>>723239112
Most of them are good games and I think you can start with the game that interest you the most. Clearly you are piqued by Persona 3 so perhaps start with that.

>>723239112
devil survivor overclocked

They're really not. They're a neutered take on the SMT combat system with pedophilic romance peppered in to keep you playing. The last boss has no immunities and is a complete tank and spank every single time.

Zero replayability cause you're limited to the same demons every part of the game.

>>723239456
The OP asked for SMT recommendations too retard
>>723239112
SMT V is a good starting point, and the Raidou Kuzunoha games are fun, the first one got remastered recently.

>>723239456
>pedophilic romance peppered in to keep you playing
What does it mean kek. I mostly care about story or gameplay so I hope some dating sim isn't really a big part of it?

>>723239112
They're mostly great, if you're into complex and detailed JRPGs and/or dungeon crawling.
Persona is essentially a spinoff series of SMT, focusing a bit more on linear stories and character relationship mechanics (nowadays).

It's hard to say which titles might appeal to (You), but if you want a lightweight crash course, the original, classic Persona 5 might be the way to go.

And I mean the OG PS3-4 release of 5, not the "Royal" version, which adds stupid bloat and changes story for no reason. The Atlus studio's re-releases are notorious for doing this (P4G, P3R, Catherine FB...).
You can luckily pretty easily emulate the classic P3 / FES and P4 on any wormbox made the past 15 years.

If you want a tad more SMT-like vibes, the Raidou Kuzunoha series (Devil Summoner) might be a fine choice.

>>723239609
Dating sim elements are like the main draw of the Persona series.

>>723239695
>>723239609
While there is a focus (both story and mechanic-wise) on creating relationships with your peers , to call Persona a dating sim game is a bit far-fetched. I'd say around 50% of the game is fucking around in the city and it's not something you should skip either since relationship systems allows you to fuse more powerful demons.

>>723239584
Thanks for rec
>>723239664
I was thinking about 5 before. But my friend actually gave me access to their steam account because they wanted me to play Persona 3 Reload and I was wondering how much different it is than original and should I go with it or maybe play the original

>>723239882
>they wanted me to play Persona 3 Reload and I was wondering how much different it is than original
It's extremely different, and goddamn DEI shit, that censors a fuckton of stuff, removes entire Social Link chapters, ruins the art-style, and generally washes out the whole "Memento Mori, you stupid mortal meat bag!" early-00s' emo vibes. Hell, even the remade OST is worse, with less impactful beats and way, waaay more lukewarm Engrish lyrics.

Play the OG / the FES version, as in the PS2 release(s).

>>723239112
Don't play anything past the PS2 games (so P3/P4), that's where the serie starts to get to shit and Atlus become greedy mfers. I wouldn't even play any of the remakes, same shit. Like they couldn't remake P3 entirely, they have to sell DLCs for the additional stories.

>>723240170
I honestly thought P5 was a superior game than P4.
But the re-releases and de-makes do suck arse.

>>723239112
Devil Summoner, Strange Journey Redux just don't get the newest endings, Devil Survivor/2 overclocked
I wouldn't suggest anything past that considering that Atlus has been going for the: "Let's re-release old games with a new ending which flanderizes the story and punishe those who don't want to buy the newest version because the original endings have been retroactively turned into bad endings or at least silver ending" also Persona's main theme have become "adults 'r' evil"
>>723239872
>can romance them all
>the only drawback is one or two scenes
Quite far-fetched

File: 1709264925902.gif (1.62 MB, 350x232)

1.62 MB GIF

I think they are both good
persona
>hanging out with people
>your team is teenagers mostly with some melodrama
>relationship system
>combat-systems easier and lighter than SMT.
Persona 5 Royal is very long but took some systems from SMT, very flashy overall, aesthetic is 10/10. got 5R on a sale, was worth

SMT
>you with demons fighting other giganigga demons
>story usually gets to the point a bit faster
>more in-depth combat than Persona
>merge your demons to get a stronger demons
can recommend 3, 4 and 5(Vengeance), they are fun. 4 has a cool setting but suffers massively from being a 3DS game though so good luck getting that somehow. 3 is a bit old but good but the dungeons can be painful, has that 2000s edge to it though

>>723239112
you can start anywhere from the more modern consoles, but any game from PS2, PSP (ps1 games avaliable aswell) and NDS onwards is worth playing, give it a try atleast.

>>723240635
The story is pretty shit especially with the villain being so bad it's funny. The main characters are okay but, might as well play the other games desu.
The atmosphere of the old games is completely nonexistent post P5 (included). In term of gameplay, yeah P5R is great (base P5 with limited ammos per runs? fuck that shit). But I can't tell anyone to play one of the new Atlus game, especially if Atlus didn't release the "Super Money" edition that is basically buying the game again for a new expansion.
So greedy... I'm gonna have a good laugh when it will happen to Metaphor.

>>723239112
They are.
If you want the easiest introduction start with Persona 4 Golden, and don't worry about 100%ing everything.

