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[Zacfoldor]

I think a lot of people would benefit from playing the OG versions of the game.

For example P5R, great game, got the plat, super fun, but very VERY long.

OG P5 much, much shorter with a much smaller side quest system.

P5R is more of a good thing but there is a such thing as too much for people who aren't super fans. I think the trap lies in the fact that most people want to get more bang for their buck so they just buy the new version with added content and it screws up the pacing.

 

[GymWolf]

They were ok at the beginning but they got pretty boring pretty fast tbh.

 

[Sethbacca]

I got about 55-60 hours into my P5 playthrough and kind of gave up on it. If it had just been the story and dungeons and get rid of all the social stuff to get the game down into a reasonable time to finish I'd probably have bothered with it.

 

[WhiteWaterM00se]

I know the social aspects speak to Japanese gamers. Though I think for most other countries it is not entertaining and adds useless time to the games.

While this is “off topic”. The best thing these games could do for mainstream appeal is to make the game last 15-30 hours max with some form of “end game” that goes longer and encourages players to replay and try more things.

 

[fart town usa]

No. It's why I never got into Persona. I've tried a few times. I also dislike 99% of anime so that could be another reason why.

 

[Humdinger]

No. I tried Persona 5 because of all the hype around it, and the social part dragged down the experience for me. I found it interesting at first, but then it just kept going and going, talk and more talk, most of it at a juvenile or high school level. I understand some people, especially younger people, get into that, but I found it grating and tiresome. I don't want to sit around listening to "teen talk" all day. I quit about 3/4 of the way through. Just not for me.

 

[NeverYouMind]

Only in the original Persona 4 because the characters were campy and not just victims of fate.

 

[TintoConCasera]

They are fun in a VN kind of way, but it's not the reason why I play those games.

Combat, fusing, story and music are more important.

 

[sigmaZ]

No.
I like roleplaying, so if there were clearer choices that defined the terms of relationships—like in BG3 or something—I would love it. But half the time, the answers in Persona games are either too vague or too obvious, and the game rewards you differently in ways that impact gameplay. I personally find that to be flawed game design.
I still think the Japanese VO is good, and I like the designs, though—I just don’t like how they’re integrated into the game.
Also, the characters ramble a bit too much in some scenes.
But what I actually hate most are fixed camera angles. I'm so done with them. Unless it's an old-school-style game (2D, etc.), if cutscenes use fixed-camera angle templates, the game loses a point in design for me. Look at RS2—they’re pulling off full voice acting and full camera cinematics. I like to turn off all subtitles and clear the screen for a more immersive experience.

 

[Shifty1897]

P3 is about telling people what they want to hear.

P4 and P5 is more about giving good advice. But to answer, no, it's probably the least favorite part of those games.

 

[nikos]

I generally have more fun in Persona outside of the dungeons. Some of them drag on for way too long, and I find myself just wanting to get them over with to progress the story.

 

[StereoVsn]

I really think they could benefit to moving a Persona game to a College setting. The conversations and interactions could be more mature and it would also a lot less awkward around dating aspect for folks who go for that.

And in general they should integrate social links more with the story. I think Metaphor did that a bit better (still haven’t gotten to playing the game).

Personally I liked 4 the best out of the series (P2 duology had the best story I would say) as the team had a great group dynamic overall.

 

[RSLAEV]

No because I think VN style gameplay is dull and pointless. I'd rather read a book or a good short story.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

i haven't fished P5. but the social links are like 80% of what makes those games

 

[Retro_Stew]

Isn't that the point of the Persona games?
Personally, I like it, even if it's a little cheesy I'd say.

 

[Celcius]

Yes I like them

 

[ChoosableOne]

That's why you should play SMT instead.

 

[rubik's dude]

I'm playing P3 Reloaded right now and am skipping all the social links and side content, focusing on just Tartarus and the main story.

I'm literally just going to bed early every day until I hit the next main story beat and the next set of border floors open up.

Is there a way to skip past the days faster than just going to bed early 30 times in a row for a month to pass?

 

[BennyBlanco]

Nope, that's one of the main reasons I prefer the core SMT games. They are all about the great combat and demon fusing mechanics without all the social highschool crap.

I don't really get the appeal of the social links, the side stories aren't even good. I can't remember a single side story from P5 despite playing it for dozens of hours.

 

[Sentenza]

Eh. Let's say I enjoy the CONCEPT more than the actual execution.

If the question, on the other hand, is "Would I prefer to do without that part of the game?" then the answer is no.

 

[od-chan]

do people actually enjoy this aspect of the game?

I actually honestly do, yeah, and I would really miss it. But I acknowledge that you have to be really based a huge weeb to do so.

I have guides open what the best answers to give are, and where to encounter what social link at what moment in the game and stuff. I like having to plan out what route I want to follow, how to achieve that in the best way (what gifts should I buy?) and then it's just nice when everything works out the way you wanted it to and your favorite seiyuu says a couple of nice lines. Come see the light, it's glorious.

to build social links I feel like I have to be a simp when talking to females, always providing some cringe answer

You're literally playing a Japanese high schooler trying to get girls. The only question is, are you a successful simp with maxed Social Links and a harem of waifus, or a failed simp who gets no action and dies to shadows

and for the guys I'm expected to encourage and cheer them on, regardless of how stupid the shit they're saying is

Skip that, that's gay (unless that's your thing, then see above).

 

[OuterLimits]

I wish they would at least move the series to a college setting. The social aspect could potentially be somewhat interesting.