Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 is one of the best RPGs to hit the PS2 this year. There, I've said it and now I suppose I have to back it up...

I have always enjoyed the Shin Megami Tensei series' visuals, and though Persona 3 doesn't quite meet the look of Digital Devil Saga (my favorite in the series), it still looks great. Story sequences are a combination of hand-drawn animated sequences and in-game visuals. Both share a common style that blend into each other incredibly well. The art-style has a toned-down anime feel; it looks the part, though with a muted feel. The familiar stable of SMT enemies is present, as are a number of new enemies that fit right in with the game's look and tone.

Voicework is overall pretty good. The real magic is in the writing, which is really showcased during the game's social simulation aspect. Not only does the social sim add something different to the game, but the individual stories that take place during social tasks are varied and interesting. The writing and pacing is so well done that you will actually show concern for your fellow classmates.

As far as music, the soundtrack fits right in with the game's overall mood. The songs match the various situations perfectly and are used in some very clever ways.

To understand Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3, you first need at least a general idea of the Shin Megami Tensei series background. Complete and total ignorance of the series won't completely ruin the game, but having a framework should shave off some of the "weirdness" that is a large part of the series. Though there have been exceptions, most of the series takes place in modern settings where humans and demons co-exist. How much humans know of the existence of demons varies with each game. In Persona 3, humans are more or less ignorant of demons. In fact, when the demons are out, most humans are asleep in their coffins... oh wait; yeah there's that whole "weird" thing I was talking about.

Persona 3 revolves around a group of Japanese high school students who have the power to summon Personas, or friendly demons, to combat Shadows, which are the bad sort of demon. Shadows only come out during "The Dark Hour," which is the hidden period of time between midnight and 12:01 am. People who can summon Personas are aware of this time period, while everyone else turns into a coffin. The unfortunate souls who don't enter coffins and can't summon a Persona usually become the Shadow's victims.

Playing as a brand new student at Gekkoukan High School, you are one of the lucky few who can summon a Persona. A few of your classmates are quick to sniff out your power and recruit you into their club to help combat the Shadows. Every night during the Dark Hour, a tower called Tartarus appears near the school. Combat is only half the experience; Persona 3 is equal parts "traditional" RPG and Social simulation.

Combat is confined to the multi-floored Tartarus. A majority of the floors are randomly placed, though there are a few "rest stops" containing teleporters that allow you to quickly travel between that floor and the ground floor. This cuts down on the boring trudges through already cleared floors and also guarantees a save point before boss battles since teleporters and bosses tend to appear within close proximity of each other.

The 24 hours spent outside the Dark Hour are spent planing out your character's social life. You can decide to be a jock, the smart kid or Mr. Popular. Regardless of your social ambitions, every social connection you make at school directly influences your Persona. Taking part in sports will increase your relationship to a Personas that share a relationship to that trait and give it bonuses, making it stronger when you summon it. Though it may seem like a throwaway time waster, bonuses earned though social means can allow your Persona's stats to increase beyond their normal capabilities, which is sure to help while fighting through Tartarus.

The play between Social and Combat is handled well. The two integrate so well that if you become stuck in one element, you can always focus on another and gain some sort of movement. If your social standing is taking too much of a hit, you can avoid Tartarus and focus solely on that - giving you that added extra time. Doing so will also help to increase your Persona's power, making the trek through Tartarus easier.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 nails the risk-reward element when it comes to difficulty. You can always play it safe and run past enemies, though by doing so you'll miss out on several leveling opportunities and other rewards. At any time, you can turn back and give your party members a rest, though if you decide to push on, you're in for bigger rewards. Of course, pushing on does come with the chance that some party members will leave you, so you have to find a balance with that. Teleporters are a big help here; again, they guarantee that you'll have a save point before every boss encounter.

The element of risks and rewards also shows up in the Velvet Room, which is where you can combine Personas and try to create new ones. Combining Personas will almost always produce something that is statistically better than what you had before, though you also run the risk of losing out on certain abilities, which is always a big toss up. Several Personas share abilities, though there are a few that are exclusive to one or two. There's always the chance that an ability will carry over, though there's no way to really know. Do you keep the low-powered Persona with a rare ability or try and fuse him into a more powerful one who may or may not have it?

As you ascend the tower, you are joined by three party members, though you only have control of your character. Combat is turn-based, and doesn't stray far from other games in the series. Enemies have weaknesses; if you manage to hit that weakness, you are given a second turn to do a little more damage. Though you only have direct control over your own character, you can call out tactics to the rest of your party. Early on, you have a limited number of group attacks, though more are acquired by defeating bosses. Though I would have loved more control over my party, the system in place works well. There are a number of party members to choose from, so you have to decide who to bring in certain situations as well. This also requires you to pay attention to the type of Shadows you'll encounter since you want to bring Personas strong against that type.

Oh, did I also mention that Personas are summoned by shooting yourself in the head? Yeah, there's that whole "weird" thing again... well, "macabre" is probably a better way of saying it since the summon method is just as unsettling the first time you see it as the hundredth. I should probably note that characters don't really kill themselves; it just happens that the Evoker (the item that summons Personas) happens to look like a gun.

Managing your social life requires just as much strategy as combat. You have a limited time each day to try and build relationships. Some are easier to increase than others, though the ones that take longer usually end up paying off. In addition, you have to be choosy about which tasks you pursue since you can't do everything. You can only join one sports team or club and you can only date one girl. And, just like in real life, if you manage to screw up in your social life you'll have to work extra hard to rebuild a relationship.

Again, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 is easily one of the best RPGs to show up on the PS2 this year and easily ranks among one of the best on the system. Even though the game has a very weird, macabre feel, the gameplay is interesting and remains very approachable. If you have any interest in RPGs, make sure to grab a copy of Persona 3 as soon as you can, especially given the limited run of most Atlus games.