How Persona Explores Death | Vacated's Ultimate Persona 3 Analysis
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มิ.ย. 2024
- One of my all-time favorite series of video games is the Persona series. There are countless things I love about each of the individual games, but something about the third numbered entry, Persona 3, and its particular story and themes has just always stood out to me as being so uniquely brilliant.
P3's main thesis is very heavy, but strangely simple: Death is something that each and every one of us will eventually have to face, and is an aspect of our existence that we mustn't ever let become lost on us. This theme is established as soon as the very first opening cutscene, and is then carefully explored through just about every single aspect of the experience, from the characters, to the lore, to even the game mechanics.
Persona 3 is just teeming with stuff to talk about, and having first played and completed the game almost exactly two years ago now, I'm still to this day regularly reminded of and wowed by just how innovative it actually is. So that brings us to this particular video: An in-depth analysis and breakdown of Persona 3 and its themes of death and mortality. I'm SUPER proud of this one, so please let me know what you guys think in the comments! Thank you so much for watching, and Memento Mori!!
Chapter Guide: I get it, you may not want to watch EVERY single bit of this video, so here's how you can pick and choose!
Chapters that are designated with Part:(Roman Numeral)-Re are simply sections that are dedicated to laying out and recapping the story elements. So if you're already intimately familiar with P3's story, you may totally skip these if you'd like.
Chapters that aren't designated with Re, however, are the analysis sections. These are the parts of the video where I really dig into the themes of the game by making certain observations, drawing literary parallels, discussing character dynamics/story elements and their deeper meanings, etc. (AKA, the stuff that you don't want to skip)
Enjoy the video!!
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
3:06 - Part I-Re: The Beginning | Main Story Introduction
10:05 - Part I: Time and the Calendar System
13:25 - Part IS: Social Link Introduction
14:46 - Part II: Bunkichi, Mitsuko, and Immortality Through Legacy
20:14 - Part III: Akinari Kamiki: The Dying Young Man
26:41 - Part IV-Re: The Calm Before the Storm | A S.E.E.S. Renaissance
37:44 - Part IV: Akihiko, Ken, and Death Portrayed Through Loss
45:46 - Part V-Re: Revelations | The Betrayal of S.E.E.S.
53:36 - Part V: Strega, Ikutsuki, and Death As Deliverance
58:01 - Part VI-Re: Strega's Rebirth | The Dark Ages of S.E.E.S.
1:02:29 - Part VI: Chidori, Bonds, and The Myth Of Sisyphus
1:12:04 - Part VIS: Aigis, Humanity, and the Sisyphean Pursuit of Protection
1:15:49 - Part VII-Re: The Rejuvenation of S.E.E.S. | First Omen of the World's End
1:22:18 - Part VII: Shadows, Ryoji, and the Humanization of Death
1:29:10 - Part VIII-Re: Death Notice for the World | The Return of the Mother Entity
1:32:15 - Part VIII: NYX: The Origin of Everything
1:39:50 - Part IX-Re: Harrowing Dilemma In A Dying World | Ryoji's New Year's Ultimatum
1:43:05 - Part IX: Ending I: To Forget Death
1:48:20 - Part X-Re: Memories of the World | The Death and Rebirth of S.E.E.S.
1:52:00 - Part X: The Arcana | A Fool's Journey
1:59:07 - Main Story COMPLETED | Ending II: Remember Death
2:14:17 - Video Ending and Conclusion | Memento Mori
Works Referenced:
The Epic of Gilgamesh - Maureen Gallery Kovacs
Komm, süßer Tod - Johann Sebastian Bach
Persona 3 & Japan’s Lost Generation - LadyVirgilia
The Myth Of Sisyphus - Albert Camus
Jung’s Theory of Personality - Carl Jung
Persona 3 Club Book: World Guide Q&A - Atlus
Megami Ibunroku Persona - Atlus
Persona 2: Innocent Sin - Atlus
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment - Atlus
Persona 3 FES: The Answer - Atlus
Persona 4 - Atlus
Persona 5 - Atlus
Forgot to put this in the actual in-video credits because I'm a dingus, but the English translation of the Q&A section of the P3 Club Book was done by Nenilein, a creator here on TH-cam, and the fan who first discovered and delivered this information to us western players! Go check them out!
/ @nenilein
Soundtracks Present:
Persona 2 IS Original Soundtrack - Atlus
Persona 3 Original Soundtrack - Atlus
Persona 3 The Movie Original Soundtrack - Atlus
Trauma Center: Second Opinion Original Soundtrack - Atlus
Persona 3 Portable Original Soundtrack - Atlus
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Original Soundtrack - Atlus
Trauma Team Original Soundtrack - Atlus
Shin Megami Tensei V Original Soundtrack - Atlus
Persona 3: Dancing In Moonlight Original Soundtrack - Atlus
Persona 3 Reincarnation Album - Atlus
With Celebrity Bonus Appearances From:
Nine Inch Nails and Aphex Twin
Overwhelming Bulk of Gameplay Footage from: JohneAwesome's Persona 3 FES Walkthrough
B-Roll Footage From Noire Blue's No Commentary Persona 3 Walkthrough
(Far more detailed credits for everything can be found at the end of the video's runtime).
Thanks For Watching!! - เกม
I forgot to put this in the actual in-video credits because I'm a dingus, so I'll go ahead and mention it here to spread the word:
The (as far as I know) ONLY English translation of the Q&A section from the Persona 3 Club Book (AKA everything that we know about Nyx's lore) was done by Nenilein, a fellow creator here on TH-cam, and the fan who first discovered and delivered this information to us western players. So without them, the entire Nyx section of my video (which is my personal favorite part of the whole thing) wouldn't even be possible.
