I like SMTV, but if you are coming from Persona it is a VERY different experience. Persona is a much more narrative spinoff series from the original SMT franchise. SMT games you are typically alone, with just a party of the monsters you recruit to help you. Consequently there isn't a whole lot of dialog. There is some story, but in most SMT games it tends to be very back-heavy.

SMT games do tend towards bleak, depressing and extremely difficult. They usually do have multiple narrative paths/endings to give it some replay value. They are really for people who enjoy those kinds of gameplay systems first and foremost.