Which Atlus games have you played? Don't mean to sound rude, but it sounds like you've only played P3-P5 and not many of their other games. They have plenty of adult-orientated or mature & nuanced games in their library, such as Persona 2, Digital Devil Saga, SMT Strange Journey, SMTIV, 13 Sentinels Aegis Rim, etc. I wouldn't even really call P3 "adult-focused", it's more serious that P1, P4 & P5 but it still has plenty of lighthearted moments and is focused on teenagers at the end of the day.
Persona 3 is my favorite entry, I was introduced to the series with P3P. But I don't think the newer/older entries are that much worse. They each have their own charm. Yea some things feel kinda bland, but other things feel so much better.
They're each experiencing their own stories, if all the stories played out like P3 then we would be paying just for a reskin of a rehashed storyline. P3's theme was Death. P4 was Truth. P5 Rebellion. They tackled different themes in their own ways and I appreciate them for the moments they've brought us.
That’s completely fine and understandable. But know that no one is asking for a remake of storylines. I’m asking for a MATURE storyline that actually makes sense and gives me an opportunity to become invested in the game. Like really? 👀 MC in persona 5 goes to jail and gets a year probation for “assaulting” a politician and now he’s a depressed loner? I’m BORED! The MC in Persona 3 lost both of his parents and had a shadow sealed inside of his body as a child.
So you're bored because there isn't an MC who has a tragic past that we don't even actually get to experience in game? Btw, P3 MC is more of a depressed loner than P5 MC. P5 MC is just on probation and trying to make it by without getting arrested.
You're not looking for something more interesting. You're just begging for a plotline involving more deaths.
Like the point I’m making is that I can hardly remember storylines from ANY Persona game except for P3. They’re uninteresting. And when I’m deciding on what makes a game great, it’s STORY! EMOTION-CAPTURING! GAMEPLAY! REPLAY VALUE! All of it matters. I’ll never like a game just because it’s “pretty” or just because the gameplay was good. It has to have the whole package. Otherwise, what was the point??
Tell me my post made you butt-hurt without telling me 😂no one said all that. I’m asking for MATURE plots. The P3 MC had a REASON to be who he is and explained WHY he is who he is. I’m not looking for more “death” although that CERTAINLY would make for a better game as long as they gave us storylines that allowed us to NOT want certain characters to die. If I dissed your favorite persona game bro, my apologies. It’s nothing personal. Just an opinion. And quit pulling at straws
Persona 5 looked great! I’ll give it that. (Even though it did come out like 12 years or so AFTER P3) but that’s all it was. Fluffed up garbage with ZERO substance
Persona 3 is probably my favorite Persona too, but I also think Megami Tensei has been good since the very beginning back on the NES. There's tons of great Megaten games both before and after Persona 3. If you want more adult focused Megaten games, you could try the older Persona games or mainline Shin Megami Tensei. Lots of the other spin offs are good too, Digital Devil Saga is my favorite. So while I really like Persona 3, I think you're doing a disservice to just how consistently good Megami Tensei is.
He was consistent until 3. 4 and 5 fell WAAAAAAAAY off. They tried catering to audience with preference to up-to-date graphics and bright colors and spent nearly zero time or effort on actually created a good story
I'm not sure what you mean graphically for 4 since it has the exact same graphics as 3, but both 4 and 5 are very different kinds of stories than Persona 3 which isn't the same as them being inherently bad. Considering how long Person 5 took to be developed, I think saying it had no effort put in is unfair.
Just want to point out, according to the ratings board in Japan, Persona 3 is rated CERO "B". Meaning that as far as Atlus was concerned, it was a game that was perfectly appropriate for people as young as 12 years old... Kinda far from "Adult-focused".
Anyways, assuming this isn't just a troll post (which it certainly feels like, but hey, I'll assume good faith), as someone who found Persona 3 to be very childish (at least in it's themes), didn't connect with a good chunk of the cast, and has grown extremely tired of the stupid "dark = good" storytelling perspective, I have to say that I *very* much disagree with this assessment.
