Persona 3 FES due for PSN

[Akkiko]

Well did you find the AI a problem? Since I can put up with some AI problems if the cutscenes are important. I don't really like things being edited out.

About the only thing that's really a problem with the AI is that they don't quite heal as frequently as you'd like them to and have a tendency to debuff enemies rather than straight out attack them when it's kind of pointless. Fortunately in later levels your protag can become so bloody broken that this isn't really an issue so long as you don't mind having to play the supporting role every now and again in battles.

As for the differing versions, only P3P has the female protagonist option, which allows you to change the story in minor ways and lets you woo (most of) the lads. As previously mentioned, some of the cutscenes have been taken out due to the hardware in question which can take away from the atmosphere, especially if you've played both versions, but overall if you didn't know, you'd never miss them.

P3: FES has the Answer which is the game's Epilogue, all of the cutscenes and generally is less painful to play for prolonged periods of time. (I got such massive handcramps on P3P.)

Overall if you have to pick one and aren't playing because you want a JRPG dating-sim (which is more of a sidequest portion of the game rather than a serious "must complete!" requirement) I'd say take FES. It's more comprehensive, has more material and any flaws it might have in comparison against P3P aren't massive enough to get in the way of enjoyment of the game.

Just as a friendly tip though, if you don't like possessive and extremely sensitive girls, do not go for Yukari. (Go for Fuuka. Fuuuuuuuuuka~)

 

[RaikuFA]

FES is the definitive persona 3 version because it has the 30 hour epilogue which actually completes the story, if you've only played p3 or p3p you have NO CLUE what actually happens by the end.


Yes the gameplay in p3p is better and yes you get to play the game with Hamuko too but if you haven't ALREADY played FES you have no clue what the whole of the entirety of the game boils down to thus losing all meaning. I literally was in a state of disbelief when I started playing the epilogue all those years back, I would have not been happy with not knowing what truly happened.

Yep that helps me a lot thanks. Also do you know about the other PSP releases? Are those worthwhile or is something coming down the line that will be better?

No, theres nothing coming down the line, I suggest getting those though P1's leveling system pissed me off. IMO just get P2, my only complaint of that one is you'll need a guide for the better stuff and its final boss... *shudders*

BTW, look forward to Digital Devil Saga coming out soon. The UK is getting it and Atlus USA hinted that a US release would be around the UK release.

 

[Iwata]

This is the one JRPG I actually liked. So much, in fact, that I bought it twice, once the normal P3, then FES. I may just buy it a third time now.

 

[AceofStaves]

SNIP

SNIP

Just a heads up, The Answer is automatically open at the FES main menu. You don't have to play The Journey over again.

I won't comment on the plot either way. If it's not your thing, then to each his own. I say that it's worth playing for the characters though. Social Links are an amazing concept. The party is essentially using aspects of their personality to fight Shadows, and the MC can boost his/hers by helping someone's character development. It's weaponized power of friendship!

That's what I actually consider one of the plot's strengths. Thematically, these games are focused on, among other things, the importance of your bonds with other people, and in P4's case, the idea of self-acceptance. Since I'm something of an idealist, it makes the plots of both games extremely enjoyable to me. I confess, they're actually two of my favorite stories in games.

captcha: real mccoy. You bet it is.

 

[RaikuFA]

SNIP

SNIP

Just a heads up, The Answer is automatically open at the FES main menu. You don't have to play The Journey over again.

I won't comment on the plot either way. If it's not your thing, then to each his own. I say that it's worth playing for the characters though. Social Links are an amazing concept. The party is essentially using aspects of their personality to fight Shadows, and the MC can boost his/hers by helping someone's character development. It's weaponized power of friendship!

That's what I actually consider one of the plot's strengths. Thematically, these games are focused on, among other things, the importance of your bonds with other people, and in P4's case, the idea of self-acceptance. Since I'm something of an idealist, it makes the plots of both games extremely enjoyable to me. I confess, they're actually two of my favorite stories in games.

captcha: real mccoy. You bet it is.

IMO P4 has the best character development any video game has ever had.

 

[Et3rnalLegend64]

SNIP

SNIP

Just a heads up, The Answer is automatically open at the FES main menu. You don't have to play The Journey over again.

I won't comment on the plot either way. If it's not your thing, then to each his own. I say that it's worth playing for the characters though. Social Links are an amazing concept. The party is essentially using aspects of their personality to fight Shadows, and the MC can boost his/hers by helping someone's character development. It's weaponized power of friendship!

