Persona 3 or Persona 4?

[Tails 6,692]

So remember when I said that I wanted to get into the Persona series? Well, I have enough money on PSN now to get either Persona 3: FES or the vanilla Persona 4. So which do you recommend that i buy first since I'm new to the Persona series?

Edited January 11, 2015 by Tails

[Cricket 1,180]

I would recommend Persona 4; I really enjoyed it more than Persona 3, but that is my outlook on it. I didn't finish Persona 3, but gosh, Persona 4's story really compelled me.

[Emrys 3,192]

godi love them both.... but yeah persona 4

[Tails 6,692]

I would recommend Persona 4; I really enjoyed it more than Persona 3, but that is my outlook on it. I didn't finish Persona 3, but gosh, Persona 4's story really compelled me.

So what makes Persona 4 more enjoyable than P3? Can you explain it?

[Cricket 1,180]

So what makes Persona 4 more enjoyable than P3? Can you explain it?

Hmm, it's been a bit since I've played it, but I liked the character development more in Persona 4 and just the story in general. I also liked the things you can do on the side like jobs and missions. It just made me really feel like I was in a mystery story, and also, the battling seemed a bit more fluid than Persona 3 and better controls. I also like Teddie; he's cute as can be, haha. Just with Persona 4, I felt like it was a movie and it kept me on my toes because it was more of a mystery/murder suspenseful game. I can't really give too much away without spoiling the story. ^^; 

 

Edit: It also made me feel like I was living a highschooler's life and the mysteries surrounding Japan, etc.

Edited January 11, 2015 by The Granas Girl

[Power Jusho 1,783]

So what makes Persona 4 more enjoyable than P3? Can you explain it?

Fixed gameplay: In P3: FES you can only control the main character while everyone else is a CPU in battle. In P4, you control every member

Better exploration: In P3: FES, you explore a randomized 200+ floor tower and it's blocked off at certain floors and is unlocked on certain days. In P4, you can go through the dungeon on the first go and come back at any time.

Here's the pros for P3: FES

The hero can equip any weapon while in P4 you can only equip a sword

There is an extended storyline called The Answer that takes place after the main story

Edited January 11, 2015 by Dimi3Infinity

[Tails 6,692]

Fixed gameplay: In P3: FES you can only control the main character while everyone else is a CPU in battle. In P4, you control every member

Better exploration: In P3: FES, you explore a randomized 200+ floor tower and it's blocked off at certain floors and is unlocked on certain days. In P4, you can go through the dungeon on the first go and come back at any time.

Here's the pros for P3: FES

The hero can equip any weapon while in P4 you can only equip a sword

There is an extended storyline called The Answer that takes place after the main story

Oh cool. So which Persona game do you recommend I play first? P3 FES or P4? I do plan to get both of course, but I can only get one of them right now.

[TheKingdomkid 1,194]

I would get Persona 3 FES mainly because that is my favorite Persona game and I just like the Protagonist a little better in that game and the story is strong in both of them to be sure but there is just something about Persona 3 that I like more. Also if you have a PS Vita or a PS TV or plan to get one of those then just get Persona 4 Golden because that is the better version of Persona 4 although Persona 4 is a good game as well just that Persona 4 Golden has more stuff and the Chies voice actress is better in Golden then in the original

[Power Jusho 1,783]

Oh cool. So which Persona game do you recommend I play first? P3 FES or P4? I do plan to get both of course, but I can only get one of them right now.

Persona 4

[BlankShell 638]

Oof, such a tough question.

 

Persona 4 has a way better cast of characters; the themes really hit a lot harder because they're so much more real and relatable. Since Social Links are half the game, it's more enjoyable to find out what makes them all tick.

 

Persona 3 has a more focused plot; it's tropey to the extreme, but it raises a lot of interesting ideas and themes. FES doesn't have as polished gameplay as 4 (or Portable) but it's still fun in its own right (and often more challenging because of it).

 

Ultimately I'd say go with 4. It's a more enjoyable experience, and you'll appreciate it more after exploring the universe further with 3.

[Shana09 5,769]

Persona 4 Golden, I'll wait to get enough money for this.

Also know that there is a difference between P4 an P4Golden. P4Golden is the remade version with extra content for the PS Vita. Its worth while. IMO Persona feels a lot more natural on the PS Vita than on the console games IMO.

 

Regardless if you don't want to wait, P4 is more better for me. I love it.