So check out their blogpost here! - ask-persona.tumblr.com/post/99861586798/persona-3-club-book-world-guide-qa-translation
It contains the translation for everything I referenced as far as Nyx's lore goes.
Nenilein has also made their own video on Nyx as well, so I highly urge you to check it out! - th-cam.com/video/M-HTU_PEY4Q/w-d-xo.html
Edit: While you're here, also make sure to check out LadyVirgilia's video on Apathy Syndrome! I never actually linked it anywhere despite it being a pretty big inspiration for part 5, so let's change that! - th-cam.com/video/Mihv4XnAx9Y/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for uploading this magnificent breakdown on the themes and message of Persona 3. It was really a well edited and put together with even the 4:3 aspect ratio emulating how it would like to play this game on the PS2 back in 2006. I also feel like every Persona game with its varying themes can resonate with us at different stages of life but especially Persona 3 and with the key phrase „Memento Mori" and how with should take strides in life to not be afraid of death but to celebrate life and how even though we have a limited time on this Earth, we can achieve alot with our lives be it in the present or in our future. Also glad you talked about my favourite social link Akanari. I feel that even though his tale is one of a very bittersweet end, I feel we can take so many messages from his life and apply it to our own. Like as you said in the video, that even though we are mortal and we will not persist after we die, the impact that we can have on others will be everlasting.
I do hope that you will cover Persona 4 with the same passion and fervor like with Persona 3 even though it may not be as massive a breakdown as this. Thank you so much for uploading this wonderful video of the messages and themes of Persona 3 and how we can take so much from it.
@@benjaws5263 Yes, thank you so much for watching!! Glad you enjoyed. I absolutely adore Persona 4, and I 100% intend to make something for it one day! I can't promise that it'll be anytime soon, but it's gonna happen for sure!
Again, thanks for the thorough comment, it truly means a lot. Cheers friend, and take care!
One thing about Reload is that it attracts a lot of new fans who brought their own insights and appreciations for Persona 3. This game is special to me, and seeing it being cherished warms my soul
Spoilers for Persona 4: Golden
One of my favorite moments in the whole Persona series is in P4G during one of Adachi's social links. Nanako is given an assignment to read a book, and the book she read was the Pink Alligator story that Akinari wrote.
Even years after his death, his legacy lives on through his book, even reaching yet another protagonist, even if it wasn't directly.
Yes!! I love that nod in P4 :) Not only is it a great throwback for fans of 3, but it sort of adds to his arc in a way, proving that the legacy he had built did in fact live on.
I wonder if mitsuru used the kirijo group's resources to get it widely published after makoto's death. Like she found it while SEES cleared out his room and could tell it was important to him.
I never noticed that bc I played p4 before p3.. that’s really cool though. The sun was my personal favorite social link in p3
Persona 3 has such a major impact on me and how I see life, and as I’ve grown my feelings for the games message have grown. I used to cry at the ending because it was sad, but now I cry because how unapologetically beautiful and thoughtful it is, truly a game, I personally believe everyone should experience start to finish at least once.
Persona 3 is such a great examination of the two sides of nihilism, with Strega and SEES being the differing sides of the same coin. I hear a lot of people wrongly clinging to nihilism being solidified as "nothing matters, and nothing has meaning"; but that's just one half. The other is choosing to apply meaning yourself, and Chidori's arc really hammers this connection home
Exactly! Very well said. That "optimistic" flavor of nihilism is something that Camus was very big on, and is exactly why his essay and messages resonate so much to this day.
Nihilism was always meant to be about "life has no meaning, you need to find your own", people often forget about that second bit
Many of the main characters believe in the soul though so that throws the idea out the window thst they're explicit nihilists...
They're more akin to Dostoyevsky than most existentialists in their approach to post-nihilism. Makoto's 'Messiah' persona is a direct reference to the negation and defeat of death, as death has no telos, but life does. Also there is the fact that Makoto (the Messiah figure) venturing into hades/tartarus and destroying it, is signfying the transcendence of death and a direct reference to the 'Harrowing of Hades' by the famous Christ.
To live and suffer meaningfully, you must believe in an overarching purpose for preserving life beyond the subject, as truth or love can not be relative. The prime message of Persona 3 is life has an objective telos and is worth preserving; and though many do not know what that telos is, most cling to a primordial and spiritual cherishing of it; an unconcious love of life's eschatological value forgotten since the fall of Eden/the cosmos.
This verse is the humble and powerful exemplification of Persona 3's moral message:
"There is no greater love among men, than to lay his life down for his friends."
@@Codreanu_Prezent This is a very thoughtful comment and I really enjoyed reading it while reflecting on a lot! I love Persona 3 for it is one of my favorite games of all time! I am very fascinated in reading Dostoevsky's works for I read a bit of him but would love to read more!
I do not think this point is mentioned a lot today, but it is something I reflect on in my life after reading about your description of "Telos". I reflect on the connection to a possible objective order or Telos that can go outside one's own subjectivity that is difficult to grasp yet can be sought after. This makes me think of a mysterious moral order of the soul that one cannot fully be understood yet can be spiritually cherished with humility, love, and courage to create bonds with others while achieving heroic actions. I think of this telos in how Persona games have a true ending to be sought after yet can be deeply personal and a different path depending on how the player plays and interprets character. This is perhaps different from the Shin Megami Tensei games where players need to create their own endings with no clear true ending to seek (and I think this can be a great exploration as well, just different).
