Building comparison
head to head
Persona 3 PortablevsThrough the Darkest of Times
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Persona 3 Portable
Optimization · Pure Optimization
Optimising a strict social calendar and fusion economy against scripted dungeon combat.
Through the Darkest of Times
Optimization · Pure Optimization
Risk-budgeting resistance actions against historical events and probabilistic crackdowns.
Persona 3 Portable leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Through the Darkest of Times leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Persona 3 PortableThrough the Darkest of Times
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 0
Persona 3 Portable leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Persona 3 Portable
Menu-driven combat needs no physical skill
Through the Darkest of Times
Turn-based planning with no physical component
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Persona 3 Portable
Shadows follow scripted weakness patterns, never adapt
Through the Darkest of Times
The regime escalates on historical script, not by modelling you
Variance4 vs 4
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Persona 3 Portable
Tartarus layouts and fusion results carry randomness
Through the Darkest of Times
Raids, arrests and event outcomes roll against hidden odds
Optimization8 vs 7
Persona 3 Portable leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Persona 3 Portable
Calendar scheduling and persona fusion form a solvable system
Through the Darkest of Times
Balancing morale, funds and member risk is a solvable system
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.