cameos	O
of	O
characters	O
from	O
Persona	B-Application
4	I-Application
have	O
been	O
added	O
to	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
Portable	O
,	O
including	O
Yukiko	O
Amagi	O
,	O
a	O
playable	O
character	O
from	O
Persona	B-Application
4	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
features	O
a	O
cameo	O
from	O
Vincent	O
Brooks	O
,	O
the	O
protagonist	O
of	O
Catherine.Persona	O
3	O
Portable	O
was	O
released	O
as	O
a	O
stand-alone	O
game	O
and	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
bundle	O
package	O
,	O
which	O
includes	O
a	O
T-shirt	O
and	O
desk	O
calendar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
on	O
its	O
own	O
retails	O
for	O
6,279	O
yen	O
(	O
US$68	O
)	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
bundle	O
(	O
known	O
as	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
Portable	O
DX	O
)	O
sells	O
for	O
8,495	O
yen	O
(	O
US$92	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
North	O
American	O
release	O
,	O
Atlus	O
offered	O
Junpei	O
's	O
hat	O
as	O
a	O
pre-order	O
bonus	O
for	O
purchasing	O
"	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
Portable	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ports	O
for	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X/S	I-Device
were	O
released	O
on	O
January	O
19	O
,	O
2023	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shane	O
Bettenhausen	O
of	O
1UP.com	O
called	O
the	O
game	O
a	O
"	O
refreshingly	O
new	O
take	O
on	O
the	O
MegaTen	O
[	O
Megami	O
Tensei ]	O
concept	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
the	O
best	O
RPG	O
hitting	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
this	O
year.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
praised	O
the	O
"	O
excellent	O
"	O
AI	B-Application
created	O
to	O
direct	O
the	O
actions	O
of	O
party	O
members	O
during	O
battle	O
,	O
which	O
he	O
felt	O
created	O
"	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
speediest	O
and	O
most	O
dynamic	O
battle	O
system	O
to	O
date.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpy	O
Patrick	O
Joynt	O
praised	O
the	O
social	O
elements	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
calling	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
social	O
links	O
"	O
almost	O
universally	O
fascinating.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
he	O
suspected	O
the	O
simulation	O
elements	O
would	O
"	O
probably	O
be	O
the	O
biggest	O
hurdle	O
"	O
for	O
fans	O
of	O
role-playing	O
or	O
Megami	B-Application
Tensei	I-Application
games	O
,	O
in	O
his	O
review	O
,	O
he	O
wrote	O
that	O
he	O
"	O
ca	O
n't	O
stress	O
enough	O
how	O
well-done	O
it	O
is.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
his	O
review	O
,	O
he	O
also	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
roots	O
in	O
the	O
Megami	B-Application
Tensei	I-Application
series	O
would	O
come	O
across	O
as	O
foreign	O
to	O
new	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
:	O
FES	O
received	O
a	O
score	O
of	O
89	O
on	O
Metacritic	O
,	O
slightly	O
higher	O
than	O
that	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jeff	O
Haynes	O
commented	O
that	O
the	O
change	O
"	O
harkens	O
back	O
to	O
a	O
classic	O
,	O
more	O
hardcore	O
RPG	O
experience	O
of	O
fighting	O
and	O
grinding	O
"	O
,	O
while	O
done	O
at	O
the	O
expense	O
of	O
what	O
"	O
made	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
so	O
intriguing	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
place.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
some	O
critics	O
like	O
IGN	O
criticized	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
Portable	O
for	O
"	O
losing	O
some	O
of	O
its	O
polish	O
"	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
as	O
acclaimed	O
as	O
FES	O
,	O
receiving	O
an	O
89	O
out	O
of	O
100	O
from	O
Metacritic	O
,	O
making	O
it	O
the	O
third	O
best	O
reviewed	O
PSP	B-Operating_System
game	O
on	O
the	O
website	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameTrailers	O
went	O
on	O
to	O
nominate	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
"	O
Best	O
PSP	B-Operating_System
Game	O
"	O
in	O
their	O
awards	O
,	O
losing	O
to	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ghost	I-Application
of	I-Application
Sparta	I-Application
and	O
"	O
Best	O
RPG	O
"	O
,	O
losing	O
to	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
previewing	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
for	O
GameSpot	O
,	O
Kevin	O
VanOrd	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
continued	O
use	O
of	O
Evokers	O
"	O
never	O
gets	O
old	O
and	O
it	O
never	O
gets	O
any	O
less	O
awesome	O
to	O
watch	O
,	O
and	O
considering	O
that	O
you	O
could	O
play	O
this	O
for	O
fifty	O
,	O
sixty	O
,	O
seventy	O
,	O
eighty	O
hours	O
or	O
more	O
,	O
that	O
's	O
saying	O
something.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Atlus	O
USA	O
did	O
not	O
remove	O
the	O
Evokers	O
from	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
for	O
its	O
worldwide	O
release	O
,	O
despite	O
the	O
possible	O
controversy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PC	O
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X/S	I-Device
and	O
Switch	O
versions	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
Portable	O
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
"	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
Metacritic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
Portable	O
sold	O
over	O
158,000	O
copies	O
in	O
Japan	O
within	O
its	O
first	O
month	O
of	O
release.Persona	O
3	O
was	O
named	O
the	O
best	O
role-playing	O
game	O
of	O
2006	O
by	O
Famitsu	O
,	O
and	O
of	O
2007	O
by	O
GameSpot	O
and	O
RPGFan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpy	O
gave	O
the	O
title	O
its	O
2007	O
PS2	B-Device
RPG	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
award	O
and	O
placed	O
it	O
second	O
in	O
the	O
2007	O
PS2	B-Device
Top	O
10	O
Games	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
placed	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
FES	O
fifteenth	O
in	O
their	O