>>723239112
>Are they good and from which one should I start
I haven't played all of the SMTs but most range from ok to great of the ones I've played (P3-5, SMT3-5+Raidou 1+Devil Survivor 1-2). You can really pick any to start but be aware that the numbered entries are pretty samey within the same series so if you get burned out quickly just avoid marathoning the games in a series and switch to another of the spinoffs for a bit.

>>723239112
i only played 3 and 4. i liked 3's story a lot but it's a slow burn and i had like three false starts because the first 1/4 of the game is so slow after the initial hype of the prologue. 4 was better paced and the story was fun but it wasn't quite as interesting.

i played 3 FES and og 4 on emulator and both of those versions were solid imo.

>>723239112
>Are they good
That depends on you.

>and from which one should I start?
P1 if you don't mind JRPG of old.
Otherwise Persona 3 FES (or Reload, though I'd personally suggest playing FES as your first P3 experience), Persona 4 Golden or Persona 5 Royal.
They all happen in the same universe, but are mostly disconnected from each other save for small inconsequential references.
Any of them is a good pick. Check out footage and pick your fav.

>>723239112
It's really hard to recommend any sona games without knowing what person you're
Like if you're 30+yo tard that's already burnt out on life you might simply hate everything social in those games
I started playing sona around 14 yo (with p3p on my psp) and by the time i got to p5 i sorta started hating most of the characters
I think if you're old p3 is great nostalgia bait and if you're young p5 is still zoomercore broccoli trash enough for you to like it
Play any smt if you're unfunctionally autistic

>>723241304
>I'd personally suggest playing FES as your first P3 experience
Nah, Tartarus and random fusion will filter any newfag out. It aged way too badly.
Anon should start with P4G and then he can play FES if he likes it.

>>723240996
>The story is pretty shit especially with the villain being so bad it's funny.
I don't agree one bit.
The story and subtext alone were some of the biggest selling points for me, essentially covering the shady sides of modern "welfare" societies, where money and fame can be used to get around or even rewrite laws.

>term of gameplay, yeah P5R is great (base P5 with limited ammos per runs? fuck that shit)
Oh fuck you, that's a MASSIVE downgrade already.
Just like removing the fatigue mechanic in P3 was in later releases.
Kids being too ADHD and not being able to use tactical tools is never a good thing.

>>723241760
You should stop underestimating and pampering people.
P3FES was my very first Persona game as well, and I found there to be nothing absolutely overwhelming about it.

And P4 Gold is the very first case of absolutely butchered version of a classic Persona game. Anyone shilling that shit can kill himself.

>>723239112
Been wondering why there's no outcry from moms regarding Persona. The characters shoot themselves in the head.

>>723239456
And it just burns your ass that it's more popular than edgy Pokémon ever was, doesn't it?

>>723241993
>why there's no outcry from moms
Better question yet why "christians" don't care about those games
You literally SUMMON DEMONS, like there's Lucifer and Beelzebub in your team
Yet boobsters and guns take priority huh

>>723239112
Why the hell did they decide to have her use her not-gun in such a retarded, unnatural way?

>>723242182
wasnt popular enough at the time when Pokemon was decried as being satanic so they didn't know about the cock-demons

>>723241861
>P3FES was my very first Persona game as well, and I found there to be nothing absolutely overwhelming about it.
Mine too, but I was a kid back then, I had an abundance of spare time and I didn't mind restarting from a save from 3 hours back, because the game did not register me hitting the shadow from the back as me having an upperhand, but the shadow having it, and 4 statues spamming Myrriad Arrows, or spending 20 minutes rerolling fusion to ensure Saturnus has Ragnarok and not Re Patra.
The story is great in P3, the gameplay of FES aged badly, that's it. I can play it just fine, you can play it just fine, but newfags will give up.
>And P4 Gold is the very first case of absolutely butchered version of a classic Persona game.
Except for missing particle effect there's nothing "cut" from P4. And you only need to install a mod to get these back.

File: 1740623020646207.png (334 KB, 547x537)

334 KB PNG

>>723239112
>Persona 1 & 2
Very barebones combat, far more focus on story. Practically autobattle tier. Story in 1 is very thin but it's there, 2 duology is more prominent.
>Persona 3 through 5
Highschool life sim bullshit with terribly structured plots with more holes in them than swiss cheese.
>SMT 1 & 2
Similar to Persona 1 & 2, dead simple combat but much easier to get party wiped if you're not paying attention. Plot's window dressing for the most part, multiple endings based on alignment.
>SMT3
Prettied up gameplay, plot takes a backseat for atmosphere and compressed soundtracks.
>SMT4
General upgrade over 3 that suffers heavily from cut content and guest artists
>SMT 4A
Vastly improved combat, great soundtrack. Literally everything else is cancer-inducing
>SMT5
Combat's even cooler, everything else's somehow even gayer
>Digital Devil Saga
More traditional 3 niggas in a row linear story with a great cast and soundtrack
>Devil Survivor
Final Fantasy Tactics in Tokyo, very short with lots of endings not created equally. Second game has better combat for an aggressively anime toneshift.
>Strange Journey
Etrian Odyssey in Antarctica. Original version will turn your anus inside out if you're careless, rerelease is vastly easier.
>Raidou
Linear action game/mystery adventure in an alternate timeline
>Soul Hackers
Like Strange Journey but older and more 90s sci-fi.

