Do you have a larger version of this?
-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
Persona 3 vs Persona 4
- Thread starter CurseoftheGods
- Start date
Do you have a larger version of this?
Risk Breaker
Member
Persona 3 is so much better imo. Just the ending alone absolutely destroys it, not even considering how I was waiting for Persona 4 to get serious but it never really does.
Suzushiiro
Banned
I liked Persona 3 better, Persona 4 is the objectively better game.
3's megacorporation that had been researching shadows for decades was unrealistic, but it enabled it to have a much faster start than 4, where you had to go through the characters learning everything about the other world before throwing you into the first dungeon. I also preferred 3's pacing- you always knew exactly when the next major plot thing was going to happen, unlike P4 where you finished a dungeon and then dicked around for a few weeks until the next kidnapping happened. I'm also a weirdo in that I actually kind of liked how P3 handled party members like they were other people instead of additional player avatars.
But in the end, P4 improved upon all of P3's systems and had much more believable characters overall. P3P integrated what it could of those improvements but was compromised too much by the PSP's hardware to be called a better game than 4 or even 3FES.
3's megacorporation that had been researching shadows for decades was unrealistic, but it enabled it to have a much faster start than 4, where you had to go through the characters learning everything about the other world before throwing you into the first dungeon. I also preferred 3's pacing- you always knew exactly when the next major plot thing was going to happen, unlike P4 where you finished a dungeon and then dicked around for a few weeks until the next kidnapping happened. I'm also a weirdo in that I actually kind of liked how P3 handled party members like they were other people instead of additional player avatars.
But in the end, P4 improved upon all of P3's systems and had much more believable characters overall. P3P integrated what it could of those improvements but was compromised too much by the PSP's hardware to be called a better game than 4 or even 3FES.
bobawesome
Member
Not the original poster, but this was the largest version I could find:
Quoted for size.
Son Of Sparda
Member
I've only played P4, so.... um.... yeah, that was great.
flatearthpandas
Member
Honestly, I found them worse in P4.
"You need a key for this door. It's on the previous floor."
"But I completely explored the previous floor."
"Random dungeons, bitch. Go explore it again and find the key this time. And then, explore this floor all over again until you the door again."
I appreciated the different themes, but the actual exploration ended up being more annoying. I don't remember if P3 worked like this, but for me the P4 items allowing you to return to the floor you left from were actually really useful though.
Love both. I love P3 just a bit more though.
I dunno it's hard to explain. P4 absolutely makes a bunch of improvements to P3 but it's probably the atmosphere that did it for me.
A lot of people say P3 is a lot darker but I don't entirely agree. It's certainly more mellow and laidback which I kinda prefer to P4's vibe (which in itself is totally fine).
I dunno it's hard to explain. P4 absolutely makes a bunch of improvements to P3 but it's probably the atmosphere that did it for me.
A lot of people say P3 is a lot darker but I don't entirely agree. It's certainly more mellow and laidback which I kinda prefer to P4's vibe (which in itself is totally fine).
CoolBatteryCharge
Member
Persona 3 FES is my favourite of any version of either game.
PersonA 3 can get a bIt dull on a moment to moment level, but overall a way better story and better character development. I miGht be In a minority with this next Stuff, but I also loved the physical condition management stuff, three different types of physical attacks for more weapon/character variety, and the more dynamic social links (being able to freeze or reverse social links and making plans with two people at once pissing off the one you don't go with). My only really big issue is that the last 1/4th is a massive grindfest which makes me play on Easy every time I go back to replay it.
Persona 4 (Golden specifically) fixes a lot of issues with Persona 3 like a better implemented compendium, removing the condition management (which I loved, but I'll agree taking it out made P4 more accessible) gave more time for other things, a way more smooth "difficulty curve", more engaging character personalities, and the story is more engaging on a moment to moment level, but I had more issues with it than Persona 3. I thought the story overall had weird problems piecing itself together. The dungeons while being aesthetically better felt slower with their emphasis on long hallways. The social links had more interesting characters, but told less interesting stories with those characters (Persona 3's Hermit Social Link is by far my favourite in the series
).
