There is actually a really good manga adaptation for Persona 1 that adds so much more to the story and it's characters! The protagonist's whole backstory also adds a lot to the plot! So please! If you just want to experience the story, do check out the manga instead!
I really understand people who don´t wanna play this game, especially after the break that was P3, but man i can´t help it, this is my favorite Persona game, a lot of the elements that compose the PErsona series star here, not only in gameplay but narratives too, but the mayor diference(well for me) are the bad endings and what means to obtain them. Boy is hard being a Persona 1 fan, but i really like your review.
The biggest pet peeve I have with people who disliked P1 and P2 is that they say the game is too dated, so it's unplayable.Just because it's dated, doesn't mean it's unplayable. In fact, it can be quite enjoyable. Persona 1 PSP is actually my favorite entry in the series.
+HammerGeoLarrup I personally (heh) just prefer the more "jrpg" feel that 3 and 4 lack. They feel more like a decent bastard child between dating sims and rpgs. Not that they are bad or anything, they just aren't the game for me.
I adore Persona 1 too! I liked P3's story slightly more, but funnily enough I find P1's system superior. The plot and atmosphere were amazing and I loved every single character. Lack of social links only made it better, in my opinion.
Actually, to me P1 is nigh unplayable, simply because of technical problems. Not a lot of the gameplay was good, like the square-based system, the Negotiation system was crap, and to recruit the good party members you had to do a lot of junk. P2, on the other hand, while dated, I can still play just fine. In fact, P2: Innocent Sin and P3P are may favorites in the series.
unfortunately, i played persona 4 first. i was sorely disappointed going back and playing these ps1 ones, they just didnt have the character and plot development that i loved from the ps2 iterations. awesome review!
Yeah, Persona 2's duology is really good in the story and character development category Can't say the same about Persona 1, it has one or two good moments in it, but it's not worth the mind numbing gameplay if what you're in for is the story
@Kod Đanija Calm down dude, let people have their own opinions. If you crucify people for no reason other than an opinion, you have a great chance to either scare interested people away, or piss them off. The older Megaten games CAN be pretty hard to go back to at times, especially for newcomers, so insulting people and creating a sort of stigma is NOT the way to get them to want to play them. And let's be real: P1, no matter what version, is pretty rough around the edges.
IK this is a super late comment but anyone out there that wants to criticize Persona 1 (one of the main reasons being battle formation) I find it absolutely amazing and it's not that bad if you use it to your advantage. The characters are pretty amazing the story is way better than other persona games even though it can get a bit confusing at first. Basically I just saying before you criticize the game ACTUALLY give it a chance and try to get used to it and it's absolutely AMAZING.
I don't find the story that great. I think it had a lot of great ideas that they could've delved deeper into, but a lot of it felt really rushed or surface level.
No no , no Persona is not a mediocre game it's an amazing game about deeper truths to your hidden self. It's archaic but it is definitely one of the best games I've ever played!!!
There's not much of a story in the first one to be fair It didn't really grow into its shoes until 2's duology, I finished the first game just to say I played through it, the gameplay was pretty mind numbing for a not good story reward outside of one or two moments near the end of the game in a really long JRPG
@@KisekiFox growth in characters is subtle and i feel like the game is more traditionally megaten where you have to play through it multiple times to see everything
I can see why 2 have the best plot, but no other persona game deal with the Jungian themes as well as P1. The game is literally about exploring your own self, and it is very clever in the way it does that. There are metaphores for the personas and shadows everywhere
The 3,4 and 5 are really dumb in the way they tone down the deepness of the concepts of persona, each game trying to put out a new theme : death, truth and rebellion. Which is okay, but I really dislike the edginess
Dude, this Persona-esque format is so fucking cool!!!! Mad props, it looks perfect. I actually started with Persona 2 Eternal Punishment, when it came out on the PS1. So the first game has always been such a step backwards for me. Never really got into it, plus I have never gotten along too well with first person dungeon exploration.
Hmmmm Persona 1 would be an awesome game, but but... that first person dungeons and those confusing maps makes the game really irritating. Thtat's why I prefer persona 2.
I first played persona 1 in the psp, I didn't know about the change of music, I loved the new ost , but I dropped it after reaching the point where your main character has to go to a dungeon with just one extra character, it was painful, the random encounters are no joke in there, it was savage, but the story was quite good
I recently finished this game. While I liked the story and themes they presented, I found a lot of it too damn repetitive. As you said, there weren't many songs in the PSP version, and hearing the same songs, while catchy, OVER AND OVER AND OVER again was driving me insane. Then it came to the core gameplay, where for the first 15 or so hours I was really enjoying it, and then suddenly I just hit a wall were I found it a major chore the rest of the game and just left auto attack on through most of it and not really paying attention, this made it really hard for me to continue with it. There was also the Persona Card system that I NEVER touched until the 30 hour mark, mainly because I was too stupid to even know how it worked. It makes me really wish they had some form of explination, as it would have made frustrating sections where I needed to grind, easier. All-in-All I had started the game enjoying it, but in the end just being happy it was finished........ and then I found out about Ice Queen, said "fuck that" and just youtubed it........ all in all sadly I'd give it a 6/10......... Now time for Persona 2
This remake would be a lot more justifiable to buy if they had an option to switch to the original music like Innocent Sin does. Wonder why they didn't do that. That, and the character art/portraits are just so ugly. Using Kaneko's own art instead would have been much more aesthetically pleasing.
There IS a patch to replace the PSP music with the original. I'm going through the game again and it's a lot more subdued and atmospheric with it. Also that IS Kazuma Kaneko's artwork for the character portraits. This was back in 1996, and he was still evolving his art style. Plus human designs have always been a bit strange for him.
But it's not official, is it? I like playing these on my Vita. I started buying my PSP games when I got a job. Well, yes but not exactly what I meant. The promo art for the characters, namely the protagonist, look good. Not even that but they're like cut off in-game when displaying text which just looks poor in the context of the remake. I like his human style otherwise though.
