Persona 3 Portable: Your Ultimate New Game Plus Guide

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Persona 3 Portable: Your Ultimate New Game Plus Guide

So, you've conquered Tartarus, forged unbreakable bonds, and faced the inevitable in Persona 3 Portable. Now what? The answer, my friends, is New Game Plus (NG+)! This isn't just a simple replay; it's a chance to relive the story with a serious power boost and unlock even more secrets. Let's dive deep into everything you need to know about making the most of your NG+ adventure in Persona 3 Portable.

What Carries Over to New Game Plus?

Alright, let's talk about the goodies you get to keep. Knowing what transfers over is crucial for planning your NG+ strategy. Here’s the breakdown:

  • Character Level and Stats: Your protagonist retains their level and all associated stats like Strength, Magic, Endurance, Agility, and Luck. This gives you a massive head start against early enemies.
  • Persona Compendium: This is huge! All the Personas you've collected and registered in your compendium are available from the get-go. You can summon powerful Personas early on, making battles significantly easier. This is a game-changer for tackling tough bosses or experimenting with different Persona builds from the very beginning.
  • Social Stats: Your Courage, Academics, and Charm levels remain intact. This means you can immediately access Social Links that require high social stats without grinding. It saves you a ton of time and allows you to focus on other activities or Social Links you missed in your first playthrough. Don't underestimate the importance of this!
  • Equipment: Weapons, armor, and accessories that your characters have equipped at the end of the game will be available at the start of your New Game Plus run. Having end-game equipment from the very beginning makes even the toughest early-game battles trivial. It also allows you to focus your resources on other items or Personas.
  • Money: All the money (Yen) you've accumulated carries over, giving you a financial cushion to buy better equipment, fuse Personas, and generally live the high life. No more scrounging for cash early on!
  • Skill Cards: Those precious skill cards you’ve collected? They're all yours in NG+! Skill cards are essential for customizing your Personas and creating powerful builds. Starting with a collection of useful skill cards gives you a significant advantage in Persona fusion.
  • Social Link Progress (with caveats): While the Social Link ranks themselves reset, there's a key exception. If you maxed out a Social Link, you'll receive a special item from that character at the end of the game. Carrying over these items allows you to immediately start and max out those Social Links again in NG+, granting you access to their ultimate Personas much earlier.
  • Vision Quest Progress: Any progress you've made in the Vision Quest, including unlocked challenges and completed floors, remains available in New Game Plus. This is great for jumping straight back into challenging content and earning valuable rewards.
  • Costumes: Any costumes you've unlocked for your characters are available from the start. This lets you customize their appearance and add some flair to your gameplay. Who doesn't love dressing up their characters?

However, some things don't carry over. Story progress, Tartarus progress, and your current party members will all reset. This means you'll still need to play through the story and climb Tartarus again, but with all your carried-over advantages, it will be a much smoother and faster experience. Remember, it's all about optimizing your time and making different choices this time around. Guys, are you ready to become the ultimate Persona master?

What to Do Differently in New Game Plus

Now that you're armed with knowledge of what carries over, let's talk strategy. NG+ isn't just about steamrolling through the game; it's an opportunity to experience Persona 3 Portable in new and exciting ways. Here’s how to make the most of it:

  • Max All Social Links: This should be your primary goal. With your social stats already maxed and items from maxed Social Links in your previous playthrough, you can focus on completing all Social Links. This unlocks powerful Personas and provides deeper insights into the characters and their stories. Don't miss out on these amazing stories!
  • Choose a Different Protagonist: If you played as the male protagonist in your first run, try the female protagonist (or vice versa). The female protagonist offers a different perspective on the story, unique Social Links, and altered interactions with other characters. It's a refreshing way to experience the game again.
  • Experiment with Persona Builds: With your Persona Compendium full of powerful Personas, you can experiment with different fusion combinations and skill setups. Try creating specialized Personas for specific battles or general-purpose powerhouses. The possibilities are endless! Unleash your inner Persona master! This is a chance to truly optimize your team for any challenge.
  • Tackle Elizabeth's Requests: Elizabeth's requests often require specific Personas or items. With your increased power and resources, you can complete these requests more easily and earn valuable rewards. Some requests even unlock new areas or content. These challenges are not for the faint of heart, but the rewards are worth it!
  • Aim for the True Ending: If you didn't achieve the true ending in your first playthrough, use NG+ as an opportunity to make the right choices and unlock it. This often involves specific dialogue choices and Social Link requirements. The true ending provides a satisfying conclusion to the story and is well worth the effort.
  • Increase the Difficulty: If you found your first playthrough too easy, consider increasing the difficulty level in NG+. With your carried-over power, you can handle the increased challenge and experience a more intense and rewarding gameplay. Push yourself to the limit!
  • Optimize Your Schedule: Knowing the story and events in advance, you can optimize your schedule to maximize your social stats, Social Link progress, and Tartarus exploration. Plan your days carefully to make the most of every opportunity. Efficiency is key!