I remember playing Persona 3-5 and how there is an interesting progression from how I felt at the beginning as opposed to the end of the game. In the beginning, the world seemed smaller through my own, or the main character's, limited perspective but gradually got expanded to explore the depths of the soul, in the velvet room, and even the environment (communities in Japan) and worldly soul (like the dark hour/midnight/metaverse that goes through changes by the end of the game). I love exploring the environments of the Persona games and your inner strength improving while expanding your connection and engagement with the outside world around you. That line of "No greater love among men, than to lay down one's life for friends" is a very powerful message I remember reflecting on at the end of the game. It is a beautiful game I think a lot of people can bring their own unique experiences to relate to it and make the journey powerful. I am fascinated how Persona 3 can have influences very specific to the experience of people living in Japan and how this can lead to some new interesting discussions. This game actually that got me inspired to read the works of Carl Jung and his study of the Persona, Shadow, and collective unconscious and it was very fascinating! Excuse me for the long post and thank you for anyone who read :)
This is legitimately my favorite persona game as I am a sucker for darker themes,this game really teaches you the importance of a end and a beginning especially when it comes to time. And this video is faithful to its message and theme,and this analysis really nailed it.
Thank you!!
I too am an absolute sucker for this game (clearly, lol), and it means the absolute world to me to see that my video is resonating with fellow fans as much as I hoped it would!!
It's my favourite game in the series too! Man can i not wait for reaload
BABE WAKE UP NEW 2 HR PERSONA ESSAY DROPPED
I remember when I first played persona 3 and when Makoto had shown up in front of everyone after using the Great Seal. Seeing Aigis look at him and not have the same happiness that the others did and when she started crying. It felt like something was wrong, I didnt truly understand at the moment that he was meant to die, but I knew something was wrong by the way Aigis acted in that cutscene. Then when proceeding days continued and then graduation it just hit me like a ton of bricks. It truly was an experience that I will never forget.
Persona 3 will always hold a special place in my heart.
I have this little theory that all the girls find ryoji attractive is because he is yhe embodiment of death and they are subconsciously attracted to him
This. This is genuinely the single most impactful video I've ever watched. The final chapter completely renewed my sense of self, changed my outlook, and renewed my will to go out and LIVE. Thank you for all of the effort you put into this. If nothing else you've made one person's life a little better, and I hope you have a great day, week, year and life!
Wow, thanks!! I can't believe this little project of mine is proving to be so impactful to so many people. So glad you loved it, and thank you for watching!!
I'm midway through the video and I'm feeling similar to this sentiment. LIVE!
Its my belief too that the ending credits song "Memories of You" is sung from the perspective of Agis to Makoto and honestly it tears me up every time I hear it.
Something I really like about persona 3 is that it has scenes without the protagonist for the other members of S.E.E.S, I've never player P4 so I won't comment of it, but from what I remember of P5, the characters always developed with our protagonist present, rarely was there a scene without the protagonist for the other phantom thieves, I like the way persona 3 did it, makes the characters feel more dynamic, reaching to conclusions without our help
It's even worse in 4 imo
Because Makoto didn’t care.
There are so many social links that have to do with death in some way or another as well. And overcoming the impact of that death. The Gourmet King's little brother. Maiko dealing with the death of love between her parents. Yukari's father. Hayase's dad dying and him having to become the patriarch because of that and him having a sick mother. Again the death, AND rebirth of love for family, with the Monk. So many themes based around death.
I know Nozomi's SL is infamous among the fanbase but MAN that one hit me like a truck (the only other one being Akinari for obvious reasons).
I relate to his inferiority complex towards his brother so much and everyone seems to dismiss how sad and messed up it is that a literal kid ended up joining a cult in a misguided attempt to not feel like a failure in this life and "be saved" for the next one. Y'know, because cults are known for snaring people when they're at their lowest and most vulnerable state.
I guess it's more of a me thing because I related to his feelings A LOT and not everyone is on that same boat, but patience, nurturing and validation are things that a lot of people out there need every once in a while.
That's why it kinda bothers me how people write him off as "an insufferable fatso that's part of a cult".
I was really depressed when I played this game and it was during the pandemic. This game saved me. It made realize a lot of things, I lost a friend, and I used to have low self esteem but now. I appreciate everything and has moved on. Thank you Persona 3, thank you for changing my life!!!
Persona 3 is still the single greatest story I've encountered on any medium. Front to back it delivers without pulling a single punch. Incredible.
Fantastic video going over all the themes of death, the inevitability, the tragedy and the beauty of it all. Well done!
I'm a grown ass man and im sitting here damn-near bawling my eyes out because of this analysis. Excellent video. You made me remember just how important this game is to me and even found new ways for me to appreciate it. I had honestly never considered to look at Ryoji in that manner. What a fantastic game.
Here's hoping Reload can capture the heart of what makes this game so special.
2:15:59 watched this tonight, and was pulled in so many directions emotionally.....i cried, sobbed, reminisced, mourned, grieved at various points.
As someone who is a suicide survivor....ive never looked at life this way...
Wanted to push everyone away because feelings hurt, etc. But this game and video have me thinking differently.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, soul, persona,shadow...
Of course man, and thank you so much for watching! I truly appreciate you sharing your story, and am so glad you're still here with us today. The fact that this video of mine has been able to touch anyone this deeply is gratifying in a way that I can't even begin to put into words, and I seriously thank you for taking the time to comment. It means the whole world, man! 💙
This is a video to absolutely be proud of making. You voiced feelings of the game shared by so many, and even offered new perspectives that shed so much more light on just how beautiful Persona 3 is. The editing mirroring the style of the original game, even being presented in 4:3 was such a wonderful touch. The combination of script work and musical choice moved me to tears several times, reminding me of things I love about this game and more. Thank you for putting this out there - you made me appreciate my favorite game even more than I already did.
Thank you!! So glad you loved it.
