I know P1 is not exactly the poster child of the series, especially with its outdated gameplay mechanics and that nightmarish encounter rate that feels like it's out to get you. But there's still something special about this game that often gets overlooked.
First off, let's address the absolute worst aspect of the game: the encounter rate. God, whoever thought it was a good idea must have had a sadistic streak. But once you get past that initial frustration and manage to keep your sanity in check, there's a lot to love here.
The vibe and atmosphere of P1 are immaculate with its gritty urban setting and eerie supernatural elements. It's a far cry from the flashy, modern aesthetics of later entries, but that's really part of its charm and just hits all the right spots for me. The main characters in the game are excellent. There may not be much in the way of more drawn-out interactions, but the characters in the context of the plot are awesome and their dialogue in the overworld gives a lot of extra nice bits of characterization. It's also refreshing to play a Persona game without the overly bloated and drawn-out plotlines that can bog down the newer titles. P1 knows what themes it's going for and does what it sets out to do, and for that alone, I really liked it.
The soundtrack of the PSP version is honestly great. I know a lot of people say that the original PS1 version is better but I have to disagree as I've found myself listening to certain PSP songs on repeat a lot. I feel certain ones are among the best in the series as a whole. A lone prayer is a bop.
Now, P1 definitely isn't without its flaws. The encounter rate alone drove me insane and almost made me quit right at the beginning, and the dated gameplay is definitely frustrating at times, but it was still worth trudging through.
As someone who is really tired of the "modern" and overused anime tropes, as well as the sometimes regressive writing in certain aspects that are present in newer titles, I think P1 was a breath of fresh air and has made me excited to try the P2 Duology.
First off, let's address the absolute worst aspect of the game: the encounter rate. God, whoever thought it was a good idea must have had a sadistic streak. But once you get past that initial frustration and manage to keep your sanity in check, there's a lot to love here.
The vibe and atmosphere of P1 are immaculate with its gritty urban setting and eerie supernatural elements. It's a far cry from the flashy, modern aesthetics of later entries, but that's really part of its charm and just hits all the right spots for me. The main characters in the game are excellent. There may not be much in the way of more drawn-out interactions, but the characters in the context of the plot are awesome and their dialogue in the overworld gives a lot of extra nice bits of characterization. It's also refreshing to play a Persona game without the overly bloated and drawn-out plotlines that can bog down the newer titles. P1 knows what themes it's going for and does what it sets out to do, and for that alone, I really liked it.
The soundtrack of the PSP version is honestly great. I know a lot of people say that the original PS1 version is better but I have to disagree as I've found myself listening to certain PSP songs on repeat a lot. I feel certain ones are among the best in the series as a whole. A lone prayer is a bop.
Now, P1 definitely isn't without its flaws. The encounter rate alone drove me insane and almost made me quit right at the beginning, and the dated gameplay is definitely frustrating at times, but it was still worth trudging through.
As someone who is really tired of the "modern" and overused anime tropes, as well as the sometimes regressive writing in certain aspects that are present in newer titles, I think P1 was a breath of fresh air and has made me excited to try the P2 Duology.
3 Comments
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@NovaNiles As much as I like P1, I wouldn't recommend it if you want to get more into the Persona series. Since Persona 3, the franchise has actually undergone a significant transformation. The entire social sim aspect and calendar system present in P3 onwards are absent in P1.P1 feels more like a traditional SMT game. But if you like old-school and don't mind clunky gameplay, or if you found Persona 5 to be just okay, then you might want to give this game or P2 a try. Though, if you're into the social sim elements and prefer less dated gameplay, then Persona 3 might be a better choice for you.
Sounds like I would enjoy P1 and 2 way more than the later entries. The social aspects is kinda what pushed me away from 5, I found them way overbering compared to the rest of the rpg gameplay. I also dont really have a problem with "dated" gameplay for retro games in general. Im always pretty hyped working myself into all kinds of different systems as long as I can see that theirs some kind of solid idea or hook to it. If push comes to shove Im just gona look up a guide or even a scan for the respectiv manuals. Thank you for the detailed answer, that actually helped a lot.
NovaNiles
1 month ago