My Xbox Gold Subscription expired a while ago, resulting in me playing hours upon hours of Oblivion and lots of Borderlands single player. Because of my lack of Bad Company 2 and Modern Warfare 2, I have been playing these two games so much that I really don't feel like playing anything anymore until I go back to Gold. However, I have spent some time thinking about my PS2 sitting in my closet upstairs, and the fact that it hasn't been turned on in probably over a year, maybe even close to two years. I now have the urge to fire the thing back up and get some games that I never got a chance to play when the PS2 was the only console I owned. Two titles come to mind that I'm thinking about trying out, and I would like some encouragement from the Giant Bomb community ('cause you guys are awesome) to go out and buy these games. Or, if you think one or both of them suck, tell me why!
 

• Final Fantasy XII. It's weird thinking back a few years and recalling how I really wanted to check this game out, but for some reason it just never happened. I just now remembered its existence, and I feel inclined to head out and finally get the game. How well does the game hold up nowadays?
• Persona 3. A few of you might be saying "Why not get Persona 4?", but I watched over half of the Endurance Run (yeah, I never did finish it because I couldn't find the time to do so) and I know how the game ends. However, I was curious about this game, and watched some stuff on it and read some stuff on it and I'm convinced that it is somewhat similar to Persona 4? If I am completely wrong with that assumption, please excuse my ignorance. There was a point in time when I really wanted to get Persona 4, but then I remembered that I had read the plot synopsis over at Wikipedia, so that was out of the question. I would like to give this game a try.

Both of those games are quality titles. :) 
 

• FF XII: is a rpg with a mmorpg feeling, with a lot of sidequests - errands, monster killing - and a more political story, contrary to the earlier FF and FF XIII, which delve more into personal stories. 
• Persona 3: is a uncommon jrpg, with mechanics similar P4, although in this one you don't have direct control over your squad members' actions. It has a "end of the world" lengthy plot, very well done, with a lot of great set piece moments. The camera is positioned further from the character than in P4, and there aren't several dungeons, but one main (where you almost all the exploration) and several smaller ones where you encounter bosses. In the end it is a awesome game.

Ugh, FF12. It's a game that doesn't want to bother having a player. Try to play it, and FF12 will do everything in its power to wrest control from your grip.

Both games are pretty good.  P3 is better than FFXII.  Have you played Eternal Sonata?  It's darn good and worth your time as a game that isn't immediately considered too often.

" @Bloviator: I think I played the demo for Eternal Sonata but it didn't do anything for me. Maybe I'll try it out again.   

" FFXII is a horrible, horrible game.  I spent 60 hours playing it and didnt feel like there was any progression in the story at all.  The combat was also  kind of strange I found  myself just grinding the hell out of normal weapons and then battering everyone to death...this is until I got stuck and could no longer grind anymore experience nor go back to a previous save meaning it was get lucky or Restart from the beginning.   I just decided to sell it. Oh how I hated that game. (big ff fan) "

Dude, if I were you, I'd definitely go with Persona 3, FFXII might be a little iffy
While FFXII is a good game, Persona 3 is an amazing game and the story is really good
The characters, music, and story are all great
They're both good picks

Persona 3 is a great game, but since it did come out before Persona 4, the gameplay isn't as refined as it could be and some mechanics from Persona 4 are missing. It's mostly the RPG stuff that needs work, since you can't control your party members in battle, you get tired after like 10 battles and have to head back home, you have to go up a good 8-10 floors to reach an access point that will save your location, and you have to talk to each party member directly to change their equipment or ask for healing. It's annoying as hell when you get killed by your party members not healing or making a stupid move. Aside from that, it's a great game. I'm actually enjoying it more than Persona 4. It's long as hell though, at 80-ish hours, so you'll need to dedicate a lot of time to finish it.  Also, make sure you buy the FES version because it comes with a lot of updates, and I don't think the original version even has persona fusion.  
  
I disliked FFXII, though. Something about the plot and setting. I just couldn't get into it.  

I one-hundred-percent agree with Video_Game_King's review.

" @Bloviator:  I play the games for the characters and I kinda wanted them all to die in a fire. I think that was my overall problem with it.  . "

" @Bloviator: Hmm........I do actually like classical music.  "

Buy Persona 3. Period. In any form you deem fit to.

I'm not a huge Final Fantasy fan but Persona 3 is great. I haven't yet finished it thought.
The main difference between Persona 3 and 4 is that you don't get any direct control over the supporting class in combat. you can set their personalities ( support, attack, ect ) but the lack of direct control was bumming me out...got over it though as the story progressed.

" @Shirogane: Why didn't you like Persona 3? "

the tired thing that happens if you stay in the dungeon too long.  "

" @Shirogane said:

the tired thing that happens if you stay in the dungeon too long.  "

That was one of the problems I also had with P3. "

Persona 3 and 4 - You know what i adore both of them but i had to stop playing P3 because someone spoiled the ending and a few other things but i will go back to playing that soon.
FFXII- I have played this game for about 12 hours and i have fallen asleep twice, gotten bored to insanity more then 10. I tried playing the game upside down and its still quite possibly the most boring thing i have ever played. If anyone can guarantee me that the Main character dies or somehow loses in the end though,  i will suffer through the rest  :D 
Good for you if you can enjoy FFXII though. 
Other then that Persona 3 and 4 are well JRPG's, they hold up dam well. 
 
The only thing i sort of laugh about is that while Persona 3 has that Fatigue level and such, it does restore your Health and SP to full when you return to the entrance.
On the other hand Persona 4 has no Fatigue but you have to pay Mysterious Fox ( :D) to restore your SP, and your health is not recovered. 
Personally i would Grind in Persona 3 even when i was at a Tired level and i still did great, i was just a higher level then the rest of the party in the long run.

I still have not played either Final Fantasy XII or Persona 3.

Persona 3 is great! Although be warned the battle system in P3 and P4 are the exact same (except for you only get to control the main character in P3). I stopped playing P4 cuz I got so tired of the battle system. But other than that P3 has a great cast of characters, a great concept and has a very cool mood and look.

I enjoyed both games, P3 more so than FFXII, both games are not perfect but I had a blast with P3 due to it's combat and fusion system, however, the progression during certain days on the calendar were dull, but FFXII's story progression went down hill half way through and it discourages me from continuing, I still beat both games but I think P3 had better pacing and it's a bit faster paced and is one of the highest on my list in terms of gameplay. 

FF12's gameplay wasn't a problem for me as I micromanaged everyone, similar to what I do in dragon age, the problem is that the AI overrides where you put your party members so it's an annoyance, but the problem with the game were the plot, characters and scenarios.