That's what I actually consider one of the plot's strengths. Thematically, these games are focused on, among other things, the importance of your bonds with other people, and in P4's case, the idea of self-acceptance. Since I'm something of an idealist, it makes the plots of both games extremely enjoyable to me. I confess, they're actually two of my favorite stories in games.

captcha: real mccoy. You bet it is.

Persona 3 and 4. Games for those who become emotionally invested in their fictional characters. Alternatively, games that make people become emotionally invested in their fictional characters. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

On another note, has anyone seen the P4 anime and thoughts? Sitting at episode 12 since that's roughly where I am in the game. Watered down S-Link sequences are probably inevitable, but the boss fights are much more self-acceptance based rather than simply beating the Shadow and having the victim realize something afterwards. I'm liking it.

 

[AceofStaves]

SNIP

SNIP

SNIP

That's what I actually consider one of the plot's strengths. Thematically, these games are focused on, among other things, the importance of your bonds with other people, and in P4's case, the idea of self-acceptance. Since I'm something of an idealist, it makes the plots of both games extremely enjoyable to me. I confess, they're actually two of my favorite stories in games.

captcha: real mccoy. You bet it is.

Persona 3 and 4. Games for those who become emotionally invested in their fictional characters. Alternatively, games that make people become emotionally invested in their fictional characters. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

On another note, has anyone seen the P4 anime and thoughts? Sitting at episode 12 since that's roughly where I am in the game. Watered down S-Link sequences are probably inevitable, but the boss fights are much more self-acceptance based rather than simply beating the Shadow and having the victim realize something afterwards. I'm liking it.

The anime is very good. The next couple of episodes for you are actually very S-Link focused, barreling through several of them over the course of two episodes. Despite being quick, I thought they were handled very well and actually tie together quite nicely in a way the game didn't do, which was a pleasant surprise. It's a well done adaptation all around. I'm through all the (aired) episodes and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

 

[Kotaro]

Persona 3 and 4. Games for those who become emotionally invested in their fictional characters. Alternatively, games that make people become emotionally invested in their fictional characters. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

On another note, has anyone seen the P4 anime and thoughts? Sitting at episode 12 since that's roughly where I am in the game. Watered down S-Link sequences are probably inevitable, but the boss fights are much more self-acceptance based rather than simply beating the Shadow and having the victim realize something afterwards. I'm liking it.

I finished the game a long while back, and am caught up in the anime as of right now. It's honestly the best adaptation we could have asked for. Narukami is kind of a Gary Stu, but you could become like that in the game with enough work, so it is kind of accurate.

 

[ThePenguinKnight]

I have never played a Persona game, however, I am very interested in trying them out.

Would this be a good starting point?

I'm not trying to troll or anything, but you more or less have to start with Persona 3 to enjoy it. Because playing Persona 4 first will set your standards far to high for Persona 3 to reach.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

I should've made a thread for this last week. Didn't know how people would have reacted so I kept it on the down low.

Now I'm sad I didn't make it.

Anyway, shameless plug for Persona group here if anyone is interested in joining:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Shin-Megami-Tensei-Persona

 

[RaikuFA]

I should've made a thread for this last week. Didn't know how people would have reacted so I kept it on the down low.

Now I'm sad I didn't make it.

Anyway, shameless plug for Persona group here if you're interested in joining:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Shin-Megami-Tensei-Persona

Can we talk about other Megaten games? Cause Devil Summoner is my favorite.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

I should've made a thread for this last week. Didn't know how people would have reacted so I kept it on the down low.

Now I'm sad I didn't make it.

Anyway, shameless plug for Persona group here if you're interested in joining:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Shin-Megami-Tensei-Persona

Can we talk about other Megaten games? Cause Devil Summoner is my favorite.

Sure, talk about as many of the Megaten. games you want, the chat is always open.

But I will only be covering news for the Persona series specifically, hence the group name. I hope that isn't an issue.

 

[DustyDrB]

I have never played a Persona game, however, I am very interested in trying them out.

Would this be a good starting point?

Yeah, I'm in the same boat. Never owned a PS2 and never wanted a PSP, so I haven't had a chance to play any Persona games. All the praise has had me interested, though.

 

[SD-Fiend]

now if only they would release persona pachinko...

 

[TehCookie]

I have never played a Persona game, however, I am very interested in trying them out.

Would this be a good starting point?

Yeah, I'm in the same boat. Never owned a PS2 and never wanted a PSP, so I haven't had a chance to play any Persona games. All the praise has had me interested, though.

To both of you, yes. Persona 3 is considered the best starting point for all things SMT. There's a pic guide somewhere I'll post it if I see it.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

FES is the definitive persona 3 version because it has the 30 hour epilogue which actually completes the story, if you've only played p3 or p3p you have NO CLUE what actually happens by the end.