I think it's so cool how you got such a kick out the editing, the aspect ratio, the music choices, etc! As an editor and not a viewer, it's really easy to lose sight of things like that and fall into the trap of thinking "ehh, well nobody but me is gonna care about all of these things", and it always delights me every time one of your guys' awesome comments disproves that!
For me, the goal when making a project like this is for each of the video elements to come together to create a memorable experience above all else. And there's really no better feeling than when this succeeds, and that full "editor's vision" is felt by, and just as visible to the viewers as it ever was to myself!
Again, really glad you loved it, and thank you so much for watching and commenting!!
For some reason Shinjiro's death hurt me more than the ending at the time. Even now I feel like Akihiko when he yells out in pain and anguish.😢
Oh wow, you're hurt by the dumbest death in the Persona series, truly the writing was causing indigestion.
@@egbertmilton4003What do you mean, if I might ask?
persona 3 was a game that touched me at a hard moment of life, where i was thinking to just give up, but when i saw makoto's story and the bonds that gave him strength, i could realize again that there is beauty in this flawed, boring world and that i don't need superpowers and a great journey to make my life have a meaning, just the bonds you forge with your fellows, the laughs, the cries, the challenges, the memento mori's of your life, we all can have beautiful stories to tell.
great video man, it reminded me again of the impact of the game, i really hope that p3 reload can have the same impact on the lifes of others, as the original had on mine. remember that you are mortal and live your life to the fullest, thank you.
11/10 analysis, that ending was great and the video as a whole was top tier longform content. Cool chapter transitions too! I've played 4 and 5, and a few weeks ago finished 3 because I wanted to experience it before the remake comes out. Funny enough, I've played each of these games at a time in my life where their messages and themes helped me overcome the changes and challenges I was going through. For 5, I played it when going through rough times at home with an abusive parent, and finished it while staying at a family friends house while they took me in, it's themes of standing against injustice and fighting for freedom helping me get away from the bad environment I'd been stuck in for years. I played 4 while fittingly discovering my true self, and the themes of radical truth in the face of your own denials were instrumental in me accepting that I was transgender and finding friends and making experiences in highschool that are still major parts of me and hold prominence in my life to this day. And now in my early 20s, persona 3 gave me another opportunity to reflect on the hope and meaning that my experiences and the people around me have given my life. Despite the inevitability that the show one day ends, and everything I've become or can ever be will stop, the point of life is to live and love and experience the beauty life holds in spite of that. It's an absolutely gorgeous story and I've cried more times than I can count to it and it's messages. Can't wait for reload!
This is an incredible comment, thank you!!
Loved reading your story! I think that's one of the main things that makes Persona so special to be honest: The fact that its messages and themes serve as such universal lessons that just about anyone can take and apply to their own lives. I hold P3 and 4 incredibly close in that regard, especially 4 with its themes of personal growth and introspection, which was a message that really meant a lot to me when I first played the game at around 15 years old or so, which were, in a lot of ways, pretty dang confusing and depressing times, lol.
However, I'm INCREDIBLY lucky to have always had a great family and support system, which is something that, as your story demonstrates, not everyone is privileged enough to have. And pretty damn poetically, that's where P5 comes in, with its uplifting themes of rebellion that explicitly give a voice to all of those people that DON'T have it good: A Persona for the underdogs, if you will. It's all just so brilliant, and I can't wait to see what the next game in the series tackles.
Again, thank you so much for sharing!! It was a delight to read, and I'm so glad you loved the video!!
Not only did I cry for a good 30 minutes over finishing Reload yesterday, but I cried for another 30 watching your video. Thanks for such an enlightening one and making me love my giant memento mori tattoo even more!
For once my TH-cam recommendation knows what I want. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this video. I can tell you put a lot of thought and hard work into making this. I also love your take and analysis on the concept of death in this game, which is something that I think only hardcore fans of P3 truly appreciates. There are a lot of points that you made in the video that really resonated with my own thoughts on the overall theme of the game so it was nice to see it in a video format. I hope this video blows up soon, especially with the upcoming P3 Reload. You have my like .. 👍
Wow, thank you!! Your response among so many others so far has just made my week! It's been a really busy holiday, so I'm only just now getting around to responding to everybody, but I've been keeping up with each of the comments as they come in and am ecstatic to see that so many people have found something to love about this video!!
I gotta say, when making videos like these, it can be really easy to lose sight of just how many people share the same passion that spurred on the project to begin with. I myself fell many times into the trap of thinking "Bahh, this is ridiculous, nobody's even gonna care about or watch this thing when it's done". And I couldn't be more delighted to see with my own eyes that this nagging fear was purely and utterly irrational.
Again, thank you so much for the comment friend, it truly means the world to hear such genuine words of praise from a fellow fan of this incredible game and series!!
Out of this world quality standard here. Captured most of my thoughts on the game beautifully and introduced me to a lot of new parts of it too! Fantastic editing as well. Looking forward to watching over your career!
Thank you!!
Love how you described that cause in a lot of ways, that was the main thing I wanted to accomplish with this video: To present the themes of this game in a way that'll live up to and resonate with what the viewers already know and feel about the game, while also hopefully introducing some new aspects of it to them as well!
And thank you for the editing praise!! I slaved pretty hard over some of these sections (especially the Nyx one, yikes lol), so to get even the slightest bit of recognition for it means more than you know.
Again, thank you so much friend, and I hope to see you around for future videos!!
where my only 5 persona 3 fans in the world at 🗣🗣🔊
On GOD ✊️😔
Lol thanks for the interest in my stuff, man!!
I'm number 3 persona 3 fan😎✊🏻
4
we're here
I'm here bro 🗣️ ‼️‼️
I have played and loved every version of Persona 3 and today I finished Reload before stumbling to this video.