David Ponce I'll give you that. I just like to go the extra mile for the things I like. I'm starting to wonder if they had time to implement them. ATLUS seemed to have learned their lesson with P2P, but it's a bit disappointing, I'll give you that.
Hahaha, you seriously cracked me up with the Persona-esque character popping up at the beginning. Nicely done. ;) Persona 4 was the first game that I played of the series. When I started it, I was seriously hooked. I couldn't wait until I got home to play it. Since then, I have played 3(FES) and the PSP releases of 1 and 2. I would like to get ahold of the PS1 games of those, especially 2 since it's a different game than the 2 on PSP. I did enjoy Persona, although I can understand it isn't for everyone. Good review, Derek!
I think the strength of P1 is that you just never know what kind of monster you’ll meet where, and you’re always trying to figure out how to get its damn card so you can fuse it and make some wild new summon. lol It feels like you’ll be able to create some legendary beastmonster any minute if you just persist. And the battle is tough as nails!!
I like this video a lot. Explains a little about the series as a whole, and assumes that the viewer is most likely here because he/she played P3/P4 and wants more of that. Good video all around.
Killer video mate! Love the Meta Ten franchise, and Persona digs into some interesting concepts that are a bit different from the main series. Anyhow, keep 'em coming!
Cool video man, been really interested in this series since picking up Persona 2 for the PSP without any prior knowledge... Certainly a strange little beast. Really need to finish it...
I picked this up at a used game shop for about $15 years ago on a whim, and it's been on the ol' RPG wall of shame since then. I think it'll be next on my playlist.
I've played Shin Megami Tensei on the SNES and found it to be way better than I expected. Also way harder than anticipated. Music was a big selling point for me on the game and it's good to hear they continued on with Persona. (in fact I even used some of it in my last video! :D :D ) But for them to drop that and go with J-POP!?!! No excuses! That's terrible! Too bad this game runs for $90+. I don't feel like dumping that much cash into a Playstation game. Awesome review as always, Derek!
Yo Derek this was my very first RPG game ive ever played growing up. I have played both ver. but I just like the ps1 ver. the best. Better music and grinding is just better. I hate how mark looks in this I prefer his Black alter ego lol.
Man I remember playing this way back in my early teens. I didn't know what I was getting into, I had very little JRPG experience. I was kinda blown away with how different it was, but also way out of my element and didn't understand the nuances of the game very well and ended up dropping it halfway through. I really need to revisit it and finish it off.
when i play persona 1 i could not even get to the first fight got stuck in the school cause i did not know what to do this back when i was young and was a dumbass
I can probably say this is the only SMT game I've played that I didn't much care for. I've finished 10 of them at least once. I do want to give it another shot one of these days. I got like 10 hours in and eventually just lost all interest in it.
I know that feeling. I had a similar experience during this review, and nearly scrapped it. I'm still looking forward to trying Persona 2, just waiting for the right mood to strike me. :)
Super Derek Perhaps I would like Persona 1 more if I had played it before I played Persona 2. I had a great time with Eternal Punishment on PS1 and have the PSP version of Innocent Sin in the back log. I feel Persona 2 is a step up from the first game.
I had this years ago, and unfortunately it and my PSP was destroyed in a flood. I enjoyed it, but I thought some of the mechanics were just to in depth for me to just play it casually and enjoy it (like the card combining stuff). Though nothing against the game, it did everything on such a high level, in my opinion, but it just wasn't what I was looking for.
I have nearly no experience with the Persona experience but I wiil say that the story line is great. The thing that I love about Atlus us that they are up there with the best when it comes to character developement
Leo Doujiyuu megami tensei was a original a 2 games. Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei and 2 were adpatations of a Novel of the same name. Shin Megami Tensei is a game that atlus decided to make which was originally gonna be a new version of Megami tensei but eventually it became a game of its own. digital devil story 1 and 2 were released on the Famicom while SMT 1 was released on the Super Famicom
Does anyone know if the psp p2 games have an English option? Idk how to read Japanese and I don’t want to pay $500 for a PAL English version. Especially for innocent sin
Persona 1 and 2 was the major thing I loved, talking with the demons and conversing, when Nocturne came out it just amplified it for me and made it better that rather than just a card the actual monster sided with you and you could see them unlike the newer ones where you fight still images on 3ds.
Good review as always. So in comparing why to either play this or the original. I would note the one big change in this version which is the insertion of the Ice Queen story arc. That's almost another whole game in it's self. The US Playstation version took this out. If your an avid dungeon crawler, the alternate arc is for you due to it's difficult dungeons.
I've gotta be honest Derek. I've got a lot of problems with this series. I own all of the games in various incarnations (my first was the PS release of Persona 2 Eternal Punishment back in 2000). I held off playing it over the years and ultimately picked up 3 and 4 since they are so wildly popular and are cheap. Then went back and picked up the PSP releases of Innocent Sin and the first game. Played through ~40 hours of Innocent Sin and really just found it to be tedious in spite of good writing and a generally good presentation. I just can't bring myself back to finish it due to boring card and demon collecting, as well as grindiness. That sort of stuff just needlessly brings down a great game. Furthermore, we never got a PSP reissue of EP, so it's even harder to go back to finish that whole story knowing that we don't have an enhanced PSP release in English. It's like taking a step backwards in time, nevermind the clunkiness of the first game. I can go back to 8 and 16-bit games without batting an eye, but a lot of PS1 games just feel clunky and experimental 15 years later. I wonder if I'm best off just forgetting the first two (actually, three) games and moving on to P3 and P4. It's mostly an issue of time. I just don't have the free time to go back and play games that are built upon burning up the clock to give a perceived sense of value. Otherwise, it could just be that Atlus RPGs aren't for me. I just finished Radiant Historia yesterday and really thought that it was also repetitive and overrated. But that's a discussion for another time.
