Persona 3 Portable: New Game Plus - What Carries Over?

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Persona 3 Portable: New Game Plus - What Carries Over?

So, you've finally finished Persona 3 Portable, huh? Congrats! That ending hits hard, doesn't it? But wait, before you start tearing up again, let's talk about something that might cheer you up: New Game Plus! Yes, just like many other awesome RPGs, Persona 3 Portable offers a New Game Plus mode, allowing you to jump back into the world of Gekkoukan High with some sweet advantages. But what exactly carries over? Let's dive into the details, shall we?

What Exactly is New Game Plus in Persona 3 Portable?

Okay, for those not in the know, New Game Plus (often abbreviated as NG+) is a game mode you unlock after beating the main story. Think of it as a victory lap, but instead of just showing off your trophy, you get to bring some of your hard-earned progress from your previous playthrough into a new game. This can make subsequent playthroughs easier, faster, or simply more enjoyable, as you don't have to start completely from scratch. In Persona 3 Portable, NG+ offers a significant boost, allowing you to experience the game in a fresh way. You might decide to max out social links you missed the first time around, tackle a higher difficulty, or simply enjoy the story again with a powered-up protagonist. The possibilities are pretty exciting, right?

The Goodies You Keep: What Carries Over to NG+

Alright, let's get to the juicy stuff! What exactly can you bring with you on your Persona 3 Portable New Game Plus adventure? Prepare to be happy, because the list is pretty generous. Here's a breakdown:

1. Your Persona Compendium

This is a big one, guys. All those Personas you painstakingly fused, leveled up, and registered in your Compendium? They're all yours to keep! This means you can summon powerful Personas right from the start of the game, giving you a massive advantage in battles. Imagine starting the game with a high-level Persona capable of unleashing devastating attacks. It definitely changes the game! This is especially useful if you're planning on tackling a harder difficulty level, as you'll have the firepower to handle tougher enemies right from the get-go. Plus, it saves you a ton of time on grinding and fusion, allowing you to focus on other aspects of the game, like social links or exploring Tartarus. Having access to a wide variety of Personas early on also allows you to experiment with different strategies and team compositions, making combat even more engaging and fun. It truly opens up a world of possibilities and makes subsequent playthroughs feel significantly different from your first.

2. Your Protagonist's Level and Stats

Yep, you heard that right! Your protagonist's level, strength, magic, endurance, agility, and luck all carry over. This means you'll be starting your new game as a seasoned warrior, ready to take on anything Tartarus throws at you. This is a huge advantage, as you'll have significantly higher HP, SP, and attack power compared to starting at level one. This makes the early game a breeze and allows you to focus on other aspects of the game, such as building social links and exploring new strategies. Furthermore, carrying over your stats affects your social link progression. Some social links require specific stat levels to initiate or advance, so starting with higher stats can unlock social links earlier than you could in your first playthrough. Think about finally romancing that character you couldn't reach before because your Courage wasn't high enough!

3. Your Equipment

All those weapons, armor, and accessories you collected throughout the game? They're coming with you! This includes any special equipment you obtained from completing quests or defeating powerful enemies. Having access to powerful gear early on can make a huge difference in combat, allowing you to breeze through early battles and focus on leveling up your Personas and building social links. This is especially useful if you're playing on a higher difficulty level, as you'll need all the advantages you can get. Furthermore, carrying over your equipment can save you a lot of money, as you won't have to spend as much on new gear at the beginning of the game. Instead, you can invest your money in other things, such as summoning Personas from the Compendium or buying gifts for your social links.

4. Your Money

Cha-ching! All the money you saved up in your previous playthrough carries over to New Game Plus. This is incredibly useful, as you can use your funds to summon powerful Personas from the Compendium right from the start of the game, buy powerful equipment, and purchase gifts for social links. No more being broke during those crucial early game moments! Having a healthy amount of money also allows you to experiment with different Persona fusions without worrying about running out of funds. You can try out new combinations and strategies without the financial constraints that you faced in your first playthrough. This opens up a whole new level of freedom and experimentation, making the game even more enjoyable. Plus, let's be honest, who doesn't like starting a new game with a fat stack of cash?

5. Your Social Stats

Remember all that studying, eating, and part-time jobs you did to raise your social stats like Academics, Courage, and Charm? Good news! Those stats carry over to New Game Plus. This is a huge time-saver, as you won't have to spend as much time grinding your social stats to unlock certain social links or access certain areas. You can jump right into the social links you want to pursue without having to worry about meeting the stat requirements. This also opens up new dialogue options and choices that were previously unavailable to you, allowing you to experience the story in a different way. Furthermore, having high social stats can make it easier to succeed in certain situations, such as persuading people or negotiating with Shadows. This can give you a significant advantage in the game and make it easier to achieve your goals. Starting with maxed social stats feels incredibly empowering. Finally, you can say all the right things and impress everyone you meet!

6. Your Social Links (Partially)

Okay, this one's a bit tricky. Your social link progress itself doesn't carry over. You'll have to re-establish your relationships with all your friends and allies. However, there's a very important exception: the items you receive from maxing out social links DO carry over! These items often unlock the ability to fuse the ultimate Persona of that arcana. So, if you maxed out the Lovers social link and got the item from it, you'll be able to fuse Ishtar right from the start (provided you have the other necessary Personas, of course). This is a huge advantage for Persona fusion enthusiasts. Being able to fuse ultimate Personas early on gives you access to incredibly powerful abilities and makes your team virtually unstoppable. Plus, it's just plain cool to have such powerful allies at your disposal so early in the game. It adds a whole new layer of strategy and customization to your gameplay experience.

What Doesn't Carry Over?

Now, before you get too excited, there are a few things that don't carry over to New Game Plus. These are mostly story-related elements that need to be reset for the sake of the narrative:

  • Story Progression: Obviously, you'll be starting the game from the beginning story-wise.
  • Social Link Ranks: As mentioned earlier, you need to re-establish your social links.
  • Key Items: Items that are crucial to the story progression will be reset.

Why Bother With New Game Plus?

So, why should you even bother with New Game Plus in Persona 3 Portable? Well, there are plenty of reasons!

  • Experience the Story Again with an Advantage: Enjoy the story again with a powered-up protagonist and powerful Personas.
  • Max Out All Social Links: Use your increased stats and knowledge to max out all those social links you missed the first time around. Get ready to become the ultimate social butterfly!
  • Tackle a Higher Difficulty: Challenge yourself with a harder difficulty level and see if you can conquer it with your New Game Plus advantages. Prove your Persona skills!
  • Experiment with Different Choices: Make different choices in dialogue and see how they affect the story and your relationships.
  • Unlock Everything: Use your New Game Plus run to unlock all the achievements and trophies in the game.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the New Game Plus Fun!

Persona 3 Portable's New Game Plus is a fantastic way to extend your enjoyment of the game. It allows you to revisit the world of Gekkoukan High with a fresh perspective and a host of advantages. So, don't hesitate to dive back in and experience everything the game has to offer! Have fun exploring, experimenting, and becoming the ultimate Persona master!