What Persona Game To Start With?

What Persona Game to Start With

So, you’re curious about the Persona series, huh? That’s awesome! It’s a fantastic world filled with stylish characters, engaging stories, and turn-based battles. But with so many games in the series, knowing where to jump in can feel a little overwhelming. Don’t worry; we’re here to help you figure out the perfect Persona starting point. We’ll explore the different games and what makes them special, making it easier for you to decide which one to play first.

Understanding the Persona Series

Before we dive into specific titles, let’s understand what makes a Persona game a Persona game. These games blend social simulation with dungeon crawling. You spend your days going to school, hanging out with friends (called Confidants), working part-time jobs, and doing other activities to strengthen your character and their Personas (powerful beings that represent different aspects of your personality). When you’re not living the ordinary life, you’re diving into mysterious dungeons to fight Shadows, the monsters of the series.

Key Elements of a Persona Game

• Social Links/Confidants: These are the relationships you build with other characters. The stronger your bond, the more powerful your Personas become. It’s a key part of the gameplay and story.
• Turn-Based Combat: Battles involve using your Personas’ skills to exploit enemy weaknesses. It’s strategic and fun.
• High School Setting: Most games take place in high school, with the protagonists often dealing with typical teenage problems alongside supernatural threats.
• Stylish Presentation: The games are known for their unique art style, catchy music, and overall cool vibe.

Why Choosing the Right Starting Point Matters

Each Persona game has its own unique story and characters. While they share some common elements, they are not directly linked. This means you don’t need to play them in a particular order. However, starting with the wrong game can be a bit confusing, or you might not enjoy it as much, compared to other options. Some games are more beginner-friendly than others. This guide will help you find the game that fits your comfort level and preferences. We’ll look at the difficulty, gameplay mechanics, and story elements to make sure your first experience is positive.

Persona 3: The Classic (with caveats)

Persona 3 is where the series started to pick up its modern identity. It’s a bit older, so it feels a bit different from the newer games. It also comes in a few different versions – Persona 3 FES, Persona 3 Portable and Persona 3 Reload.

Persona 3 FES

Persona 3 FES is a PlayStation 2 title. It’s a solid experience that’s good, but is less beginner friendly, has less user friendly quality of life mechanics than other titles, and the characters don’t have complete control of their party members. Which may turn off some players who are used to more modern games.

• Pros: Good story and characters, classic Persona experience, additional epilogue chapter.
• Cons: Outdated gameplay compared to later entries, somewhat limited controls over party members, has less user friendly features for the quality of life, and it is only available on PlayStation 2.

Persona 3 Portable

Persona 3 Portable is another option. It’s available on more platforms than Persona 3 FES but it changes the presentation significantly. The most major change is that it turns the world into a visual novel style. It also cuts out most of the animated cutscenes. It does add a major unique feature, which is being able to play as a female protagonist, which changes the social links and interactions of the characters. It is still a good experience, but most players find it jarring to go from one format to another, especially if you start with this game.

• Pros: Portable, allows you to play as a female protagonist, slightly more modern and accessible than FES.
• Cons: Visual novel style presentation, cuts out some features, some prefer the original presentation style.

Persona 3 Reload

Persona 3 Reload is the latest version, released in 2024. It is a remake of the original game. It updates the graphics and gameplay to be more in line with modern titles, has the best user experience out of all of the Persona 3 releases. It also expands on some features that were in the original, and overall improves the quality of life for the player. This makes it easier for beginners to pick up and play. However it does lack a major feature that was in the other two options. This being the epilogue chapter present in FES, and the female protagonist option present in Portable. If you have no prior experience with the game and want the most user friendly and overall most polished experience, it is best to go with Reload.

• Pros: Updated visuals, more modern gameplay, improved quality of life features.
• Cons: Lacks certain story content found in other versions, does not have an option to play as a female protagonist.