The series is far from infallible, that's for sure. I haven't played through Persona 2 yet so I can't really comment on it yet. On the other hand, if you feel like you're missing out, the PSP isn't region locked so you could definitely import one. But if you're not having fun with the copy you've already got, then the remake probably won't do you any favors. Plus, the PSP gives me hand cramps... I also tend to agree with you on the PSX, but it's usually only because of the poor-quality of 3D models. It's the one reason I can't really get into Final Fantasy VII, sadly. I missed the train, and now I can't get into it the same way others can. I mean, I like the story, but I just can't suspend my disbelief long enough for a full play-through. Know what I mean? Anyway, P4 was my favorite entry so far, for the PS2. If you haven't given it a shot yet, you should give it a shot. If only on an emulator or something first. :)
+Zach B I found Radiant Historia to be a fresh of breath air back when it was released, fell like a classic that was actually a completely new game and not some sequel and/or remake.
Instead of forgetting the first two, you could opt to experience them through a Let's Play instead. That way you could enjoy the story and presentation but skip through all the grinding and what not.
Interessting - The First Person View is kind of unexpecting from a JRPG and I don't think, that this Gameplay Element will make me buy this Game. In Germany we came very late (maybe 2008 with P3) in contact with the the Shin Megami Tensei or Persona Series, so I think it is much more difficult to get used to this Game. Howdo you compare it to RPGs made around that time: Suikoden, Tales of Phantasia or Star Ocean?
***** Yeah, it was also a small turn off for me at first, but after I forced myself to play it for a while, I eventually got used to it and it didn't bother me anymore. It's hard to compare the game to others since it's so unique for the time, but I feel like it's sort of a 6-out-of-10 experience. Maybe even a 7.
Super Derek A 6 out of 10 sounds good enough for a try be mysefl - it is set on the List now. In some strange ways, even if they are totally different, it remembers me a bit of the first Parasite Eve... :)
TBH I love persona 1 and 2 especially the wide range of personas like dark Alice Pallas Athena verdandi urd Izanami and cool ultimate personas now it has its faults but it's a good game but persona 2 has the best story wise it feels as if you get to know each of the characters it's a great game
I think it depends. Generally I'd say Persona 4 is probably the most widely beloved entry in the series, while this title tends to feel a lot more like other SMT titles. :)
I don't know why but i liked P1 and 2 better then 3 and 4 , Persona 3 was an ok game and i didn't really enjoied 4 at all however Persona 5 looks good so far. guess the mainline Smt games and some other spin ofs are more my type of game.
Got this when I was 15 years old and dropped it 25% in. Couldn't figure out how the card system or demon negotiation worked. Traded it and never looked back. I just finished Personas 2, 3, 4 and 5 and was thinking that I should have given it more time, but you just have redeemed m 1 year old self.
One thing I'd like to mention, having just completed a playthrough of the PS1 version, is that the sound effects of the PS1 version were FAR superior to what I heard while watching a playthrough of the PSP version. I wasn't sure if that was because of issues with the emulator the player was using, or if the PSP really downgraded the sound effects that much. On most games this would be a minor quibble, but the sound design on the original Persona was so good that this omission was starkly felt. On the plus side, the PSP version included a better interface, a friendlier map, more save points, and quick-travel options that were sorely missing in the original. Having the game take place in Japan also felt more authentic. As to which version I would recommend, it's really a toss-up. There are some things the original release does better, but that version requires a really patient and dedicated player to make it to the end. There are a lot of concepts the game never explains well, practically mandating a strategy guide to avoid hours of heartache.
I've always been intrigued by Persona, but I wasn't too sure what it was all about. I'm guessing that each game in the series is a standalone experience, so my question is, which Persona would you recommend starting with?
Hmmm... That's sort of a difficult question, but personally, I think that I enjoyed Persona 4 the most, and generally prefer a console experience. If mobile is more your thing, if you have a Vita, I hear great things about Persona 4 Golden, but I haven't had a chance to play through it yet. If you go for Persona 3 though, I would recommend Persona 3 FES, as I believe that one had some exclusive content. :)
Super Derek Alright, I'll try to keep the FES version in mind. Also, I'm with you on the platform choice. I've got nothing against handhelds, but there's just something special about being sat in front of the TV, controller in hand.
90$. Wow. I got all the Persona on console except the handheld version. I tried it during the ps1 era and couldn't get into it. So I bought #2 and it improve a little but still didn't peak my interest. The only one I start liking it is Persona 5. During ps1 era, I predict that most rpg like Wild Arms, Suikoden, Breath of Fire, Tales, Persona and etc will be pricey in the future.
Most of those games are already becoming pricey! Hardcopies of PS1 JRPGs seem hard to come by these days. Btw the word is "pique," as in "piqued my interest." Just a heads up
RUclipsrs aren't ever supposed to advocate emulation since it's techincally illegal but I mean, the takeaway is really to just emulate the psp version lol
The encounter rate is insane that's why I gave up playing p1 and p2. Even games like strange journey or nocturne didn't have that amount of encounter rate. If atlus someday remake those games with some decent encounter rate I might play it.
just best to emulate persona 1 via psp version. Best graphics, not americanized and full screen (of course make sure you own the game before emulating).
driftingswordsmanzer I wouldn't be surprised, I'd really like to take a crack at it. But I've got a couple other time-sensitive things to review first. ;)
personally i feel like P1 is that one game where there is no "perfect" version, the revelations version and the psp port all have theyr upsides and downsides personally i'd just play both (psx for main quest and psp for SQQ) so you can get the full P1 package
I played Persona 1 for the PSN, and unfortunately I got the "bad" ending. Due to the cumbersome, and tedious dungeons, I have no intention of starting over, and seeing the "true ending". I personally thought that the best aspects of the game were its music, and addictive persona fusing, and leveling systems.
I bet you would like persona 1 way more as an SMT fan, heck maybe if you slowly make your way from the beginning you can start beginning a Persona fan too? :)
Strange. I actually found the least use out of the guns(not just because I don't buy new ones ^^') as magic did more than good enough for me. edit: …oh, wow. I actually didn't know guns were that broken.
