new to Persona

[harlequ1n]

I've always heard marvels about the Persona series and what a blow of fresh air to the somewhat stagnated JRPG genre it is.

So, I've been wondering if I should play the first game first now that it's coming to the PSP, and then continue upwards. As far as I know, the games are unrelated to each other so it doesn't really matter. Still, for the sake of appreciation/progression would you recommend it? The two parts of Persona 2 aren't available in my region so I don't know if I could ever play those... And last, should I skip P3 in favour of P3 FES? Is P3P a port of FES or the regular one?

[Enzeru]

I recommend either starting with either Persona or Persona 3: FES. Start with Persona (the one that just came out for PSP) if you want a bit of an old-school experience, along with a great storyline filled with very Persona-ish themes such as friendship. Start with P3: FES if you want this, but a LOT more hip, anime, and visual novel dating sim style. Go to P4 after you you finish either one (if you choose P3: FES) or both (if you choose Persona) of those.

[Foobar]

There's no real sequence you have to follow to appreciate any of the games. P4 is by far the most accessable since it does explain the series terminology the best while P3 and Persona PSP can be far more cryptic in function. Playing P4 before them will help you grasp the series' vocabulary better anyway.

I'd really just wait to play P3 on PSP at this point and go with P4 first and maybe Persona PSP afterwards if you're up for something a bit more steep.

Also, each time I hear the phrase "visual novel" I'm going to punch a bunny from here on out >.>

[Pibbman]

Yeah, I really don't see how Persona 4 is any better than Persona 3 in terms of explaining the terminologies. Basically any game is fine to play with, start with what you want. :D

[DamageCity]

I recommend either starting with either Persona or Persona 3: FES. Start with Persona (the one that just came out for PSP) if you want a bit of an old-school experience, along with a great storyline filled with very Persona-ish themes such as friendship. Start with P3: FES if you want this, but a LOT more hip, anime, and visual novel dating sim style. Go to P4 after you you finish either one (if you choose P3: FES) or both (if you choose Persona) of those.


heh... ha... bwa... bwahahahahahah
ahahahah

[kelvinc]

FES adds a ton of content so there's no reason to get the original P3 (AKA The Journey in FES) if you can get FES, unless you really really want that artbook and soundtrack and you can get those by buying vanilla P3. From what I can tell from the Japanese info, P3P does not port the new chapter added in FES (The Answer), but all the videos suggest that there are so many gameplay changes from the PS2 P3 that I wouldn't call it a port at all. Given that there's no word yet that it's going to get ported and so much of the original gameplay will be changed, I don't see P3P as a substitute for FES.

Each game's plot stands on its own. But P3 and P4 gameplay are very similar, so I think the transition between them is much smoother from a pure gaming perspective (regardless of plot). I'd say to either start with Persona PSP or P3, but play P4 after FES Answer, because I found P4 made a bit more sense had I played Answer first (like what exactly are Personas), and Answer if chock full of spoilers if you haven't played P3/Journey.

I don't really know anything about these Atlus franchises before I started reading about this bizarre dungeon-crawling/dating-sim hybrid in the press, so don't sweat it if you can't get P2 (yet). A lot of us in the same boat. Heck, I'm not even sure if I'm gonna like this old-school Persona, now that I got it, though there's one way to find out.

[Foobar]

Yeah, I really don't see how Persona 4 is any better than Persona 3 in terms of explaining the terminologies.

Well, I think fusions actually telling you want you're getting is generally a good thing. That and what abilities your allies are going to learn next. All this is learned through a press of the square button in the appropriate menus.

No SMT title prior to Persona 4 did it and every SMT title since has had a similar feature. Knowing what things like Tentarafoo or Sukukaja do before getting them through fusion is generally helpful not only in the fusion, but in combat situations where they might be useful.

Or you might learn that Tentarafoo isn't useful to you at all and wish for your demon or party member not to have it.

[harlequ1n]

Thanks a lot for your replies, I'll be sure to give either Persona Portable or P3P a go first then move to P4 as I prefer experiencing the evolution of the series.

[Karkarov]

Crap got to this one late... I would definitely advise P3 FES first. In my opinion it is the best Persona has to offer (so far). Persona PSP I would honestly say is more like an optional game than a must play. If you really really get into the series give it a whirl, but P3/P4 are much more accessible and honestly have more polished stories that are easier to grasp and relate to.

[DamageCity]

This thread is killing me.

[kelvinc]

This thread is killing me.

In a good or bad way? 'Cuz I can continue with more crap, but it'd depend on how it's killing you. :devil:

[Kordero]

hmmm... I dont understand... there is people who didnt play Persona 1 o 2, my firts Persona game was Persona 1 psx looooooooooonnnnnnng time ago, and i really liked, then Persona 2: EP, and loooong years laters Persona 3, for telling the true, I didnt liked at firts P3, because it was faaaar away from Persona 1 and 2, but latter i liked it, for Persona 1 psp, wooow a huge change, because i Loved the OST, very dark but now... Its like a funky town... tks... anyway, if peopled played P3 and want to play P or P2: EP will be shocked because its a faar away step back, I want to play P2: IS but for my country is not possible until PSP... *sigh*

[amatyultare]

I recommend either starting with either Persona or Persona 3: FES. Start with Persona (the one that just came out for PSP) if you want a bit of an old-school experience, along with a great storyline filled with very Persona-ish themes such as friendship. Start with P3: FES if you want this, but a LOT more hip, anime, and visual novel dating sim style. Go to P4 after you you finish either one (if you choose P3: FES) or both (if you choose Persona) of those.


heh... ha... bwa... bwahahahahahah
ahahahah

lol

In response to the OP, I think your secret desire is to play Persona 4, since you did post this in the Persona 4 section. :cool:

[Persona_Evoker]

You and me both are pretty new to the Persona series. I started with Persona 4 though, but didn't play much, it still blew my mind though.

[Raed]

You and me both are pretty new to the Persona series. I started with Persona 4 though, but didn't play much, it still blew my mind though.

the post was made 2 yrs ago.I am guessing that he/she isn't new no more.

[Persona_Evoker]

You and me both are pretty new to the Persona series. I started with Persona 4 though, but didn't play much, it still blew my mind though.

the post was made 2 yrs ago.I am guessing that he/she isn't new no more.

Obviously he/she isn't new I was just looking for threads to reply too.

[Goncalo12]

the persona series is awesome.. but i do prefer more Persona 3 than Persona 4