Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 (ペルソナ3, Perusona 3?) is the third video game in the Persona console RPG series. The game was developed and published by Atlus for the Sony PlayStation 2 console system. Persona 3 was released in Japan on July 13, 2006, was set to be released in North America on July 24, 2007, but was delayed to August 14, 2007 (due to a manufacturing error with the Persona 3 art book),1 and was released in Europe and Australia on February 29, 2008. An add-on chapter and enhanced original game, entitled Persona 3 FES was released in Japan on April 19, 2007, and in North America on April 22, 2008. It is scheduled to be released in Europe on October 17, 2008.

The game has the player take the role of a male high-school student who joins up with other members of SEES—the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad—to attack Shadows and other beings that emerge during the "Dark Hour", a time period between each day which only few humans are aware of. The player uses weapons and magical abilities gained by the use of "Personas" to defeat foes in a turn-based combat system. An iconic feature of the game is the method by which the members of SEES release their Personas: by firing an Evoker, a gun-like object, at their head. In addition to typical RPG elements, the game includes elements of dating simulation games as the player character progresses day by day through a school year, making friends and relationships that improve the strength of his Personas in battle.

The game was well-received by critics and earned several gaming awards for 2007.

The North American version of Persona 3 contains the aforementioned art book, along with a soundtrack CD.3