Persona 2: The Forgotten Persona Game.

 That's right people. There is a game that came before Persona 3. The series didn't start on the Playstation 2, with the 3rd in the series like some Star Wars like series, and eventually have some PSP title prequel that was very forgotten and looked over. Surprisingly, the Persona series existed. Actually, there was two of them:
                                                                              

 
Persona 2: Innocent Sin

and

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment.

They were both rereleased for the PSP
The first one the only one to reach America, the second one, not so much.
I never played the first game. However I played the second one pretty thoroughly. And in writing this, I actually consider playing the first now that I remember it's on PSP since it's pretty much Eternal Punishment in Engine. But I digress...


I just got done playing Persona 3. I played the game for about 8 hours and they were probably the most confusing, boring, and mundane 8 hours I've ever played in my life. And the only reason I was so intersted in playing this game was because the reception of the series is so high ( the series being 3 and 4. ). And it was very surprising to find out how just devolved the game was, the RPG aspect of the game was pushed off to the side, was very underdeveloped, and limiting... Where the rest of the game focuses so much on Social Aspects; a giant dating game. Why is this so popular? I just don't get it. The music wasn't even that great... Though I will admit, I did not play Persona 4... and I suppose it might be a detriment to this part of the review, however this isn't a Persona 4 review, it's an awareness of the second game.



Persona 2 by far was a superior game. In like... every aspect I could think about. It's about a "virus" of some sort called the JOKER, it's the antagonist who if you call him to kill someone, he will do it. The Joker is the antagonist of the previous game who broke out of the Sanitarium. You are a reporter whose job it is to track down these Joker killings and pretty much figure them out. You meet people along the way who can help you out, and apparently you figure out that other people can become the Joker through rumors of calling the Joker to kill someone; where if you call him, you become one yourself. * Bare in mind, I haven't played the game in like 6 years... I'm just loosely remembering what it was able, but it wasn't really the story that got to me... Even though it was still told VERY well since it didn't treat you like a child, like most JRPGs would.

I loved the gameplay. The gameplay to 2 is just so intuitive and involved. Each monster you find you can either: Kill it or Talk to it. When you talk to it, you can get them to like you and they will reward you with a Tarot card ( Heirophant, Lovers, The Hanged Man ), and with enough Tarot cards, you can purchase new Persona. Which I suppose can be compared to Final Fantasy 8's draw system but it's no where near as taxing.  I liked how the game flowed; the game moved with a pace like it was in a hurry. When you do the Trio-Persona Ultimate Attack**, it instantly happens and the battle is over... You press the attack button, the game asks you  "Press A to use" and if you press B.. you do your normal attacks. The game flowed so nicely. The gameplay felt so smooth and everything felt so right. The setting of modern Japan, driving around the cities from destination to destination... going from city to city.

I feel that I just can't convey with words how superior the game felt. It wasn't bogged down with some silly dating game system, the gameplay doesn't limit you to 10 battles that feel like it was designed by a child, and the entire game setting wasn't the same drool over and over; talk to this guy and get 1 point in this Tarot, go here and raise your Stamina, go to bed....

"Do you wanna actually play the game?"
"Ehhh.... I think I need to sleep and gain some Academic points. Maybe later...."

I think if I had to rate to Persona 2... I'd give it a 9/10.***



* I don't think this is accurate, but it's pretty close. It's been a long time. I'm saying 'Virus' loosely since it kinda acts like one.... Sort of.

** I don't remember what the hell it's called...

*** Persona 3 would get a 3/10. I almost feel like this was more of a Persona 3 hate rant then a Persona 2 recommendation.