Common question, especially concerning fighting games, but it's not been asked yet so I decided to make a poll.

What is the first thing you guys are planning to do when you get the game?

I feel that a lot of these are suitable answers and the first thing I'll do is access Lesson Mode as, even though I'm familiar with all of the games' systems and controls, I feel that I should still access the tutorial or else I'll never touch it at all.

The one with actual replies got locked... so here's what I said there:

Is Challenge mode like complete-a-combo mode? Probably that then, going through the characters until one of them inspires me to hop into the lab and start experimenting.

@StarvingGamer said:

Is Challenge mode like complete-a-combo mode? Probably that then, going through the characters until one of them inspires me to hop into the lab and start experimenting.

Yeah, Challenge Mode is essentially combo mode. Here are a few vids:

Probably Chie in Arcade. Though I bet Story will be a more even difficulty.

Don't know who I'm going to play for real though. I like a mix of range and up close, I like setups and playing to my opponent. Speed is nice, and lots of HP is great so I can make a few mistakes and not be dead. I really liked Mitsuru until I found out she was a charge character.

I've mained Litchi in BlazBlue, Cammy in Street Fighter and Wesker/Taskmaster in MvC3, who do you think I should use?

@Brodehouse said:

I like a mix of range and up close, I like setups and playing to my opponent. Speed is nice, and lots of HP is great so I can make a few mistakes and not be dead. I really liked Mitsuru until I found out she was a charge character.

If you mean range as in keepaway range and not just medium range like a Yu or a Mitsuru, then I'd say either Teddie or Aigis. Teddie has average HP (9.5k) and Aigis has below average (9k, although she's currently considered the best character in the game), but both of them fit pretty much your description, especially Aigis when it comes to speed (for moving around the stage). Basic strategy for Aigis is: activate Orgia mode when you can and rush the opponent; when Orgia mode runs out, stay away and use her limited number of bullets to stall the opponent while waiting for Orgia mode to recharge.

lesson mode probably; don't want to get lost after all.

A nice trip to lesson will help get use to the controls before doing any real fighting.

The mode which teaches me how to play. I assume that is lesson.

Definitely Lesson Mode.

Arcade mode with Naoto , I don't know why people say start with the practice mode! , that should be the correct option but I think is best if you test the waters first have a little fun and then get into the homework stuff about learning combos and controller inputs.

Story mode, Yu's story.

All day training mode.

...maybe a bit of challenge mode. But otherwise day 1 is lab day.

My instinct is to dive straight into the story mode, but I should probably hit the lesson mode first to at least get some kind of understanding of the mechanics.

I can usually button mash my way through the story mode.

Lesson mode. The guys at my Campus will definitely learn the ropes fast, so I need to ante up first.

I usually ignore training modes until it's painfully obvious that I'm missing something important. Story mode'll probably be the first thing I jump at, unless any of my friends happen to be around and a-rearin' to throw down.

Actually having a hard time deciding who I'd want to try out first, much moreso than most fighting games. I usually just make a surface decision based on who looks cool, but now I'm faced with the goddamn cast of PERSONA. Just can't go wrong with this decision.

Maybe Akihiko? Naoto? Charlie?

@Superkenon: Yeah, I also had the same problem since I'd be okay with playing pretty much any character. Usually in competitive games, I can pretty much choose who to main based on superficial qualities (usually antagonists or evil characters), but I can't really do that with P4A, especially since there's only one playable bad guy.

Story mode, Yu's story. I've buttoned through several story modes in fighting games so I think I will do fine with this one. After that I'll probably start maining Yosuke(as my avatar and BG point out) by doing lesson mode and arcade mode.

@FluxWaveZ: I'm usually just picking the young punk with the sword. Ky, Jin, etc.... even though I've got Charlie here as the natural progression, it's still hard.

Yeah, with the roster saturated with good guys, I'm pretty curious about what they're going to do to make the story mode so (reportedly) long. I mean, I guess it's got the tournament contrivance, but I'm sure it'll go further than that. Whatever it is, the promise of all these match-ups pleases the fanboy in me.

Training mode, learn the buttons, and then go to Story Mode and bend everyone I can as Kanji.

Training mode first to get a feel of the game for myself

@Make_Me_Mad said:

Training mode, learn the buttons, and then go to Story Mode and bend everyone I can as Kanji.

Only people available in story mode initially are Yu, Yosuke, Chie and Yukiko.

Training mode so I can get a feel for the controls, then I'll hit up story mode after.

@FluxWaveZ said:

@Make_Me_Mad said:

Training mode, learn the buttons, and then go to Story Mode and bend everyone I can as Kanji.

Only people available in story mode initially are Yu, Yosuke, Chie and Yukiko.

...Damn. Then I will play through Chie's story first, and then whoever is necessary to unlock Kanji, and then I will play through his story mode. I just wanna hit people with a chair.

@FluxWaveZ: Since you seem to be the resident P4A guru, which character is the most Dhalsim-like in terms of playstyle?