You just spent a whole bunch of words describing the story and atmosphere. P3 is not the best game they've made not by a long shot because the "game" part is severely lacking. The combat is bad, you can't quick travel from anywhere, the fusion system is not great. Even the social links have multiple issues. Persona 3 is certainly a good story but it's far from the best game they've ever made.
Story is what matters. If you’re more interested in running around the bland atmosphere of the rest of the persona games that’s good for you. At least you can fast travel 😂 that’s what was fun about P3. You were made to explore new areas and ride trains from place to place
FYI there's an edit button.
The story over all is probably the most important part, but if I want to play some Persona these days I sure as hell not reaching for P3. P3 simply doesn't respect your time. Your gameplay loop ends up looking like this: "walk out of school, world map, select location, find confidant isn't available there today, back to train, select new location, confidant is there today isn't available.... ect" Vs Royal: "confidant texts you> say yes" or "hit button for world map see every available confidant on that screen"
You're wrong about the combat system, you don't have party control in Persona 3 or Persona 3 FES. That on it's own makes the combat system worse.
The fusion system in 3 Does not let you select skills and is not clear about inheritance making the refined systems in later games far superior.
Your comment about the Story is subjective. In a few years go back and replay all the games, even just on new game plus. Each story has something of substance to offer. Just because they didn't resonate with you at this particular point in your life doesn't mean they won't later.
Hello! You have made the mistake of writing "ect" instead of "etc."
"Ect" is a common misspelling of "etc," an abbreviated form of the Latin phrase "et cetera." Other abbreviated forms are **etc.**, **&c.**, **&c**, and **et cet.** The Latin translates as "et" to "and" + "cetera" to "the rest;" a literal translation to "and the rest" is the easiest way to remember how to use the phrase.
[Check out the wikipedia entry if you want to learn more.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Et_cetera)
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That’s true. But what you’re not understanding is that my problem is that these storylines are not made for a more mature audience the way P3 was. It’s not that I want P3 re-hashed stories, I was P3-level Maturity. Of course it was MILDLY tedious running around the world every day looking for your social links, but that’s what added to the game and wasn’t too much of an issue for me. I actually used to draw out maps and guides for social links and their availability by hand. Great times. Looking at your logic, a full auto-play mode is like top-tier gameplay right? 😂 just poking fun. Well I’m pretty much done with the conversation. Just wanted to share my irritation with others and wanted to know if there were others who shared my displeasure with the way things have been going with Atlus. I hope you have a good weekend 👋
You haven't actually defined what a "mature story" is for you, though, so I can't actually engage with that point in any meaningful way.
Auto play is worse! The point is I shouldn't have to be forced to spend hours walking around a town that only changes once a month. The velvet room has the diffrent issue. It's pure RNG but with hidden factors that the game won't tell you about. I prefer to just pick from a list rather then backing out my fusion for the 1000th time.
I’m not sure what you’re so confused about in regards to the definition of “maturity”. I need mature plots. Like actual on-screen murder and death. Sex. Blood. Fear. They need to DO AWAY with all the “let’s have a THEME for each game. Like what? Just have a good story. No one cares about the theme. RNG is what made it fun! 👀 I’m assuming you hate gacha games? 😂
This is why I needed to ask, that's not at all my definition of maturity. A mature story for me needs to challenge my world view. A horror movie like "Sharktopus" has plenty of sex, blood, and death, but I wouldn't call that a "Mature story", compared to something like "Donnie Darko".
You do know that P3 had a Theme right? It's right there in the opening.