That said, I love both games. Easily in my top 50 favourite games of all time if I managed to make that list.
PersonA 3 can get a bIt dull on a moment to moment level, but overall a way better story and better character development. I miGht be In a minority with this next Stuff, but I also loved the physical condition management stuff, three different types of physical attacks for more weapon/character variety, and the more dynamic social links (being able to freeze or reverse social links and making plans with two people at once pissing off the one you don't go with). My only really big issue is that the last 1/4th is a massive grindfest which makes me play on Easy every time I go back to replay it.
Persona 4 (Golden specifically) fixes a lot of issues with Persona 3 like a better implemented compendium, removing the condition management (which I loved, but I'll agree taking it out made P4 more accessible) gave more time for other things, a way more smooth "difficulty curve", more engaging character personalities, and the story is more engaging on a moment to moment level, but I had more issues with it than Persona 3. I thought the story overall had weird problems piecing itself together. The dungeons while being aesthetically better felt slower with their emphasis on long hallways. The social links had more interesting characters, but told less interesting stories with those characters (Persona 3's Hermit Social Link is by far my favourite in the series
THAT TWIST IS SO GOOD
That said, I love both games. Easily in my top 50 favourite games of all time if I managed to make that list.
twisted h3art
Member
Persona 3 it also had the best ending.
Someone save Minato!
DryEyeRelief
Member
She's also the female protagonist in P3P
arnoldocastillo2003
Member
Yeah thats the biggest one I have as well. Sorry mate if you were looking for a bigger one.
DJ_Lae
Member
Persona 4 doesn't have Fuuka so it automatically wins.
I think I just like the cast of Persona 4 better, and the dungeons. Though to be fair to it, I've only ever made it about 75% of the way through Persona 3, so I'll have to rectify that at some point. Battles just start to become really grating once Fuuka's commentating.
I think I just like the cast of Persona 4 better, and the dungeons. Though to be fair to it, I've only ever made it about 75% of the way through Persona 3, so I'll have to rectify that at some point. Battles just start to become really grating once Fuuka's commentating.
Crankshaft
Member
I felt the story in P3 climaxed too soon and then got dull until it hit the end.
I felt P4 got dull in the middle and climaxed toward the end.
I'd rate P4 as being better but P3 is a very close second.
I felt P4 got dull in the middle and climaxed toward the end.
I'd rate P4 as being better but P3 is a very close second.
DryEyeRelief
Member
Really? I felt like the Golden epilogue made the ending worse and wasn't needed.
The answer in terms of adventure is pretty contrived, but it's much needed development for the cast that you don't get from the journey.
Eudaemonium
Member
By and large I feel P3 and P4 succeed at different things.
P3 has a much stronger finale/wrap-up—the conclusion feels like the culmination of your journey. The second half of the game is narratively stronger, however I feel that the first half is narratively fairly weak—the monthly rigmarole of wait until the full moon and then fight a boss, wait another month, rinse, repeat. Tartarus is there, but there's no real plot impetus to go there other than needing to level up. The social links are also generally weak and fairly disconnected from the main narrative, with a couple of standouts (The Sun, for example).
I should note that FeMC P3P route fixes a lot of my issues with P3's narrative by adding more links with the core cast, as well as the awesome star-crossed romance that was Fortune.
P4 on the other hand has much better social links that flesh out the core cast, and while it has the same monthly repetition the repetition is more closely tied to the narrative and the characters themselves. It feels tighter. On the other hand, after finally capturing the culprit the actual final wrap-up seems fairly weak—someone in another thread said that it felt like a failed attempt to replicate the end of P3, and I kind of agree with them. P4 really shined due to its small focus and the attempt to broaden that focus into something bigger fell flat for me.
P4G actually attempts to rectify this in a lot of ways, but I feel that it still falls flat in its ultimate execution.
