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Help GAF! Persona 4 or Persona 4 Golden?
- Thread starter Big Papa Husker
- Start date
Playing FES before playing Golden because you 'should' is like putting up a 70 hour wall which you're gonna feel you need to overcome. Play whichever one you want first. Golden is my favourite (and Marie was awesome ignorethejerkstheydunnowhatthey'retalkingaboutdammit). Can always get to FES or P3P later.
I'd also not recommend playing one straight after the other (unless you really enjoy the systems and are basically addicted), or else you may feel fatigued.
Enjoy! Plug some headphones in 'cos you're in for a special game and an awesome time.
I'd also not recommend playing one straight after the other (unless you really enjoy the systems and are basically addicted), or else you may feel fatigued.
Enjoy! Plug some headphones in 'cos you're in for a special game and an awesome time.
I love FES. The uncontrollable party members may turn you off, but I never had any major issues with the AI. I like P3's story more than P4, but P4 does a lot of other things better.
FES is still worth a playthrough, without a doubt.
I'd definitely recommend playing P3FES before P4G. Not because of story reasons (the games are pretty self contained outside of a few minor references) but because P4G made a lot of mechanical improvements to the formular, some smaller, some bigger, resulting in a better gameflow. So going back from P4G to P3 might be a little hard. I played P4G first and while I prefer P3 overall, it still took a while to get used to all the regressions in gameplay mechanics by playing the games in that order (though they didn't bother me that much in the end).
Coffee Dog
Banned
Golden fixes the biggest problem with vanilla P4, the pacing. Adding in the missing days improves the game greatly.
Also, don't play P3FES. Play P3P female route, as it actually fixes some massive oversights with the original (you can now spend time with all your party members and get to know them, you can control party members directly, more content)
Also, don't play P3FES. Play P3P female route, as it actually fixes some massive oversights with the original (you can now spend time with all your party members and get to know them, you can control party members directly, more content)
I think people who have played the original game before often thinks she makes more of an impact than she does. I've consistently spoken with others who play P4G first who never really have much of an impression of her, other than being annoyed with her (intentionally) crappy poetry.
I'd very much agree with this. I'd also add in since 4 obviously came out before 3, there were many improvements across the board. It'll feel jarring playing 3 after, but you'll actually have the patience to play it through to the end after knowing what a modern Persona game actually plays like/is.
Persona is my favorite game series and even I stalled my very first time playing Persona 3 around the half-way point. The game has pretty big pacing problems. Very worth playing and great, but you'll need patience to get through it that first time if it's your first Persona game.
EDIT: A lot of the Marie hate I think comes from people who played the original and didn't like how she was handled in P4G. To me, it felt lazy. And lazy sticks out like a sore thumb in a game like this.
Megidolaon
Member
P3 FES first because P4 has more streamlined gameplay, even though I am partial to P3. I don't think P4 is is a "better" game, but P4 is more refined and polished.
Bomber Bob
Banned
Golden bruh
Barajas_201
Member
PLAY PERSONA 3 FIRST!!!!
Like yourself, I too jumped in on the P5 hype and wanted to get into the series but I only have a PSP so I played P3P first and loved it. I haven't played P4G but I've read many say that playing P3 after P4 kinda ruins P3 because of all the improvements of P4, which is a shame because P3 has an amazing story.
Big Papa Husker
Member
How long is P3FES? I'm wondering if I should play it before Type 0.
Playing it at the moment and just met the final boss at around 90 hours. Depending on your playstyle it could take less or more, but it's not a short game for sure.
Fedora Royale
Member
P3P before P4G. Both are great games and worth your time.
P4G first.
These games are huge. Some people get burnt out on a series after 40 hours of gameplay. You're looking at 120+ hours to complete both of these games. With P4G being the overall better game, I'd say start with that as you're more likely to push through and finish it.
Plus you get to join us all with Person 4: Dancing All Night HYPE!
These games are huge. Some people get burnt out on a series after 40 hours of gameplay. You're looking at 120+ hours to complete both of these games. With P4G being the overall better game, I'd say start with that as you're more likely to push through and finish it.
Plus you get to join us all with Person 4: Dancing All Night HYPE!
Basically this.
Thing is they only added stuff to Persona 4 Golden, for the better or worse. You aren't missing anything by not playing the PS2 version. At the end you will have experienced everything the PS2 version had to offer, plus the additions.
Can't say though the VA is something to write home about for either game. The old VAs have their moments and their misses exactly as much as the new ones have so you're getting the same level of quality regardless of version.
P3P has all the improvements of P4 if we're talking battle system here, plus it added stuff like skill cards which found its' way into P4G afterwards.
Can't say though that playing the PS2 original was a huge problem to me. Found it very refreshing to go to that after my first P4 playthrough.
Mr. Nice_Guy
Member
Golden, for the few small bits I dislike about it, it's the most perfect rerelease of a game ever. Have fun!
Edit: Yeah if you want to get on the Persona hype train, play P3P first. As much as I love the in game model cutscenes of FES, it hasn't aged well. Golden is so far improved it honestly does make it hard to go back.
