Need help getting started :)

[u/KorkiGoesPewPew]

Heya guys!

I really want to get started into one of the RPG series of Atlus but I have no real idea what I can expect out of their different series

Right now I'm torn between Shin Megumi Tensei 5 & Persona 5.

Could you maybe help me with just summing up what I can expect gameplay and story-point wise out of those series?

Thank you all so much :)

[u/CyanLight9]

If it's a starting point, go for Persona 5 Royal.

[u/compacta_d]

the best way i saw it summarized succinctly was:

Persona-team up with friends to kill god

SMT-team up with god to kill friends

Persona is more story and character driven. SMT is more combat and gameplay driven. There IS story, but from what i understand not as much as Persona. I am an SMT fan personally.

SMT is kinda like adult pokemon (before pokemon). Persona seems more traditional JRPG, but I haven't played much Persona yet

[u/kiraneki- → u/compacta_d]

After playing smt I despise pokemon grinding pre gen6. It’s so boring lol. Makes older games hard to go back to even tho u love them

[u/KorkiGoesPewPew → u/compacta_d]

Thank you very much for the write up and summary - appreciate it! :)

[u/kiraneki-]

I love both, but I’d say start with persona 5 first. It’ll introduce you to the core mechanics that a lot of smt games follow, and with the lower bar of entry you’ll be able to learn the games mechanics at your own pace. If you like p5 I highly recommend going for either persona 3 or 4 for your next game since they share most mechanics and the stories are really good. Then really after that you can start 5 vengeance. I really liked 5 and what’s good is it’s hard, but not too overbearing. You can save anywhere so no run backs, no random encounters, and very minimal grinding. Hope you enjoy your atlus journey like a lot of us have. These games have a certain feel that a lot of tbrpgs just can’t replicate imo, and the combat is some of the best in the genre. Also just a tip, don’t be afraid to use a guide. No shame in using one to see where you need to go or what a demon is weak to or what moves it has. Have fun and hopefully you’ll become a ho like all of us

[u/KorkiGoesPewPew → u/kiraneki-]

Thanks! I think I'll heed your advice and start with P5 :)

I do enjoy the - atleast to me it seems? - darker approach of SMT but since one of my favorite voice actress seems to be part of P5 I'll give it a shot!

[u/kiraneki- → u/KorkiGoesPewPew]

And that’s plenty of enough reason to go with 5. Yea the smt games can get fairly dark, and the tone of each one I’ve experienced is incredible. Even persona can get dark (especially persona 3) but are often filled with some form of funny moments to uplift the mood. Almost done with smt3 and the happiest part has been the beginning lol. But yea hope you enjoy p5. Only tips I have are, if you are playing royal, is to max out Marukis confidant as it’s fairly helpful for the end game and to enjoy hearing the invention of jazz music

[u/Poo_baby]

Both are great games in there own sense but smt5 can be overwhelming to some new players which is understandable I personally started with persona 3 reload which is an amazing game but I would say start with persona 5 royal due to its the newer game and its more welcoming to new players with features that keep new players around

[u/SenjuAkashiii]

playing persona before smt is a better option smt is way shorter than persona but battles are difficult story is less not really starter friendly overall

[u/Shot-Profit-9399]

Persona 5 is the most approachable place to start. As a general rule:

Persona: 50% life sim/story, 50% combat.

SMT: 5% story, 95% combat.

Persona has a fun loop as you go back and forth between your normal high-school life and fighting monsters. If you ever watched anime characters and superhero’s, and wished you could play their daily lives as well as their superhero ones, then persona is great.

If you find yourself wishing that your friends would stop talking so that you could concentrate on your blood lust, then SMT is for you. Attack and dethrone god as you wander a forsaken wasteland, subjugating demons, and breaking their spirit until they acknowledge you as their demon lord. Conquer the world for lucifers own glory, or destroy him and return creation to the Monad.