

There is little different about the foundation of Persona 3 Portable, as the dungeon crawling is still there and the social links are back in full swing. However, since the game has seen two prior versions on the PlayStation 2, many might wonder why they should pick up another version on the PSP.

These names are references to Akemi Nakajima and Yumiko Shirasagi, the protagonists of Digital Devil Monogatari: Megami Tensei, the very first Megami Tensei game.The love Persona 3 has garnered since its release in 2007 has been no secret, especially here at RPGamer. In the original Japanese version of the game, the avatars' names are N-jima and Y-ko. Toriumi's online avatars, Tatsuya and Maya, are references to the lead characters from Persona 2: Innocent Sin and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment.

Over time, Maya reveals more and more about herself. Maya forms a connection with Tatsuya, and is very happy when he puts up with her work-related rants, allowing her to blow off some steam. As Maya, she is the first person to greet and befriend the main character she also suggests that he give his online avatar the name Tatsuya. Unknown at first to both the male protagonist and to the player, it is within the context of Innocent Sin Online that she appears as the player Maya. Toriumi frequently plays the MMORPG "Innocent Sin Online" as a means to relieve her stress from work. She is voiced by Yuka Komatsu in the Japanese version of the game. She takes her teaching seriously and is adept at handling her students, but also has a hidden side filled with stress and the frustrations of the real world. Other playable characters in her homeroom include Yukari Takeba, Junpei Iori, and eventually Aigis. Isako Toriumi is a teacher at Gekkoukan High School and the homeroom teacher of the main character's class in Persona 3 and Persona 3 FES, as well as the teacher for both the male and female protagonists in Persona 3 Portable.