File: 20070806-MdCspYEg-p2.jpg (74 KB, 342x526)

74 KB JPG

>>723241993
>>723242182
There was some, but the real reason was because it was not popular. Even P3 only elevated Persona from niche JRPG even for fans of JRPG to cult title. P4 was the one that solidified Persona as mainstream. Pokémon and Yu-gi-oh were the things the moral guardians were having pissy fits about because it was all over TV and selling card games, which also created gambling panic.

>>723239112
Good starting points are P3, Nocturne, or Digital Devil Saga. P3 or DDS are probably better starting points but going raw into Nocturne is also going to be a wild experience. Don't bother with any of the remasters for these games. P3 is a terrible remake and Nocturne is a low effort remaster. Also don't ever listen to any fag that tells you to play P3 remake or P3 with a mod that adds direct party control. It makes the game worse by undermining the themes of the game and changes the balance in unintended ways.

>>723239112
just play Persona, ignore SMTranny
And remember, Persona started at 3

>>723241993
Persona 4 is when the series got popular and it also saved Atlus from financial ruin.

>>723242781
Also when I refer to P3 I specifically mean P3 FES. My first SMT game was P3P and that was fine for me but FES is the (mostly) definitive version of P3.

I also realized I didn't really elaborate on DDS in the slightest, it's got the battle system of Nocturne but without the demon Fusion of mainline SMT and Persona, and a more "traditional" JRPG style skill tree of sorts, so it's a very good and underrated starting point into SMT and just an underrated game in general. It's also slightly on the easier side of things. Except for the Super Bosses which are pretty damn tough.

>>723239112
the pre-PS2 (including Persona 1) ones are fun old school dungeon crawlers, but you won't get much out of them if you don't like that genre
Persona 2 is very story heavy and not as much of a dungeon crawler, honestly the gameplay kinda sucks in this one but it is also very easy and dungeons don't take much time
in the PS2 era, Nocturne and DDS1-2 are more in the modern JRPG style, DDS is story heavy and Nocturne has more of a minimalist approach to story
P3-4-5 are pretty much VN/life-sims with some basic dungeons sprinkled in
SMT4 is probably the best one for beginners even though I don't like it. Ditches Nocturne's style to go back to classic SMT style both gameplay and setting-wise but it's not old like the SNES games and has a good balance of gameplay and story

>>723239112
They really are all fine.
Stereotypical picks would be SMT 3: Nocturne, or any of Persona 3/4/5 depending on which appeals to you stylistically the most.

>>723239112
Play from 3 onwards. Persona 1 and 2 suck

>>723244076
1 is literally the best one faggot

>>723239112
Persona 3/4/5 and Devil Survivor 1 are the only SMT games worth playing.

>>723239112
I've played P5 because a tuber who hates turnbased rpgs said it was actually pretty cool. But I didn't really enjoy the actual game parts.
Pretending to be a japanese teenager was fun for a while though.

File: 1735721554455839.jpg (213 KB, 1000x1118)

213 KB JPG

>>723239112
The route everyone takes:
Persona 3 -> 4 -> 5
If at any point you get sick of any of the above switch to Nocturne -> IV -> VV
Then if you want more, play the weirdo shit like Raidou, DDS, SJ, DS and the others

>>723239112
persona 4 for persona
smt IV or Strange Journey for SMT, then nocturne

>>723239112
Start with SMT 3 or Persona 3 (not Portable)

>>723239456
>pedophilic romance
Starting to think SMT superfans are just reddit trannies.

>>723239112
If you feel like killing yourself play persona 3

If you have no friends play persona 4

If you hate de joos play persona 5

>>723244880
They literally are. The hardcore SMT guys are often lolcow-tier. Before I knew it I had muted most of the high profile accounts. Persona lefty zoomers are also abundant, but they’re often just your average underaged idiots who just started forming opinions on things besides what cartoon they want to see while they eat their chicken nuggies.

>>723239112
>which one should I start
Metaphor refantazio, it has the easiest persona mechanics since you don't need to be managing cards all the time.
You can most probably go down from persona 5 to 3.

File: 1657213891372.jpg (201 KB, 850x1240)

201 KB JPG

>>723239112
With Ringo's game :3

>>723245605
Going fully backwards makes no sense. It’s fine to start with one new entry, but after getting your feet wet it’s best to go back to the start.

>>723245989
>Going fully backwards makes no sense
Persona mechanics have improved over time, so going backwards makes sense because you'd be basically adapting yourself to the worst games from the better games.

>>723245972
it's shit though

>>723239456
>They're a neutered take on the SMT combat system
True
>with pedophilic romance
Back to bluesky. Can't even call you a moralfag because there's nothing wrong with high schooler romance to anyone else in the world outside of gay neopuritan US states

File: ewhowuc1ukdf1.jpg (291 KB, 1534x2048)

291 KB JPG

For me it's Lotus Juice