Persona 3 Portable’s party-splitting mechanic is one of the series' most underused gimmicks, and it could be put to great use in future installments. It sounds like a simple idea, and one whose utility would be questionable, considering the caliber of monsters that tend to dwell within the dungeons ofPersonagames. However,Persona 3 Portableonly showed the beginning of what this mechanic could be used for. With some adjustments and synergy with mechanics introduced in later games, splitting the party could be a fantastic advantage inPersona 6and beyond.
The player has the option to split the party while exploring Tartarus inevery version ofPersona 3, including the recently-rereleasedP3 Portable. The advantage to this tactic was that the party could cover ground far more quickly than they would by simply following the main character. They also have the option to collect treasure from the floor and bring it back to the player character, or find the stairs and instantly teleport the player to them, letting them pass to the next floor easily. There is also an obvious risk to splitting the party in that characters can end up fighting shadows on their own and potentially fall in battle.
RELATED:Persona 3 Portable, Persona 4 Golden Ports Make a New Crossover Game Plausible
Persona 3’s Party-Splitting Could Be Put To Better Use In A Future Game
Although splitting the party disappeared in laterPersonagames, including theXbox-exclusive next-genPersonaremasters, it’s worth bringing back for the next game. The fact that it didn’t appear inPersona 5is surprising in itself, considering that game’s protagonists were styled after thieves, with some heist themes built into the gameplay. The protagonists splitting up and casing the dungeons separately would have been on-brand. The split-up mechanic was already fairly balanced back when it was introduced inPersona 3, with ample strengths and weaknesses. ThePersonagames have seen enough advancements to make a later form ofPersona 3’s party-splitting even better.
Persona 5introduced Confidant bonuses as an upgraded form of Social Links. UnlikePersona 5’s lacking security level gimmick, Confidant bonuses were an excellent addition to the series, granting players extra rewards through Social Links outside of experience gained from Persona fusions. For example, Hifumi’s Togo System lets the player swap out party members mid-fight, and Iwai’s On The House lets them customize their guns for free. Similar abilities could be used to augment how splitting the party works in future games. For example, a Confidant ability could prevent lone allies from falling in battle with shadows, or provide cash bonuses when they find treasure.
Dungeons in thePersonaseries have become more intricate since the halls of Tartarus, further proving that party-splitting is aPersona 3feature that should be brought back. In addition to finding treasure and staircases, it could also act as a warning for players of any traps or gimmicks on the floor. For example, it could have been used to clue players into the teleporting floors halfway through Yukiko’s Castle inPersona 4. In addition, the greater detail in later games' dungeon designs could be used to let party members give hints to the player based on the environment.
Even though splitting the party hasn’t been a usable ability sincePersona 3and its remasters, there are solid reasons to bring it back for a future installment, especially withAtlus teasing new games for 2023. While it may not be as defining a feature as the Social Links that also debuted inPersona 3, it can act as a fantastic tool in the player’s arsenal. Ways to make dungeon crawling more interesting are always appreciated no matter the genre, especially when they can provide great perks. Hopefully the next game in the series can build uponPersona 3 Portable’s party-splitting tactics.
Persona 3 Portableis available now for PC, PS4, PSP, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
