Parents' Guide to

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES

By Jeff Paramchuk, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Excellent RPG with dark themes and imagery.

Game PlayStation 2 2008
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 4 parent reviews

e20w21
e20w21 Adult
May 1, 2021
age 12+

Gives children great realization of the value of life and friendship.

This game is really good, and don't make the "violence" make you think otherwise, as the game doesn't really highlight the violence too much. The game also opens the player's eyes of the concept of "Memento mori" (Remember that you are mortal. Remember that you will die) and the value of friendship, as this game has several in-game casualties and they are really heartbreaking. The Social Links (people you hang out) in this game are really worthwhile. Try it out. There's very little swearing and sometimes unintentional dirty jokes.

This title has:

Great messages
KagamiKun
KagamiKun Adult
October 25, 2020
age 16+

Do not buy this game for a young teen or child!

Persona 3 is a decent game but the game is full of dark themes that just arent suitable for children. For example, to summon your "persona" in the game your character has to shoot themselves in the head with a gun of sorts called an "evoker" which children just wont understand. There is also a lot of death in Persona 3 and it is really morbid, every character suffers and it is not light hearted by any means. The theme of the game is making the most of life like it's your last day which once again is too mature for a child to really read in to. The language is not much of an issue in the game and it is not particularly bloody or gory either. In conclusion, children should wait till they are of a decent age before playing this game.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 4 parent reviews

What’s It About?

PERSONA 3: FES features not one but two complete games. Persona 3 in its entirety is present but enhanced with new quests, difficulty levels, and Personas. The main story follows an untitled boy who takes on the Shadows during a moment of time known as the Dark Hour. The Dark Hour comes but once a day, so during the other times your character must endure the daily ritual of a high school student, including down time where social interaction with fellow characters is not only encouraged, but rewarded with stronger attacks. The additional story takes place after the first is completed, but can be played at any time. In this adventure you assume the role of a character from the first who gains the ability to wield multiple Personas. This time around however, the game is almost purely a dungeon exploration game and much less emphasis is put on character interactions.

Even though the game features a party-based combat system, you only have control over the main character in each game, and the artificial intelligence takes over for the other party members. Different styles of play can be set for the party to offer support or all-out attacks. Enemy encounters are not random -- you can see each potential battle on the map before engaging the enemy, giving your character a strategic advantage and the opportunity to strike first. As with most RPGs, fighting increases your level, which leads to better weaponry and Personas to control.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (16):

The sheer depth of Persona 3 is more than enough to satisfy rabid RPG players, and the enhancements made for this FES version make the title that much more appealing to those who missed the game on the first run. Yes, the addition of the entirely new game is an excellent bonus, but it's the outstanding storytelling and inter-personal interactions which make Persona 3 such a great title.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about average kids who discover extraordinary powers or links to fantasy worlds. How often does this theme appear in your favorite games? Books? Movies? What would you change about the fantasy world this character enters? There's much talk about life and death here. Do you think these kinds of deep discussions belong in games? Why or why not?

Game Details

  • Platform: PlayStation 2
  • Available online?: Not available online
  • Publisher: Atlus
  • Release date: April 22, 2008
  • Genre: Role-Playing
  • ESRB rating: M for mature
  • Last updated: November 4, 2015

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