Its not mediocre and I prefer the PSP music, it doesn't clash at all. There's also the snow queen quest which you didn't mention at all. You also stated guns are the best way to play it, I've played a lot of persona, guns can be good in certain situations but they don't outclass other options. Magic can easily do 500-1000 per enemy, which racks up a ton. Maybe you just didn't know how to fuse for very strong persona? It's your opinion and review, but I just don't think it was too knowledgeable for it to be a correct view of the game. A lot of the opinions you stated here, are ones I see people who only played 4-5 hours of the game (before dropping it) also have. I've always wondered where they got those opinions from, now it makes sense - they probably watched this video. I came in fresh and open minded playing the PSP version, and I must say I left off better for it. If you really want to know if you should play this game or not, you need to ask yourself if you would truly try to be interested in the games mechanics and figure them out, if not then this is not the game for you.
Yeah, the review is 5 years old now and I've since changed my opinions on it. This review is mostly up for posterity at this point, but revisiting the game at some point is on my to-do list. :)
SuperDerek RPGs hey thanks for the reply! Glad you changed your opinion, even if the game is dated, I'm glad your thoughts aren't as harsh anymore. Look toward to a possible new review in the future if you ever decide to go through with it.
can't believe i was just scrolling through the psn store to find persona 1 for under £3 in the eu playstation store, also bought the persona 2 and 3 bundle on the psp for around £15, looking at prices on amazon, i think i've just messed up the system haha
www.gamespot.com/forums/playstation-nation-1000002/is-playstation-vita-backwards-compatible-to-psp-ga-28701473/ this might help but as of now, i don't think that deal exists anymore but still worth playing if you get the chance
![Sweet Home Review! [NES] The Game Collection](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QINzIHLMj64/mqdefault.jpg)
![Sweet Home Review! [NES] The Game Collection](/img/tr.png)
![Persona 2 Innocent Sin review! [PSP] The Game Collection](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RCgBNXeSSeY/mqdefault.jpg)
The first persona isn't meant for persona players, it's more meant for SMT fans that are used to the dungeon crawling and insane encounter rate
nullify00 I disagree with that it's a good game
Ehhh not necessarily true
Like the Final Fantasy series? Shieeeeeeeeeet...
Well it was the first one so it kinda makes sense for it to have a lot of SMT elements
Incredibly stupid comment.
I like how the MC isn't given special treatment and everyone gets the same privileges
Same in Persona 2
he is still undoubtedly the leader
He's not even the most powerful member in the party canonically.
That would be Maki.
@@Sad-Lesbian
Mc: 27
Maki: lv 31
The gap are quite big ngl
The music of Persona (PSP) is very catchy!
agreed.
persona 1 with jpop = m rated
persona 1 with dark music + its a persona= rated e for everyone
adonai barrocks the japanese language is too mature for americans U__U
probably because Atlus censored a lot of the stuff in the original localization.
There is actually a really good manga adaptation for Persona 1 that adds so much more to the story and it's characters! The protagonist's whole backstory also adds a lot to the plot! So please! If you just want to experience the story, do check out the manga instead!
I may just do that! :)
I really understand people who don´t wanna play this game, especially after the break that was P3, but man i can´t help it, this is my favorite Persona game, a lot of the elements that compose the PErsona series star here, not only in gameplay but narratives too, but the mayor diference(well for me) are the bad endings and what means to obtain them.
Boy is hard being a Persona 1 fan, but i really like your review.
Great review buddy :) can't wait for PRGE!!
Ayyy what's up 2015 wood? 😂😂
Obsolete Trunks Ikr 😂
*YOU'RE* HERE!?
Woah I was just checking out old Persona game videos, but did not expect to see Wood here!
damn 6 years ago
The biggest pet peeve I have with people who disliked P1 and P2 is that they say the game is too dated, so it's unplayable.Just because it's dated, doesn't mean it's unplayable. In fact, it can be quite enjoyable. Persona 1 PSP is actually my favorite entry in the series.
+HammerGeoLarrup I personally (heh) just prefer the more "jrpg" feel that 3 and 4 lack. They feel more like a decent bastard child between dating sims and rpgs. Not that they are bad or anything, they just aren't the game for me.
+thenotreallyfunnyguy What's wrong with dating sims
I adore Persona 1 too! I liked P3's story slightly more, but funnily enough I find P1's system superior. The plot and atmosphere were amazing and I loved every single character. Lack of social links only made it better, in my opinion.
Actually, to me P1 is nigh unplayable, simply because of technical problems. Not a lot of the gameplay was good, like the square-based system, the Negotiation system was crap, and to recruit the good party members you had to do a lot of junk.
P2, on the other hand, while dated, I can still play just fine. In fact, P2: Innocent Sin and P3P are may favorites in the series.
it's not fun to play. simple as that.
unfortunately, i played persona 4 first. i was sorely disappointed going back and playing these ps1 ones, they just didnt have the character and plot development that i loved from the ps2 iterations. awesome review!
Yeah, Persona 2's duology is really good in the story and character development category
Can't say the same about Persona 1, it has one or two good moments in it, but it's not worth the mind numbing gameplay if what you're in for is the story
Wha...whaaaa.whattt. Laowhy86 here ?!!! What are the odds 😄😄😄cheers to you, Vivi and the adorable kids 😇
I played 1 first and loved it, played it 4 times already and loved the story, it's the most Jungian of all Persona games. Playing IS now (psp)
persona 1 sucks and i agree with that on that case. but persona 2?... sorry but i cant see how persona 2 dont have plot or character development
@Kod Đanija Calm down dude, let people have their own opinions. If you crucify people for no reason other than an opinion, you have a great chance to either scare interested people away, or piss them off. The older Megaten games CAN be pretty hard to go back to at times, especially for newcomers, so insulting people and creating a sort of stigma is NOT the way to get them to want to play them. And let's be real: P1, no matter what version, is pretty rough around the edges.
Just because someone tells you not to play a game, doesn't mean don't attempt it. Just saying.
Persona 1 is amazing.