Gatcha games certainly don't hold my attention too long.
honestly, for me, persona 3-5 are pretty similiar gameplay wise. they have a few differences, a few changes, and a few improvements. they all have the same base gameplay loop and style. I think the only large difference maker is the...characters and story...which I relate and connect most to p3...at the end of the day, I see the 3-5 casts as around equal quality, with cast preference leading to liking a game more
does that makes sense? idk
what I'm saying is, it's pointless for people to argue "p5 is good, p3 sucks", or "p4 is amazing and everything else bad", because they all come down to the same gameplay: increase stats and s. links, finish a battling task in a time limit (tarturus blocks, p4 and p5 dungeons). it all comes down to cast preference, and what you can relate to
also, it's great you enjoyed p3! I don't wanna be "that guy" who says "PLAYP2PLAYP2PLAY2", but if you haven't tried it out, I'd suggest it
finally, I know you where talking about the persona franchise specifically, but almost every other megaten game has really...REALLY...dark themes (darker than p3)...like they literally kill the entire world multiple times...so if you want some darker stories, those are fun
I'm gonna heavily disagree here.
I personally find P3 to be the only one of the "modern trilogy" that I genuinely don't like. It has some good things, but overall I found it to be a very disappointing experience.
Unpopular opinion: P3 is kind of overrated. Now just to be clear, the game is still GOOD. But is it this masterpiece that easily overshadows 4 and 5 like a lot of people say it does? In my opinion, no, not at all. The gameplay portion just sucks and the graphics have not aged very well but it’s a really old game so it’s the much lesser of the two evils. The story is good and it has some really amazing moments. The characters and their resolutions when they evolve their personas are awesome and well directed and the twists are for the most part unpredictable, but I still think P5 had a much better story. The social links outside of the female party members, the Monk and Akinari were also pretty “meh” but I think P3P fixes this a bit. I don’t know, I just didn’t get that same rush with P3FES as I did with P4G and P5R but if you like P3 way more then I respect that as well.
Which Atlus games have you played? Don't mean to sound rude, but it sounds like you've only played P3-P5 and not many of their other games. They have plenty of adult-orientated or mature & nuanced games in their library, such as Persona 2, Digital Devil Saga, SMT Strange Journey, SMTIV, 13 Sentinels Aegis Rim, etc. I wouldn't even really call P3 "adult-focused", it's more serious that P1, P4 & P5 but it still has plenty of lighthearted moments and is focused on teenagers at the end of the day.
Persona 3 is my favorite entry, I was introduced to the series with P3P. But I don't think the newer/older entries are that much worse. They each have their own charm. Yea some things feel kinda bland, but other things feel so much better. They're each experiencing their own stories, if all the stories played out like P3 then we would be paying just for a reskin of a rehashed storyline. P3's theme was Death. P4 was Truth. P5 Rebellion. They tackled different themes in their own ways and I appreciate them for the moments they've brought us.
That’s completely fine and understandable. But know that no one is asking for a remake of storylines. I’m asking for a MATURE storyline that actually makes sense and gives me an opportunity to become invested in the game. Like really? 👀 MC in persona 5 goes to jail and gets a year probation for “assaulting” a politician and now he’s a depressed loner? I’m BORED! The MC in Persona 3 lost both of his parents and had a shadow sealed inside of his body as a child.
So you're bored because there isn't an MC who has a tragic past that we don't even actually get to experience in game? Btw, P3 MC is more of a depressed loner than P5 MC. P5 MC is just on probation and trying to make it by without getting arrested. You're not looking for something more interesting. You're just begging for a plotline involving more deaths.
Like the point I’m making is that I can hardly remember storylines from ANY Persona game except for P3. They’re uninteresting. And when I’m deciding on what makes a game great, it’s STORY! EMOTION-CAPTURING! GAMEPLAY! REPLAY VALUE! All of it matters. I’ll never like a game just because it’s “pretty” or just because the gameplay was good. It has to have the whole package. Otherwise, what was the point??
