Megami Tensei Series! Where to start??

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SwordCoast

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#1 SwordCoast
Member since 2011 • 25 Posts
I have never played a Megami Tensei or Shin Megami Tensei or a Persona game before. I saw the review for Persona 4 in PSP and it looks very good. I have SNES, GBA, PSP, PS2, DS and PC. What order and in which platform can i play these series?
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-Corruption-

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#2 -Corruption-
Member since 2009 • 158 Posts

SNES - SMT II...HOWEVER... it was never released in english, but if you can read Japanese, go for it.

GBA - Nothing of note...

PSP - Persona 3 Portable (If you want...)

PS2- Here we go... Persona 3, Persona 4, Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha (Both of them), Digital Devil Saga (Both of them) SMT: Nocturne (Also called lucifers call) you could also pick up the original Persona if you can find it... its a PS1 game though.

DS - Devil Survivor and Strange Journey

PC - PC has the MMO... Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine

Theres ALOT more than those games, but these are generally the easiest to find... all of them are good.

EDIT: A note... If your heavily religious, this series might not be for you... Just saying... Things like Satan being a summonable Persona in Persona 3/4 and a Ultimate Boss in Digital Devil Saga... and God himself being the final boss of II.

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digimonkey12

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#3 digimonkey12
Member since 2009 • 1851 Posts
PSP FORUM PSP - Persona 3 Portable
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Gxgear

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#4 Gxgear
Member since 2003 • 10425 Posts

Persona 4.

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XeroEX

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#5 XeroEX
Member since 2008 • 495 Posts

Persona 3 or 4 would be a good introduction to the series. I also found the Digital Devil Saga games to be fairly enjoyable, but they differ a lot from the other SMT games.

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Yama

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#6 Yama
Member since 2002 • 34159 Posts

SNES - SMT II...HOWEVER... it was never released in english, but if you can read Japanese, go for it.

GBA - Nothing of note...

PSP - Persona 3 Portable (If you want...)

PS2- Here we go... Persona 3, Persona 4, Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha (Both of them), Digital Devil Saga (Both of them) SMT: Nocturne (Also called lucifers call) you could also pick up the original Persona if you can find it... its a PS1 game though.

DS - Devil Survivor and Strange Journey

PC - PC has the MMO... Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine

Theres ALOT more than those games, but these are generally the easiest to find... all of them are good.

EDIT: A note... If your heavily religious, this series might not be for you... Just saying... Things like Satan being a summonable Persona in Persona 3/4 and a Ultimate Boss in Digital Devil Saga... and God himself being the final boss of II.

-Corruption-

The original Revelations Persona is also on the PSP.

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Darthkaiser

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#7 Darthkaiser
Member since 2006 • 12447 Posts
I have that same question, I heard there was a Persona 2 recently released Why not start with that one? Is it that much worse than the P3P?
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#8 Granpire
Member since 2008 • 2749 Posts
[QUOTE="Darthkaiser"]I have that same question, I heard there was a Persona 2 recently released Why not start with that one? Is it that much worse than the P3P?

The Gamespot review seems to point out that while there are some classic concepts in the game, it's outdated overall, and random encounters are grating. P3P is a much more modern game compared with P2, and much more enjoyable overall, I think most would agree. It sounds like P2 had many of the same problems that plagued Persona 1 on PSP.
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Yama

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#9 Yama
Member since 2002 • 34159 Posts

To be fair, please do read the ORIGINAL review for Persona 2 Tsumi.

http://www.gamespot.com/persona-2-innocent-sin/platform/ps (9.2 Editor's Choice)

To rate an old game bad for being old is somewhat misleading.

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riou7

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#10 riou7  Moderator
Member since 2007 • 10842 Posts

I'd go with P3P first..

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Darthkaiser

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#11 Darthkaiser
Member since 2006 • 12447 Posts
How bout in terms of story? Would I miss anything if I started with 3?
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Yama

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#12 Yama
Member since 2002 • 34159 Posts

How bout in terms of story? Would I miss anything if I started with 3?Darthkaiser

Connections:

Revelations Persona has links to Persona 2, though not many. There are however returning characters and it is the same universe.

If you aren't aware there are two versions of Persona 2, Tsumi and Batsu (Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment). Those two obviously connect directly.

In direct regards to what you were asking, Persona 3 only has playful easter eggs from Persona 2.

Persona 3 Portable has some cameos from Persona 4 and music.

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Granpire

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#13 Granpire
Member since 2008 • 2749 Posts

To be fair, please do read the ORIGINAL review for Persona 2 Tsumi.

http://www.gamespot.com/persona-2-innocent-sin/platform/ps (9.2 Editor's Choice)

To rate an old game bad for being old is somewhat misleading.

Yama
Not to drive this whole topic off track, but I tend to disagree. When a game keeps all of its old faults in a newer version, that's not easily excused. Games should take the most possible advantage of technology at the time, and update gameplay to keep up with current standards. Keep in mind, also, that at that time, the biggest RPG was still Final Fantasy(random encounters were commonplace), and limited storage space and processing power kept the environments bland and repetitive. The modern review still notes the unique gameplay under the surface(conversing with enemies, rumour system), but it does say that you will have to slog through loads of bland content at the same time. Rating game updates and ports more strictly is something Gamespot does more than other sites, I think, and it's something I respect. Also, it's not as if the Persona games really follow after each other, so playing the older ones only serve to see new gameplay elements introduced to the series.
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Barbie_Boy

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#14 Barbie_Boy
Member since 2009 • 667 Posts
I started with persona 4, went on to persona 3/ devil survivor and then played digital devil saga/strange journey etc. I think persona 3-4/ devil survivor is a good start as long as you realize that the rest of the series is less forgiving, darker in tone and there is a chance you like them more/less the only game I know that are directly connected is: Digital Devil saga 1 and 2 Persona 2 IS/EP (and to an extent persona 1 but not important) dunno about about the devil summoner games on PS2, only been able to play the first one
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SwordCoast

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#15 SwordCoast
Member since 2011 • 25 Posts
I should remind that Persona 1 also ported to PSP. But even the Gamespot review is very low: http://www.gamespot.com/shin-megami-tensei-persona/reviews/shin-megami-tensei-persona-review-6229249?tag=summary%3Bread-review But most likely; a crazy masochist like me will start with this awful title just for historical reasons and to see the development of series. Anyone played SMT: Persona 1? Any reviews guys? Not: Though the user reviews on the page are generally positive.
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Barbie_Boy

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#16 Barbie_Boy
Member since 2009 • 667 Posts
[QUOTE="SwordCoast"]I should remind that Persona 1 also ported to PSP. But even the Gamespot review is very low: http://www.gamespot.com/shin-megami-tensei-persona/reviews/shin-megami-tensei-persona-review-6229249?tag=summary%3Bread-review But most likely; a crazy masochist like me will start with this awful title just for historical reasons and to see the development of series. Anyone played SMT: Persona 1? Any reviews guys?

I really liked persona 1 (and 2 to btw) but it do feel really aged yes, new music might chew you and can get pretty hard at points (tho if ya want to play majority of SMT games it's nothing)