After beginning as a third-rate SMT clone, Persona II: Innocent Sin expanded and improved on most fronts, and shifted direction greatly. The story (its greatest acheivement) tackles subjects such as the human psyche and guilt in more dynamic ways its predecessor could not quite accomplish. Each party member combines to represent a much more personal, deeper psychological aspect unheard of in JRPG story. The clever application of moral decision-making - that are few but impactful, keep a consistently poignant theme throughout. Boasting a strong cast of troubled characters, Innocent Sin enjoys an engaging storyline dotted with glimpses of character development through melancholic story moments that brought flavor to each member of the party. Angst and despair accompany chunks of the storyline and never seem to let go, even after the conclusion of key points and crises. Several villains and NPCs were also handled brilliantly, with a few exceptions. Another major achievement lies in its story themes translated to gameplay mechanics in innovative ways - the rumor system, where its plethora of unlockable content (minigames, shops, side quests, items, special weapons, armor) are all delivered cleverly.

While the story is easily the game's greatest success, other aspects don't fare as well. The tarot cards (replacing personas) is questionable, yielding little but grindy gameplay and frustration. Combat remains mostly simplistic despite the addition of custom turn orders and some personality in character animation, and Skill fusions is a powerful mechanic rendered frustrating by its cryptic nature. The modified talk system is also a mixed bag of RNG trial and error that only serves to highlight the grindiness, turning tarot card collecting into a tiresome slog.

Regardless, Innocent Sin managed a deeply personal, psychological work that shunned the grandeur and melodrama of its contemporaries, resulting in a haunting antithesis of the 'epic-scale adventure' blueprint established by Dragon Quest.