Starting out - Phansite Archive

Bgammax

Starting out

Since this is the time where the Site is least active, I figured it was also the best time to post a serious question. Which game would you recommend a newbie to the series to start with? I've only ever actually played the weird Fire Emblem crossover thing, so I was curious where people thought I should start with the actual series.

Kirusu

I started with P3P, it's good to start with cause it was the turning point in the series, plus there's PSP emulators like PPSSPP

Shadowgear

I started with Persona 4, so I guess that would work?

AkeShu

A lot of people who have never played Persona have really enjoyed 5, but I would say you could probably play 3 or 4 and get into it easily

TheWildCard

Although the games share common themes, none of the stories are really connected as per say (apart from the whole finding out ya got a persona and stuff) so my suggestion would be start with whatever you find the most interesting.

RobololiAigis

You can start with P3P, P4 Golden or P5.

Persona 3/FES on PS2/Emulators feel really slow.

Kirusu

@RobololiAigis that could just be your computer

RobololiAigis

No like the pacing's slow compared to the Portable version.

You legit have to walk out the school's exit just to access the world map. I'm too lazy for that.

Kirusu

Ah, ok, fair enough

hazama

I feel as if starting with P5 might make you dread going back to the older games. But, anything in Persona works as a starting point, besides PQ and any of the dreaded P4 spin-offs.

For mainline SMT, start with either Digital Devil Saga, Nocturne, or SMT 4. All of them work.

Bgammax

bumping this because a lot more people are on to give opinions now. Also I would appreciate people choosing one game they think would be best, rather than suggesting three.

Migrant

I'd advise starting with 4 or 5.

3 is an okay starting point but the original and FES don't let you control your party (which will infuriate you often) and Portable is a weird point and click visual novel when not in Tartarus.

Don't touch 1 or 2 as your first game unless you've already played SMT games.

HibkiKuze

Due to the safety difficulty I'd say P5

Ohya

I would say start with 4. It gets a bad rap but it is the easiest to get into, and you won't hurt yourself in the long run by playing P5 first and getting used to the improvements that older ones lack.

Jokerboi

I started with 5 tbh