Help with all the different versions...

[Chrius]

There are 4 different versions of Persona 3... I've never played any of the games (but I do know the first 2 games are not the same thing as the last 3) so which one should I play if I'm getting started on the series?

[Wolfherz]

P3 Reload.

[Velorien]

This one is the best version. It has all the content of the original FES edition (minus a so-so epilogue we may be getting as DLC), plus better graphics and some new features. The main alternative, Persona 3 Portable, has a non-canon female protagonist option, but also strips out various gameplay elements because it was made for a handheld console that couldn't handle them.

[benj]

There's still a lot of debate over which version is the best, but if you're new to the series you really shouldn't worry about it. Reload's updated mechanics make it the best one to start with. If you really get into it, there's nothing stopping you from playing FES and/or Portable later for their exclusive content. In fact, you may not even have to because it's rumored that some of their content will be added to Reload as DLC.

[Some Rando]

Originally posted by sleepy:

There's still a lot of debate over which version is the best, but if you're new to the series you really shouldn't worry about it. Reload's updated mechanics make it the best one to start with. If you really get into it, there's nothing stopping you from playing FES and/or Portable later for their exclusive content. In fact, you may not even have to because it's rumored that some of their content will be added to Reload as DLC.

Is it a good idea to play FES or P after this remake? I want to experience the original versions to completion, but I don't want to be jarred when I go back to them and am missing a lot of new features. Do you think it would be hard to get used to or does it matter?

Originally posted by Velorien:

This one is the best version. It has all the content of the original FES edition (minus a so-so epilogue we may be getting as DLC), plus better graphics and some new features. The main alternative, Persona 3 Portable, has a non-canon female protagonist option, but also strips out various gameplay elements because it was made for a handheld console that couldn't handle them.

Glad to hear this remake is so good!

[鶏]

persona 3 fes is better, has the right mysterious vibes this one is missing, just compare the title screen music

[benj]

Originally posted by Some Rando:

I want to experience the original versions to completion, but I don't want to be jarred when I go back to them and am missing a lot of new features. Do you think it would be hard to get used to or does it matter?

Probably the biggest thing you have to get used to is AI-controlled party members in the PS2 versions; only Portable and Reload let you control the full team in battle. I only played a couple hours of Portable prior to starting Reload so I can't say how hard it would be, but that seems to be the dealbreaker for a lot of people.

[Some Rando]

Originally posted by sleepy:

Originally posted by Some Rando:

I want to experience the original versions to completion, but I don't want to be jarred when I go back to them and am missing a lot of new features. Do you think it would be hard to get used to or does it matter?

Probably the biggest thing you have to get used to is AI-controlled party members in the PS2 versions; only Portable and Reload let you control the full team in battle. I only played a couple hours of Portable prior to starting Reload so I can't say how hard it would be, but that seems to be the dealbreaker for a lot of people.

Gotcha. Thanks for the response!

[AigisLover]

Play P3 Reload. This is the new definitive version of the game. It has a bunch of modern Quality of Life features added, the combat feels snappy and responsive, and it looks gorgeous.

There's even been a leak by a trustworthy source that FES' "The Answer" story will be coming later as DLC, and if this is true, then there is no question in my mind that Reload is THE definitive version to play.

If you end up wanting to play as the female protagonist Kotone Shiomi later on, get Persona 3 Portable, but it's going to feel very dated. It did come out in 2009, after all. But it has some exclusive Social Links and changes to dialogue, as well as other unique features.

[archonsod]

If you're getting started, P4 might be worthwhile purely because playing it after this or P5 will lead to a lot of gritted teeth due to lacking QoL features. Otherwise P5R or this one. They're all completely separate stories.