Edited January 11, 2015 by Shana09

[AlixtheMagi13 245]

Persona 4 Golden

[Demyx. 10,064]

I think 4 is more fun than 3. 3 is too emo boyish. But its still pretty goood. 

Edited January 11, 2015 by Squirting Demyx

[Jilly Shears 2,144]

Persona 4 is an easier game to get into because of all of the gameplay improvements, but I think P3 has better artistic merit.Plus Aigis is best girl.

[Enmaa 124]

Persona3

[littleTSUBAME 483]

Persona 4 (If you have vita, play Golden), though in the end it's your choice entirely. I just recommend P4 because I found it easier to get into if you haven't played any persona games before. Also, it's easier (P3 isn't hard by any means, but the fact that you can only control the MC makes it really irritating sometimes).

Though I think time management is easier in P3, because of the fact that you go to Tartarus by night so it doesn't affect your social linking as much as the TV world in P4.

But I'd say they're both pretty easy to get into. Usually people prefer P4 to P3, but the latter is a very good game too.

[Hazimie 1,595]

Persona 3,from my honest opinion.

[DragonMaster 1,166]

This is a tough question. If you were ultimately planning to get both, I would say get P3 first, as after playing P4 it would be harder to go back. However, since you are trying to get into the series, the one that would have the better overall impression is P4...

 

In your case, I say get P4, then later just keep in mind that P3 isn't going have some of the polish of P4. I recommend P4 as I think it's cast is more likeable, it's themes and ideas are more interesting, it's battle system is better, and it lacks some of the little annoyances that P3 had (for example, in P3 you have to talk to each individual party member to equip them with items, while in P4 you just use one menu like pretty much every other RPG in existence).

 

Also, I might get burnt at the stake for this opinion, but I liked the music in P4 far more. P3 had some good songs, don't get me wrong, but its worst songs were just horrendous. Especially the songs that play at the school.

[Tails 6,692]

Persona 4 Golden, I'll wait to get enough money for this.

Also know that there is a difference between P4 an P4Golden. P4Golden is the remade version with extra content for the PS Vita. Its worth while. IMO Persona feels a lot more natural on the PS Vita than on the console games IMO.

 

Regardless if you don't want to wait, P4 is more better for me. I love it.

Well, I've heard about Persona 4: Golden having a few new exclusives than the original version. But I don't want to waste over $200.00 all just for one game (tha, and the fact that the Vita barely has any games that interest me at all). SO that's why I think it would be best to either get P3 or P4 on PSN since it's cheaper.

[Headphone Jack 1,147]

Persona 3 got me into the series so I say go with that one. Ultimately you should look at some trailers/plot summaries to see which one captures your interest more. For me, I watched some videos showing off the first hour or so of P3 and decided to go out and try it for myself, so it's whatever really grabs your attention. 

[Shana09 5,769]

Well, I've heard about Persona 4: Golden having a few new exclusives than the original version. But I don't want to waste over $200.00 all just for one game (tha, and the fact that the Vita barely has any games that interest me at all). SO that's why I think it would be best to either get P3 or P4 on PSN since it's cheaper.

 

I see. Just be sure to search up online once you beat the game for the extra content then. Get P4 then. 

[TheKingdomkid 1,194]

Well, I've heard about Persona 4: Golden having a few new exclusives than the original version. But I don't want to waste over $200.00 all just for one game (tha, and the fact that the Vita barely has any games that interest me at all). SO that's why I think it would be best to either get P3 or P4 on PSN since it's cheaper.

You could just get a PS TV then since that is now going for cheap at $70 or $75 and play Golden on there as well and now would be a good time since there is a sale on Persona 4 Golden for only $12 if you are a plus member if not then it's $15 which is still pretty cheap and then you could get Persona 3 Portable which is basically like Persona 3 FES but without the Answer (which you can just watch cutsceens for that it is not that important that you have to play it because you will have to grind a lot in order to get at a good enough level to continue at some point in the game)  and it's not all in 3D like FES but you can play as a Female which is pretty cool and that is only for $8 if you are a plus member and $10 if you are not and that works with PS TV as well so you could play both those games on your TV which is pretty cool.  Now that's a win win in my opinion, of course you still need to buy a Vita memory card but an 8GB one should be enough for those two games which is around $25 on amazon, not the greatest price I know but a 4GB might be enough for those two as well and that's only for $10.  So all together you would only be spending around $100-$125 if you are not a plus member and even then that is quit a deal, but it is your choice in the end.

Edited January 14, 2015 by TheKingdomkid