Thanks! I don't know why people follow just the reviews...
Persona is the jrpg equivalent to Grand Theft Auto. Yes kids there's a one and two, the series didn't materialize with the third entry.
You aren’t wrong tbh
Though I still played the hell out of 1 and 2 back in the day
Pretty sure literally no one thinks Persona 3 is the first game in the series but OK...
It's a shame. 1 and 2 are both fantastic in my opinion.
IK this is a super late comment but anyone out there that wants to criticize Persona 1 (one of the main reasons being battle formation) I find it absolutely amazing and it's not that bad if you use it to your advantage. The characters are pretty amazing the story is way better than other persona games even though it can get a bit confusing at first. Basically I just saying before you criticize the game ACTUALLY give it a chance and try to get used to it and it's absolutely AMAZING.
I don't find the story that great. I think it had a lot of great ideas that they could've delved deeper into, but a lot of it felt really rushed or surface level.
Yeah I don’t think the story is that great it’s great in a vacuum but actually playing it the the story wasn’t that good not bad tho
ERM I would not say the story in P1 is better than other Persona games
No no , no Persona is not a mediocre game it's an amazing game about deeper truths to your hidden self. It's archaic but it is definitely one of the best games I've ever played!!!
I can say that the PS1 version didn´t age well, but the PSP version is magnificent for me.
There's not much of a story in the first one to be fair
It didn't really grow into its shoes until 2's duology, I finished the first game just to say I played through it, the gameplay was pretty mind numbing for a not good story reward outside of one or two moments near the end of the game in a really long JRPG
@@KisekiFox growth in characters is subtle and i feel like the game is more traditionally megaten where you have to play through it multiple times to see everything
I can see why 2 have the best plot, but no other persona game deal with the Jungian themes as well as P1. The game is literally about exploring your own self, and it is very clever in the way it does that. There are metaphores for the personas and shadows everywhere
The 3,4 and 5 are really dumb in the way they tone down the deepness of the concepts of persona, each game trying to put out a new theme : death, truth and rebellion. Which is okay, but I really dislike the edginess
Dude, this Persona-esque format is so fucking cool!!!! Mad props, it looks perfect.
I actually started with Persona 2 Eternal Punishment, when it came out on the PS1. So the first game has always been such a step backwards for me. Never really got into it, plus I have never gotten along too well with first person dungeon exploration.
I really hope dat they remake this with todays persona gameplay, adding more content maybe, I love the setting and the story of this game.
Hmmmm Persona 1 would be an awesome game, but but... that first person dungeons and those confusing maps makes the game really irritating. Thtat's why I prefer persona 2.
Graziano Murru persona 2 isn't really a favorite game consider by the fans
Lol, are you kidding? Persona 2 is very widely regarded for having the best story.
Oreki is right, Persona fans usually prefer the turn after 3.
i guess you'll never finish the masterpieces of megami tensei series i mean smt 1 and 2 were first person and they were enjoyable
"Persona is like a slice of life anime with a dark side"
Thats....a perfect description
Cool. I’m about to check this out preparing for the upcoming rereleases
I first played persona 1 in the psp, I didn't know about the change of music, I loved the new ost , but I dropped it after reaching the point where your main character has to go to a dungeon with just one extra character, it was painful, the random encounters are no joke in there, it was savage, but the story was quite good
Is the music from the first persona game?
+Sercan Usta Yeah, it came from the PSP version I reviewed. :)
Are you serious with the gun thing? I am confused. I'm still playing it while exploiting weaknesses.
Was about to type about Snow Queen... then read the notes. :) Great review!
I recently finished this game. While I liked the story and themes they presented, I found a lot of it too damn repetitive. As you said, there weren't many songs in the PSP version, and hearing the same songs, while catchy, OVER AND OVER AND OVER again was driving me insane. Then it came to the core gameplay, where for the first 15 or so hours I was really enjoying it, and then suddenly I just hit a wall were I found it a major chore the rest of the game and just left auto attack on through most of it and not really paying attention, this made it really hard for me to continue with it. There was also the Persona Card system that I NEVER touched until the 30 hour mark, mainly because I was too stupid to even know how it worked. It makes me really wish they had some form of explination, as it would have made frustrating sections where I needed to grind, easier. All-in-All I had started the game enjoying it, but in the end just being happy it was finished........ and then I found out about Ice Queen, said "fuck that" and just youtubed it........ all in all sadly I'd give it a 6/10......... Now time for Persona 2
This remake would be a lot more justifiable to buy if they had an option to switch to the original music like Innocent Sin does. Wonder why they didn't do that. That, and the character art/portraits are just so ugly. Using Kaneko's own art instead would have been much more aesthetically pleasing.
There IS a patch to replace the PSP music with the original. I'm going through the game again and it's a lot more subdued and atmospheric with it.
Also that IS Kazuma Kaneko's artwork for the character portraits. This was back in 1996, and he was still evolving his art style. Plus human designs have always been a bit strange for him.
But it's not official, is it? I like playing these on my Vita. I started buying my PSP games when I got a job.
Well, yes but not exactly what I meant. The promo art for the characters, namely the protagonist, look good. Not even that but they're like cut off in-game when displaying text which just looks poor in the context of the remake. I like his human style otherwise though.
David Ponce I'll give you that. I just like to go the extra mile for the things I like.
I'm starting to wonder if they had time to implement them. ATLUS seemed to have learned their lesson with P2P, but it's a bit disappointing, I'll give you that.
+Joe Stronger One of the big problems I am having is I dunno how to work PSP emulation let alone the patch so It crashed or just ran poorly for me.
Alice Sheep That's not my problem.
Hahaha, you seriously cracked me up with the Persona-esque character popping up at the beginning. Nicely done. ;) Persona 4 was the first game that I played of the series. When I started it, I was seriously hooked. I couldn't wait until I got home to play it. Since then, I have played 3(FES) and the PSP releases of 1 and 2. I would like to get ahold of the PS1 games of those, especially 2 since it's a different game than the 2 on PSP. I did enjoy Persona, although I can understand it isn't for everyone. Good review, Derek!
