[Guest]

Heh heh. Ken's ok but no, he's not on my favorites list. I leveled everyone because I was paranoid and didn't know exactly who would be best for the last battle. Ken "can" do a lot of good physical damage if he is properly equipped though. In the "special area" you can battle Elizabeth for bragging rights but it is a one on one match between you and her. I didn't do that part this time  around but I hear during the fight many "rules" from DDS apply. It's not a pivotal story battle (Elizabeth will not die melodramatically) but if you can  spar with her and get her down that's pretty impressive. She's on the 10th floor of the special zone.

[papal robe]

I finally beat the game. Don't worry no plot spoilers. You can beat the end boss without the extreme Personas like Messiah or Thanatos but it can be a  bit tricky once he begins using  the "midnight queen" extreme damage/status-screwed ability. Have  the papal robe  equipped on your human players and be sure to use charmdi on your  healer Yukari or she'll likely restore the boss back up to full health if she becomes charmed. Magic mirrors can guard against some of the mass effects like poison. He will go through all major Arcana (each arcana corresponds with its strengths and weaknesses) until he reaches death (Or It rather.) Try preserving  your magic until the last form and do not attack when he puts up the moonlight gown. If you strike him when shielded it will usually automatically kill you. (Have everyone on standby during this time and simply use rush mode when he lowers his defenses.)


Break down

Helpful Items.

Magic Mirrors
Soma
Bead Chains
Balms of life
Dis-charm
Dis-Poison
Chewing soul
Items to dispel rage
Items to dispel fear


Helpful Personas to have

1.Cybele (powerful light attack,healing,and ressurection ability.)
2.Surt (Powerful fire spells especially Ragnarok)

Other things.

1. If it goes bad have Fukka ready with Oracle. Try Reserving this until you are fighting the death Arcana.

2. When all your people are healed pretty well use "rush mode" to get in as many attacks as you can. You can cancel rush mode at any time to use Personas. Do not  attack when end boss raises its shield.(He'll only do this as the death Arcana)

3. Mitsuru's max ice attacks do a lot of damage to most arcana forms.

4. Junpei's "well of life" bonus helps a lot.

5. Yukari is great for back up healing just be sure to get to her right away if she is charmed otherwise she can bring the death arcana  back up to full health.

6. You'll want to buy the best weapons from the police station. They're a lot of money but worth it. Before that check your inventory because sometimes you'll find some of those weapons in Tartarus. Be sure to eventually get the specialized armor for Aegis (the  strongest is at 8) and the best dog armor. (I believe  it is the lunar dog suit. Better armors might be in Tartarus too.)

7. A bonus area unlocks near the end. It is another door on the first floor of Tartarus. The monsters can be ridiculous however it is a good place to raise levels and get big rewards. Have Homonuculses around because many of these enemies will try instant death  spells. Save after each battle in the "special zone" after  requesting Fukka to warp you back to safety. Eventually your effort and success will accumulate by being careful. Each time you return both SP and HP are  restored so you can  go at it again at your leisure.

8. To beat the end boss at least be up in the 80's when levels are concerned. Be sure you've helped  all your friends level up too.

Subs and dubs? I don't see how preferring  one over another makes someone lazy or uneducated. In general anyone that enjoys rpgs has a pretty high intelligence.  Wanting to learn  other languages is something that appeals to some but not to others. It has nothing to  do with thinking one's country  is better then another.  I don't know why this turned into a thread of national bias and random slamming. Nowhere did Neao,Tony,or I say "America fuck  yeah!" We just commented that the "dubbed" version of Persona 3 was exceptionally well done. Is that some type of fascism?

It gets better. I want to blab but I'm trying to stick to a no spoiler policy. All I can say is the game is longer then most people might think with alot of surprises throughout. Glad you got it Himuro. I knew there were a few complications with your move. Seems everything panned out well!

I saw some people slamming it for being one part Dating Sim and one part dungeon crawl. I always think "dungeon crawl" is a  redundant criticism in rpgs  because they all have labyrinths with monsters in which the player has to fight to level up. As  for the "dating sim" remark it is  not as if  you focus solely on getting laid. Most of  your evolving  friendships have nothing to do with sex or romance.

To me GTA San Andreas was an rpg dating sim only with more focus on action gameplay. The only distinct difference that it has from Persona 3 is that unlike a school atmosphere it has a ghetto gangsta atmosphere. However it still encourages you to establish friendships and hit on chicks. Ironic that  people that love one of the two games would likely hate the remainder.

