Guide Dang It Persona 1 & 2?

[DarklordKyo]

I've been introduced (like many people) to Shin Megami Tensei's Persona subseries with Persona 3 & 4. I was thinking of going back to the previous games, and I'd like to know if there are extremely plot-important stuff (basically, the closest they have to social links in plot importance) that require a guide to get in one go. That said, barring stuff like minor sidequests, will I need a guide for the important stuff in Persona or either entry in the Persona 2 duology?

 

[Jolly Co-operator]

I don't know the games in-depth enough to give you the information you're looking for, but I do have some warnings.

1.) The first two games don't have Social Links.

2.) Persona 1 is the physical manifestation of all that is evil in this, and all other worlds. It is so unspeakably awful that I would undergo an odyssey to the ends of nine separate universes to ensure its destruction, all while wearing steel-wool underpants. It's not very fun, is the point I'm trying make here. I'd honestly recommend skipping it. The story and characters aren't really up to par with those of 2, 3, and 4, unfortunately.

On a brighter note, Persona 2 has an excellent story and cast of characters, although the gameplay can be rather slow and somewhat dated. I can actually recommend that one.

Overall though, if you've played 3 and 4, it's my opinion that you've already played the best that the Persona series has to offer. I suggest checking out the rest of the Shin Megami Tensei series, if you haven't already.

 

[Rozalia1]

Avoid the Snow Queen quest as it up and replaces the main story and puts you on a harder path with a time limited dungeons. Save it for a second playthrough if you want to play it.
Though thinking about it...what other games have a side quest completely replace the main storyline? Sounds like something that needs to be done more honestly.

Anyway Persona has certain characters with requirements to get them to join you and you're required to do a few optional conversations for one, pretty sure to get at least one character you have to refuse other characters and than go through an area without a full team. Oh there is also a character exclusive to the Snow Queen route.

Persona 2 you probably want to look at a guide for the minor stuff yeah.

 

[William Fleming]

The first game you may want a guide for since the best party member in the game has insane and specific requirements for getting him and also avoid Snow Queen quest like the previous post said. Also the dungeons and battles can get very tedious and annoying in my opinion if you are going in without a guide. Very few fans of the series say that they like the first game. It is also slow and hard/complete bullshit in regards to what the game considers "fair".

I have only played Innocent Sin of the Persona 2 duology and I can say it can easily be played without a guide. You may miss a timed quest or two if you don't scour the area but nothing too bad and its really easy compared to other SMT games (and the tweaks made in the PSP remake makes it even easier). I have never gotten round to playing Eternal Punishment though so I can't comment on that.

By the way, I'm assuming you're playing the superior PSP remakes of Persona 1 and Innocent Sin (but not Eternal Punishment since the PSP remake of that never got localised).

 

[DarklordKyo]

The first game you may want a guide for since the best party member in the game has insane and specific requirements for getting him and also avoid Snow Queen quest like the previous post said. Also the dungeons and battles can get very tedious and annoying in my opinion if you are going in without a guide. Very few fans of the series say that they like the first game. It is also slow and hard/complete bullshit in regards to what the game considers "fair".

I have only played Innocent Sin of the Persona 2 duology and I can say it can easily be played without a guide. You may miss a timed quest or two if you don't scour the area but nothing too bad and its really easy compared to other SMT games (and the tweaks made in the PSP remake makes it even easier). I have never gotten round to playing Eternal Punishment though so I can't comment on that.

By the way, I'm assuming you're playing the superior PSP remakes of Persona 1 and Innocent Sin (but not Eternal Punishment since the PSP remake of that never got localised).

Yes, actually, I will be running the PSP remakes. I can tolerate playing the PS1 version of Eternal Punishment, because it looks like the translation is improved over the first one (for example, none of the characters look radically americanized according to this review I saw once, least not as noticeably as they were in the first one).

 

[Colinmac93]

As somebody who is currently doing their first run through Persona 1, here's my advice for it: Don't.
The game is very brutal. There's way too many random encounters nearly everywhere, and you can't just run away because the escape option almost never works, which means you'll have had about ten encounters on the streets before you've made it from point A to B.
I chose to play the game on normal difficulty. I did the sidequest to get Reiji, but the game is still very hard, even by normal JRPG standards. On the one of the dungeons, I got annihilated by three guys who were level 57, when all of the other enemies were in their mid 40s.
In a nutshell, don't bother with this one. My interest for this game quickly turned into tedium and frustration when playing through it. The only reason I'm bothering to complete it is because I'm at the last boss (*cries*), and it would feel wrong to leave it there.

 

[Rozalia1]

Persona 1 is indeed a slog...maybe you'd be better off doing say Soul Hackers?

 

[DarklordKyo]

Thanks for all the feedback. On the topic of Shin Megami Tensei spin-offs, do I need to play the Digital Devil Saga games to fully enjoy Avatar Tuner?, if so, can I read it after the first one?, or should I play both?

Also, similar question, would I need a guide for relatively important stuff in the Digital Devil Sagas?

 

[Tanis]

2.) Persona 1 is the physical manifestation of all that is evil in this, and all other worlds. It is so unspeakably awful that I would undergo an odyssey to the ends of nine separate universes to ensure its destruction, all while wearing steel-wool underpants. It's not very fun, is the point I'm trying make here. I'd honestly recommend skipping it. The story and characters aren't really up to par with those of 2, 3, and 4, unfortunately.