3:56
Yosuke?
I think the strength of P1 is that you just never know what kind of monster you’ll meet where, and you’re always trying to figure out how to get its damn card so you can fuse it and make some wild new summon. lol It feels like you’ll be able to create some legendary beastmonster any minute if you just persist. And the battle is tough as nails!!
I love the introduction 😂 i got into persona through Persona 4, and by accident too! Now i'm obsessed with it :)
I like this video a lot. Explains a little about the series as a whole, and assumes that the viewer is most likely here because he/she played P3/P4 and wants more of that. Good video all around.
Played this game on the PlayStation Classic Mini, since I wasn't fortunate enough to locate the original, and absolutely loved it.
The only reason i'm here is because i equipped the persona 1 mc costume for joker and the battle music kicks ass
PSP version is WAY better than the PS1. Names are correct, translations, dialogues, graphics... Everything is better. Even the price.
Killer video mate! Love the Meta Ten franchise, and Persona digs into some interesting concepts that are a bit different from the main series. Anyhow, keep 'em coming!
Very helpful review. Thank you.
Cool video man, been really interested in this series since picking up Persona 2 for the PSP without any prior knowledge... Certainly a strange little beast. Really need to finish it...
Great review
Subscribed!
I’m just 2 years from the day this was made my favorite game was made
I am the only one who actually likes the music from the psp version?
Its good but it dosen’t fit in the game,unlike the playstation version
I picked this up at a used game shop for about $15 years ago on a whim, and it's been on the ol' RPG wall of shame since then. I think it'll be next on my playlist.
I've played Shin Megami Tensei on the SNES and found it to be way better than I expected. Also way harder than anticipated. Music was a big selling point for me on the game and it's good to hear they continued on with Persona. (in fact I even used some of it in my last video! :D :D ) But for them to drop that and go with J-POP!?!! No excuses! That's terrible!
Too bad this game runs for $90+. I don't feel like dumping that much cash into a Playstation game. Awesome review as always, Derek!
Yeah, I find it hard to justify spending more than $60 on any game, but if I find it at a good price you can bet I'd jump at it. :)
If you'd like, there is a fan patch that replaces the music for the PSP version, but you need an iso and nodded PSP to do it.
This actually has nothing of what Persona is today, it's a classic megaten. I liked it.
Whats the song at 3:02- 3:40?
Lone Prayer persona 1 battle theme
Yo Derek this was my very first RPG game ive ever played growing up. I have played both ver. but I just like the ps1 ver. the best. Better music and grinding is just better. I hate how mark looks in this I prefer his Black alter ego lol.
Man I remember playing this way back in my early teens. I didn't know what I was getting into, I had very little JRPG experience. I was kinda blown away with how different it was, but also way out of my element and didn't understand the nuances of the game very well and ended up dropping it halfway through. I really need to revisit it and finish it off.
Subbed to your channel and about to run down the game collection reviews. Quite hype as a ton of these games I get up playing.
You did not say anything about the snow queen side story, it is half the game and it is cut in the psx version.
You're completely right. I've been kicking myself for 2 years now for not covering that in my review. I should really address that sometime.
Hey derek, I have a question. What's your persona?
You just saved me from buying a game I wouldn't finish. I love Persona 3 and 4 but I'm skipping one.
when i play persona 1 i could not even get to the first fight got stuck in the school cause i did not know what to do this back when i was young and was a dumbass
MEDIOCRE ???? .......... ITS AN AWESOME GAME
I can probably say this is the only SMT game I've played that I didn't much care for. I've finished 10 of them at least once. I do want to give it another shot one of these days. I got like 10 hours in and eventually just lost all interest in it.
I know that feeling. I had a similar experience during this review, and nearly scrapped it. I'm still looking forward to trying Persona 2, just waiting for the right mood to strike me. :)
Super Derek Perhaps I would like Persona 1 more if I had played it before I played Persona 2. I had a great time with Eternal Punishment on PS1 and have the PSP version of Innocent Sin in the back log. I feel Persona 2 is a step up from the first game.
Andrew Phillips i rally like persona 2 more that other in the persona series.
Atlus just makes so many great games. It is sad that they are almost always so damn rare and expensive :P
I really prefer Persona 1 since i like games and not visual novels.
*****
Not when that is more than half of the game.
***** WHy should i careabout good story telling while playing a game. Wouldn't it be better if the game let me write my own story with my actions?
***** Games that care more about story than gameplay are boring and pretensious.
***** Sure. That is why Mario 3D World exists.
***** Obiviously your friends must not like games, just like you.
I had this years ago, and unfortunately it and my PSP was destroyed in a flood. I enjoyed it, but I thought some of the mechanics were just to in depth for me to just play it casually and enjoy it (like the card combining stuff). Though nothing against the game, it did everything on such a high level, in my opinion, but it just wasn't what I was looking for.
I have nearly no experience with the Persona experience but I wiil say that the story line is great. The thing that I love about Atlus us that they are up there with the best when it comes to character developement
Only thing i don't like about this game is The enemy encounter is too insane but the rest is good specialy the soundtrack
When and why did the series name change from Megami Tensei to Shin Megami Tensei?
Different universes. Persona is Persona and Megami Tensei is Megami Tensei. Persona = School + Teens and Megami Tensei = Post Apocalyptic world.
Leo Doujiyuu megami tensei was a original a 2 games. Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei and 2 were adpatations of a Novel of the same name. Shin Megami Tensei is a game that atlus decided to make which was originally gonna be a new version of Megami tensei but eventually it became a game of its own. digital devil story 1 and 2 were released on the Famicom while SMT 1 was released on the Super Famicom
I tried to give this game a chance...but soon as I got into the lil town overworld I was annoyed af lmao
Does anyone know if the psp p2 games have an English option? Idk how to read Japanese and I don’t want to pay $500 for a PAL English version. Especially for innocent sin
Persona 1 and 2 was the major thing I loved, talking with the demons and conversing, when Nocturne came out it just amplified it for me and made it better that rather than just a card the actual monster sided with you and you could see them unlike the newer ones where you fight still images on 3ds.
nice vid bro!
