Persona 3 FES vs Persona 4

[Erik_Twice]

As you might know, I don't like JRPGs very much. But this is a recent development, I used to play them a lot and bought both P3FES and P4 in an impulse. And I even had fun, until the moment I got stuck in P3. Oh, well.

The thing is, I'm thinking one must go. Both games are so long and have so much padding in the form of a grinding tower I don't think I want to have either. If you had to choose, which one would you keep?

Also, what mechanical differences are there between P3 and P4?

[AppleQueso]

I've always been told that Persona 4 is a huge improvement over 3.

I think I sold Persona 3 FES before I ever even played it

[MrPopo]

P4 lets you control your party. Additionally, when you build S.Links with your teammates they get new in combat abilities, like taking a fatal blow for you once, or triggering a follow up which is either more damage + knock down or instant kill. Those are the main mechanical advantages of P4. There's some minor changes to the daily schedule as well. Note that the full combat control is carried over into P3P.

In terms of the dungeons, instead of having a single all-encompassing dungeon + minor dungeons for full moon bosses you have small dungeons for each storyline boss. Each dungeon has a very different look to it (even though it's the same random generation engine) so there is less of the fatigue you get in P3. Additionally, you have to gather clues when the next storyline boss becomes available before you can do his dungeon, to fit in with the murder mystery theme of the game.

[ZenErik]

I thought P3 was great but never finished it. Too long. WIll be trying P4 when P4G arrives. A lot of people seem to prefer P4 overall. Certainly willing to give it a shot!

[Crabmaster2000]

I loved them both, but beyond the excellent gameplay changes in 4 that Mr.Popo pointed out I found the characters and story more interesting. Like I said I loved them both, but if I had to choose one I'd easily pick 4. Just had more fun with it.

[Menegrothx]

P4 lets you control your party.

Doesn't FES let you do that too? The PSP version does, and I thought that it was pretty much the same as FES.

[MrPopo]

I don't believe FES let you control your party manually. FES was created before P4, and that was the big new feature of P4 that was much rejoicing.

[Erik_Twice]

Yes, you can control your party in P3FES.

@Mr Popo

So in a sense, the grind tower has been cut and applied to each chapter of the plot? I really think that if P3FES had no grind tower it would have been one of the best rpgs ever made.

[MrPopo]

It's been cut down, applied to each chapter, and the total number of floors is greatly reduced.

[J T]

I like Persona 4 more than Persona 3 FES. The two are very similar and both very good. I liked the characters a bit better in 4 and it just felt more off the wall, whereas 3 FES seemed more dark and serious. The pacing of 4 seemed a bit better too. I guess it's just kind of preference thing ultimately though. They are both excellent.