On Game Mechanics
There are some game mechanics that should be used very very rarely. Two of them are used at the same time in Persona 3! And these are two that really should not be used at the same time.
Thing the first- when the Main Character dies, the game is over. Sometimes this is okay when games make sense. Like Baldur's Gate, for example. It's not that easy to get revived in the game when characters die. Also when I die in that game (as I choose a Wizard when I play) I'm usually reduced to -10 right off and get gibbed and you can't get a rez for that. However in Persona 3 I have a mess of Revival Beads and a few super-revive items as well. These things can be bought at a store. I also have characters that know revive spells. If it's that easy to be revived, there should not be game over when the Main Character dies.
Thing the first part two- I actually just thought of this one: if the Main Character's death is Game Over you should not have instant death attacks. If you have to have them, then make the Main Character immune or something. I've died and had to do things over again because of this crap.
Thing the second- not being able to control the other members of your party. Maybe this is okay, but when you have no control over your party memebers and your death is game over, that's kind of not a good thing. I've died because my party members aren't smart enough to strategize and make the best use of their turns. Yes, the game does have the ability to give general instructions to your team members, but doing so makes them more stupid. Setting them to attack only makes them use their attack skills that drain their HP. Setting them to heal / support means they no longer attack enemies even if they don't need to heal anyone. And when left to their own devices the ones geared towards attacking decide to cast their dinky ass healy spells rather than kill things and then the healer thinks people aren't close enough to die and decides to attack things doing dinky-ass damage. Then people ended up dying, the Main Character included and then it's game over.
Let's look at Dragon Warrior IV and the remake for the DS that just came out. In the NES cart you couldn't control your party members and they'd do whatever they felt like and it was like making the game artificially difficult. In the remake for the DS you could control your whole party and I finally beat Dragon Warrior IV! Being able to fully control a party adds an element of strategy and tactics to the game that makes them more enjoyable.
Thing the first- when the Main Character dies, the game is over. Sometimes this is okay when games make sense. Like Baldur's Gate, for example. It's not that easy to get revived in the game when characters die. Also when I die in that game (as I choose a Wizard when I play) I'm usually reduced to -10 right off and get gibbed and you can't get a rez for that. However in Persona 3 I have a mess of Revival Beads and a few super-revive items as well. These things can be bought at a store. I also have characters that know revive spells. If it's that easy to be revived, there should not be game over when the Main Character dies.
Thing the first part two- I actually just thought of this one: if the Main Character's death is Game Over you should not have instant death attacks. If you have to have them, then make the Main Character immune or something. I've died and had to do things over again because of this crap.
Thing the second- not being able to control the other members of your party. Maybe this is okay, but when you have no control over your party memebers and your death is game over, that's kind of not a good thing. I've died because my party members aren't smart enough to strategize and make the best use of their turns. Yes, the game does have the ability to give general instructions to your team members, but doing so makes them more stupid. Setting them to attack only makes them use their attack skills that drain their HP. Setting them to heal / support means they no longer attack enemies even if they don't need to heal anyone. And when left to their own devices the ones geared towards attacking decide to cast their dinky ass healy spells rather than kill things and then the healer thinks people aren't close enough to die and decides to attack things doing dinky-ass damage. Then people ended up dying, the Main Character included and then it's game over.
Let's look at Dragon Warrior IV and the remake for the DS that just came out. In the NES cart you couldn't control your party members and they'd do whatever they felt like and it was like making the game artificially difficult. In the remake for the DS you could control your whole party and I finally beat Dragon Warrior IV! Being able to fully control a party adds an element of strategy and tactics to the game that makes them more enjoyable.