Cut off school environment and all kinda sounds like SMT.. IF vibe, rather than a Persona. Not too familiar with SMT, so I could be wrong.
At least it has varied (albeit generic..) cast - feeling something of 999 type games - and hoping that it would provide a good branching storylines.
As per the illustration - I like them - but I also concur that 3d renditions of the characters don't really live upto the 2d counterpart.
It looks a bit better than what Falcom offers (at least by Ys IX standard, not the latest Kiseki)... but barely.
Yes, I do wish the smaller Japanese devs would be able to improve upon.
I am more intrigued by the battle system, free movement up to 6 characters, which would also affect the strategy of the battle & combo etc. (Turn based too)
Berserk meter, sounds a bit vague (as far as I understand, you can unleash powerful attack but that can also harm your allies - but if you can control/overcome it, you also gain a powerful weapon... not sure if this weapon being literal sense or figurative sense).