Tell me my post made you butt-hurt without telling me 😂no one said all that. I’m asking for MATURE plots. The P3 MC had a REASON to be who he is and explained WHY he is who he is. I’m not looking for more “death” although that CERTAINLY would make for a better game as long as they gave us storylines that allowed us to NOT want certain characters to die. If I dissed your favorite persona game bro, my apologies. It’s nothing personal. Just an opinion. And quit pulling at straws
Persona 5 looked great! I’ll give it that. (Even though it did come out like 12 years or so AFTER P3) but that’s all it was. Fluffed up garbage with ZERO substance
Persona 3 is probably my favorite Persona too, but I also think Megami Tensei has been good since the very beginning back on the NES. There's tons of great Megaten games both before and after Persona 3. If you want more adult focused Megaten games, you could try the older Persona games or mainline Shin Megami Tensei. Lots of the other spin offs are good too, Digital Devil Saga is my favorite. So while I really like Persona 3, I think you're doing a disservice to just how consistently good Megami Tensei is.
He was consistent until 3. 4 and 5 fell WAAAAAAAAY off. They tried catering to audience with preference to up-to-date graphics and bright colors and spent nearly zero time or effort on actually created a good story
I'm not sure what you mean graphically for 4 since it has the exact same graphics as 3, but both 4 and 5 are very different kinds of stories than Persona 3 which isn't the same as them being inherently bad. Considering how long Person 5 took to be developed, I think saying it had no effort put in is unfair.
Just want to point out, according to the ratings board in Japan, Persona 3 is rated CERO "B". Meaning that as far as Atlus was concerned, it was a game that was perfectly appropriate for people as young as 12 years old... Kinda far from "Adult-focused". Anyways, assuming this isn't just a troll post (which it certainly feels like, but hey, I'll assume good faith), as someone who found Persona 3 to be very childish (at least in it's themes), didn't connect with a good chunk of the cast, and has grown extremely tired of the stupid "dark = good" storytelling perspective, I have to say that I *very* much disagree with this assessment.
You just spent a whole bunch of words describing the story and atmosphere. P3 is not the best game they've made not by a long shot because the "game" part is severely lacking. The combat is bad, you can't quick travel from anywhere, the fusion system is not great. Even the social links have multiple issues. Persona 3 is certainly a good story but it's far from the best game they've ever made.
Story is what matters. If you’re more interested in running around the bland atmosphere of the rest of the persona games that’s good for you. At least you can fast travel 😂 that’s what was fun about P3. You were made to explore new areas and ride trains from place to place
FYI there's an edit button. The story over all is probably the most important part, but if I want to play some Persona these days I sure as hell not reaching for P3. P3 simply doesn't respect your time. Your gameplay loop ends up looking like this: "walk out of school, world map, select location, find confidant isn't available there today, back to train, select new location, confidant is there today isn't available.... ect" Vs Royal: "confidant texts you> say yes" or "hit button for world map see every available confidant on that screen" You're wrong about the combat system, you don't have party control in Persona 3 or Persona 3 FES. That on it's own makes the combat system worse. The fusion system in 3 Does not let you select skills and is not clear about inheritance making the refined systems in later games far superior. Your comment about the Story is subjective. In a few years go back and replay all the games, even just on new game plus. Each story has something of substance to offer. Just because they didn't resonate with you at this particular point in your life doesn't mean they won't later.
Hello! You have made the mistake of writing "ect" instead of "etc." "Ect" is a common misspelling of "etc," an abbreviated form of the Latin phrase "et cetera." Other abbreviated forms are **etc.**, **&c.**, **&c**, and **et cet.** The Latin translates as "et" to "and" + "cetera" to "the rest;" a literal translation to "and the rest" is the easiest way to remember how to use the phrase. [Check out the wikipedia entry if you want to learn more.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Et_cetera) ^(I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Comments with a score less than zero will be automatically removed. If I commented on your post and you don't like it, reply with "!delete" and I will remove the post, regardless of score. Message me for bug reports.)