Preparing for New Game Plus: What to Do Before Finishing Your First Playthrough

Before you dive headfirst into NG+, there are a few things you should do to prepare. These steps will make your NG+ experience even smoother and more rewarding:

  • Max Out Social Links: As mentioned earlier, maxing out Social Links before finishing your first playthrough is crucial. This allows you to obtain items that let you immediately start and max out those Social Links again in NG+, saving you a significant amount of time and effort. Focus on completing as many Social Links as possible before the final boss.
  • Register All Personas: Make sure to register all the Personas you want to keep in your Compendium. This ensures that you can summon them in NG+ and continue using your favorite Persona builds. Regularly update your Compendium with your most powerful and useful Personas.
  • Farm Skill Cards: Collect as many valuable skill cards as possible. These cards can be used to customize your Personas in NG+ and create powerful combinations. Explore Tartarus and complete Elizabeth's requests to obtain rare and useful skill cards. Skill cards are your best friends in Persona fusion! They allow you to pass down powerful abilities to your Personas and create unique builds.
  • Grind for Money: Accumulate as much money as possible. This will give you a financial advantage in NG+ and allow you to buy better equipment, fuse Personas, and generally enjoy a more comfortable gameplay experience. Sell any unnecessary items and complete Tartarus floors to earn extra cash.
  • Defeat Optional Bosses: Take on any optional bosses you may have missed in your first playthrough. These bosses often drop valuable items and provide a challenging and rewarding experience. Preparing for these battles will test your skills and help you refine your strategies.
  • Complete Elizabeth's Requests: Finish as many of Elizabeth's requests as you can. These requests often reward you with useful items and unlock new content. Completing them before NG+ will save you time and effort in your second playthrough.
  • Equip Your Best Gear: Before finishing the game, make sure your characters are equipped with their best weapons, armor, and accessories. This will give you a significant advantage at the start of NG+ and make early battles much easier.

Maximizing Social Links in New Game Plus

Maximizing Social Links in New Game Plus is a breeze compared to your first playthrough, thanks to your boosted social stats and the items you received from maxed Social Links. Here’s a step-by-step guide to efficiently completing all Social Links:

  1. Prioritize Social Links: Identify the Social Links you want to complete first. Consider their availability and the Personas they unlock. Some Social Links are only available on certain days or times, so plan your schedule accordingly.
  2. Use a Guide: Don't be afraid to use a guide to help you make the right dialogue choices and maximize your Social Link progress. This will save you time and ensure that you don't miss any opportunities to increase your Social Link rank. A little help never hurts! Guides can provide valuable insights into the characters and their stories, making the Social Link experience even more enjoyable.
  3. Carry the Right Persona: Always carry a Persona of the corresponding Arcana when spending time with a Social Link. This will increase the amount of Social Link points you earn and help you rank up faster. Make sure to fuse or summon the appropriate Persona before meeting with a Social Link character.
  4. Take Advantage of Afternoon Activities: Some Social Links are available during afternoon activities. Use this time to hang out with them and increase your Social Link rank. Remember to prioritize these activities over other tasks, as they can significantly boost your Social Link progress.
  5. Accept All Invitations: Whenever a Social Link character invites you to hang out, always accept the invitation. This is a guaranteed way to increase your Social Link rank and deepen your bond with the character. Don't miss out on these opportunities, as they can be crucial for maximizing your Social Links.
  6. Use Your Evenings Wisely: Use your evenings to focus on Social Links that are only available at night. This will help you balance your schedule and ensure that you're making progress on all your Social Links.

Is New Game Plus Worth It?

Absolutely! Persona 3 Portable's New Game Plus offers a compelling reason to replay the game. It provides a power boost, allows you to experience the story from a different perspective, and gives you the opportunity to complete everything you missed in your first playthrough. Whether you're a completionist, a Persona enthusiast, or simply looking for a new challenge, NG+ is definitely worth your time. So, grab your Persona, climb Tartarus once more, and forge even stronger bonds in this unforgettable journey! Have fun guys!