Persona 3 Portable is very specifically “fine.” You may have learned by now that there’s no truly definitive version of Persona 3. Neither is a big feature but both are appreciated, and Persona 4 Golden is already a nice and complete package, so these are just pleasant little bonuses. There’s an album to look back at social links and a helpful new Quick Save function that allows for last-minute saving outside of save points.

The added features in this remaster are certainly minimal. The mix of dungeon exploration and combat with developing social links and balancing a daily life remains unique and masterfully implemented, and the music is still unbeatable. The ongoing mystery is intriguing, the setting is homey, and the themes of embracing and accepting yourself still hit hard. The story and characters of Persona 4 Golden are incredible and easy to care about.

If you’ve never played Persona 4, you can’t go wrong with this version, as it’s still one of the greatest JRPGs ever made. Right off the bat, Persona 4 Golden fares best, though I suppose it had a bit of a trial run already when it came to PC after spending years on the PlayStation Vita (may it rest in peace.) It runs smoothly, the visuals are about as slick as they could look given their PS2 origins, and the sound quality is excellent. But I just can’t help but feel that we could have gotten a bit more. For the most part, these remasters are completely sufficient ways to play these two JRPG classics. Both are some of the greatest examples of how a spin-off can become its own incredible thing, as these were the peak of the entire Persona franchise. When I heard that both Persona 3 and Persona 4, I was ecstatic.

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