Thank you for making me appreciate one of my favourite games ever even more.
I love P3 and this articulates why beautifully. ❤ Death is inevitable yes, but why and how we live our lives no matter how long they are is what’s important. And the way P3 explores this theme is so well done
I always felt like 3 did the uneasiness and time pressure better than 4 did because of the fact that 3 had a fatigue system in the middle of dungeon exploration. You'd have to be careful with how you explore dungeons because constantly fighting or staying in Tartarus for too long would exhaust your party members (MC included). Meanwhile, the fatigue system was never included in 4, so you could actually reach the end of the dungeon in one day, and then after that, you can do whatever you wanted. Sure, you still wouldn't be able to do all the social links in 4 just like in 3, but I think the way 3 handled that pressure was much better.
You're absolutely right! I feel like the tiredness mechanic in particular is so frequently written off as just being something "obnoxious" and totally unnecessary, and while I agree that it's generally a good thing that it didn't return in 4 onward, I don't at all think it's without its own significance as far as 3's plot, themes and gameplay goes.
I also feel like 3 is super unique in how it was able to take this mechanic, and seamlessly weave it into the actual story toward the very end, what with the main character's death basically just being this exhaustion taken to the absolute extreme after the full draining of his HP and SP in the Nyx fight.
I believe it's because P4 never meant to use time to pressure you like how 3 did. It's about spending time peacefully surrounded by good friends, and then later threatening you by robbing the life of those you hold dear and making you desparately need to attempt the saving.
@@Aereist I mean... there was really only one person you held dear who was suddenly taken? The rest were people you didn't even know at the beginning. The reason you save them is because you knew that they were gonna die if they stayed when the fog appears IRL, and by saving them, you hope that you can find more truth about the serial killer.
Even then, the tension of trying to save someone in P4 is kind of deflated if I can just go to a dungeon the day that I unlock it, and then stay there for as long as I want without the day advancing.
@@CADPgamer As I meant by 'later', I specifically meant that one.
You see her every day. She's an adorable sister. She's beloved by every of the main casts. And when something does happen to her, hell broke loose, the chill group of friends become absolute desparate.
Even the friendliest of the group like Yusuke got desperate enough to ridicult us for not immidiately finishing the culprit off.
You see, by nature P4 is a slow burn. It never meant to pressure us like how P3 did.
While P3 had braindead people walking around like zombies, P4 had calm scenery, friendly townfolks, and chill music. The town is supposed to be growing on us, made us attracted to the place and the people, and then we would fall in love with them, not wanting any of them to face any bad stuff.
It's just different themes.
I only understand 70% that you speak (i'm not native speaker), the subs was my allied to understand the whole content 😅.
Very interesting analysis, i will share this. Good work, new sub.
Ahh, awesome, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I actually meant to make subtitles for this video, but I never got around to it. I hope the automatic ones sufficed, and maybe I'll still get around to doing that soon.
This video took me about 2 years, believe it or not, so I'd like for it to be as accessible as it possibly can be!
Again, thanks for watching, I really appreciate it!
@@vacated3188 amazing work dude, very complete.
I save this video to favorite, the content is excelent and make me appreciate more this beautiful game.
its absurd how incredible this analysis was. persona 3 was already one, if not my favourite game of all time, and i can see you share the love for it as well. you should be proud of this thorough review and analysis. absolutely deserve more recognition
Thank you, so glad you liked it!!
To have fellow diehard fans approve so highly of this video is probably the biggest honor in all of this!
girl between hearing shinji in that final fight again (haven’t done a full playthrough of this game since my first playthrough in 2013), and the way you tackled the shit in this video… you got my eyeballs sweating a bit I fear.
I’ve been replaying the game over the last few weeks (less for Reload, more because of how much the game meant to me the first time I played it just a decade ago), and this video really sums up just a LOT of my feelings and why I appreciate this game so much. Especially with having lost both of my parents in the time since I played this game and having my own personal journeys with grief and death… just… whew.
Looking forward to literally whatever you decide to write a video essay on next. You clearly got the chops. You the Male Lindsay Ellis methinks.
Haha, thank you so much!! So glad that this video is able to evoke that kind of response in the fans! It's truly an honor.
And holy crap... the male Lindsay Ellis?! That's probably the greatest compliment I could ever get, thank you, man!!
Amazing work, here. It's overwhelmingly clear just how much love you have for this game, and following that logic, for life. I really appreciate you making this, my life is better for it.
Thank you friend, seriously.
The fact that this little passion project of mine has been able to impact even just one person like this is enough for it to have all been worth it.
Again, thank you for watching, and I hope to see you around for future videos!!
I saw when this video was 3 days old, but only just got around to watching it. I’m glad I did.
P3 is my favorite persona story-wise and character-wise without a shadow of the doubt. While I may relate more with the small, sleepy country town of Inaba and its residents than the bustling cities, or prefer the gameplay of the tricksters reforming society, the story of life’s greatest meanings in the face of adversity and even Death itself always held a firm-tight grip on my heart and soul both.
When I discovered it in mid 2019, emulating after Joker’s inclusion in Smash when I was on summer break after my first full semester of college, everything just… hit. It was the first of the modern 3 I tried to as looking up I had noticed the massive split in gameplay from 1 and the 2 duology, and even in spite of how much I loved 4’s characters and could relate to each one or relate someone I knew to, in spite of how fulfilling and agreeable P5’s political messages were, this story reaffirmed the message my heart came to in 2017 thanks to another game handling similar topics. It’s funny… looking back, if I had grown up with this, it may of been forgotten by me until later, yet if I heeded its messages, than my own trauma may of been adverted. Yet, instead, I got it at the perfect time to hit me harder than ever before.
