Thunderstarter

Well, this is my first of a series of "Look Backs" I will do for every new game I buy. I will look back on them a week after I finish the main storyline. Here goes nothing...
 
I recently posted a blog about how much I LOVED Persona 3: Portable, being my first P3 experience. I didn't spoil anything for myself, and the game just went on to culminate into something...fascinating...
 
Of course, everything has its flaws. Persona 3 had its share. From a 30-minute last boss (who, by the way, must be the cheapest boss I've ever fought) to only one dungeon to explore (on the first run through), it's hard to say the game is perfect.
 
However, the game is at its best when it manages to overcome these flaws and give you a personal experience, which is exactly what I got. 
 
Persona 3 actually made a tear (A real human tear) stroll down my cheek. I felt like I knew these characters, the writing was done so well that it felt like they were actual people. Nobody was mary-sue. Everyone had a weakness. Watching each character's connections with each other grow was an experience I will never forget. It's like a novel that will stick with you forever. I'm not sure I will ever forget this game because of its characters.
  
...I would like to mention that the story was static until a certain date. Wait...sorry...I meant the plot. But that's fine. This was definitely a character-driven story, with a small (very intense) plot at the end.
 
Speaking of said intense plot, that last month was filled with dread and anxiety not only for the characters but for myself. I did NOT want to see that world end like that! I have NEVER felt that way while playing a game before. EVER. I have felt strong feelings of hate against a boss, but the world of P3 felt so real. It was like our own.
 
Don't forget the awesome that is the battle system. It's typical turn-based strategy at its core, but hey, pointing a gun at your head was always intense and never got old.
 
My favorite character? Aigis. Without a doubt in my mind, and the whole of the month of January is my reason why.
 
Plus, the ending was actually really good unlike a lot of games nowadays. It touched me.
 
Persona 3 is definitely one of the best games I've ever played. I'm already in July of my second play through.

I keep hearing, "Aqua this, Aqua that." I personally find badass videogame heroines awesome, so I've always leaned towards her.
Plus, c'mon. In the gamescom trailer she was freaking awesome. 
 
And I have a bias against characters who give into the darkness inside them *cough* TERRA *cough*. Riku's O.K. because he ultimately didn't cause any damage and overcame it in the end.

" I cant wait for this but i still need to beat 358/2 days on ds -__- "

" Why would someone who doesn't have the slightest interest in Kingdom Hearts click on a KH related thread made for people that are going to play BBS? And then why would they proceed to leave a comment about how they're not going to play it? You guys are fucking stupid. ANYWAY, I believe Nomura said himself that the best order for understanding everything is Terra - Ventus - Aqua, and I've heard that's the order they leave their home world and visit other worlds, but I'm not certain. So you would want to beat a world as Terra, then Ventus, then Aqua. I, personally, am not too fond of the idea of constantly switching between the three stories. I think I'm just going to do each story one at a time. That being said, I've decided that I'm going to do Ventus first, then Terra, then Aqua. Mainly because I want to do them in the order recommended by Nomura, but, I'm way more interested in Ven's story, so I'm doing him first.  Also, a heads up, I've heard that Aqua's story has "tremendous" spoilers for Ven's story, so it's probably better to play as Ven before Aqua. "

This is why the PSPgo was a BAD idea. Everybody thought so :/
 
PSP 3000 has all of the features of a PSP go, it's just bigger. Oh well.

" Don't know, I thought about that. I will probably stick with one character for a while, and if it gets boring switch to someone else. The problem (as I see it) with doing it the way you propose is it seems like it would get too confusing especially since the first Disney world each of the characters visit is different. I find I can keep track of time lines pretty well if I go through one at a time like I did in Sonic Adventure or Chain of Memories. "

What I mean is, is anybody going to "story-hop"? 
 
I want to know exactly what's going on, when it's happening, and who's involved. So, I'm going to play all of the stories in chronological manner. Once I beat a world with Terra, I'll move on to Aqua and beat a world with her, then go to Ventus and finish a world and restart the cycle. This is so I know what each character is doing at each point of the story, I don't want be left guessing or, worse, confused.
 
I'm sure others are going to do this, but could you kindly tell me if you are. Or, if you aren't, what you ARE going to do and why?

" A lot of people focus on getting revenge kills, instead of protecting the Moneyball. I've seen people run toward enemy lines, just to kill a specific opponent while our Moneyball is under attack.  I enjoy playing with GB members, because they focus on the team, not their individual stats. "

To be completely honest, I find a lot of these gripes to be a bit...meh. You're not the only one who feels this way, and don't worry, I feel the same rage as you when my team would rather run around like chickens with their heads cut off then actually getting rid of camping supports/snipers/whoever-the-hell is kicking the crap outta your team. However, in all honesty, all of these problems CAN be solved by a single person provided their character is strong enough. Camping supports? Headshot the supports as a Sniper and have your team work on the turrets (they should get it at that point).    
 
Also, the game has been out for what, two weeks? A lot of people still need to get a handle on how exactly to play the game. Give it another 3 weeks and I guarantee you the experience will be better, due to the fact that people will have more experience with the game.
 
The problem with this game is that it was never beta-tested to my knowledge and due to the Summer of Arcade's advertising opportunities they put the game out there without one. This doesn't mean the game is incomplete, the game is very much a finished title. Since it wasn't beta-tested the game has some exploits that exist that could've been reported. 
 
The solution Uber is going to come to, I'm sure, is:
1) Releasing new Map Packs  (exploit free, of course) 
2) Nerf, nerf, nerf
 
They're going to nerf the Support's attack base because it simply is too powerful (I think they'll take away overshielding and call it a day, and I would be completely happy with that). They're going to make the Sniper's bullet NOT move in a straight line (wind!), and (I hope oh so much) they're going to make the Assault's gun do more damage and have greater accuracy. This is all speculation, but I think it's valid speculation. 
  
I LOVE the game. It has its "OMG WTF STUPID GAME!" moments, but otherwise, I'm very happy I spent my 1200 Xbox fun points on this game.