In 2006, Atlus released Persona 3 for the PlayStation 2 in Japan. While following the premise of the first two games and pushing the series' visual style further, the third entry in the series introduced the now-familiar calendar system and plenty of new ideas. Now, 20 years after its release, it's clear to see that Persona 3 paved the way for what has become one of the most successful JRPG series in recent years. It established a formula that would be replicated and improved upon by Atlus and other studios. But on top of all that, Persona 3 also expanded the JRPG language used to represent characters.

From the start, Persona 3 was not the kind of JRPG the mainstream public was used to. The story follows the silent, blue-haired protagonist who recently transferred to Gekkoukan High School, where he gets involved with the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad. It’s no ordinary club, but a group that investigates a mysterious tower that rises at midnight, and the dangerous creatures called "shadows" that inhabit its corridors. Its colorful anime visuals and high-school vibes contrasted with its brooding cast of teenage characters, who face existential questions about mortality and the meaning of life, all while keeping up with their school routines and social interactions. It's a game that invites players to progress........

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