Initially beginning life as a spin-off from the Shin Megami Tensei series, Persona has steadily evolved into its own separate universe. Both franchises still share the same enemies and spiritual beings, but each game depicts a very different version of a JRPG. Although that was never always the case. The first two games in the series, as much as they were definitely establishing Persona as something different, generally don’t represent the modern perception of Persona games.
While fans generally recognize Persona 3 onward as the rebirth and true identity of the Persona franchise, Persona 1 and Persona 2 are often forgotten or left behind in the conversation. The first two (technically three) Persona games don’t have a lot of what makes modern Persona games, and are more akin to Shin Megami Tensei games. Generally speaking, Atlus hasn’t really recognized or referenced those older Persona titles in any of the spin-off games like Persona Q. While more Persona PC ports could be on the way, thanks to Persona 4 Golden‘s success, it’s hard to expect any of the earlier games pre-Persona 3 to receive a port anytime soon.
Before Persona 3 in 2006, widely considered to be the game that ironically established Persona‘s true identity, there were three mainline Persona games that helped solidify the franchise’s main concepts: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona (also known in the west as Revelations: Persona), Persona 2: Innocent Sin, and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment. Without the first three games in the series having as much popularity as they did, Persona would’ve never exploded in popularity and eventually become its own separate continuity from Shin Megami Tensei.
This is not only because these games were foundational for conceptualizing Persona, but they were also very different games compared to what Persona is now. While every Persona game from 2006 onward is still very much a complex JRPG, Persona 1 and Persona 2 were further steeped into JRPG complexity in both tone and gameplay. Earlier Persona games featured a much more complex grid-based battle system, and each party member had interchangeable personas. Not only that, but the narrative tone and aesthetic of earlier Persona games was far darker and less dramatic compared to games post-Persona 3. Arguably the first two games have more in common with Shin Megami Tensei than what fans would consider a Persona game.
When Persona 3 finally released in 2006, the franchise saw its first major burst in mainstream JRPG popularity. This was the game that introduced the delicate social simulator/JRPG balance that modern Persona games are known and revered for. That’s not to say the first two Persona games weren’t popular, because they definitely were sales-wise, but Persona 3 helped establish the franchise’s iconic framework. With Persona 3‘s popularity, the series also shed a lot of the thematic elements from the first two Persona games.
Some of these changes were generally good, like making the Philemon character a more obscure thematic element in place of the iconic Igor. The whole social simulator aspect of Persona made the series far more unique compared to Shin Megami Tensei.
That being said, there were a lot of key changes made to Persona that weren’t necessarily all positive. For one thing, every Persona game post-Persona 3 places a heavy emphasis on the importance of the protagonist. Additional characters can be fleshed out with social links and the main story, but Persona 1/2 didn’t have as much of a focus on making players the “chosen one” archetype. Additionally, the darker overall tone of Persona games were melded with elements of levity post-Persona 3. Many of the heavier themes were alleviated by moments in the social sim sections, whereas in games pre-Persona 3, the story focuses entirely on the mystery and supernatural intrigue.
Sega and Atlus may have promised additional Persona ports on the way to PC thanks to Persona 4 Golden, but this likely won’t encompass older Persona games because of these generational changes. Arguably the general population of Persona fans haven’t played anything released prior to Persona 3, especially in the western/worldwide audience. While Revelations: Persona, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment did eventually release in North America, they were still niche JRPG titles at the time. Not to mention how vastly different they are compared to Persona 3/4/5, it just makes sense that Atlus would likely save those games for last if they were ported anyway.
That being said, it would be nice to have the classic Persona games re-released, especially the PSP remakes. While these games are still quite different compared to modern Persona, there’s still a vested fan interest in experiencing the franchise’s origins. That being said, Atlus’ reticence on recognizing the earlier titles, considering how comparatively different they are now, makes a lot of sense. At least the company understands JRPG fans generally exist on the PC platform, but porting the more niche Persona titles may be a risky proposition for Atlus.
Persona 1 and 2 Remakes are not likely in development.
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