I've, uh, done nothing interesting in FFXI since my last post >.>; So let's skip over that and get to the meat of this post!
I picked up Persona 3 for the PSP. I have some real mixed feeling about it that I'm still trying to sort out. The only thing I've really decided is that between Persona 3, FES, and P3P, this is my least favorite version of the game. That's not to say it's a bad game; the source material is amazing. I'm just not sure I like how this version is presented.
I've been trying to pin down the source of my nagging repulsion, especially since there are so many things in this version that I adore. I love how they incorporated so many of the "small" improvements from P4. High points for me include direct command of all party members, being able to manage them from the Main's menu, the square button being a map shortcut, exploring progress being 'saved' based on floor reached instead of hitting a check point, and being able to pay Yen to restore HP/SP in the lobby. The list is long and makes one hell of a run on sentence >.>v I started both a Male and Female Main file, though I'm mostly playing Female. I don't think I'm far enough along to appreciate all of the "different perspective" that Female offers, but I'm intrigued. I joined the Tennis Club (instead of, say, Kendo). So far it seems like half of the music was changed and mostly removed the "rappish" pieces for more "j-pop". P3 just doesn't seem the same without Burning My Dread :|a
So, in short, there's a lot I like about this game, so why am I still feeling :/ about it? The nearest I can pin it down... I'm not sure I can explain this well... But realize I jumped into the Persona series with Revelations on PSX. I've played both Eternal Punishment and Innocent Sin (that was slow and plodding with my x.x understanding of Japanese.) One aspect that all of these games have in common are character interactions. As in... They're more than just a piece of dialogue being rattled off. You enter a room and you might witness a scene. The character fighting it out or just standing around. In P3 (meaning PS2 version, I'll call the PSP one P3P for clarity's sake.) This type of interaction, of setting the scene, was taken to a new level. For example, when you enter the lobby of the dorms you'll find your friends hanging out *doing* things. Each character has like 4 different action they might be emoting, ranging from eating something, lounging while reading a book, playing a hand held, etc. It was a charming and novel way to give your friends some personality rather than just gather all your characters in a room and have them hanging out in a static position.
In Persona, P2, P3, and P4, having your characters emoting and playing out the scenes did as much for telling the story as the dialogue. An early example of this in P3 would be when Junpei moves in. Aikhiko says a new guy is moving in and then Junpei comes into the lobby with his luggage in tow. Yukari is dismayed with sweat drops and all. It's a minor interaction, but the scene it played out for you.
In P3P the same scene is done entirely with sound effects and dialogue on top of a static wallpaper background. In fact, everything was changed to a "point and click" format when moving around (except in dungeons). I realize full well that such detailed emotes as characters eating wouldn't be reasonable to animate on the PSP, but they went full-bore in the completely opposite direction. Scenes are no longer acted out. It's just dialogue. It's not nearly as fulfilling when you've seen these scenes played out. In fact, I'm somewhat dreading the summer break trip. I don't imagine that (very humorous and plot advancing) adventure ported well at all :/
I probably wouldn't be feeling this so keenly if I didn't have a long history with Persona games, hadn't played P3 / FES a half zillion times, and was completely unaware of "could have been"s. I mean, if you've never seen the interactions played out, would you miss them if P3P was your first experience with Persona 3? I doubt it, especially since it's a solid game otherwise. It just leaves me feeling, on a personal level, like there's a gap in it; there's something *missing*.
Anyhow, would I recommend P3P to others? Well, there'd be a lot of strings attached to the recommendation... If the person had access to a PS2, I'd very highly recommend they go straight to the source instead. Get Persona 3 or FES. Buuuuut, if the person isn't really good at / keen on RPGs, then I might tell them to get P3P instead. There's a super easy Beginner difficulty and all of the P4-esque improvements eliminate potential system-related frustrations that P3 / FES might present (especially FES and it's lack of check points / save points with relation to boss battles).
In short I'd say P3P is the 'sanitized' version of P3 in terms of artificial system-related challenges. It also seems to be cleaned up in terms of creepiness. For an example, I'd offer up Thanatos' unexpected invocation early in the game. In P3 the scene is animated and Thanatos starts messily chowing down on an enemy. In P3P it's rendered and you can't really tell that the 'armor' around him are coffin lids. He does go down on the enemy and you could construe that he was munching. There's a bit of red around the mouth, but it's much tamer. Not as gritty or alarming. Scenes like this that were unnerving have been tamed or reduced to dialogue >.>;
So yeah, I need to finish the Female game. And play more Bayonetta and beat Nif's gamer score :E
Nimbex > The lack of FES makes me concerned about playing P3 on PSP. (10/07/09 17:13)
Nimbex > I've never played any Persona, but I have around P1 PSX, P1 PSP, P3 PSP, P3-no-FES, P3-FES, P4. I'm always concerned when there are multiple platforms for games. Disgaea, I haven't played because of Platform Paralysis. I've had similar issues for ALL BIOWARE GAMES. I do appreciate your discussions on the subject very much. (10/07/09 17:19)
Beanie > With how much they added / changed with the Female story I'm not sure FES would've fit. I was a bit put off by that as well, but have gotten over it. The Female story is like a third version of the game. For the completionist / Persona lover in me I want to see all the stories, but yeah, it can be numbing when you look at how much there is... (And go play P4. Best thing since slice bread on PS2.) (10/07/13 00:32)
Nayami > I bought P3P recently and it totally reminded me of you. :D I just started it so I guess I'm not too far in to have an opinion. I did finish P4 lately and wow, that was an amazing game. D: ... When do we get P5 on PS3? I just had to thank you for bringing up this game series, otherwise I don't think I would have went through the trouble of hunting down a copy of P4 and I would have totally missed out. o,o And now I feel like a creepy stalker for randomly dropping by like this. HI. D: (10/07/14 06:18)
Beanie > Hi! Many nights I think you and Ren had the right idea. Quezzy and I haven't always gotten along and FFXI has become IRC I pay $13 a month for. || P4 is such an outstanding game. I even got Nif to play it :o Looking forward to P5, though I dunno what console it'll be on. Last I heard they were just starting development on it (I'm really hoping it's on multi-console since I don't have a PS3, haha, but Altus doesn't usually roll that way.) I can hope! Since P5 is a lot more compelling arguement for me to buy a PS3 than FFXIV is :| (10/07/15 01:26)
Nayami > Whenever I read the updates for XI, it makes me glad that I quit, haha. D: I think they're just trying to get people to move on to XIV or something... they completely killed CoP. ;;; Oh well, at least it's a fancy iRC! Haha, Ren doesn't have a PS2 but I sent him a bunch of pictures and music from the game (and kept telling him about it 8D;;). We both agree that Rise's dungeon has the best BGM. Seriously, someone came to check what the heck I was doing when I played through it. Gotta love that questionnable music. 8Db P5 would make the PS3 worth it... and also The Last Guardian. Two good reasons! I actually got my PS3 for XIII. I'm not sure if I'll give XIV a spin. Knowing me, I'll probably end up checking it out once it comes out. 6_6; (10/07/16 19:53)
Nayami > Ironically enough, not long I posted this about XIV, I received an email from SE saying I was accepted as a beta tester for XIV. :| Haha. (10/07/17 10:25)
Name |