And this video, putting into words feelings I still struggle to in spite of all of it, genuinely makes me smile. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Hearing the Persona theme play during 53:21 is chilling. It’s moments like this that define Persona to me
Yes!! That really was such a cool nod to P1!
Persona 3 fundamentally changed my life and how i choose to live it now. I could never put it into words to those close to me on how but this analysis has done the job for me better than I ever could have. Thank you for this amazing piece of work
Gorgeous analysis. I really respect the love and care you showed in this video to my favorite game of all times. I felt exactly the same after the jorney of makoto. It gave me a reason to always keep going no matter what. Even to this day, the meaning of this game is as fresh as ever. Friends I wish you also had a blast with this video and.. I pray the universe that you may always remember that you are mortal, remember death always, so that it ignites your path.
Me too
I finished Akinari's social link on the last possible day, having him come back in the final battle not long after made me bawl pretty hard.
I'd also like to point out that the Death Shadow's connection to Makoto also serves as a representation of the concept of personalized Shadows. I mean, think about it. At the start of the Death Shadow's existence, it had a very generic, unpersonalized form. It wasn't until Aigis sealed it away into the protagonist that it slowly but surely began to change. Specifically, it changed into an echo of the protagonist themselves, sharing aspects of his appearance and voice. For all intents and purpose, the Death Shadow became the Protagonist's Shadow Self. This is even further supported by the initial Persona Awakening that the protagonist went through. In that initial awakening, our persona, Orpheus, was effectively torn apart and gave way to a completely different Persona, one that eeriely resembles the inital form the Death Shadow took. That was Thanatos, which I can only describe as Ryoji/Pheros getting the Persona 4 Shadow Into Persona treatment. Hell, Ryoji even transforms into Thanatos when trying to convince the Protagonist to kill him. Though, since we had no idea about our situation with the Death Shadow, at the time, Thanatos was completely uncontrollable. The only reason we didn't suffer a situation similar to Chidori getting strangled by Medea or Castor killing Kens mom was because the goals of the protagonist protecting themselves and Death's goal of reuniting with it's other pieces both would have to end in the Magician Shadow's demise, so everything worked out. It's only until we are able to confront Ryoji and his true goals and accept him as a permanent part of ourselves that we as the protagonist are able to harness at the very least the weakened form of Death as a Persona to call our own, just like the protagonists in Persona 4.
Dang, I never even thought about it like that! Honestly, you might just be right on the money with this. On a fundamental level, the Human, Shadow, Persona dynamic is virtually the same in every entry, so when going by that precedent, I think it's totally fair to say that Ryoji might just be a very unique flavor of that very same "facing yourself" Shadow concept that P4 is so keen on.
Really cool interpretation!
I actually took Makoto dying as him holding a physical form and losing his grip on it slowly. Only holding out to see his friends, his reason for living, one last time. Because in P4A we see that Makoto BECAME the seal that holds Nyx back. He used the universe to turn himself into a seal great enough to hold the primordial evil back. I also once read a theory on how him becoming the seal locked shadows away from the physical world and that's why the TV world exists in Persona 4 but yknow. Mostly the first part to this I agree with whole heartedly.
Yes, you're absolutely right! The Answer and P4A do flesh out the whole Great Seal thing a lot more, and I would have to agree that you're illustration of it here is a lot more accurate than mine as far as the full canon goes. I just intentionally chose to keep my explanation of it kind of vague in an attempt to wrap things up a bit more nicely, since The Journey was all I had really planned to talk about in this particular video.
Spot on interpretation though, and I really like that theory about The Seal being what keeps P4's and P5's TV World and Metaverse separate from the real world! That would explain why P4 and P5's final god battles/climaxes heavily center around the "crossing over" of these other realms into our world, while P3's Tartarus was very clearly doing this from the very start with no apparent pushback. Really cool stuff!
Awesome comment, and thanks for watching!!
He wasn't holding Nyx back, he was protecting the door so Erebus couldn't get in and corrupt Nyx. Nyx as a whole isn't evil at all, she's just the reset button on the world.
Damn this took me back. A beatiful love letter to a beautiful game.
Persona 3 was and still is my favorite video game, few games made me cry but this game was exeptional, moment like meeting akinari's mom at the very end and shinji's death made me cry every single time
I love the details you made in the chapter select segments!
this is such a great analysis, it was an absolute delight to listen to. thank you so much!
It’s always fascinated me how persona 3 deals with the concept of death, and how everyone deals with mortality. The whole humanization of death probably stands out the most to me, and I’m surprised this is the only video talking about this game’s relation with death I could find, so thanks for making it!
By the way, love the use of nine inch nails in the video!
Of course, so glad you enjoyed!!
And heck yeah man, Downward Spiral! NIN is freaking killer, and I knew I had to represent. I had actually just watched Natural Born Killers around the time that I started working on the editing for the Nyx chapter, and since Trent Reznor produced that movie's soundtrack, A Warm Place is featured in it, and as soon as I got to the part of the movie where it played I was like "yep, that's it, that's Nyx's theme" lol.
It's just such a soothing, yet almost dreadful track, and I just felt it to be so perfect for such an all-encompassing entity like Nyx; The calm before the storm, if you will.
Thanks so much for commenting, man, and have a great one!!
i genuinely love your way of retelling the events of the game, persona 3 is one of if not my favorite game i've ever played and i really liked this video because of how you go in-depth about the details
Thank you for making this. Analysis is spot on.
This is the best Persona 3 analysis I have seen. Absolutely loved the editing and your take on the game. Thank you!
Amazing video, thank you so much for this.
