The Entire Persona Series (1996-2021) - Trash or Treasure?

[@aegisop4862]

at first i thought this is nuts but this is just a collection

[@PathBeyondTheDark]

Every main game has their strengths and weaknesses, leading to different experiences that are more pivots then worse or better. Most consider the first game they played to be their favorite, nostalgia and all that, but I'm an exception. I played P3 first and the fresh experience compared to other JRPG's and above average character writing made me fall in love with it. But I would be remissed if I didnt admit that gameplay left much room for improvement. After a couple of playthroughs I wanted more, so I picked up P4 used which thankfully a nearby Gamestop had. And it somehow succeeded in trumping, by far, a game that I already thought was exceptional. The group dynamic was far and away superior which is something I didnt know I desperately wanted in my media until then, even if admitedly they dont stand out as individuals as much as the SEES members. They just felt like real teenagers, but mostly real friends right down to their otherwise harmless bickering and each member basically having a role they fill within the group (which mirrors my own experiences). They feel inseparable, which of course irl can be a bit of a mental health issue but for storytelling is fascinating. I also found the plot more engaging and the gameplay far less stressful. It just about improved on most aspects which is incredible considering what I thought already of P3. The one thing that I feel is vastly superior about P3 however, even to this day, is the transition into its end game feeling far more natural then P4 and P5. The final twist feels far more organic then later on, with P4 being especially egregious with how it springs onto you Izanami and rushes through that arc. P5 is better with its ambiguous build up, admitedly you would only catch onto if you played a previous game, but Yaldebaouth still feels more forced then Nix and the ending to the confrontation being far more cliche. P5 is, by far, the superior game gameplay-wise. Its incredidble how the gameplay only improves from game to game. Storywise I would have easily given it the least favorable recommendation until Royal, but after it's rather really difficult to place it for me. On one hand I still do not find the overall plot as engaging and Shido is a truly forgettable villain on top of Yaldebaouth. P3 had Nix and P4 Adachi, while P5's claim goes to Akechi... who has his own set of obvious issues. There also was not a single gut punch emotionally speaking... until... Maruki is quite possibly the most fascinating character in the entire series. Group dynamics are Persona's specialty, whether feeling like inseparable friends or good coworkers. But individual characterization did lack, still good but can fall into JP tropy cliches. Maruki however feels so fresh even compared to other mediums, a non-narcissistic and genuine messiah complex character. By far he is the series high point in terms of antagonists, hell a high point in any medium I've experienced (albeit I relate to his desires which help in that case). So yeah. They are all exceptional in their own way. This is just my overly bloated way of communicating that.

[@PathBeyondTheDark]

Also Futaba is best P girl. Dont judge. ;)

[@deodorantcan1200]

Hell yeah! I couldn't find a playlist for this so it's pretty convenient to have all the videos in 1 place now

[@TrashorTreasure]

The playlists are under “Marathons” on my channel page as well. :) Persona’s amongst them. Hope you enjoy!

[@carltonpowell5313]

WOOOO MADE IT TO THE END and all I can say is LOOKING COOL JOKER

[@TrashorTreasure]

Many thanks! I really appreciate it!

[@Nakarotto1]

I will say that I love your content. And I will admit that Persona 4 (the PS2 version that I downloaded on my PS3) is my introduction to the Persona series. I know I said that it is my introduction, but it just comes to show how much I like that game and the Persona 4 Golden makes me appreciate it even more. There are things about it that Persona 5 did better. But I enjoy it. In fact, if it wasn't for Persona 4, I wouldn't gotten into Persona 5.

[@sirwolfy9372]

1:49:39 I know that P3 is very much about your mortality and Shinji's death is a reminder of that but I guess they made this to make something similar to FF7 with Aerith, but unlike her, Shinji is a great member to do damage and that was very sad to have a great party member and then you lose him not much afterwards, but his death contributes with the story,themes and the boy character development at least. Unlike Aerith in the og FF7 that even doh she had her moments early game she doesn't do much after and was more story focus character.

[@tailsdoll010]

What are you hoping for persona 1,2,3 reminder?

[@Tanner31904]

What a madlad 7 hours of straight Persona stuff. My current Persona hyperfixation is satisfied.

[@DaTanMan01]

Looking cool Joker!

[@solidskullz5736]

I've only played 3 and 5, but I would say treasure. Sure some of them can be rather janky at times but I love the stories they tell as well as the gameplay with the personas you collect and the social links that flesh out the characters

[@PathBeyondTheDark]

Any reason you have not played P4? Just wondering if its a time or motivation thing, since it is the most light hearted which turns some away (even angering some). It still has some deep themes and some messed up events, so "light hearted" is relative to other entries not so much it just being bubbly happy time.

[@solidskullz5736]

I just can’t find a way to play it. My computer isn’t meant for gaming so steam and em pulsation isn’t an option until I get a better one. I don’t have a ps vita either

[@PathBeyondTheDark]

Ah, since you played P3 I just assumed you had access to it as well since both were on Ps2 and 3. My apologies.

[@solidskullz5736]

Nothin to apologize for

[@suou3580]

lol emulator apps keep me alive each day

[@jebbezjebzz5754]

This video was really cool and im watching it again now for the second time while playing persona 3 on my ps2

[@Nightxx9199]

Fusion alarm is extremely broken actually, And can be abused as you can get away with using each function once, Then sacrifice one of the personas to give your main ones +10 spread among its stats

[@Nightxx9199]

For Q2 my guess behind the Japanese only voices was most likely due to drama in the US dubbing industry around the time, Where the VA for Junpei, Vic was being accused by his fellow voice actors for sexual assault at cons etc. However had no proof of the claims outside of pictures that were proven to have been photoshopped by the owners of said pictures, One of the people accusing him was the voice actor for Yukiko in the p4 dub, Who is a bit of a known crazy alcoholic stoner around the community, Especially since she is now agreeing with Putin, So Atlus probably just didn't want to deal with any of the drama that could happen and just went with translating the text instead of getting the VAs

[@Official_RetroMania]

You can't get the Persona dancing games online because of song licensing issues, they probably had a 1 year deal and after that they probably pulled the game from the store.

[@salgshaka4483]

Binge time.

[@maramba32]

waiting for persona 5 arena someday

[@michaellane4054]

Saw couldn’t understand Morgana because she didn’t interact with him in the Metaverse.