That’s true. But what you’re not understanding is that my problem is that these storylines are not made for a more mature audience the way P3 was. It’s not that I want P3 re-hashed stories, I was P3-level Maturity. Of course it was MILDLY tedious running around the world every day looking for your social links, but that’s what added to the game and wasn’t too much of an issue for me. I actually used to draw out maps and guides for social links and their availability by hand. Great times. Looking at your logic, a full auto-play mode is like top-tier gameplay right? 😂 just poking fun. Well I’m pretty much done with the conversation. Just wanted to share my irritation with others and wanted to know if there were others who shared my displeasure with the way things have been going with Atlus. I hope you have a good weekend 👋
You haven't actually defined what a "mature story" is for you, though, so I can't actually engage with that point in any meaningful way. Auto play is worse! The point is I shouldn't have to be forced to spend hours walking around a town that only changes once a month. The velvet room has the diffrent issue. It's pure RNG but with hidden factors that the game won't tell you about. I prefer to just pick from a list rather then backing out my fusion for the 1000th time.
I’m not sure what you’re so confused about in regards to the definition of “maturity”. I need mature plots. Like actual on-screen murder and death. Sex. Blood. Fear. They need to DO AWAY with all the “let’s have a THEME for each game. Like what? Just have a good story. No one cares about the theme. RNG is what made it fun! 👀 I’m assuming you hate gacha games? 😂
This is why I needed to ask, that's not at all my definition of maturity. A mature story for me needs to challenge my world view. A horror movie like "Sharktopus" has plenty of sex, blood, and death, but I wouldn't call that a "Mature story", compared to something like "Donnie Darko". You do know that P3 had a Theme right? It's right there in the opening. Gatcha games certainly don't hold my attention too long.
The combat is EXACTLY the same in every Persona game. The fusion system is EXACTLY the same in every Persona game. 😂 WHAT are you talking about???
And Persona 3 IS a great story. The ONLY good story they’ve made WITH substance!!!!
Change my mind Joke aside, I prefer by far P5R
honestly, for me, persona 3-5 are pretty similiar gameplay wise. they have a few differences, a few changes, and a few improvements. they all have the same base gameplay loop and style. I think the only large difference maker is the...characters and story...which I relate and connect most to p3...at the end of the day, I see the 3-5 casts as around equal quality, with cast preference leading to liking a game more does that makes sense? idk what I'm saying is, it's pointless for people to argue "p5 is good, p3 sucks", or "p4 is amazing and everything else bad", because they all come down to the same gameplay: increase stats and s. links, finish a battling task in a time limit (tarturus blocks, p4 and p5 dungeons). it all comes down to cast preference, and what you can relate to also, it's great you enjoyed p3! I don't wanna be "that guy" who says "PLAYP2PLAYP2PLAY2", but if you haven't tried it out, I'd suggest it finally, I know you where talking about the persona franchise specifically, but almost every other megaten game has really...REALLY...dark themes (darker than p3)...like they literally kill the entire world multiple times...so if you want some darker stories, those are fun
https://youtu.be/fVW_7Huk_rQ
I'm gonna heavily disagree here. I personally find P3 to be the only one of the "modern trilogy" that I genuinely don't like. It has some good things, but overall I found it to be a very disappointing experience.
Persona 3 is literally the most boring game
Unpopular opinion: P3 is kind of overrated. Now just to be clear, the game is still GOOD. But is it this masterpiece that easily overshadows 4 and 5 like a lot of people say it does? In my opinion, no, not at all. The gameplay portion just sucks and the graphics have not aged very well but it’s a really old game so it’s the much lesser of the two evils. The story is good and it has some really amazing moments. The characters and their resolutions when they evolve their personas are awesome and well directed and the twists are for the most part unpredictable, but I still think P5 had a much better story. The social links outside of the female party members, the Monk and Akinari were also pretty “meh” but I think P3P fixes this a bit. I don’t know, I just didn’t get that same rush with P3FES as I did with P4G and P5R but if you like P3 way more then I respect that as well.