The Society's Heiress

I really love this story. Since I played the game, it's easier for me to follow the narrative. Even without that context, the story is genuinely engaging. The characters are not overly complex, which prevents any confusion for the reader, yet they have enough depth to provide an entertaining twist of events. The art isn't the greatest, and at times, it can be challenging to decipher what's happening in the images. However, I thoroughly enjoyed what I've read so far because, unlike the game, the main character speaks and expresses his thoughts and emotions. Additionally, the characters reveal their humorous side, which I truly appreciate.

Overall, this is a good manga that is worth your time.

Loved the PS2 game and definitely love this manga as well! The characters and art might not be the best, but the storyline is exceptional. I played the game for 180 hours, completed it twice, and still want more!  
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The same applies to the manga. Although it's not fully released yet, this is one manga I highly recommend! You might find the beginning a bit 'strange,' but you'll soon get hooked and may even become 'addicted'! ^^<p>

Persona 3.  
What an incredible game.  
It moved me deeply and made me cry on numerous occasions.  
I adore this manga, and I purchased it at a convention. I own volumes 1 through 3.  

The art is STUNNING, and the storyline is fantastic.  
I love this adaptation and highly recommend it.

I've never played the PS2 game, but I swear, thanks to this manga, I'm just about ready to jump out of my chair and buy a PS2 to play it.  

The story is by far very original to me, and the art is absolutely stunning. It's so fabulous that I'm completely in awe. I seriously adore the art; the characters are all so handsome. While this might seem shallow, I love mangas with beautiful people.  

Each character has their own distinct personality, but there's depth to certain characters that surprises you. At first, you might think, "Oh, he's obviously going to be [insert stereotype] for this manga," but then you get a glimpse into his mind and realize, "Oh my, when was he ever like that?"  

The story, as I mentioned, feels quite original to me. I can confidently say that this plot could actually happen in real life. The story makes readers think that what's happening could possibly be true, and I find that to be a great quality in fiction. One of the main reasons people read stories is to escape reality or make real life more exciting. If the possibility of the story being true lingers in your mind, then yeah, life gets a bit more thrilling.  

I'm definitely giving this manga high marks because I absolutely love the art (especially how the main character was drawn >.<). But the story and characters are also fantastic, so what else can I say? I genuinely love this manga and can't wait for more!  

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Being a fan of the Persona 3 video game, I was thrilled to learn about the manga adaptation, and it's actually pretty good.  

The storyline remains faithful to the video game, but this time, you get to experience the main character, Minato Arisato in the manga, speaking directly.  

The artwork is solid, though there’s room for improvement—it’s certainly not unbearable.  

One of the key reasons I adore P3 is the rich cast of characters, and I’m glad to see they retain their essence in the manga.  

I genuinely hope more chapters are released soon, but for now, I’m thoroughly enjoying this series.  

This is definitely a must-read for anyone who loves Persona 3. :3

Persona 3 remains my all-time favorite video game since I first played it back in 2012. When news broke about its adaptation into a film series, I was your typical overexcited fanboy. But after watching the movies, they left me feeling quite let down. A few years later, I learned that the manga series, which had been released in Japan, was finally being localized for North America. By this point, I kept my expectations low, and thank heavens I did. This manga series not only met but shattered my expectations.

In contrast to the film series, this manga stays much closer to the original game with just a few minor adjustments. Surprisingly, these tweaks actually improved the overall experience. One notable difference between the manga and the game is the Protagonist's (named Minato in the manga) interaction with supporting characters like Kenji and Hidetoshi, which are almost nonexistent. They still make appearances, but their stories aren't explored. Personally, this didn't bother me much since the supporting Social Links weren't as crucial to the game compared to its later sequels, so I found this omission acceptable. Beyond that, the manga closely mirrors the game.

Story - 10
The narrative of Persona 3 might be relatively straightforward, but it's the journey that makes it memorable. The eerie ambiance of the Dark Hour, the enigma surrounding Tartarus, and the twists as the story unfolds (especially towards the climax) were what initially captivated me. The manga's storytelling aligns with the FES version of the game (also adapted in the Portable version on PSP). This story continues to hold a special place in my heart, and I'm thrilled to see it handled so well in this manga adaptation.

Art - 10
There's not much to add about the art. Shuji Sogabe's illustrations remain true to Shigenori Soejima's original designs. The saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies perfectly here, and Sogabe adhered to this principle.

