Today we have an interesting review for you readers out there or more so reviews. Not too long ago, both Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4: Golden were released on almost every modern console and you know we here at Honey’s Anime were all too quick to buy them both. We could have done individual reviews for each but we felt let’s spice things up and do a dual review of sorts. Our plan is simple here. We are going to talk about each game—the good and bad about them—and if you should buy them both or only one specifically.

Now let’s see if both Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4: Golden can stand the testament of time or should both these titles go into a long slumber so newer Persona games can shine? We find out in our reviews of Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4: Golden for the PS5!

By now, many of you know both Persona 3 and Persona 4 stories so we won’t spend a lot of time explaining either game. Persona 3 Portable is the PSP version that altered the game in many, many ways. Rather than have 3D landscapes to explore and have the added FES epilogue—The Answer—Persona 3 Portable went for more of a JRPG/Visual Novel style and even included a female protagonist! Even now Persona 3 Portable is amazing with the darker narrative of the Persona stories and with some of the best music from the series, maybe only second to Persona 5.

Writing anything bad about Persona 3 Portable—P3P to shorten it—is difficult but we have to admit, this port makes it a bit easier. Honestly, Persona 3 Portable feels like a port that was just thrown out there to be purchased on modern consoles. Yes, we love being able to play P3P on a PS5 but that is the extent of our joy for this release. Audio issues are the biggest issue with P3P as it sounds like the audio was ripped from the original PSP release. We tried playing P3P on a PS4 on a different TV and monitor but then saw online that others were noticing the same audio problems. The other issue is that P3P looks…dated.

Yes, both games here are old by definition but in an age where ports and remasters are coming left and right, we would have appreciated just so much love given to P3P. These issues don’t ruin the entire game and aren’t reasons to not buy it if you never have played Persona 3 Portable but if you own the original and, like us, have played it many times…then P3P doesn’t need to be re-purchased for the price of $19.99.

Without a doubt, Persona 4: Golden is the better of the two re-releases. Like P3P, Persona 4: Golden is the more updated version with a new epilogue, new endings, and a new character in the form of the magical/mysterious Marie. Persona 4: Golden still plays perfectly fine and the audio shockingly sounds pretty great. Even if Persona 4: Golden shows its age a bit, having this on the PS5 feels right and still is an impressive JRPG!

Unlike our issues with P3P, Persona 4: Golden doesn’t have many flaws. Yeah, it still doesn’t have a visual upscale or look that polished and feels like it too was ported quickly but Persona 4: Golden is the newer game of these two and that could be why those issues didn’t show up on this version. Like P3P there is little reason to rebuy this if you played it already on the numerous consoles it released on after the PS Vita but newcomers will be overjoyed that we can admit, this is the superior way to play Persona 4: Golden on a modern console.

As much as we love both games equally, we have to give the edge to Persona 4: Golden. There are too many nagging issues with Persona 3 Portable to recommend buying it—especially if you already have played it before—and that can’t be said about Persona 4: Golden. We really feel that Persona 3: Portable was rushed in comparison and while it might not cost a lot to buy—and could lead to a possible remake or remaster—it’s hard to justify re-buying it if you played it on the PSP when it was originally released. Honestly, our opinion is that ATLUS should have ported the superior Persona 3: FES but we equally understand why portable has a place in the hearts of many.