Which Persona should I open first

[Dogenzaka]

I recently bought Persona 3 FES and Persona 4.

I know little about them other than the fact it's traditional RPG gameplay (...ugh), Bleach-animeish high-school relationship management and freaky occult "alternate world" gameplay where you use a monster that represents your personality and features. Oh, and that they're good.

I hear both are good. I hear P4 is better.

I lied actually, I opened both of them because I love that new box smell.

But uh, which one should I play first? P3 for "first" sakes, or P4 for the fact that it's better or what?

help me burn my dread.

[Shade737]

Reasons to open P3 first

1. 3 comes before 4.
2. P4 is better so opening that first will ruin your experience for P3.
3. P3 went on to an advancement and then it resulted in P4 so its better to advance from one game to another.

[Vice]

It doesnt really matter since there both there own stories but thee are some things you will understand better in P4 if you play P3 first.

[Macabre]

Like Shade said, play P3 first, because playing P4 first may ruin the fun of P3 as P4 is the better game(Well I can't actually say which is the better game as I haven't played the games, just heard from most that P4 is better).
Is P4 a sequel to P3? If it is, then it would be wise to play P3 first, to understand the story better.

[TheChosenOne]

If you will play P4 before playing P3 you will hate the dungeons in P3, so go for 3 first.
Also always date atleast 2 girls at a time lol.

[Stavvy]

Play 3, it's slightly worse than 4, mechanics-wise. 4 will jade your outlook on 3.

[Macabre]

Also always date atleast 2 girls at a time lol.

Cheating is good...
Haha. :D

[Chrono Mizaki]

Is P4 a sequel to P3? If it is, then it would be wise to play P3 first, to understand the story better.

Nope, it isn't a sequel. But playing P3 before P4 can make you appreciate the cameos better (Mr Edgowada and Chihiro are characters from P3).

I say play P3 first, because P4 is so much fun and can destroy the enjoyment in P3. I found the script and character in P4 to be superior, plus it has a Cross Dressing scene =O

[scubasteve]

I don't get this "play p3 first because it sucks compared to p4" logic.

[Shadow Soldier]

I don't get this "play p3 game first because it sucks compared to p4" logic.

play p3 game first because it sucks compared to p4

[Stavvy]

It's not that it sucks, personally, the stories rival each other. I like the characters more in P3, but how the story plays out in P4 more.

The gameplay is just better in P4, imo.

[SuperEclipse]

Yeah play P3 first.

P4 was so much better and if you play P4 first would probably wouldn't want to paly P3 again.

[Chrono Mizaki]

I don't get this "play p3 first because it sucks compared to p4" logic.

It's not that it sucks, it's just that if you play P4, you're going to end up complaining that P3 is rubbish and should've done this/that.

I question why people like the characters in P3 though. A lot of them were grating, especially Ken. Luckily, Nanako recitified that in P4, proving that pre-teen characters can be excellent and makes you care for them, as where with Ken, you just want that bastard to die for being an emo, whiny 'why me' brat.

[SuperEclipse]

It's not that it sucks, personally, the stories rival each other. I like the characters more in P3, but how the story plays out in P4 more.

The gameplay is just better in P4, imo.

It does suck vs P2 and P4.

P3 was good but overhyped.

[Chrono Mizaki]

Though Persona II: Innocent Sin is supposedly the best Persona out of them all. Shame it's Japanese-only, but there's a english patch for that =]