Protagonist (Persona 3)

Protagonist (Persona 3)
The protagonist's official artwork from Persona 3.
Universe	Persona
Debut	Persona 3 (2006)
Smash Bros. appearances	Ultimate
Most recent non-Smash appearance	Persona 5 Royal (2019, via DLC)
Console/platform of origin	PlayStation 2
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Place of origin	Japan
Designed by	Shigenori Soejima
Article on Wikipedia	Protagonist (Persona 3)

The protagonist of Persona 3 is the player character, and leader of the organization known as S.E.E.S. (Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad) (特別課外活動部, Special Extracurricular Activity Department). Although the player can name him in his original game, official media consistently gives him the default name Makoto Yuki (結城 理, Yuki Makoto). The original manga adaptation also gives him the one-off name Minato Arisato (有里 湊, Arisato Minato).

Origin

Makoto Yuki is a high school student who comes to live in Tatsumi Port Island. On his way to the dorms, he is delayed late into the night by a man flinging himself onto the train tracks and commiting suicide. At midnight, a strange anomaly known as the dark hour occurs, though the protagonist is seemingly unaffected by the world altering around him, as he has developed a nihilistic outlook on life and no longer fears death. During his stay there, he attends Gekkoukan High School and learns of the existence of S.E.E.S, an organization comprised primarily of Persona users who come from Gekkoukan. The main priority of S.E.E.S. is to eliminate Shadows, and investigate the phenomenons known as Tartarus, an impossibly large tower that appears at the location of Gekkoukan every night at midnight, and the Dark Hour, an extra hour that takes place between midnight and 1 A.M., which only those who have the potential to use Personas are conscious during.It is revealed that him being sent to the dorm in the first place is due to him being resistant to the dark hour, and the powers that be wishing to study him.

The next night, a shadow attacks the protagonist, and he is forced into activating his first persona, Orpheus by using an evoker, which is a process reminiscant of shooting himself in the head. During this battle, the protagonist gains an additional persona, Thanatos. The protagonist later joins S.E.E.S. and helps them to eliminate Shadows and learn more about the strange occurrences plaguing the area.

The protagonist later learns of his past. When he was a young child, his parents were killed in a car crash by the physical embodiment of death after escaping the kirijo group and being persued by the android Aigis. The protagonist survived the car crash, which caught the attention of Aigis, who then sealed a portion of death within him to ward it off until the protagonist was strong enough to battle it head on.

A crucial turning point in the story comes when the protagonist is given the choice to kill Ryoji, the physical form of Thantos. Killing him erases the memories of the dark hour and lead normal lives, though leaving them unprepared for the promised day when Nyx arrives and destroys the world. Should the player not do the deed, Ryoji acts disappointed and even persuades the protagonist to kill him, but eventually relents and gives everyone words of encouragement for their battle with Nys.

During the final battle with Nyx, the protagonist overcomes his sorrow, depression and apathy of humankind with the support and love of his friends, which allows him to defeat Nyx. This battle comes at a cost, as his purpose for existing has been fulfilled and he started to slowly die. He held onto life for at least a month after the battle, as he promised to see his friends at graduation. He is last seen laying in the lap of Aigis, who vows to protect him for the rest of his life, oblivious to the fact that he might already be dead.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

As a stage element

The Protagonist's feet in the upper right corner.

The Protagonist, along with his female counterpart, have their feet shown on the television in Mementos when Persona 3 music is playing. This is taken directly from the opening to Persona 3 Portable.

As a costume

A Mii Swordfighter wearing the Persona 3 Protagonist's costume.

A DLC costume for Mii Swordfighter based on the Protagonist is available for purchase in Ultimate. This changes the sword trails to blue, harkening back to the aesthetics of Persona 3.

Names in other languages

Language	Name
Japanese	ペルソナ3主人公, Persona 3 Protagonist
English	Persona 3 Protagonist
French	Protagoniste de Persona 3
German	Persona 3-Hauptfigur
Spanish	Héroe de Persona 3
Italian	Eroe di Persona 3
Chinese	Persona 3主角的, Persona 3 Protagonist
Korean	페르소나 3 주인공, Persona 3 Protagonist
Dutch	Held-uit-Persona 3
Russian	главный герой Persona 3, Persona 3 Main Character

Trivia

• Although a female protagonist for Persona 3 was introduced in Persona 3 Portable, the Mii Swordfighter costume uses the male design for both the male and female Miis.

External links

• Article on the Megami Tensei Wiki
• Mii Fighter Costumes #1 Trailer