Dissociation with Lead Characters

[The Wykydtron]

Oh boy, I can rag on the protagonist of Persona 3 again. Awesome!

I'm actually in the early stages right now of a pretty scathing review of that game mostly based on the "social" mechanics, primarily because, as you say, it's a game where no player could ever conceivably identify with the protagonist. He's a dick in that he's really passive, yet the game forces you to BE social, whereas someone like that character would probably spend most of their time doing something else (reading idk) but no gotta do social links to do work in the dungeon etc etc it's pretty bs.

I could really refer to Persona 3 as Persona 4: The Beta. Literally because it does everything P3 tries to do but actually succeeds. The main character is actually likable and sociable and even has a character arc. There must be a reason why the Persona 4 protagonist is nicknamed The BroSwagtagonist and the P3 guy gets nothing. Well, a reason beyond that absolute swag of a walking animation.

The party member Social Links are unlocked over the course of the main story for you to continue whenever you like and the main character bonds rather convincingly with the main party even without doing their Social Links. I assume you haven't got far enough yet but at points in Persona 3 your party members evolve their Personas through like coming to terms with flaws or something then it cuts to your main character, yet again standing in his room doing nothing gg. In 4 they don't evolve until you max their Social Links.

I'm not even going to go into the main story of Persona 4 because I will end up going on about it forever. It's just that amazing.

I like the side characters more in 4 as well.... Ai has a vastly superior Moon Arcana link for example because she is Tsundere as FUCK and i'm sort of into that kinda thing. Also she's a little bit loopy. Just a bit.

I actually do agree on mostly everything you said, with the exception of the side characters. I vastly enjoyed most of P3s side characters over P4.

[opinion]
Yosuke was basically the same role as Junpei.
Chie didn't have much to her character except her desire to protect others.
Naoto was a typical tomboy.
Yukiko was a cardboard cutout of the ideal japanese woman archetype
Kanji was enjoyable, though his main character problem was actually very similar to Naoto's just with reversed gender.
Margaret was much less enjoyable and more devoid of emotions than Elizabeth. Elizabeth had a really playful and curious nature to herself and was probably my favorite out of both games.

Teddie was pretty unique and fun though.
[/opinion]

Don't you diss my Yosuke and Naoto! Yosuke is sort of like Junpei if Junpei was ever not a douche (up til Chidori anyway.)

Yosuke manages to be a likable character while still acting like a total dick at times, usually towards Kanji because lol homophobia.

Also Yosuke is a total badass in Persona 4 Arena while still managing to be a total loser. He 1v1s Aigis, asks a girl out on a date, makes a few badass speeches (the best of which he fucks up at the end) and generally saves the day. All while still being the same "you should leave this loser alone" Yosuke in Persona 4 proper


Also Chie would be your standard tomboy by most definitions. Except she wears skirts instead of trousers I guess? Trousers would be impractical when kicking things though.

Naoto just has serious gender issues that go beyond being a standard tomboy, as in she can barely admit to being female unless she really, really has too

 

[lapan]

Don't you diss my Yosuke and Naoto! Yosuke is sort of like Junpei if Junpei was ever not a douche (up til Chidori anyway.)

Yosuke manages to be a likable character while still acting like a total dick at times, usually towards Kanji because lol homophobia.

Also Yosuke is a total badass in Persona 4 Arena while still managing to be a total loser. He 1v1s Aigis, asks a girl out on a date, makes a few badass speeches (the best of which he fucks up at the end) and generally saves the day. All while still being the same "you should leave this loser alone" Yosuke in Persona 4 proper


Also Chie would be your standard tomboy by most definitions. Except she wears skirts instead of trousers I guess? Trousers would be impractical when kicking things though.

Naoto just has serious gender issues that go beyond being a standard tomboy, as in she can barely admit to being female unless she really, really has too

Both Junpei and Yosuke can be outright dicks at times. Junpei had jealousity issues at times, while Yosuke kept dissing Kanji. (To be fair, I played P3 several years ago, so maybe i forgot some of his dickishest moments.)

And Liz was interesting enough to beat everyone else singlehandely. (Now that she got a "Fool" - card too i would play the shit out of a game that would have her as the main character. Also, fuck them for ending P4A on a cliffhanger)