Persona 3 FEStival edition

[Au Naturel.]

I have always been a fan of Persona's artwork, music and setting. I used to play the MMORPG Cave designed until I gave up on MMORPGS. It was a blast! Which brings me to my current question :
Would it be a bad idea if I bought Persona 3 FES, instead of starting with the first 2 Persona?

 

[ScatterBen]

No, there is no continuation between titles that is absolutely necessary to understand what is going on in the current story. I started the Persona series with 3 FES and loved it and didn't feel like I was missing out on anything (though, if there are any, I'd be happy to hear any of the ways that it links to the first two games). So, just to reiterate, I highly recommend beginning with FES and not seeking out the others (which could be both time-consuming and expensive with regards to the two versions of Persona 2).

Edit: any possible links would likely be minor. For example, in P4 you go on a school trip to the city in P3 and get to have a look around all the areas you would hang out at in that game with the characters of P4 - the scenes have no baring on the plot, it's just a nice tid-bit. If there are any links from P3 to the others then they would likely be in this manner.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Start with 4 or 3.

I recommend 4 over FES.

Don't bother with one or two until you've played both 3 and 4.

 

[Sylveria]

3 is fine to start with. 2 is darn near impossible to find. A used copy on amazon starts at around $70. They only share some similar themes, there's no really continuing story line. If you really want to try a "prequel" to Persona 3, try Nocturne. The game is brutally difficult but it's certainly worth trying.

Edit: I'd also recommend 3FES over 4. It's harder because your support characters act on their own (I don't know if this was changed in the PSP port) but the story and atmosphere are, in my opinion, done better than 4 which seemed to end in a rather unsatisfying fashion.

 

[minakorocket]

Yeah there are minor links between Persona 3 with the earlier 2, and I mean very minor.

Persona 3 FES is the way to go, unless you're a girl and you own a PSP... then you might be more interested in Persona 3 PSP. You won't get 'The Answer' but if you're a girl and want to play as a girl and don't want to buy the game again...

--About the first two (if you're interested)--
The first Persona and the second one have a lot more in common because the characters you meet are related. Also, if do you play the second Persona--it has two parts. Innocent Sin(first) and Eternal Punishment(second). The second part was the only one to be released in America.... good luck finding a copy unless you have an *cough*emu...*cough*

I'm sure now that the SMT has become main stream and popular they have plans on remaking them (They already made Persona for PSP). God help me if they decide to remake Persona 3 AGAIN, I will go on a rampage though.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Yeah there are minor links between Persona 3 with the earlier 2, and I mean very minor.

Persona 3 FES is the way to go, unless you're a girl and you own a PSP... then you might be more interested in Persona 3 PSP. You won't get 'The Answer' but if you're a girl and want to play as a girl and don't want to buy the game again...

--About the first two (if you're interested)--
The first Persona and the second one have a lot more in common because the characters you meet are related. Also, if do you play the second Persona--it has two parts. Innocent Sin(first) and Eternal Punishment(second). The second part was the only one to be released in America.... good luck finding a copy unless you have an *cough*emu...*cough*

I'm sure now that the SMT has become main stream and popular they have plans on remaking them (They already made Persona for PSP). God help me if they decide to remake Persona 3 AGAIN, I will go on a rampage though.

Persona 3 Portable is the bloody best version of the game. The Answer is missing, but the world is much less time consuming to navigate, the voice acting is still there is full, it looks really crisp and sharp on the PSP screen, and generally...Well, the girl option adds great replay value from a dialogue standpoint.

And it's Portable!

 

[TheAmazingHobo]

Persona 3 Portable is the bloody best version of the game. The Answer is missing, but the world is much less time consuming to navigate, the voice acting is still there is full, it looks really crisp and sharp on the PSP screen, and generally...Well, the girl option adds great replay value from a dialogue standpoint.

And it's Portable!

God yes, it´s one of the comparatively few reason to actually get a PSP.
And you forgot the most important thing:
you can actually control your companions in combat instead of just issuing tactics.

edit: oh and to actually answer the op.
No, it would not be a mistake.
Quite the opposite, I think it is a good idea, as I personally enjoyed Person 3 FES a whole lot more compared to 2.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

I have always been a fan of Persona's artwork, music and setting. I used to play the MMORPG Cave designed until I gave up on MMORPGS. It was a blast! Which brings me to my current question :
Would it be a bad idea if I bought Persona 3 FES, instead of starting with the first 2 Persona?

