LogFAQs > #893377582

Also, playing P3, P4, or P5 first really depends on your thought process.

P3

- "Older" characters (they do not act like teenagers)
- Setting is more urban (in line with the typical SMT environments)
- Main character can change weapon types (swords, bows, clubs, spears, boxing gloves)
- Story is tragic/more mature/darker in tone (thought SMT bends way further)
- AI-controlled allies can be a pain, but I appreciate it as a change of pace
- Great/Good/Tired/Sick mechanics (extra status based on daily choices/battle; adds to realism)
- one main (procedural-generated) dungeon
- Better at "pacing" than P4 and P5 (this game kinda runs in a symmetrical pattern)

P4

- Better party/characters (they feel like a group, and act like a group...but are total morons)
- several themed dungeons (still weak in the actual style department)
- Better gameplay than P3 (full party control/better at describing skills/S. Link abilities affect battles)
- Funny as shit (so many great moments)
- Story slows down about halfway, going into filler for a "month," before picking back up

P5

- A mix of P3's tragic and P4's comedic tones
- GREAT soundtrack (not saying the others are bad...this is just REALLY good)
- Amazing style
- Best dungeon design (because they were themed rather than randomly generated)
- Characters suffer (less world building - a lot of the game is done via text)
- Same pacing problems as P4 (Here's a major plot point. No fun time for you. Go to bed loser)

I like P3 for the darker tone and story moments, P4 for characters, cutscenes, and comedy, and P5 is just dripping in style, music, dungeon design, and ambience.
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"Evening caress, Always yearning, I must confess, The stars aren't burning"
Copernicus - Candlemass