Truly an amazing video hope it gets the attention it deserves with how much work you put into this
This video made me cry different times. Brilliant and insightful into death/life and a video game I loved in younger years, after the recent loss of my Dad. Thanks for making it 🙏
Great video man! The persona series as a whole has always been one of my favorites but this game in particular always had a special place in my heart and the way you broke down all the aspects of death that they were trying to show really deepens the absolute adoration I always had with this game, thank you for that. I know videos like these aren't the easiest to make but this is so wonderfully made and I really appreciate it
Very good analysis. I especially liked your commentary on Chidori’s character and the whole pushing the boulder analogy. Awesome work all around.
This is the best video on this game in the entire platform. You managed to truly bring back what I first felt when experiencing this story.
Your analysis and storytelling brought me to tears. This game's story and message are so beautiful and I carry the lessons I learned through it with me everyday. Thank you for making this video, it's one you should be proud of.
Truly a great video I appreciate the analysis of this games story this was one of my favourite childhood PS2 games
This game will always have a special place in my heart, and I'm so happy to see it getting the justice and love it deserves with a whopping 2 hours of analysis. This was a really beautiful trip down memory lane, you knocked it out of the park with this one
fantastic essay, really enjoyed it!
A superb video from start to end explaining the themes really well and the editing was class. Liked and subbed excellent work!
This is such a fantastic analysis, I can't even put it into words. Persona 3 is my favorite game of all time and seeing other people put into words how great it is is always nice to see. Keep up the great work, you should be so proud of this video!
Just wanted to thank you for this beautiful well crafted thoughtful video.
I lost my great aunt last February and it was the first major death I've ever faced in my life. I find it almost funny and ironic that this game is coming out the day I found out about her only few weeks left to live.
This game really shows the stages of grief and this video was the mirror showing me that what I went through. I've been able to really experience life I'm in a happy relationship, I'm a father now, and I've seen some things for the better and worse in my life.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't cry watching this video, especially the part of the old couple and dying young man as I've run into people like this in my life recently.
Take my like, take my sub, I really look forward to see what you will make in the future. I hope you're doing well and are just as excited for RELOAD like we are!!!
Thank you!! So glad you loved it!
Man, it's just so heartwarming to see that this little project of mine is finding ways to resonate with so many people! Very sorry to hear about your loss, and thank you so much for sharing your story. I just think it's so beautiful how games like these can help us process life's hardships in such unique and fulfilling ways, and the fact that my video is serving to bolster that is more than I could ever ask for!
Thanks again for the comment, man, It truly means a lot to hear these kinds of things from fellow fans. Hope you're doing well too, and here's to Reload being bigger and better than ever!!
@@vacated3188 @vacated3188 you're welcome buddy! Reading the comments it seems like everyone was able to take a chunk of this video and have it resonate with themselves. This was very, very, enlightening and explains Persona 3 as a whole so beautifully and organic that it brought back all the memories of playing this game, watching the movies, and even reading the manga.
I feel like in the Persona community whenever you meet someone that also loves Persona 3 they just get it and this video shows that, tenfold.
I appreciate the kind words man, I miss her everyday but I can't let the pain burden me, taking a page from Akihiko's book. Whenever I play games I see her lessons and her legacy through them a lot. She was a person who believed in sharing kindness with everyone and believes that everyone deserves a chance.
She would sit for hours and listen to me gush about games when I was a kid so she was really something special even though she had no idea what they were about. What she saw and cared about was the joy and spark it brought onto this little boy she knew who was quiet and reserved but had all these adventures through a screen. I still can't believe it's been a year and there's literally not a day that goes by that I don't think of her she was basically a 2nd Mother to me.
I've been trying to get into more video essay content myself as I find opening up discussions for these games and their themes, characters, songs and etc just have so much to them that often it just gets overseen as, "It's just a game." I think if she was around she'd probably sit down and watch this video with me shed a few tears and hell probably have me play it with her so she could experience it.
Looking forward to seeing more from you especially since you seem just as excited about Reload like the rest of us!
@@apaleguyWow, man... she sounds like she was a great woman. You were lucky to have her, but I bet you she'd say she was even more lucky to have you.
I like the way you think, about how her legacy lives on through the games you play. That's the really beautiful thing about people like your aunt: Having such special, one of a kind legacies to leave behind, they're never truly gone. I'm honored to hear that this video of mine is something that you two might have been able to share, it truly means more than you could know :)
Again, thank you so much for all the wonderful comments, friend. I've got plenty more stuff planned for the future, so I sincerely hope to see you then!
How does this video only have two thousand views??? This is really well made and enjoyable to watch! Persona 3 is my favorite game of all time and I think it is the best game ever made and I think you did a great job making an essay about it!! Keep making great content!!
Bro, fantastic, beautiful video. Thank you
What an important video, thank you so much for taking the time to do this. I just finished P3 Reload and feel absolutely blessed to have experienced it, and I hope I can start to live my life through these values.
This was an absolutely stellar video. Incredibly well put together and excellent pacing. There was never a point where I thought it was dragging on or anything. Amazing work.
I will never thank you enough for finding the words to my thoughts towards this game, I can’t stress enough how great your analysis is it resonates perfectly with how I feel with P3🙏
I gotta say, with this being one of my favourite games and a game I reflect upon a lot. The thematic of death has always played a very important part in how I view a lot of media but nothing has hit as powerful as Persona 3 and honestly you covered every aspect I love about the game and how it chooses to explore those themes and not just that. You taught me new things I didn't actually know like the origin of Nyx as well as different stories and phrases that I might look into myself.
Thank you for this, it was a masterpiece of a videa and got me so much more excited for Persona 3 Reload and seeing how it chooses to add onto the game, gameplay and potentially story wise. I look forward to your future projects!