Seriously?
P1 is one of the best JRPGs on the PS1.
It's the first Atlus game that crushed any of Squares stuff at the time.

Thanks for all the feedback. On the topic of Shin Megami Tensei spin-offs, do I need to play the Digital Devil Saga games to fully enjoy Avatar Tuner?, if so, can I read it after the first one?, or should I play both?
Also, similar question, would I need a guide for relatively important stuff in the Digital Devil Sagas?

No.
DDS is its own universe, far as I can recall.

I liked DDS, but the games suffer from grindfest.
I only beat both games by using a GameShark to increase my XP gain by 50x.
Both games have some great story elements, and the combat is good enough, but DDS2 does seem to got a bit too 'mindfrak' for its own good sometimes.
XD

Really, most MegaTen games are separate from each other.
With in jokes or reference scatted around because, Atlus loves its fan base, but nothing 'plot important'.

I'd really suggest the Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. games
They're MegaTen, but with a nice 'jazz' feel and a some great game play.
-Though, the difficulty does spike a bit.
-Not as WTF levels as Nocturne, but still a bit 'seriously, I got taken out by a freaking FAIRY?!?!' moments.

 

[DarklordKyo]

No.
DDS is its own universe, far as I can recall.

I liked DDS, but the games suffer from grindfest.
I only beat both games by using a GameShark to increase my XP gain by 50x.
Both games have some great story elements, and the combat is good enough, but DDS2 does seem to got a bit too 'mindfrak' for its own good sometimes.
XD

Really, most MegaTen games are separate from each other.
With in jokes or reference scatted around because, Atlus loves its fan base, but nothing 'plot important'.

I'd really suggest the Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. games
They're MegaTen, but with a nice 'jazz' feel and a some great game play.
-Though, the difficulty does spike a bit.
-Not as WTF levels as Nocturne, but still a bit 'seriously, I got taken out by a freaking FAIRY?!?!' moments.

Avatar Tuner isn't a game, it's a novel set in DDS's setting, the Junkyard. I was wondering if the novels require knowledge of DDS or not. Also, question still stands, will I need a guide for the important stuff in DDS?, like any canon endings or optional party members?

 

[Jolly Co-operator]

2.) Persona 1 is the physical manifestation of all that is evil in this, and all other worlds. It is so unspeakably awful that I would undergo an odyssey to the ends of nine separate universes to ensure its destruction, all while wearing steel-wool underpants. It's not very fun, is the point I'm trying make here. I'd honestly recommend skipping it. The story and characters aren't really up to par with those of 2, 3, and 4, unfortunately.

Seriously?
P1 is one of the best JRPGs on the PS1.
It's the first Atlus game that crushed any of Squares stuff at the time.

I suppose we'll just have to disagree on P1 then, because I really can't say I enjoyed it at all. Maybe it's just because I'd already played a few more modern and refined SMT games, but P1 didn't appeal to me, and I honestly wanted to like it.

 

[SmallHatLogan]

2.) Persona 1 is the physical manifestation of all that is evil in this, and all other worlds. It is so unspeakably awful that I would undergo an odyssey to the ends of nine separate universes to ensure its destruction, all while wearing steel-wool underpants. It's not very fun, is the point I'm trying make here. I'd honestly recommend skipping it. The story and characters aren't really up to par with those of 2, 3, and 4, unfortunately.

Seriously?
P1 is one of the best JRPGs on the PS1.
It's the first Atlus game that crushed any of Squares stuff at the time.

I suppose we'll just have to disagree on P1 then, because I really can't say I enjoyed it at all. Maybe it's just because I'd already played a few more modern and refined SMT games, but P1 didn't appeal to me, and I honestly wanted to like it.

I'm with you there. That game was unbelievably tedious. The grindyness and monotonous dungeon crawling very much reminded me of the average 8 bit JRPG. Obviously there are people out there that like old school brutal JRPGs but I don't think they've aged well, and I don't think Persona has aged well at all.

The combat and dungeon crawling weren't great in P2 either but they were a vast improvement over the first game. Plus the story and characters in P2 were awesome.

 

[Refresh220]

You're gonna need a guide for both Persona 2 games because of the negotiation system. Unless you want to keep writing it down, which I'm sure you don't. I've only played like an hour or more of Persona 1 but I think a guide might be required for that too. A lot of people say to skip that game though. I've heard someone complain about the game on the easy mode on PSP version. The earlier Persona games are very different from from P3 and P4.But yeah,if you do decide to play these games I think you should go in with a Guide.

 

[Rozalia1]

DDS games may have the high encounter rate that Persona 1 has but its a far superior game which helps it a lot. I'll warn you though that they are as you'd expect very hard but manageable/fun as you overcome the bosses, heck the final dungeon has a nice chain of bosses as you go through it for example...till you hit that Meganada prick right before the final boss. Making me grind 20 levels and all the skills needed to even stand a chance is not something a storyline boss should be bloody doing, and a boss that has a pattern so you can stay in the fight and not get obliterated, shouldn't at the end throw the pattern out to do what he feels like.

Oh and that is no real spoilers don't worry as Meganada isn't really a character, more a hyped up monster.