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Occult practices, fey heroes, and demons crawling out of the woodwork -- yep, this is Persona!

Summary

 
The Persona series began as a spin-off from the Megami Tensei games, beginning with Revelations: Persona on the Sony Playstation in 1996, and continuing with the recent release of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4.

All the games in the series take place in the same universe and share certain common elements.  The series typically revolves around groups of students and takes place in modern day Japan, with a heavy focus on occult plots of world destruction and rebirth, potential Messiahs/Antichrists, and a myriad of personae.

The personae (or personas), being one of the strong binding elements of the series, are what provide the magic and special in-battle abilities of the characters throughout the games.  Taking heavy influence from various gods and demons from many different world cultures and religions as well as the major arcana associated with the 22 tarot cards.
 

The Term "Persona"

The term "persona" as derived from the psychology term, also has a vital meaning to the series. Persona, meaning the mask or appearance one presents to the world.  The persona is not a facade or some other intentional misrepresentation of the self to others. Rather, it is the self that naturally presents itself to the various people we deal with in our lives and may change according to situation and context. This theme is always a core concept explored in the stories presented in the series.

Games

 
Although the Persona series' timeline is fairly straight forward, with each game that is released the series changes so much it's hard to believe the story all connect.
 
 Revelations: Persona
 Revelations: Persona
Revelations: Persona is the first in the series starting the timeline in a unknown time, many believe Revelations takes place around the mid to late 1990's being that most of the Persona games take place one or two years after the real date. example: Persona 3 was released in 2007, the game took place in 2009.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 SMT: Persona
 SMT: Persona
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona is a PSP remake of the original Persona, released in 2009. It features an updated interface, remastered cutscenes, a complete re-localization, and an all new soundtrack composed by Shoji Meguro.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Persona 2: Innocent Sin
 Persona 2: Innocent Sin
Persona 2: Innocent Sin is the first, and true, of the two P2 stories. The game again took place in an unknown time period, but based on the clothes and the way people talked, it most like took place late 1990's or early 2000's. P2: IS is still in the same universe as Revelations and we know this because most if the all of the characters from the original, including Yukino, Brown, and Eirko return as a support crew or in Yukino's case a playable character.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
 Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment took place in a parallel universe to Innocent Sin so many of the things about it is still true. The game is still in the same universe, albeit a parallel one, as Revelations. Many of Revelations characters return as well.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
SMT: Persona 3
SMT: Persona 3
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 is the first in the two part story just like the Persona 2 duology. The game starts in 2009 and ends in 2010. The game follows a transfer student who joins SEES, a group dedicated to exploring Tartarus during the Dark Hour.

 
 
 
 
 
 

SMT: Persona 3 FES
SMT: Persona 3 FES
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES is the only direct sequel in the series. It features a new chapter called "The Answer", in which you play as Aigis, a returning character from Persona 3.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 SMT: Persona 3 Portable
 SMT: Persona 3 Portable
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable is a remake of SMT: Persona 3 for the PSP. The most significant  change is the addition of the option to play as a female protagonist. Some points in the story will differ depending on your gender, as will the interface.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 SMT: Persona 4
 SMT: Persona 4
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4  marked what some would call a turning point for the series. Despite still having dark/mature themes, it is generally more light hearted than it's predecessors. The game focuses not on moon cycles, but on weather cycles. The story focuses on a set of bizarre murders that occur in the small town of Inaba in 2011.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Characters

 
Revelations: Persona


Persona 2: Innocent Sin

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
  • Secret Characters

Persona 3
 
Persona 4

Persona games
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Name: Persona
Total games: 11 games
First game: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona
Aliases:
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