Character - 9
While I previously mentioned that omitting some supporting characters from the game was acceptable, I believe the manga could have briefly delved into each character's background, enhancing the ending's impact without giving too much away. Nevertheless, the main cast remains the highlight and is portrayed exactly as they should be, even in the final chapters.

Enjoyment - 10
I loved Persona 3 immensely when I first played it in 2012. Revisiting it through the manga form reignited that same level of enjoyment, possibly even stronger due to the minor changes I've noted. One addition in the manga is more humor, something the game lacked. It was refreshing to see that despite Persona 3's dark tone, Sogabe managed to include plenty of humor in the manga.

Overall - 10
If you couldn't enjoy the video game due to its gameplay (a known drawback), this manga serves as an excellent alternative. I'd even argue that it surpasses the game. The Shadow battles remain thrilling, the characters continue to captivate, and the story is among the best I've ever experienced. I can't recommend this manga adaptation highly enough—it's truly exceptional. All 11 volumes are now available officially translated in English, so there's no better time to start reading than now.

Persona 3 manga serves as a lackluster adaptation of the video game, focusing solely on the main storyline. If your interest lies exclusively in that aspect, then this manga might be suitable for you. However, if you desire more development for the main character and side characters beyond the core team, this may not meet your expectations, and you might find the movies a better alternative. This review is spoiler-free regarding the primary events, mentioning only a few names, while highlighting the flaws within this adaptation.

> Completed the original game several months after starting the manga.
> Read it through retail editions, investing both time and money.

Without further ado, here are my thoughts on the manga.

Story: 5

The manga essentially mirrors the game's story, omitting social links and Elizabeth-related events. But why is this problematic when the game itself is highly acclaimed? First, the pacing is atrocious. Each volume includes time skips that could confuse the average reader. I began reading the manga during October in the game, so seeing November's events in volumes 2 and 3 was disorienting. Second, the absence of social links diminishes the experience. The closest you'll get is the Death Arcana arc, which is story-driven and doesn't count as a true social link. What made the game exceptional were the side stories involving characters like the 'gamer' social link, Tanaka (who doesn't appear here), and the old couple, among others.

Additionally, there are no Velvet Room events. While skipping fusion scenes might be understandable, ignoring most of Igor's dialogue from the game and all of Elizabeth's events (arguably the best in the game, yet she only appears in the background) feels almost comical.

TL;DR: The manga focuses primarily on the game's main story with frequent time jumps.

Art: 8

The artist effectively captures the Persona art style. The use of grey tones enhances the storytelling, particularly for Dark Hour scenes. The chibi style used in some panels adds charm, though occasionally it seems overly loose, as if deliberately made worse for comedic effect. The cover art is stunning, with volumes 10 and 11 being personal favorites. This is the manga's standout positive aspect.

Characters: 4

The poor pacing negatively impacts character development. Minato/Makoto's personality feels off—portrayed as an edgelord indifferent to others but also timid. At times, he can be irritating, but his traits improve by the end. Regarding side characters, Yukari and Aigis appear frequently, with Aigis receiving proper development, unlike Yukari, who remains unlikable both in-game and in the manga. Fans familiar with FES's The Answer will understand my sentiment.

Character arcs are often brief, lasting no more than two chapters. Some backstories are so fleeting that they're easily forgotten a few chapters later (Ken and Shinji notably fall into this category). Nearly every character shares a similar depressive backstory about losing a loved one, either physically or metaphorically. Fuuka is the sole exception, making her the only character without this cliché.

Personal Enjoyment: 7

The terrible pacing and character issues hindered my enjoyment. Purchasing each volume individually felt less worthwhile compared to waiting for game ports, using emulation/PS2, or watching the movies. Eleven volumes seem excessive since the final stage begins in volume 8, rushing through the main story and taking three more volumes to reach The Journey ending. Sogabe's extra panels offer some entertainment but sometimes feel redundant (though I respect their intent, I mostly skipped them after volume 5).

Overall:

A 6/10 rating fits this adaptation best. Without comparing it to other sources, the story is fairly average, with excitement building only towards the end. As an adaptation, it could have delved deeper into personas, a crucial element of both Persona and Megaten series. Seeing the MC rely on the same personas throughout diminishes interest and makes battles predictable.

Ultimately, whether to read this depends on the reader. With the main game, movies, and upcoming ports available, trying this manga feels almost unnecessary. However, if you're unwilling to finish the game or dislike anime (or if you only care about the main events, despite missing out on great moments), you might consider giving it a chance.

55 chapters 7-20-23