Finally got the chance to watch this all the way through. Excellent analysis of P3 and the concept of Death it presents. The MC’s ultimate sacrifice will always be remembered
amazing video - love the editing and the analysis
this video is perfect and i can tell just how much effort went into making it! persona 3 is my favorite game in the series and i greatly thank you for making this analysis on it
Always nice to see someone who truly loves this game as much as I do. You captured my thoughts so perfectly in this video, I watched it all too.
Thank you!
greatest persona 3 analysis (and i think i've seen all the major ones) great writing and edition, i hope i can see more of your work soon 🙏
im not good with words but this video is so well made im genuinely sobbing watching the end now. thank you
this was such a fantastic video, thank you so much
this video is incredibly underrated. probably the best persona 3 video I've seen
I have rewatched this video several times. The analysis is simply perfect, and let's me revisist such a beautiful story.
moved me to tears all over again. Incredibly presented and well executed analysis.
definitely didint cry like 25 times during this
Thank you so much for making this video. Persona 3 is one of my all-time favorite JPRGs, and I always find myself tearing up whenever I watch the scene of the protagonist fighting NYX and his friends giving their lives to him so he can save the world. I enjoyed watching you break down the game and analyze the themes and the story from beginning to end.
What an amazing video. This is exactly the video i wanted to watch via Persona 3. Thank you for your hard work and dedication 👏 Probably the best one out there of its kind. Masterpiece.
Wow this was such a good video... top quality analysis! I really enjoyed watching it, thank you so much.
I just finished Reload, and was keeping this video ready until that day. Thanks ❤
this was such a fun watch. i love deep dives into persona so much and to see a video like this made my day and really made me think about my persona three experience, so thank you ^_^
this vid was AMAZING, i got goosebumps in so many parts despite knowing what would happen narrative wise, the analysis and narration were great as well! some parts of symbolisms and stuff i didn’t know too, and some connections i didn’t even see before
Persona 3 is my favorite game of all time and has severely changed my outlook on life for the better. So i mean this from the bottom of my heart when i say thank you for making a video essay on this game, and such a good one at that
With reload around the corner, this was a very well put together analysis of p3. Not gonna lie I cried like it was the first time all over again with chidori part. Looking forward to more videos
As an Orthodox Christian, I started tearing up in the end of the story. From Chidori to Makoto, all the characters who die remind me of the holy words of the verse:
"There is no greater love among men, than to lay his life down for his friends."
I just beat Reload, and I needed this man. It helped me process my overall experience of the game. Thank you for this amazing video!
This is by far the BEST Persona 3 video ive ever seen, could not have explained the game any better, the editing was so good, everything about this video just further proves that P3 has easily one of the best stories in gaming in my opinion HAHA
This is one of the best video essays I've ever watched. We will watch your career with great interest
This video brought back powerful feelings for this game i was worried would be lost with Reload. Its amazing How well put the ideas of this video are and just how thoughtful the intepretations are.
You really echoed the sentiments I had with Persona’s calendar system. It’s amazing from both a gameplay and narrative perspective, always reminding you of a deadline you must meet, significant events on certain dates that might be life changing, and the quiet downtime of every other day in between simply enjoying the life you have.
My brother got me to play Persona 3 when I was like 9 or 10 and I loved it but couldn’t fully understand it’s themes. Since then I’ve played it millions of times and though I finally became old enough to understand the overarching message, this video really revived my love for the game and made me think more about some parts I never sat down to think about too deeply because I’m always just going through the motions of playing it since it’s so familiar/nostalgic to me and part of my childhood. I’m so excited for Persona 3 reload so that I can once again play it like it’s new but really appreciate it’s darker themes as an adult. And I hope it will make more people love and appreciate Persona 3. Anyway, I hope this video gets more views as it is so well done! Good job!
SO DAMN AWESOME !! Everything you voiced about the game was just so beautiful, i never realized until now just how deep and personal persona 3´s message hits, theres something so striking about the concept and parallels of life and death... Congratulations for such an insightful and thoroughly made analysis !
This was incredibly well done man, I loved this video. Like others have stated, this video really reinvigorated my will to go out and live life, and it deepened my understanding of persona 3's themes and message. Thank you man 🙏🏻
Fantastic video dude, congrats! Just finished Reload a couple of days ago, it was my first time playing 3 and I absolutely loved it. Watching this video afterwards (in a couple of sittings) really helped me appreciate the game even more + I got to see the important scenes in the original graphics.
This is an excellent analysis. The insight you give into the themes of the game linked with broader philosophical ideas makes this a must watch for anyone who wants to understand Persona 3
Man this video was amazing especially since I’m watching it after finishing reload my first experience with the game. Great stuff man
Thank you sooo much. This video has made me tier up many times, especially at the end. It is a masterpiece in it to itself. It is so incredibly detailed, well explained, well montaged, I truly appreciate all the little details you took effort to include. So thank you! Thank you! And thank you! Soo much! I enjoyed it to it's fullest ❤
Your effort can be seen throughout all of it. From the bottom of my heart thank you for the priceless 2 golden hours of the media you created. I love this video so much so that many parts of the video where you say great words of wisdom. I cut and kept on my device, for example where you said about Riyoji and that death can be seen as a friend, and others.
If only you had a Patreon, this kind of work needs support, I will gladly support the work if this level of quality
only about a half hour in but thank you for talking about akinari. he has always been my favorite social link and not enough people appreciate the fantastic writing. (naoki in 4 is a close second) and i love how the later games include the pink alligator. makes me smile whenever i see it.
this is the most beautiful video ive ever seen on persona 3. i go way back with p3 so seeing this video really makes me happy, knowing that people still care about this game. amazing video man
Thank you!! Really glad you enjoyed!