Persona 4 Golden: The Cozy Mystery

Persona 4 Golden is a fan favorite for good reason. It has a smaller town setting, which gives it a cozy and comforting feel. It focuses on solving a murder mystery while building bonds with your friends. It’s often recommended as a great starting point due to its engaging plot, great cast, and accessible gameplay. This game has also been released on multiple platforms.

Why Persona 4 Golden is Beginner-Friendly

• Engaging Story: The murder mystery hook makes it easy to get invested in the game right from the start.
• Great Characters: The cast is very likable, and their relationships are a big part of the game.
• Accessible Gameplay: The gameplay isn’t too difficult to learn, and it’s easy to get a grasp on the mechanics.
• Moderate Length: The game is shorter than Persona 5 Royal, making it easier for some players to complete.

Possible Drawbacks

• Dated Graphics: The game is originally from the PS Vita and can show its age at times, though they hold up fairly well.
• Limited exploration: The town in Persona 4 is smaller compared to the later games, which can feel a little less immersive to some players.

Persona 5 Royal: The Modern Masterpiece

Persona 5 Royal is a very popular title and it’s easy to see why. It’s stylish, has a captivating story, and introduces many new features to the series. This is often the most recommended game for newcomers because of its modern gameplay, however, its length can feel a bit daunting for a first-time player.

Why Persona 5 Royal is a Popular Choice

• Fantastic Style: This game oozes style, from the menus to the characters, and the music.
• Engaging Story: The narrative about a group of rebellious teens fighting corruption is very compelling.
• Polished Gameplay: Persona 5 Royal has the most refined gameplay mechanics in the series.
• Extensive Content: The game is packed with content, giving you a lot to do and see.

Possible Drawbacks

• Lengthy Gameplay: The game is very long, which can be a bit much for some players.
• Can Be Overwhelming: The sheer amount of things to do can be intimidating for newcomers.

Persona 3 vs. Persona 4 Golden vs. Persona 5 Royal: A Quick Comparison

To make things clearer, let’s look at a table comparing the three main games:

Other Persona Games

While we’ve focused on the main numbered entries, there are other Persona games out there that you may consider, but these generally aren’t recommended for beginners.

Persona Q and Persona Q2

These are dungeon crawlers that bring together characters from Persona 3, 4, and 5. They’re fun but very different from the core games. They assume a prior knowledge of the characters and the gameplay style is completely different.

Persona Dancing Games

These are rhythm games featuring music from the main Persona games. They’re great for fans but not a good starting point for the series, as they are less story focused and have a completely different gameplay style.

Persona Arena Games

These are fighting games, that take place after the events of the core Persona games. Like the dancing games, they are less story focused and feature a different gameplay style, and they are more recommended to long time fans who have played through the previous entries.

So, Which Persona Game Should You Start With?

Based on what we’ve discussed, here’s a recap and some recommendations:

For a User-Friendly Start:

• Persona 4 Golden: It’s a great choice if you want a balanced experience with a great story, likable characters, and accessible gameplay. It’s easy to get into and isn’t as overwhelming as some of the other games.
• Persona 5 Royal: It is more modern and is extremely accessible for players who like to have the best quality of life in their game. The only main drawback being the length of the game.

For a Classic Experience:

• Persona 3 Reload: If you want to experience the roots of the modern series with updated graphics and gameplay, this is your best bet. If you’re interested in the original titles, it is generally recommended to go with Reload unless you want the more unique and specific experiences offered by FES or Portable.

Not Recommended for Beginners:

• Persona Q/Q2, Dancing Games, and Arena Games are all more niche and better enjoyed once you have some experience with the core series.

Ultimately, the best Persona game to start with depends on your preferences. Do you value a strong story? Do you want a more relaxed, cozy experience? Or do you want a game that’s modern and highly polished? Think about what you’re looking for in a game, and let this guide help you decide which one to try first!

No matter which game you choose, get ready to enter a world of stylish adventures, unique characters, and unforgettable experiences. You’re in for an awesome time!