I've never played a single Shin Megami Tensei title, but I've heard great things from fellow hardcore RPG gamers for many, many years. However, I never had the time, money or energy to try one of them out. I still don't have any of those, but there's one thing I'm sure. Persona 3's reviews are giving me the chills. That alone means that I'm getting the game sooner or later. Maybe perhaps in about half a year? Or earlier?

I'd post a link or two, but I'm too lazy, so just google it or sth. :P Some interesting comments though:


Neither am I. Hell no. However, a well executed fusion between a relationship game and a traditional RPG? I can't wait to try this out - for study and fun. ;D


Music is one thing many so-called "great games" neglect, and this is very reassuring. :)

Also, this will most definitely be my last PS2 title.

i've a friends who's gushing about this game, too.


really?  of all of the "great games" that i can think of, music is really one of the top-tier elements about them.  in fact, i listen to most of those great games' music quite often, without even playing the game (in the car, on my pc, on my mp3 player, wherever...).  i believe that a game that neglects its audio design and execution has a very small chance to be capable of being a great video game at all, personally.

'However, a well executed fusion between a relationship game and a traditional RPG?'



Sounds like a nightmare to me... actually no... a baaadly executed fusion between a relationship game and a traditional RPG is likely worse...



'of all of the "great games" that i can think of, music is really one of the top-tier elements about them. '



Yeah but those be the games you yourself class as great, eh.  I do prefer the music from older games such as 8 and 16 bit personally, and I really don't like moviescore type stuff.  Also can think of a couple of games I play loads where I hate the music.  Street Fighter III for one.  Awful music, great game.  Now Street Fighter II had some great and highly memorable theme tunes for each of the characters if a lil cheesy.  Any one of those tunes play, and I'm grinning from ear to ear...

yeah, but aren't my classifications law? :P :P :P :P :P


i am 100% in sync with you in that regard.  i don't feel "moviescore" music even fits in video games - it's not reactive or interactive, and therefore tends to be completely running on its own.  almost as a separate entity to the game experience.  not much different than just muting the game music and running your own music over the top.  plus, for some reason i just have this odd affection for the sounds produced via the various chips from the 8 and, especially, 16 bit platforms.  in all honesty, it seems as if the musician must really focus to create infectious melodies and memorable musical patterns when they work with "limited" formats.  i've noticed that a lot of the great 16bit musicians' current work (now with orchestras and super-high-tech samples and equipment) are mostly forgettable.  are they getting lazy, or are they just focusing on the wrong elements, such as quality of instrumentation and such?  uematsu is a great example of this decline...


you're right on that, too - i really should have stated "...of most of the great games that i can think of..."

What I mean to say is that those games are merely potentially great, often as a result of poor music. ;)

As for old music being better, maybe it's pleasant nostalgia that's distorting one's perception of quality? That's not to say that I'm disagreeing, but I question whether a piece of music is necessarily better mostly because it is more memorable. The perception that "newer" music scores are less memorable may be due to how they are instead better integrated into the game, to the point that you cannot remember just the music as a separate, independent entity? :)

Just some thoughts.

hmmm, i'd have to disagree with your non-disagreement.  i've actually questioned along these lines many times.  and, i honestly don't believe that it's the case.  i didn't say that newer music is not as memorable because it is newer.  what keeps it from sticking in my mind is the fact that it's not composed of simple, iconic, prominent patterns - those that stand out with identity from the rest of the score.  it's a completely different way to compose music.  not any better or any worse in high concept.  however, i feel that it is worse for the video game medium (of course, that is not a hard-set global statement, as there's likely some game that could be/is better with the other style of composition).

there's absolutely no reason that a composer today couldn't achieve the same effect (as those from previous eras) using modern instrumentation and equipment.  it just seems as if their focus has shifted for some reason or other.  perhaps it's the same reason that so many devers' focus has shifted from sound artistic direction in visuals to technical direction in visuals.