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

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Persona 3 Portable: Unlocking and Mastering New Game Plus

So, you've conquered the Dark Hour, navigated Tartarus, and forged bonds that will last a lifetime in Persona 3 Portable. What's next? Well, that's where New Game Plus (NG+) comes in! This feature allows you to relive the journey, carrying over a significant portion of your progress from your previous playthrough. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about New Game Plus in Persona 3 Portable, including how to unlock it, what exactly carries over, and some tips to make the most of your second playthrough.

Unlocking New Game Plus

First things first, you gotta beat the game! Once you've reached the ending and watched the credits roll, the game will prompt you to save your clear data. This save file is what you'll use to start your New Game Plus adventure. Make sure you save it in a separate slot from your original playthrough, just in case you want to revisit that ending later.

After saving your clear data, simply start a new game and select the clear data file you just created. The game will then load up, and you'll be ready to experience Persona 3 Portable with a host of benefits from your previous run. It's like getting a head start in a race, but instead of running, you're battling Shadows and building relationships. Trust me; it is worth playing again to see all the content you missed the first time.

What Carries Over?

Okay, so you're ready to jump back in, but what exactly are you bringing with you? Here's a detailed breakdown of what carries over to New Game Plus in Persona 3 Portable:

  • Character Level and Stats: Your protagonist's level, Strength, Magic, Endurance, Agility, and Luck stats are all carried over. This means you'll start the game as a pretty powerful character, making early battles a breeze. The stat boosts you get from the arcade also carry over, so it's a good idea to visit the arcade as much as possible in your first playthrough.
  • Persona Compendium: This is a big one! All the Personas you've registered in your Compendium will be available for you to summon from the very beginning. This gives you a massive advantage in combat, as you can access powerful Personas early on. Pro-Tip: Be sure to fill out your Persona Compendium as much as possible on your first playthrough. It will save you a lot of time and effort in New Game Plus.
  • Equipment: All the weapons, armor, and accessories your protagonist had equipped at the end of the game will carry over. This can be a huge boost in the early game, as you'll have access to powerful gear that you wouldn't normally get until much later. Make sure you have your best equipment equipped when you beat the final boss.
  • Money: Your hard-earned Yen will carry over, giving you a financial head start. You can use this money to buy new equipment, items, and Personas from the Compendium. Who does not love a head start with a huge wad of cash to spend?
  • Social Stats: Your Courage, Academics, and Charm stats will carry over, making it much easier to max out Social Links. This is especially helpful for Social Links that require high social stats. Leveling those stats up will take some time off your schedule.
  • Social Links Progress (Partial): While your actual Social Link ranks are reset, the items you receive from maxing out Social Links carry over. These items allow you to fuse the ultimate Persona of each Arcana from the very beginning. This is a massive advantage, as these Personas are incredibly powerful and can make a huge difference in combat. I suggest maxing out your social links during your initial playthrough.
  • Skill Cards: Any Skill Cards you've obtained will carry over, allowing you to teach your Personas new skills right from the start. This is a great way to customize your Personas and create powerful builds.
  • Outfits: All the outfits you've unlocked for your protagonist will be available from the start. This is purely cosmetic, but it's a nice way to personalize your character and add some flair to your playthrough.
  • Vision Quest Progress: If you tackled the Vision Quest in your first playthrough, your progress will be saved. This is very useful if you want to challenge yourself to tougher content right from the beginning. If you are looking for a challenge, this is for you!
  • Play Time: Your total play time will be recorded and displayed on your save file. This is a fun way to track how much time you've spent with the game.

What Doesn't Carry Over?

Not everything carries over to New Game Plus. Here's a list of what gets reset:

  • Story Progression: You'll start the game from the beginning, with all story events and plot points reset. This means you'll have to play through the entire game again, even if you've already seen the ending. If you are aiming for 100% completion, you must do this!
  • Social Link Ranks: As mentioned earlier, your Social Link ranks are reset. However, the items you receive from maxing out Social Links do carry over.
  • Key Items: Key items that are essential for story progression are reset. This includes items like the Student Handbook and the Town Map.

Tips for Making the Most of New Game Plus

Now that you know what carries over, here are some tips to help you make the most of your New Game Plus playthrough:

  • Focus on Maxing Social Links: With your social stats carried over, it will be much easier to max out all Social Links. Prioritize the Social Links that you didn't max out in your first playthrough. This will allow you to fuse all the ultimate Personas and unlock new content.
  • Experiment with Different Personas: With your Persona Compendium full of powerful Personas, you can experiment with different builds and strategies. Try fusing new Personas and learning new skills. You're going to have a blast trying out all the Personas available in the game. Some of the Personas are more powerful than others, so this will also help you learn which ones are best.
  • Challenge Yourself: New Game Plus is a great opportunity to challenge yourself. Try playing on a higher difficulty level or setting self-imposed restrictions. For example, you could try to beat the game without using any healing items or by only using Personas of a certain Arcana. The game's difficulty is what makes it so fun to play.
  • Explore Missed Content: Did you miss any side quests or events in your first playthrough? Use New Game Plus as an opportunity to explore everything the game has to offer. There are a lot of hidden secrets and easter eggs to discover, so take your time and explore every nook and cranny. There are a lot of details that you may not have noticed the first time you played the game.
  • Enjoy the Story from a New Perspective: Knowing what's going to happen can give you a new perspective on the story. Pay attention to the characters' motivations and the foreshadowing of future events. You may notice things that you didn't catch the first time around.

Is New Game Plus Worth It?

Absolutely! New Game Plus in Persona 3 Portable is a fantastic way to extend your enjoyment of the game. It allows you to experience the story from a new perspective, experiment with different builds and strategies, and challenge yourself in new ways. Plus, it's a great way to max out all Social Links and unlock all the ultimate Personas. If you enjoyed your first playthrough of Persona 3 Portable, then you'll definitely enjoy New Game Plus. Trust me; you will have more fun this time around because you will know what you are doing.

So, what are you waiting for? Load up your clear data and dive back into the world of Persona 3 Portable! The Dark Hour awaits, and this time, you'll be ready.