Persona 3 marked a very drastic alteration of course from the traditional JRPG gameplay present in the previous Persona games, and according to a blog post by series director Katsura Hashino, it was originally intended to be even more of a departure.

In this first linked video, fans will notice that the combat is more of a Chrono Trigger or Secret of Mana style “Fight where you are” style that does away with transitions.

While the combat has transitions in the second video, it shows an overhead view and a different GUI than what we eventually received in the finished product.

Though these videos are really nothing more than a bit of simple history that only Persona fans would appreciate, it could show us what is to come. Though it’s been said elsewhere, perhaps we may see the transition-less combat in the upcoming Persona 5?