Good review as always. So in comparing why to either play this or the original. I would note the one big change in this version which is the insertion of the Ice Queen story arc. That's almost another whole game in it's self. The US Playstation version took this out. If your an avid dungeon crawler, the alternate arc is for you due to it's difficult dungeons.
Man, some day I need to replay this and try the Ice Queen story instead...
Probably already known by now, but the Snow Queen route still exists in Revelations, albeit with the dialogues in gibberish.
I really wish they remade the character portraits, some of them look really bad and too small like Marks where part of his shoulder is clearly missing
You're awesome derek ! i like your content
I've gotta be honest Derek. I've got a lot of problems with this series. I own all of the games in various incarnations (my first was the PS release of Persona 2 Eternal Punishment back in 2000). I held off playing it over the years and ultimately picked up 3 and 4 since they are so wildly popular and are cheap. Then went back and picked up the PSP releases of Innocent Sin and the first game.
Played through ~40 hours of Innocent Sin and really just found it to be tedious in spite of good writing and a generally good presentation. I just can't bring myself back to finish it due to boring card and demon collecting, as well as grindiness. That sort of stuff just needlessly brings down a great game.
Furthermore, we never got a PSP reissue of EP, so it's even harder to go back to finish that whole story knowing that we don't have an enhanced PSP release in English. It's like taking a step backwards in time, nevermind the clunkiness of the first game.
I can go back to 8 and 16-bit games without batting an eye, but a lot of PS1 games just feel clunky and experimental 15 years later. I wonder if I'm best off just forgetting the first two (actually, three) games and moving on to P3 and P4. It's mostly an issue of time. I just don't have the free time to go back and play games that are built upon burning up the clock to give a perceived sense of value.
Otherwise, it could just be that Atlus RPGs aren't for me. I just finished Radiant Historia yesterday and really thought that it was also repetitive and overrated. But that's a discussion for another time.
The series is far from infallible, that's for sure. I haven't played through Persona 2 yet so I can't really comment on it yet. On the other hand, if you feel like you're missing out, the PSP isn't region locked so you could definitely import one. But if you're not having fun with the copy you've already got, then the remake probably won't do you any favors. Plus, the PSP gives me hand cramps...
I also tend to agree with you on the PSX, but it's usually only because of the poor-quality of 3D models. It's the one reason I can't really get into Final Fantasy VII, sadly. I missed the train, and now I can't get into it the same way others can. I mean, I like the story, but I just can't suspend my disbelief long enough for a full play-through. Know what I mean?
Anyway, P4 was my favorite entry so far, for the PS2. If you haven't given it a shot yet, you should give it a shot. If only on an emulator or something first. :)
+Zach B I found Radiant Historia to be a fresh of breath air back when it was released, fell like a classic that was actually a completely new game and not some sequel and/or remake.
Instead of forgetting the first two, you could opt to experience them through a Let's Play instead. That way you could enjoy the story and presentation but skip through all the grinding and what not.
Interessting - The First Person View is kind of unexpecting from a JRPG and I don't think, that this Gameplay Element will make me buy this Game.
In Germany we came very late (maybe 2008 with P3) in contact with the the Shin Megami Tensei or Persona Series, so I think it is much more difficult to get used to this Game.
Howdo you compare it to RPGs made around that time: Suikoden, Tales of Phantasia or Star Ocean?
***** Yeah, it was also a small turn off for me at first, but after I forced myself to play it for a while, I eventually got used to it and it didn't bother me anymore. It's hard to compare the game to others since it's so unique for the time, but I feel like it's sort of a 6-out-of-10 experience. Maybe even a 7.
Super Derek A 6 out of 10 sounds good enough for a try be mysefl - it is set on the List now. In some strange ways, even if they are totally different, it remembers me a bit of the first Parasite Eve... :)
TBH I love persona 1 and 2 especially the wide range of personas like dark Alice Pallas Athena verdandi urd Izanami and cool ultimate personas now it has its faults but it's a good game but persona 2 has the best story wise it feels as if you get to know each of the characters it's a great game
can you do a persona 3 portable review
First video i've watched, instantly subscribed and will be binging on your videos tonight lol. ;)
Thanks Dylan, I hope you're having fun! :)
Accidental ASMR. Which is perfectly fine.
Oh god no...
@@xmarksthespot1372 your profile pic is a furry king looking dude. You can't judge.
Is this a good introduction to the Persona series?
I think it depends. Generally I'd say Persona 4 is probably the most widely beloved entry in the series, while this title tends to feel a lot more like other SMT titles. :)
I don't know why but i liked P1 and 2 better then 3 and 4 , Persona 3 was an ok game and i didn't really enjoied 4 at all however Persona 5 looks good so far. guess the mainline Smt games and some other spin ofs are more my type of game.
Got this when I was 15 years old and dropped it 25% in. Couldn't figure out how the card system or demon negotiation worked. Traded it and never looked back. I just finished Personas 2, 3, 4 and 5 and was thinking that I should have given it more time, but you just have redeemed m 1 year old self.
One thing I'd like to mention, having just completed a playthrough of the PS1 version, is that the sound effects of the PS1 version were FAR superior to what I heard while watching a playthrough of the PSP version. I wasn't sure if that was because of issues with the emulator the player was using, or if the PSP really downgraded the sound effects that much. On most games this would be a minor quibble, but the sound design on the original Persona was so good that this omission was starkly felt. On the plus side, the PSP version included a better interface, a friendlier map, more save points, and quick-travel options that were sorely missing in the original. Having the game take place in Japan also felt more authentic. As to which version I would recommend, it's really a toss-up. There are some things the original release does better, but that version requires a really patient and dedicated player to make it to the end. There are a lot of concepts the game never explains well, practically mandating a strategy guide to avoid hours of heartache.