Yes the gameplay in p3p is better and yes you get to play the game with Hamuko too but if you haven't ALREADY played FES you have no clue what the whole of the entirety of the game boils down to thus losing all meaning. I literally was in a state of disbelief when I started playing the epilogue all those years back, I would have not been happy with not knowing what truly happened.

Or I, as a P3PNoob, can Google what happened so I don't have to buy a PS3 (let alone a PS2), spend more cash to buy the game, play through The Journey again, then trudge through The Answer to learn what happened.

Though, if you're in the games for the plot, you're doing it wrong. The plot in general is structured in a way that it can be expanded and messed with freely just to extend your playing time of it for a few more days. I equate it to Pokemon in this regard, because plot is nothing more than a means to move the game along; instead of the game serving as a way to present a true narrative.

I doubt I think this because I haven't completed The Answer. The thing about The Answer is that it introduces the whole Butterfly Effect schtick, whereas there's nothing really in the actual plot of P3 remotely touching this factor. In P3P, they had that butterfly in the beginning, but notice how P3P was released after FES. It isn't convincing to me to say that they had originally intended to create The Answer as much as they wanted more dosh from fans.

While I admire the Persona series (well P4 and P3 anyway) for its aesthetics and gameplay (because I'm an RPG junkie), I cannot say that the plot is at all strong enough to warrant one buying the game simply for the plot.

Thank you for informing me that all those goosebumps I felt, all those memorable moments and all the loved characters that carved themselves into my heart were "wrong". Here I was being happy with and bewitched by something which apparently wasn't supposed to do that, ah the fool I was. I'll go burn my memories, cut my hair in a dramatic motion and drown my sorrows in whiskey.


Or...not.


Buddy, I play games for the plot alone and it has MORE than enough value to ME. Just because you can't see this it has no effect on what I experience. I'm the type of fan who imports Japanese versions of the games that don't have dual audio (yes, I speak Japanese, I speak Greek too!) cause I believe the story and original acting matter just that much and they actually do enhance the enjoyment I derive from these games.



If you are satisfied with googling or wiki-ing something to find out the plot and say "well..ok" then you have a MUCH weaker bond with the game and have enjoyed much less than I did. I was literally shook into disbelief and played through the entire 30 hour epilogue in just three days to find out what actually happened. This response simply is incompatible with what you state as the significance of plot in games...and yet it EXISTED!

Explain that! XD

 

[DustyDrB]

I have never played a Persona game, however, I am very interested in trying them out.

Would this be a good starting point?

Yeah, I'm in the same boat. Never owned a PS2 and never wanted a PSP, so I haven't had a chance to play any Persona games. All the praise has had me interested, though.

To both of you, yes. Persona 3 is considered the best starting point for all things SMT. There's a pic guide somewhere I'll post it if I see it.

Thanks! I'll be buying this very soon then.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

I would argue that SMT3: Nocturne is the best entry point simply cause it's actual SMT. Persona is just "Persona" in Japan, not SMT: Persona, it's like a pure spinoff, they just added the SMT part in the west for marketing reasons.


On the matter of persona games though, P3:FES would prolly be the best point of entry, for sure.



Oh and if people wondered, "FES" stands for Festival.

 

[loudestmute]

This is good news on two fronts. More people have the ability to access a well-designed and artistically impressive JRPG, at a pretty reasonable price point. And I get to clutch my legitimate boxed copy to my chest and be an arrogant, self-satisfied smug bastard.

*sigh* Good times.

 

[Jumendez-sama]

FES is the definitive persona 3 version because it has the 30 hour epilogue which actually completes the story, if you've only played p3 or p3p you have NO CLUE what actually happens by the end.


Yes the gameplay in p3p is better and yes you get to play the game with Hamuko too but if you haven't ALREADY played FES you have no clue what the whole of the entirety of the game boils down to thus losing all meaning. I literally was in a state of disbelief when I started playing the epilogue all those years back, I would have not been happy with not knowing what truly happened.

Or I, as a P3PNoob, can Google what happened so I don't have to buy a PS3 (let alone a PS2), spend more cash to buy the game, play through The Journey again, then trudge through The Answer to learn what happened.

Though, if you're in the games for the plot, you're doing it wrong. The plot in general is structured in a way that it can be expanded and messed with freely just to extend your playing time of it for a few more days. I equate it to Pokemon in this regard, because plot is nothing more than a means to move the game along; instead of the game serving as a way to present a true narrative.