I think the track at the beach was "breath hard" but don't quote me word  for word. The "changing of seasons" track was one of my favorites. It becomes  the  main music for school after you reach a certain point. Hopefully that is not too big of a spoiler.

I thought Takaya looked like an evil Jesus. I wonder if that was  intentional or not? Regardless I laughed at it and made spoofs about "Evil  assassin Jesus will shoot you  in the head if you don't worship God!" I know it is bad form to crack jokes about any faith but I couldn't help myself.

That and what does  preferring a game dubbed have  to do with America? If I was French I rather have a copy  of Persona  in French. it has nothing to do with thinking "my language" is great. It's just what I grew up with. It's harder to enjoy something when there is a  bit of a communication barrier and since I have bad eyes that need a new prescription for contacts subtitles make it  hard on me. The game is sorta  text heavy as it is without the inclusion of sub-titles.

Persona 3 is very culture  heavy even without people speaking in Japanese. These are kids that go  to events like the festival of masks, attend school 6 days out of the week, and eat sushi instead of pizza. It's not like Atlus changed any cultural aesthetics just to make north America happy.

For people that want to truly get to learn another language they should take private lessons instead of relying on video-games. While rpgs can be educational their main purpose is to be fun.

I'm working on my star and lovers social links. Pharos was nice  and maxed out my death link before he left. If  Yukari slights you once  don't think it is the end of the world. You have to be persistent though to make her come around. One attempted conversation after your break up isn't enough to do anything. About the  third of fourth time you plead for her to walk with you she'll  start warming up again. I didn't anger her by pursuing other babes, I did it by choosing a response that pissed her off though it seemed like the  right response to give. Yukari is endearing because she really is like a real girl and yes, real girls can be confusing.

How did  preferring things in my language become "God bless America and no  place else!". Japanese prefer things in Japanese. Germans rather read German. Hispanics are more  comfortable speaking their native language. So because I prefer my games to be in the language I understand I'm a bigot but everyone else gets to slide? Ok, that makes rational sense. I hate it when people put "America" in their biased replies as a scapegoat. Makes me feel like I'm on trial for shit I had nothing to do with. For example I did not force Atlus to not include sub-titles nor do I eat babies and love everything about the war on terrorism. To judge any person just by their nationality is short sighted and foolish.  

I'd say subtitles may have been a good choice but frankly  I hate squinting at the screen. If the voice actors in  the dubbed version were as bad as say those in the first  Resident Evil game I'd understand the bitch fest. As it stands it was a near  flawless translation.

Sorry I'm an uneducated bigoted hick. I promise the next time you encounter me I'll speak all languages fluently  and be a  social debutante.

Heh, shows what I know. lol. But if you can put him in the compendium there shouldn't be any worries. I would suggest jacking  up as many social links as you can  though. It really helps your  Personas and leveling potential.

White castle burgers. Far more  intriguing then heartless bots that toy with our cocks like puppet masters manipulating marionettes!

Mmmm! Burgers! (swipes a burger and runs off.)

I'm actually getting to the point the game is more serious. However I thought Chidori was funny. I know somewhere out there she is going to spawn a fan following  of gothic lolitas that style themselves  after her to a T. lol. Her head piece looks like  a dagger going through her head  and instead of intimidating me it made me think of loony toons cartoons.

As you pursue the hermit link with her you can kinda make a pretty decent guess anyway. I won't say more then that. My hermit social link is only at 5 or 6 and I think I know who Maya is. It's  not a "huge plot spoiler" really.

Neao you are a bit zealous on the whole  "spoiler" issue. You had a right to call me out for talking too much about Shadow-Hearts Covenant but face it it's not like he told you  "who" Maya is he just said  it is a weird revelation when you meet her.

I don't see dubbing as "dumbing it down" I just see it as  putting it in my native language so I can understand what the hell is going on. Of course I've had Otaku attack me saying "You lazy just learn Japanese!" . Right guys. No problem. (sarcasm)

I do understand dubbing woes though. They tend  to use the same voice actors again and again. Also some of my favorite anime series got dubbed and sounded like crap afterwards.

I just think Persona 3 doesn't  have any  glaring problems in the translation. It still is obviously a game with a setting in modern Japan with Japanese culture. It's not as if Atlus re-did all the characters and put them in an "America school setting" just to make North America happy. I don't think Persona 3 lost any "cultural integrity" just because of the dubbing.

What do people get out of hearing a  language  rambled off they do not understand? Do they think it makes them more worldly or hip? Just curious.