I've always been intrigued by Persona, but I wasn't too sure what it was all about. I'm guessing that each game in the series is a standalone experience, so my question is, which Persona would you recommend starting with?
Hmmm... That's sort of a difficult question, but personally, I think that I enjoyed Persona 4 the most, and generally prefer a console experience. If mobile is more your thing, if you have a Vita, I hear great things about Persona 4 Golden, but I haven't had a chance to play through it yet. If you go for Persona 3 though, I would recommend Persona 3 FES, as I believe that one had some exclusive content. :)
Super Derek Alright, I'll try to keep the FES version in mind. Also, I'm with you on the platform choice. I've got nothing against handhelds, but there's just something special about being sat in front of the TV, controller in hand.
should I buy this game for ps1 I never played a persona game before but I want to try it ;-;..
I wouldn't pay $90 for it. I'm a proud owner myself, but I bought it when it was new...
BreederShiny Play 3 fes and go from there, since it’s more beginner friendly that way, then if you want go play 1 and 2.
Nice video, subbed.
90$. Wow. I got all the Persona on console except the handheld version. I tried it during the ps1 era and couldn't get into it. So I bought #2 and it improve a little but still didn't peak my interest. The only one I start liking it is Persona 5. During ps1 era, I predict that most rpg like Wild Arms, Suikoden, Breath of Fire, Tales, Persona and etc will be pricey in the future.
Most of those games are already becoming pricey! Hardcopies of PS1 JRPGs seem hard to come by these days. Btw the word is "pique," as in "piqued my interest." Just a heads up
love this game :)
me too.
Why would I buy it when I can download it for free in the web anyway.
RUclipsrs aren't ever supposed to advocate emulation since it's techincally illegal but I mean, the takeaway is really to just emulate the psp version lol
The encounter rate is insane that's why I gave up playing p1 and p2. Even games like strange journey or nocturne didn't have that amount of encounter rate. If atlus someday remake those games with some decent encounter rate I might play it.
**LIVED IN BURIED MEMORY INTENSIFIES**
don't know who you are but i love your tv setup
I think they should remaster the game to the new gen
Yes, you should!!!! Long live SMT, best series ever.
Persona 1 is also on the 3DS e-Shop. Get it while they last.
just best to emulate persona 1 via psp version.
Best graphics, not americanized and full screen (of course make sure you own the game before emulating).
Do I see persona 2 in the future? Great job man. :)
driftingswordsmanzer I wouldn't be surprised, I'd really like to take a crack at it. But I've got a couple other time-sensitive things to review first. ;)
I hear ya buddy :) Can't wait to see whats in store. Keep up the good work
There’s a patch for the PSP version that lets you enjoy the original soundtrack
personally i feel like P1 is that one game where there is no "perfect" version, the revelations version and the psp port all have theyr upsides and downsides
personally i'd just play both (psx for main quest and psp for SQQ) so you can get the full P1 package
I played Persona 1 for the PSN, and unfortunately I got the "bad" ending. Due to the cumbersome, and tedious dungeons, I have no intention of starting over, and seeing the "true ending". I personally thought that the best aspects of the game were its music, and addictive persona fusing, and leveling systems.
I don’t know if I’ll ever play Persona 1 and the two Persona 2s. I’m more than happy with P3, 4 and 5 and awaiting 6.
Jazzadrin I definitely recommend it. I started with 5, but went back and played the older games and had a lot of fun.
CdawgGames Fair enough. To me, the social link system is what makes Persona, Persona. So I doubt I will try them.
I am more familiar with Shin Megami Tensei but, not persona. Should I buy the Persona 1 and 2 on my ps vita? Person fans don't seem to like it
I bet you would like persona 1 way more as an SMT fan, heck maybe if you slowly make your way from the beginning you can start beginning a Persona fan too? :)
My favourite Persona from this game was Seimen Kongue, as well as SPOILER:
Yamaoka, a persona that used to be a human.
Strange. I actually found the least use out of the guns(not just because I don't buy new ones ^^') as magic did more than good enough for me.
edit: …oh, wow. I actually didn't know guns were that broken.
persona 5 review?
...and this folks, is why you read the manga
Its not mediocre and I prefer the PSP music, it doesn't clash at all. There's also the snow queen quest which you didn't mention at all. You also stated guns are the best way to play it, I've played a lot of persona, guns can be good in certain situations but they don't outclass other options. Magic can easily do 500-1000 per enemy, which racks up a ton. Maybe you just didn't know how to fuse for very strong persona? It's your opinion and review, but I just don't think it was too knowledgeable for it to be a correct view of the game. A lot of the opinions you stated here, are ones I see people who only played 4-5 hours of the game (before dropping it) also have. I've always wondered where they got those opinions from, now it makes sense - they probably watched this video. I came in fresh and open minded playing the PSP version, and I must say I left off better for it. If you really want to know if you should play this game or not, you need to ask yourself if you would truly try to be interested in the games mechanics and figure them out, if not then this is not the game for you.
Yeah, the review is 5 years old now and I've since changed my opinions on it. This review is mostly up for posterity at this point, but revisiting the game at some point is on my to-do list. :)
SuperDerek RPGs hey thanks for the reply! Glad you changed your opinion, even if the game is dated, I'm glad your thoughts aren't as harsh anymore. Look toward to a possible new review in the future if you ever decide to go through with it.
I loved the snow queen
can't believe i was just scrolling through the psn store to find persona 1 for under £3 in the eu playstation store, also bought the persona 2 and 3 bundle on the psp for around £15, looking at prices on amazon, i think i've just messed up the system haha
on the vita?
on the psp mate, i think you can still play on vita if downloaded which is what i did but i don't own a vita so im not 100% sure
www.gamespot.com/forums/playstation-nation-1000002/is-playstation-vita-backwards-compatible-to-psp-ga-28701473/ this might help but as of now, i don't think that deal exists anymore but still worth playing if you get the chance
I played P4P..... I stopped because I got bored of Tartarus >.>