I doubt I think this because I haven't completed The Answer. The thing about The Answer is that it introduces the whole Butterfly Effect schtick, whereas there's nothing really in the actual plot of P3 remotely touching this factor. In P3P, they had that butterfly in the beginning, but notice how P3P was released after FES. It isn't convincing to me to say that they had originally intended to create The Answer as much as they wanted more dosh from fans.

While I admire the Persona series (well P4 and P3 anyway) for its aesthetics and gameplay (because I'm an RPG junkie), I cannot say that the plot is at all strong enough to warrant one buying the game simply for the plot.

Thank you for informing me that all those goosebumps I felt, all those memorable moments and all the loved characters that carved themselves into my heart were "wrong". Here I was being happy with and bewitched by something which apparently wasn't supposed to do that, ah the fool I was. I'll go burn my memories, cut my hair in a dramatic motion and drown my sorrows in whiskey.


Or...not.


Buddy, I play games for the plot alone and it has MORE than enough value to ME. Just because you can't see this it has no effect on what I experience. I'm the type of fan who imports Japanese versions of the games that don't have dual audio (yes, I speak Japanese, I speak Greek too!) cause I believe the story and original acting matter just that much and they actually do enhance the enjoyment I derive from these games.



If you are satisfied with googling or wiki-ing something to find out the plot and say "well..ok" then you have a MUCH weaker bond with the game and have enjoyed much less than I did. I was literally shook into disbelief and played through the entire 30 hour epilogue in just three days to find out what actually happened. This response simply is incompatible with what you state as the significance of plot in games...and yet it EXISTED!

Explain that! XD

You're right, I did have a weaker bond with the game plotwise. I liked it for its gameplay and aesthetics much more, and that's because I feel for the original P3, the plot wasn't that strong. It was the grief of the characters that brought an emotional response in me, something that is brought out through aesthetics (ie the voice of the characters, the background music, the background, etc). When I said "...if you're in the games for the plot, you're doing it wrong" I meant for the Persona series, because while their characters are strong and admirable in many respects (and is in fact why I plan to buy Persona 4: The Golden when it comes out in the US), the plot itself often relies on weird twists that seem totally out there.

Spoiler: Regarding the plots of Persona 4 and 3

Adachi, the bumbling idiot for most of the game, is in fact the culprit. Really. The whole Izanagi and Izanami thing is cute and all, but making that oaf the culprit for the Normal end was really a let down when I saw the anime. Given the character we'd seen up until then, it wasn't a smart decision as much as it was just a decision they made to extend the game beyond having Nanatame as the culprit.

And really, an organization deliberately wanted to bring an end to the world. A (pseudo)scientific board was able to amass enough funding to make sure the apocalypse came. I know it was the head of the Kirijo group that, in his senile glory, had brought this project to the table, but shouldn't have others close to him at least tried to force that geezer to retire. The Answer doesn't refute this if I remember correctly because all it addressed was the calling of a being worse than Nyx after Nyx was defeated. What summoned Nyx? A senile man running an incredibly rich company.

When a character does scream in pain or cry with joy, I'm not saying you shouldn't feel that; aesthetics like that will always evoke a strong response in me. It's just that the reason these characters are in such grief or the reason they are filled with joy (aka the plot) is somewhat contrived. They improved it a lot in P3P by fleshing out the characters more before something bad happened to them, but for P3, they did little to do this. They didn't give enough reason for me to feel sorry when someone died.

Spoiler: Regarding Shinji

When Shinji died when I was playing as the FeMC, even though I knew plotwise it was coming, I became a little depressed shortly after. This is because I had seen how good of a person he was. They had taken the time to improve his plot and flesh him out, so when his death came, it was something truly saddening. In the original P3, you never got to know him, and often he was seen as that emo guy that swore a lot and might've had a soft side to him. When his death came around, it felt like they were forcing it on me to feel sad, and that it was supposed to be a crushing blow. It wasn't something that was crushing at all, and all it seemed was just a plot point that failed to accomplish what it was supposed to.

In fact, your testimony of you importing the games further highlights the importance of the game's aesthetics over the plot. If you were content with the plot alone, then you wouldn't have minded buying the horrid dub because the plot regardless would've been the same. Instead you wanted to hear the beauty of the Japanese Audio to experience that plot.

I am content with Googling The Answer because I have pretty much already played through P3P twice now. If I were to play The Answer, it would be more of the same. Honestly I like Persona 4's aesthetics much better, so I'd be more willing to play through that multiple times than P3. The character designs were much more tame and made sense, and the times where you fought peoples shadows made you get to know your Party more which I think is much more admirable.

...meh, I'm done rambling. Your turn.