Edit: Yeah if you want to get on the Persona hype train, play P3P first. As much as I love the in game model cutscenes of FES, it hasn't aged well. Golden is so far improved it honestly does make it hard to go back.
Big Green Anus
Member
I played Persona 3 FES first and nearly turned me away from the franchise due to the horrible dungeons with its stupid sleep mechanic. I purchased Persona 4 Golden on a sale and it ended up being one of my favorite games of all time
My craving for Persona 5 is too damn strong now
My craving for Persona 5 is too damn strong now
ShadowSoldier89
Member
you people hating on Marie are all satan
SATAN
striferser
Huge Nickleback Fan
Golden, and yes, play P3fes first
I did it in 65 hours, but I skipped a lot of stuff. I wanted to just mainline the main story and any side stories I found interesting.
That said, I think P3s story is kind of weak compared to P4G
What if I only want ice cream and I can't even properly taste the ice cream itself anymore because I don't like the sprinkles whipped cream and chocolate sauce?
Yes that's my opinion of Golden mostly, the extra parts don't fit to my tastes
Bayonettasbuddy
Neo Member
The Golden, probably my favourite game ever. One of the few games I was like, "what, it's over," and was genuinely upset when it finished.
I don't get why people are saying P3FES is a chore to play because you can't control your party members.
Honestly, if you're capable of playing different RPG franchises that have different mechanics, and different genres in general, one mechanic shouldn't ruin the game. Tactics is perfectly fine and I never ran into troubles relying on the AI controlled party members, just don't use Mitsuru for healing.
Honestly, if you're capable of playing different RPG franchises that have different mechanics, and different genres in general, one mechanic shouldn't ruin the game. Tactics is perfectly fine and I never ran into troubles relying on the AI controlled party members, just don't use Mitsuru for healing.
Paltheos
Member
What nearly every other GAFer as said. There's almost no reason not to play Golden. It's better in just about every way - So much more content and so many system improvements. It's almost unjust to call it a port. I can't think of another game that's been so improved in a rerelease.
The only worse thing about Golden, imo, is Chie's new VA. I never played vanilla P4, but comparing the two, I prefer the original's. I can't quite put my finger on it only that... she sometimes induced a headache. It's not a bad performance, I think, it just hurt my head. AFAIK this isn't a common issue, so I wouldn't worry about it.
The only worse thing about Golden, imo, is Chie's new VA. I never played vanilla P4, but comparing the two, I prefer the original's. I can't quite put my finger on it only that... she sometimes induced a headache. It's not a bad performance, I think, it just hurt my head. AFAIK this isn't a common issue, so I wouldn't worry about it.
JoeyJungle
Banned
Any downside to dating multiple girls in Golden? I'm already dating Yukiko but got to Rise and now I wanna be a two-timing asshole.
Thanatos451
Member
If you have a Vita, Golden. If you don't have a Vita, go get one, then get Golden.
sensui-tomo
Member
Valentines day is your doomsday.
>:T
Stupidjerkstopplayingthisstupidgamewithworstgirlevermade
I kid, Dimitri, I kid...or do I?
buddha0991
Member
While I agree with people who say P4G really messes up the game's pacing and makes the difficulty balance an absolute joke, even I who thinks this say Golden has so much additional and extra stuff to the overall package that you just can't not pick Golden over the original if you have a Vita. I like P4 slightly better if you can believe it or not, but Golden is simply the superior complete package, with some downgrades to pacing and difficulty but worth it.
P3P vs P3FES is a whole 'nother can of worms, and despite the presence of the awesome Female Protagonist in P3P, I simply vastly prefer P3FES.
P3P vs P3FES is a whole 'nother can of worms, and despite the presence of the awesome Female Protagonist in P3P, I simply vastly prefer P3FES.
sensui-tomo
Member
Sounds more like a teenager than ps2 chie imo.
I was gonna say "5-year-old," but ok. I prefer mature Chie.
buddha0991
Member
^but thats the thing, Chie's characterization is supposed to be imature, spunky and excitable,. Old Chie didn't fit that at all, despite my fondness for that voice actress' more laid back approach.
I miss original Chie but new Chie sounds way more like her JP voice than old Chie.
I miss original Chie but new Chie sounds way more like her JP voice than old Chie.
TGO
Hype Train conductor. Works harder than it steams.
Chie in P4G sounds like the character, it fits and is better acted.
While the original just sounds like a va who is older and is calling it in.
Even for someone who has never heard Chie in P4G, it just sound's off in the original.
I get that it's supposed to be closer to JP and "spunkier," but holy hell the voice is grating and whiny and obnoxious.
Onamonapenia
Neo Member
Make sure to play 3, but play it first. P4 is better than 3 in almost every way, but I still prefer the characters and story of 3 over 4. Granted I haven't finished 4 yet, so maybe it will get better, but 3 is definitely still an amazing game and should be played by everyone.
Bomber Bob
Banned
Old Chie sucked.
New teddy is very similar to the old one.
New teddy is very similar to the old one.
TGO
Hype Train conductor. Works harder than it steams.
Yeah, no disagreement there.
But that's her.
BlueBadger
Banned
Golden, IMO!