P3 has a much stronger finale/wrap-up—the conclusion feels like the culmination of your journey. The second half of the game is narratively stronger, however I feel that the first half is narratively fairly weak—the monthly rigmarole of wait until the full moon and then fight a boss, wait another month, rinse, repeat. Tartarus is there, but there's no real plot impetus to go there other than needing to level up. The social links are also generally weak and fairly disconnected from the main narrative, with a couple of standouts (The Sun, for example).
I should note that FeMC P3P route fixes a lot of my issues with P3's narrative by adding more links with the core cast, as well as the awesome star-crossed romance that was Fortune.
P4 on the other hand has much better social links that flesh out the core cast, and while it has the same monthly repetition the repetition is more closely tied to the narrative and the characters themselves. It feels tighter. On the other hand, after finally capturing the culprit the actual final wrap-up seems fairly weak—someone in another thread said that it felt like a failed attempt to replicate the end of P3, and I kind of agree with them. P4 really shined due to its small focus and the attempt to broaden that focus into something bigger fell flat for me.
P4G actually attempts to rectify this in a lot of ways, but I feel that it still falls flat in its ultimate execution.
killatopak
Member
I really like P4 more because it made me laugh more often.
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
Which is a MASSIVE point in its favor. ;P
Mauricio_Magus
Banned
P3P is fantastic, you know.
Twin Tails
Member
P3 you shoot yourself to summon your persona.
Done
Done
P4>P3
While I think I liked P3's story better I enjoyed P4's characters and gameplay more. I think that the P3 characters went through more dramatic arcs but overall I liked all of P4's characters and hated some of P3's. The dungeons in P4 are more varied than P3's because they are tailored to the character you are saving. Sure, they are all pretty much reskins but that's all it takes to beat the boring piece of shit Tartarus was. Not to mention that each one of P4's dungeon had a boss that represented the character which was more preferable than the moon bosses in Persona 3.
I'm not even gonna talk about the gameplay improvements in P4 because they have been addressed in P3P. It's a shame that there isn't a definitive version of Persona 3 because I really think that game is special.
While I think I liked P3's story better I enjoyed P4's characters and gameplay more. I think that the P3 characters went through more dramatic arcs but overall I liked all of P4's characters and hated some of P3's. The dungeons in P4 are more varied than P3's because they are tailored to the character you are saving. Sure, they are all pretty much reskins but that's all it takes to beat the boring piece of shit Tartarus was. Not to mention that each one of P4's dungeon had a boss that represented the character which was more preferable than the moon bosses in Persona 3.
I'm not even gonna talk about the gameplay improvements in P4 because they have been addressed in P3P. It's a shame that there isn't a definitive version of Persona 3 because I really think that game is special.
Persona 4 is my favorite JRPG and it is precisely because of its small scope (until the very end) in setting, unique atmosphere, themes and a large focus on characters. Shadow Heart is a very close second and that is a game that also excels in setting, atmosphere and character writing.
I've tried several times to get into P3 but I just do not care about the story or setting whatsoever.
P5 has already hit all the right notes with me though. Can't wait!
I've tried several times to get into P3 but I just do not care about the story or setting whatsoever.
P5 has already hit all the right notes with me though. Can't wait!
There isn't really a definitive Persona 3 version. P3P has some gameplay improvements but P3FES has better presentation. In the end I'd certainly play P3P over not playing P3 at all.
I learned this very thing after beating Persona 4 Golden. At first I tried to play through FES but after being spoiled by P4's batter system, I found it impossible. Then I tried P3P and really was not feeling the presentation so I went back top FES. At the end of the day I decided it was important that I enjoyed how the game played more than how it looked visually. I ended up watching the real cutscenes on youtube while they were playing on P3P because it's pretty obvious when something is suppose to be a cutscene in that game.
Bitch Pudding
Member
Hi there,
I own a PSP and a Vita - and I never played any Persona Game so far, so I am kind of LTTP both for P3 and P4. After I rediscovered my love for Japanese Games by playing (and finishing) Danganronpa 1 a couple of weeks ago I thought about giving P4 Golden a try.