feature	O
"	O
The	O
Top	O
25	O
PS2	B-Device
Games	O
of	O
All	O
Time	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
1UP.com	O
2007	O
game	O
awards	O
,	O
which	O
ran	O
in	O
the	O
March	O
2008	O
issue	O
of	O
Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthly	O
,	O
included	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
given	O
the	O
award	O
for	O
"	O
Most	O
controversial	O
game	O
that	O
created	O
no	O
controversy	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2010	O
,	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
listed	O
first	O
on	O
RPGamer	O
"	O
Top	O
RPGs	O
of	O
the	O
Decade	O
"	O
list	O
,	O
and	O
second	O
place	O
in	O
RPGFan	O
"	O
Top	O
20	O
RPGs	O
of	O
the	O
Past	O
Decade	O
"	O
list.Persona	O
3	O
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
Best	O
RPG	O
at	O
2007	O
Spike	O
Video	O
Game	O
Awards	O
,	O
but	O
lost	O
to	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
features	O
both	O
the	O
characters	O
from	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
the	O
ones	O
from	O
Persona	B-Application
4	I-Application
and	O
includes	O
some	O
gameplay	O
elements	O
from	O
the	O
Etrian	O
Odyssey	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
campaign	O
starts	O
two	O
weeks	O
before	O
October	O
4	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
rhythm	O
game	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
setting	O
and	O
characters	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
titled	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dancing	I-Application
in	I-Application
Moonlight	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Vita	I-Device
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
May	O
2018	O
and	O
worldwide	O
in	O
December	O
2018	O
,	O
alongside	O
Persona	B-Application
5	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dancing	I-Application
in	I-Application
Starlight	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Persona	B-Application
Q2	I-Application
:	I-Application
New	I-Application
Cinema	I-Application
Labyrinth	I-Application
serves	O
as	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
Persona	B-Application
Q	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
retains	O
the	O
casts	O
from	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
Persona	B-Application
4	I-Application
,	O
joined	O
by	O
the	O
Phantom	O
Thieves	O
of	O
Hearts	O
from	O
Persona	B-Application
5	I-Application
and	O
the	O
female	O
protagonist	O
from	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
Portable	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
manga	O
adaptation	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
written	O
and	O
illustrated	O
by	O
Shūji	O
Sogabe	O
was	O
published	O
monthly	O
in	O
the	O
Japanese	O
magazine	O
Dengeki	O
Maoh	O
until	O
it	O
went	O
on	O
hiatus	O
once	O
Persona	B-Application
4	I-Application
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
it	O
began	O
serialization	O
again	O
starting	O
November	O
7	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
moving	O
from	O
Dengeki	O
Maoh	O
to	O
Atlus	O
's	O
official	O
Persona	B-Application
Magazine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
non-canonical	O
spin-off	O
anime	O
to	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
titled	O
Persona	B-Application
:	O
Trinity	O
Soul	O
aired	O
in	O
Japan	O
starting	O
in	O
January	O
2008	O
and	O
ran	O
for	O
twenty-six	O
episodes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2012	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
announced	O
that	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
would	O
receive	O
a	O
four-part	O
film	O
series	O
adaptation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
series	O
of	O
radio	O
dramas	O
based	O
on	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
:	O
FES	O
have	O
been	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
Drama	O
CD	O
:	O
A	O
Certain	O
Day	O
of	O
Summer	O
features	O
an	O
original	O
story	O
voiced	O
by	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
original	O
cast	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
Drama	O
CD	O
Vol	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
2	O
-Moonlight	O
-	O
links	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
the	O
epilogue	O
released	O
with	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
:	O
FES	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
play	O
,	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
:	O
The	O
Weird	O
Masquerade	O
:	O
The	O
Blue	O
Awakening	O
ran	O
from	O
January	O
8	O
–	O
12	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
at	O
Theater	O
G	O
Rosso	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
given	O
a	O
home	O
release	O
on	O
May	O
14	O
,	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Blue	O
Awakening	O
followed	O
events	O
up	O
to	O
Fuuka	O
's	O
inclusion	O
into	O
the	O
party.The	O
Blue	O
Awakening	O
was	O
followed	O
up	O
with	O
a	O
sequel	O
,	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
:	O
The	O
Weird	O
Masquerade	O
:	O
The	O
Ultramarine	O
Labyrinth	O
,	O
which	O
ran	O
from	O
September	O
16	O
–	O
24	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
at	O
Theater	O
1010	O
and	O
was	O
given	O
a	O
home	O
release	O
on	O
January	O
28	O
,	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
third	O
musical	O
,	O
titled	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
:	O
The	O
Weird	O
Masquerade	O
:	O
The	O
Bismuth	O
Crystals	O
ran	O
from	O
June	O
5	O
–	O
13	O
,	O
2015	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
given	O
a	O
home	O
release	O
on	O
September	O
30	O
,	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
fourth	O
and	O
fifth	O
stage	O
plays	O
,	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
:	O
The	O
Weird	O
Masquerade	O
:	O
Act	O
4	O
:	O
Indigo	O
Pledge	O
and	O
Persona	B-Application
3	I-Application
:	O
The	O
Weird	O
Masquerade	O
:	O
Final	O
Act	O
:	O
Beyond	O
the	O
Blue	O
Sky	O
,	O
ran	O
from	O
April	O
14	O
–	O
23	O
,	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
