Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3
Ages: Mature

There is something about the games produced by Atlus that leave visual and haunting residuals in your brain. Rule of Rose beautiful, with an endearing attention to design, centers on a sadistic clique of young girls in charge of an asylum. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3, will not only make you wince when the teenagers point a pistol to their heads and shoot to release the Personas. but I guarantee that the image will stay in your head long after the game is finished. But the story is much more than the shooting scenes – which is why you stay captive wanting to find out the ending.

The game presentation is slick – almost Ad-vert quality and that is meant as praise. The location is the upscale Gekkoukan High School where you are a transfer student. Immediately, a sense of disquiet enters into the normalcy of school life with the intrusion of a dream-like episode. It is this linking of normalcy with nightmares that makes the adventure so powerful.

The characters occupy the daylight hours as regular Japanese students in school – schoolwork, sports , socializing. At the witching hour of midnight they become the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (Sees), fighting the evil Shadows as they ascend the dark tower know as the Tartarus.

The characters – an interesting mix of teenagers, are well developed characters with complex histories which you discover as you get to know them. The writing is excellent. See, I said you would be hooked. A word of caution – this game has been rated Mature and responsible parents should keep this away from impressionable teens - it is that enthralling. There is another game coming out involving conquering nightmares, NIGHTS: Journey of Dreams which is more appropriate for the kids.

Fun Factor: It will be in your library for a long time.
Female Factor: Many females showing strength, wisdom and leadership.
Player Friendly: Saves before battles works well.

Reviewed by: Editor - 08/07