@StarvingGamer said:

@FluxWaveZ: Since you seem to be the resident P4A guru, which character is the most Dhalsim-like in terms of playstyle?

Hm, well I'm not extremely familiar with SF (or any fighting game that's not P4A, really) but from what I played of SFIV and its iterations, it seems Dhalsim focuses on a medium/long range keepaway/zoning game with stretchy limbs and flame projectiles. When opponents get in too close for comfort, he teleports away or establishes distance in some other way. Dhalsim has a below average amount of health.

So, based on that, I think either Yukiko or Elizabeth would play the most like Dhalsim. Both of their Personae are designed to keep the opponent at bay while they stay back and perform distanced attacks. They both have a below average amount of health (with Liz having the less amount in the game) and need to stay away from the opponent to stay alive. Yukiko might resemble Dhalsim more as most of her B normals involve her throwing fans—kind of like how a lot of Dhalsim's normals has him stretching his limbs—while a lot of Liz's normals are designed for a close distance rushdown after Thanatos incapacitates the opponent. Also, Yukiko has a more defensive and patient playstyle when the opponent is too close compared to Liz who has options like her B + D throw to handle that kind of pressure.

Finally, Liz is more combo heavy at a close distance compared to Yukiko, so I think I'd say that Yukiko is the closest in playstyle to Dhalsim.

No love for poor Score Attack~!

@FluxWaveZ: Thanks, Yukiko sounds about right.

@FluxWaveZ said:

@Brodehouse said:

I like a mix of range and up close, I like setups and playing to my opponent. Speed is nice, and lots of HP is great so I can make a few mistakes and not be dead. I really liked Mitsuru until I found out she was a charge character.

If you mean range as in keepaway range and not just medium range like a Yu or a Mitsuru, then I'd say either Teddie or Aigis. Teddie has average HP (9.5k) and Aigis has below average (9k, although she's currently considered the best character in the game), but both of them fit pretty much your description, especially Aigis when it comes to speed (for moving around the stage). Basic strategy for Aigis is: activate Orgia mode when you can and rush the opponent; when Orgia mode runs out, stay away and use her limited number of bullets to stall the opponent while waiting for Orgia mode to recharge.

Nah, range as in reach not keepaway. I liked playing Litchi in Blazblue simply because she had a lot of super long pokes that could frustrate and control space. Same with Taskmaster, a lot of his simple melee options have more reach than other guys.

I watched a stream of some Teddie playing, a lot of air stuff and cross ups with bouncing projectiles. Could be worth it.

@Brodehouse: Ah, so then that'd totally be Mitsuru, but you don't want to play her. Guess Teddie would be a suitable option, but he's more of an instigator than a character that plays to the opponent and there are other characters that fit your description too such as Yu and Labrys. Yosuke would play more to that speed aspect and Shadow Labrys would play more to that setup aspect, but they both have low HP.

Versus mode. I have a friend coming over and We plan on learning by fighting each other.

@FluxWaveZ: Yu seems like a decent pick. He's got the big sword and I'd assume he's the Ryu of the game. I know how to use Ryu reasonably well.

Yosuke could work, I am used to playing Cammy, who is also a fragile speedster. I worry that Yosuke will play like Makoto Nanaya from BlazBlue. It might just be from competition, but I could whip most Makotos, and I'm not all that good.

So, who's the guy who keeps things close and personal, and has a ton of throw moves?

@MikeGosot said:

So, who's the guy who keeps things close and personal, and has a ton of throw moves?

Kanji Tatsumi is the only one like that.

@MikeGosot said:

So, who's the guy who keeps things close and personal, and has a ton of throw moves?

Kanji Tatsumi is the only one like that.

Lesson mode. Then challenge mode for the character's story I'm about to play through and then that character's story until I'm done with all of the stories. Then it's on to online mode.

Enter the meat dimension.

Start practicing my Chie, anti-everything tech.

SEE YOU AT EVO, FUCKERS

Lesson mode so I can learn how to do God's Hand.

What am I gonna do first? Play the shit out of this game, that's what.

Probably some training mode and then challenge mode. Then I'll prolly get my BnB on lock in training mode with whoever I decide to main after fiddling with the cast.

What kind of fighting style have people been comparing Naoto to?

Story mode or Arcade depending on mood and how much spare time I have.

@Superkenon: Keepaway character. She uses her traps and guns for zoning and has good mobility, though she has very low health. She reminds me of Trish from MvC3.

@FluxWaveZ: Cool, I can dig it. Though it sounds way too technical for me.

Therefore I will probably use her!

@Superkenon From what I understand she is difficult to master but a really rewarding character to use if you do.

Run through lesson mode then probably spend an entire day in training mode. 

Hmmm, I was thinking about giving Elizabeth a spin but apparently she loses 3:7 or worse against Mitsuru who happens to be toptier! in this game.

I try lesson then go to story and start with chie because she was my best party member in 4 ( besides yu of course) and she was my relationship in 4 too.