As already mentioned, they share no running plot. Play them in any order you like. As for which you should start with, 3 or 4 (or 1), it really depends on what you're looking for:

Persona 4 - great plot, okay characters, most polished mechanics
Persona 3 - great characters, good plot, fairly good mechanics
Persona 2 - haven't played yet - hopefully they'll release it on PSP
Persona 1 - no social links (which is the most fun part for me), really weird but cool battle mechanics - really cool concept

Personally, I'd start with 3 or 4. Persona 3 has the best cast (IMO), but it's plot gets a little... weird.
Persona 4 has a GREAT plot, but while it has a few really great characters (Kanji), the female cast members Chie and Yukito are a little flat, at least when compared to the excellent female characters Yukari and Mitsuru (their spiritual equalivents) in Persona 3. Then again, I loved Rise in Persona 4 and hated what's-her-name in Persona 3 (again, equilavent character) so... **shrug**

Basically, both Persona 3 and 4 are great games, and you really can't go wrong with either.

 

[LupusDei]

They are all good and individual. But if you haven't played Persona 4 and intend on getting 3? By suggestion is to buy both at the same time, because by the time your finished one you'll be like I.WANT.MOAR.PERSONNNNNAAAAA, and waiting will seem like a nightmare. Persona 4 for me was the perfect game and I loved it to itty little bits. Loved 3 as well because of its darker themes.

 

[Au Naturel.]

Great! I'll buy it tonight! Thank you!

 

[LupusDei]

Good choice! Hope you enjoy. Pffft hope? YOU WILL ENJOY!

 

[ScatterBen]

For some reason I can't quote right now, but I would disagree with you, Bara no Hime. I found P4s cast an improvement on P3s - they were all just a tiny bit less irritating and more likeable (though this isn't to say I dislike P3s characters, not one bit) - and, while the plot was, overall, more interesting, the end of P3 was much better. That may have something to do with me accidentally spoiling who the murderer was whilst looking up some stupid thing in gamefaqs' "answers" section (that I didn't even find out haha), but the end of P3 was much more satisfying for me (and nevermind not almost impossible to achieve).

Nevertheless, I love both of these games and I'm sure the OP will too, as long as he has any resemblance of a fondness towards JRPGs.

 

[Au Naturel.]

For anyone interested in buying the games for yourself, there is a seller on eBay Canada named PlayCanada who is selling both Persona 3 FES and Persona 4 with 'side A' of the soundtrack for $59.99. Which I bought. There are about 9 left, with about 27 sold, so have at them!

Just letting whoever's interested know! It's a great deal!

*If this is against forum rules, I will remove this post. I am not sponsoring the guy, as it would seem.*

 

[pharaoh malik]

Edit: I'd also recommend 3FES over 4. It's harder because your support characters act on their own (I don't know if this was changed in the PSP port) but the story and atmosphere are, in my opinion, done better than 4 which seemed to end in a rather unsatisfying fashion.

I agree with Sylveria Also, I think it's hard to go back to the battle style from 3 once you get to 4 (or so I've heard from my friends who played 4 first). Personally I like 3 a tad better anyway -- for the reasons others have mentioned. I prefer the characters and the story seems to be a bit darker.

(Also P3P does change the battle system -- but it changes other aspects of gameplay that I'm not too fond of. Haven't actually played it myself, but I have read multiple reviews and watched parts of gameplay online)

Anyway go buy P3FES! It's friggin' amazing. c:

 

[manaman]

3 is fine to start with. 2 is darn near impossible to find. A used copy on amazon starts at around $70. They only share some similar themes, there's no really continuing story line. If you really want to try a "prequel" to Persona 3, try Nocturne. The game is brutally difficult but it's certainly worth trying.

Edit: I'd also recommend 3FES over 4. It's harder because your support characters act on their own (I don't know if this was changed in the PSP port) but the story and atmosphere are, in my opinion, done better than 4 which seemed to end in a rather unsatisfying fashion.

Persona 4 had multiple endings, and the real ending continues on after what is taken as the ending scene. It's hard to explain without major spoilers.

 

[zidine100]

id say start with innocent sin (eternal punishment is well in my opinion trash if you haven't played this one beforehand, and even then its only passable in my opinion) if you can get your hands on it, best game in the persona series in my opinion.

still since that's damn near impossible to get, id say just go with three if you really want to, i preferred 4 since i can not stand fuuka HER VOICE MUST DIE, and the fact that the story is well more interesting, i could poke holes at threes story all day and its padding...... oh god the unnecessary padding, but it has the best final boss in a jrpg ive seen in a hell of a long time

Spoiler

(ok im talking about 3s final boss (not the answer or the true final boss, just the final boss you actually have to play against).

Or alternatively try nocturne (its just so god damn metal! and im only two hours into it), it is a hell of a lot more awesome than 3 in my opinion (and well 4 but i haven't bet that yet, so i cant really judge).

still these are all recommendations, there not madatory for your enjoyment of either one.

edit: i guess this post is redundant as youve already decided on three, oh well.