Hey guys, I was wondering if you could help me with this problem:
It seems fairly obvious now that I will either get a PS2 with my own money or go halvsies with a friend (who wants to play metal gear solid 4) on a PS3 (but that is not what this topic is about).
Due to the Endurance Run, I have decided to buy a Persona game, but which one should I get first?
I have little knowledge about P3, other than that you shoot yourself in the head to summon Persona, and it's longer (as well as $10 cheaper). However, Persona 4 is also awesome, and you can actually control your party members. So which one do I get?

Persona 3 should come first. Persona 4 makes some changes that will make it hard to go back, but 3 is still worth playing regardless.

I'm split. There are parts to both games that I like better than their counterparts but both are wonderful experiences.

If you can afford to get both games, definitely go play 3 first and then 4. On its own, 3 is a really great game and there's definitely more to it than just the provocative fake head-shooting mechanic. 4, however, makes a number of refinements in the gameplay and storytelling departments, which are best appreciated if you play 3 beforehand just to better recognize the evolution. That said, though, if you can only afford one of them, I'd say definitely go for 4. I find the package as a whole to be better done and overall I think you're in for a better time with it. 3's still great, but I was way more attached to 4 by the end.

Persona 4 is the only one you need. Don't get me wrong, FES is awesome, but especially after watching so many Endurance Runs, you've already seen the vast superiorities Persona 4 has, which makes it hard to go back to P3.

I'm going through P3 right now and damn is that game LONG.  I love it though, but I would probably love it considerably less if I first went through 70+ hours of the same game but with dramatic improvements to every aspect.

P4 DOES have a great many nice features like controlling your party members and fast travel, but it also took away a lot of cool things from P3, like splitting up your party to search through dungeons on their own, making weapons out of persona's, and fusing jesus. I also liked the theme of P3 a lot better. If you only had time to play one pick up P4, but otherwise do P3 first.

I'd hit P3:FES first, especially since at Gamestop's Game Days you can pick up a copy for $19.99.  It's a much darker story than 4, and the ability in 4 to control your party is something that's hard to give up once you've had it.  FES is excellent though, and if you're uninitiated to playing the series, it's a good starting point.

Ok, It seems that the majority opinion is that I get FES first so I can appreciate what it does without having to compare it to P4. Sounds like a plan. Thanks!

P3: FES is a good one play now, and P4 when you are ready for more :D

they're both wicked!