Then again, maybe it's wise to start with P3 on PSP beforehand? Your thoughts?
I own a PSP and a Vita - and I never played any Persona Game so far, so I am kind of LTTP both for P3 and P4. After I rediscovered my love for Japanese Games by playing (and finishing) Danganronpa 1 a couple of weeks ago I thought about giving P4 Golden a try.
Then again, maybe it's wise to start with P3 on PSP beforehand? Your thoughts?
CoolBatteryCharge
Member
I could only start appreciating Persona 3 Portable after beating FES. I feel like it's better suited to someone who has already beaten the game and wants a faster version for repeated playthroughs, but I guess
is a good compromise if there's no other option for a first run.
is a good compromise if there's no other option for a first run.
Velcro Fly
Member
I can recognize P4 is probably the better game while still liking P3 more.
DryEyeRelief
Member
Holundrian
Unconfirmed Member
I like the P3 main cast more.
But man objectively P4 has way better gameplay because of all the quality of life improvements.
And then some of P3 social links are just awful. I couldn't care less about Kenji, the french dude or that old bookstore pair.
Compare that to P4's death, devil, hermit link...
For me personally the side story social links are just way way stronger than they are in P3.
So for me P4 wins, still I love both Persona games.
But man objectively P4 has way better gameplay because of all the quality of life improvements.
And then some of P3 social links are just awful. I couldn't care less about Kenji, the french dude or that old bookstore pair.
Compare that to P4's death, devil, hermit link...
For me personally the side story social links are just way way stronger than they are in P3.
So for me P4 wins, still I love both Persona games.
I'd play persona 3 portable first and then move on to P4 Golden after.
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
It is generally easier to go from P3 to P4 than vice-versa. Especially if you would be going from FES without full party control, but you don't have to worry about that with P3P.
That said, I never had any major issues with AI party control, especially once you get access to all the tactics. I've always meant to try and go through P4 again but do it P3 style without taking control of the non-MC chars, never got around to trying though.
ThatChairMan
Member
When people say P4 had better gameplay over 3, it always makes me feel like I'm the only person who liked Slash/Strike/Pierce, Fusion spells, knockdown recovery, and being able to equip multiple weapons.
Spinosaurus
Member
Overall, I like Persona 4 better as a game. The cozy setting of Inaba and the better dungeon crawling made me enjoy it more.
However, as much as I like Kanji, Naoto and Dojima, they don't even compare to Junpei and Yukari. The characters and darker atmosphere are just better imo.
However, as much as I like Kanji, Naoto and Dojima, they don't even compare to Junpei and Yukari. The characters and darker atmosphere are just better imo.
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
Nah, you're not alone. In fact, many of those same people would likely also see want to see those things again.
I think the main thing people refer to by that statement are the option to control your party members instead of the AI, a better balance of plot/dungeon/S.Links, having separate dungeons instead of the one massive tower (the tower "blocks" never really feel like different from each other even though, like in P4, the enemies may change in a similar way - at least in P4 they look a lot different and have different music), not having to worry about S.Link reversals (though I think a few out there do miss that as well), and (in the case of P4G) being able to actually choose what Persona skills get passed along during fusion.
Touch fuzZy. get BizZay
Member
I give it to P4 but they're both wonderful. It really surprises me every time I hear that someone hates one and loves the other. To me its like "which one do you like slightly more out of these two amazing games?"
Bitch Pudding
Member
Thanks a lot. So I guess it's time to reactivate my PSP...
Looking forward to playing those games after reading all your Persona-related posts and threads
.
Looking forward to playing those games after reading all your Persona-related posts and threads
.CoolBatteryCharge
Member
They might be talking about having direct control instead of tactics and a lot of the non-combat stuff, but in terms of combat, I'm right there with you. Loved P3's combat way more, especially slash/strike/pierce.