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Charm seems easier to raise then academics. The designers likely meant  for Yukari to be the main love interest even if there are other options. Or it could just be the relationships you build with the others girls like Mitsuru aren't necessarily romantic. This is my  second play through so I'll  try working on Mitsuru to see how it pans out. Btw if you visit Paulowina Mall in the evening the Karaoke place can build your courage whereas the restraunt next to Escapades gives out more charm. If you have nothing else to do and have some yen give those places a whirl!

Kenji,Kaz,and Maya were my first main friends. The game while letting you make certain decisions does seem  to rig you up  in the beginning. Kenji is the first student to really open up to you and be friendly so unless  you  are anti social you have the desire to befriend him right away.  Kaz seems a bit competitive and jockish at first but then you find out he is a lot deeper and cares about others more then himself. I like how all the characters have layers. They are not cookie cutter stereotypes. I also went to Tartarus alot and tried  completing each area before a main event so I'd be prepared. I never took to the Gourmet king and thought he was a bit abrasive and too full of himself.

Yukari was my first choice for romantic interest. After all she's the one that stayed at the hospital to be sure you are alright. Also she has the  most in common with your character.

It seems harder to pursue Mitsuru (Academics is harder to raise then charm.) Yuka seems sweet. I wonder what stat you have  to raise to pursue her? As for Aegis well, besides for Yukari  she expresses the most interest in you  instantly after a mere first encounter.

The only conflict  Atlus would have with wii is Nintendo doggedly tries to project itself as a "family friendly" console. Hell, I was surprised when Resident Evil 4  hit the game-cube first. However the two companies always had a decent relationship and I'd rather Shin Megami Tensei games come out for the wii then for  the PS 3.

Regardless of my gripes P1 was one of my favorite games. Still, somethings felt forced with the changes. However I actually like how Mark's ethnicality was changed. Face it without him every character would be white. Yet some of the  dialogue they gave him was over the top. Mark's relationship  to Maki was touching. In the end as characters go the whole cast of Persona 1 alienated me.

Nate was the rich kid that mourned a dying butler, Ellen resembled every girl that was a bitch in my high school, and Brad (I think that is his name,the white kid with sun glasses atop his head) was a complete asshole. I liked the story just fine but the only "hero" I could relate to in the cast was the silent  protagonist. Actually now that I think about it compared to the other characters Mark wasn't that bad. At least he had heart. Everyone else was an air head,bully,popularity whore,or a spoiled rich kid. Mark was likely the closest to me in that he wasn't rich,wasn't popular, and had to  earn everything. Funny how a deeper reflection of P1 made me come to that revelation.

What can I say? I liked the characters in the other Persona games a lot more. However back then when I had noone to compare the  original cast of characters to I suppose it wasn't as big of an issue with me. I'm sorry P3 doesn't have subtitles for those that wanted them but hey, it wasn't my choice and I'm 100% happy with the dub  anyway.

It was good sportsmanship to buy the game though you had connections. I'm hoping Atlus makes a lot of profit off P3 so they'll eventually make P4 or at the very least bring over Fes. Of course by the time that occurs it'll likely be on an expensive "next gen" system. Only continuations of Persona,Nocturne,and Digital devil would make me consider buying a PS-3. I wasn't even excited by teasers of Devil May Cry 4 and Metal Gear solid 4. Perhaps in my older age I'm getting tired of certain franchises.

I think the older nekomata design is more sexy. In the recent games they made her out to look like a ninja. I have nothing against ninjas it's just their common enough place in games and anime as it is.

Later you need Orpheus  to fuse with Thanatos to create Messiah. But so long as he is in the compendium you can call him back at any time. If you get him powerful be sure to register him again so his stats are good when you re-summon him. Same goes for other personas too.

Well in America  it would likely be called Nocturne 2 though  the very first Shin Megami versions were on the old nes and snes. It's the same as Final fantasy. What was FF3 for us in the states was FF 6 in Japan. Eventually I hope they send us P3 Fes but I'm not 100% counting on it. Guess I'm a bit of a pessimist. lol. However P3 did great review  wise so maybe Atlus will realize extra profit can be had.

