Does this game ever open up?

[fr0]

I keep hearing people talk about choosing how to spend your free time and guides on how to maximize your social points.

However, I'm 6 hours in and so far everything is 100% linear. There are no meaningful choices. The only option I'm given is to go to bed. What am I missing?

[Beautiful Ham Sandwich]

Yes, it opens up, 6 hours is relatively not that much time in a Persona game.

[Demi Dratori]

Originally posted by fr0:

I keep hearing people talk about choosing how to spend your free time and guides on how to maximize your social points.

However, I'm 6 hours in and so far everything is 100% linear. There are no meaningful choices. The only option I'm given is to go to bed. What am I missing?

What people mean by maximizing time is the fact there are countless activities that the MC can do at most points in the game that give social stat increases. These are vital cause a good amount of stuff, including some confidant rank ups/activities require these stat increases.

[Admod, the Equivocal]

I have so much to do in the game I can't decide what to do. ( ͡👁️ ⏥ ͡👁️) I have too many things I need to do but can't do them all. Everyone is constantly sending me messages to hang out with them. When do I have time to increase my stats? When do I go into Mementos? When do I do a palace? When do I send the calling card? Then don't let me get started on the things I haven't even walked into because haven't even explored every city location because I'm constantly bombarded by phone.

[zero]

should open up after the first dungeon, which is like 1 or 2 hours into the game, it will contiune to open up as you go but after that point you should in general be getting several days in a row to just do w/e you want with your time (generally it'll be classroom->after school->evening->next day) so from your perspectives you have 2 moments of time to spend as you want every day

[Viper]

does not get out of the tutorial stage where you make all the decisions of what you will do each day for at least 6-8 hours. The game is over 100 hours with 9 palaces so the first part is relatively small.

[Demi Dratori]

Originally posted by Admod, the Equivocal:

I have so much to do in the game I can't decide what to do. ( ͡👁️ ⏥ ͡👁️) I have too many things I need to do but can't do them all. Everyone is constantly sending me messages to hang out with them. When do I have time to increase my stats? When do I go into Mementos? When do I do a palace? When do I send the calling card? Then don't let me get started on the things I haven't even walked into because haven't even explored every city location because I'm constantly bombarded by phone.

If you don't care too much about the experience of the story, I would suggest a guide like the one on PSNProfiles. It provides a detailed schedule to get 100% in the game. (It does sorta seem like it leans towards the harem route to get everything, but it still provides a good road map and you can do things at your own pace without following the same route.

[Viper]

Originally posted by Demi Dratori:

Originally posted by Admod, the Equivocal:

I have so much to do in the game I can't decide what to do. ( ͡👁️ ⏥ ͡👁️) I have too many things I need to do but can't do them all. Everyone is constantly sending me messages to hang out with them. When do I have time to increase my stats? When do I go into Mementos? When do I do a palace? When do I send the calling card? Then don't let me get started on the things I haven't even walked into because haven't even explored every city location because I'm constantly bombarded by phone.

If you don't care too much about the experience of the story, I would suggest a guide like the one on PSNProfiles. It provides a detailed schedule to get 100% in the game. (It does sorta seem like it leans towards

don't play with a guide. if you want to enjoy the game. Its like following an instruction manual step by step..even worse than what you say is linear. you make zero decisions and essentially somebody else plays the game for you. Just enjoy the game maxing everything is not that important. You will get close enough a few levels here and there in some confidants don't mean much.

[Admod, the Equivocal]

Originally posted by Viper:

don't play with a guide. if you want to enjoy the game. Its like following an instruction manual step by step..even worse than what you say is linear. you make zero decisions and essentially somebody else plays the game for you. Just enjoy the game maxing everything is not that important. You will get close enough a few levels here and there in some confidants don't mean much.

I agree. I tried to play with a guide for a little while and dropped it. Even if I don't get the +3 bonuses with confidants with the choices, I want to make the choices according to how I want my joker to be.

(that being said I'm 100% cheating on every exam and classroom question. )

[homerj]

I just hit 25 hours after finishing 2nd palace and opened up a 4th city with new shops/activities/jobs to travel to.

[Demi Dratori]

Originally posted by Admod, the Equivocal:

Originally posted by Viper:

don't play with a guide. if you want to enjoy the game. Its like following an instruction manual step by step..even worse than what you say is linear. you make zero decisions and essentially somebody else plays the game for you. Just enjoy the game maxing everything is not that important. You will get close enough a few levels here and there in some confidants don't mean much.

I agree. I tried to play with a guide for a little while and dropped it. Even if I don't get the +3 bonuses with confidants with the choices, I want to make the choices according to how I want my joker to be.

(that being said I'm 100% cheating on every exam and classroom question. :cat_stars:)

I agree with both of them. I was simply saying that was a possible option if oand only if he was not worried. I really never used it myself, just found it while looking at P5 stuff online one day. Though I do admit having that cheat sheet for answers and exams is a godsend

[kgfzrt]

once you get 4 party members, yes. I noticed the introduction took quite a while, too

but even when you do become free, you won't be able to just do everything. You keep unlocking new features and new areas. Although that's not linear and not a bad thing imo, as it keeps the game fresh

[MizarAce]

I only have to say, welcome to JRPGs.