I really want Nocturne but like any MegaTen title it didn't stay available to the masses very long. Sure I could pay top dollar on ebay but it's not in my budget currently and I'm glad I got Persona 3 at the very least. If I hear wind of Nocturne 2 I'll be smart and pre-order this time.

I don't think people had a problem with Mark being black. I think the problem was Atlus over-did the "stereo-types" associated with black people to the point Mark came off as a blatant racial slur . I heard his Japanese counter-part in the unchanged version of Revelations was less annoying.

Regardless it was smart of Atlus not to change any cultural atmosphere in P3. It would have been lame if the characters ate pizza instead of sushi,went to school only 5 days a week, and attended church while spouting the national anthem. I get the feeling a Persona game set in the heartland of America would suck unless it was in a liberal city like  New York or somewhere in California.

If Persona 3 had an awful dub I'd be the  first to rant but it didn't and the characters despite speaking in English still acted like teenagers from Japan. Nothing was lost in the translation save for the additional material we didn't get that is in Persona Fes. (short  for Festival.)

It's easy to get the "true ending". You'll be presented with a very pivotal choice near the end. The correct response is "not killing' your friend and letting time drag on another month with your memories intact. You can save before-hand  and kill your friend if you want to see the  "bad ending".  I refer to the character  as "your friend" to not give anything away.

Also dubbed or not Japan got Fes and we didn't. I know it wasn't entirely intentional but still when you are a "westerner fan" aching for the  additional content you feel like you got the  shaft and the Japanese are giggling while ranting "Japan fuck yeah! We get additional content and the western countries can kiss our asses now!"  I'm not ungrateful mind you. We were lucky to get P3 in the first place considering all the controversial red tape it had to surpass when information on it first leaked out.

Tony is right about the language thing. When I hear characters with good voice talent behind them speaking in my dialect I feel like I'm more drawn into the story despite the obvious cultural differences portrayed in the game. If it was all spoken in Japanese I'd have to squint to read sub titles and add that text atop the already huge amounts of text throughout the story. Due to having to concentrate extra hard the game would not be nearly as enjoyable to me. Besides like I said the game is obviously "Japan related" to the max regardless of what language is spoken so I do not see how the P3 dub makes it less "as it was meant  to be experienced!"

Be grateful they didn't completely revamp some of the characters and  change a lot of cultural symbolism like they did in Persona Revelations.

One you get  a lot of Yen and experience. I don't know  exactly what she says to you after being defeated. I used the special area to level up but never faced her directly. A faq is what says she is a hidden boss. The hard special zone only has 10 floors but when you get to Elizabeth you fight her by yourself with no aid from allies. Whether or not she is harder then Nyx is debatable. If  you are die-hard go for it! I just wanted to beat the damn game to see what happened. No spoilers but I will say the "true ending" was worth seeing.

I play games  more for story-line and  innovation then for an insane challenge. I just beat Persona 3 but I wouldn't call it easy by a long shot. It's true Nocturne and DDS were more difficult but does difficulty by itself make one game better then another? Personally I don't think so but that's just me.

For example DDS 1 and 2 were very hard but to me despite the nihilistic and unique religious elements and "demon eat demon" world they still were linear rpgs and not as good as other MegaTen titles. Sure choices you make in the first game effects the second game but that falls short of the myriad options you have in Nocturne and Persona  3. However DDS saga still manages to beat the ever living crap out of the usual cookie cutter rpgs. While not my favorites in the Megaten universe they still hold my respect.

I'm playing Persona 3 on game + mode just for the hell of it. It's rare when an rpg encourages me to play through a second and third  time. Chrono trigger was the last game that sparked just as much nostalgia in me as Persona 3 but that was years and years ago.

Well you'll level up  a lot just fighting the creatures  in the "special zone". When I first went there those with me leveled up after every battle until I got into  the  mid 70's. Just be aware many of them have instant death moves and  high HP. Having  decent equipment is a must for the bonus area  in Tatarus.

Maybe hardcore gamers will take on Elizabeth but I'm not quite that dedicated. At around level 80 something I was doing pretty good and only lost to the end boss twice before defeating him the third time. The strategies I posted earlier  in this thread worked for me  (even without the "super" Personas) but having Messiah likely makes the end conflict less cumbersome.