April 18
In class, Chie walks over and discusses how she now has the power of Persona. She and Yosuke notice that you don't have any secrets, and you can use the opportunity to flirt with her. Doing so requires Courage, though, and seeing how you can't possibly have gotten any points, it's only possible on a New Game+, so this essentially serves as an introduction to dialogue choices that are gated behind skill checks.
Before going into the TV World, I did some shopping to upgrade my gear and get some items. Since there aren't many items that recover SP, I made use of the ones I had, buying all the cans of soda that I could and the Tiny Soul Tomatoes from the farmer.
A word about the experience on Hard. Because you'll be leveling up relatively slowly, it's likely that you'll get at least one or two cards that either increase your Persona's level, as well as several for said Persona's stats, thus making it possible for your Persona to outpace your party in terms of levels and stats. As a result, I used Ganga for the entire game last time.
On the second floor, you encounter Shadow Yukiko again, who proceeds deeper into the dungeon. Chie runs after her, much to Yosuke's annoyance, but nothing comes of it- when you regain control, your party is whole again.
On the third floor, the enemies get more dangerous, since the game tailors encounters for three party members rather than two. After you level Chie up a bit and get Bufu for her, things get somewhat more manageable, since you have a way to knock down enemies that are vulnerable to Ice.
The fifth floor has a unique mechanic with the circular hallway- if you proceed clockwise and approach a door, you'll be teleported to just before the next door. The trick is to keep on going until you're just past the east door, then go counter-clockwise to get there
- SUB-BOSS: Avenger KnightParty: Yu(8), Yosuke (8), Chie (7)Personas: Izanagi (5)
This boss hits hard, so he can be a challenge on Risky. Luckily, I was able to use a Physical Mirror to deflect his attack back at him, causing 180 damage.
After the battle, you get the Glass Key, which opens all the doors on the floor. Since I was almost out of SP, I decided to head to the next floor, use a Goho-M to return (thereby enabling me to start at the sixth floor) and call it a day.
Evening
Since I couldn't do anything else, I simply went to bed, and had a dream about myself and Yosuke wearing luchador masks and wrestling (and since they're randomly generated, this isn't even the strangest dream out there). Dreams are a nice way to get bonus points with Social Links, although not only is Yosuke one of the easiest people to get extra points, his link was already ready to advance.
April 19
Margaret will call you in the morning, telling you that going to save people immediately isn't always the most prudent idea, and that you should spend time to develop your bonds with others. In my case, on most playthroughs with a New Game Pluse, I've already saved Yukiko, but in this case, I still have some progress to make, so I take the time off.
At school, you learn that you can sign up for sports clubs, so I choose the basketball club.
Strength Rank 1
The coach, who's apparently Mr. Kondo, introduces you to the rest of the team, who barely seem to react. You spend the day observing, and afterwards, meet Kou, who's annoyed by his teammates' lack of enthusiasm. Kou's best friend Daisuke comes, and they exchange some playful banter before Kou starts cleaning the balls.
Since it's a first Social Link event, none of your choices make much difference, but it's funny that one of the choices is "be an ass and leave."
Evening
At night, I was informed that when Dojima isn't home, I can sneak out to go to town at night.
When I play a New Game+, I often talk with the various Social Link characters out on the town, since you can not only gain relationship points with them and get a random item, but also have a variety of conversations with them that can be funny or reveal a little about them.
I visited the Shiroku Pub and gave Akihiko the Tatsuhime Ladybug to get Bread Crumbs and the Fish hook. After doing so, I ate at Aiya in order to increase my Courage.
April 20
At school today, Mr. Hosoi, an old man with a hand puppet that his wife made him, introduced himself, and asked Yosuke a question about how many parts there were in "The Wind-up Bird Chronicles." A fair number of questions provide the answer to those who are paying attention, but this is one case in which you have to know it already or make a good guess.
Before returning to Yukiko's Castle, I did some shopping, mainly buying armor for my characters since I didn't have enough for weapons. I forgot to turn in the Fish Hook today, but I'll have plenty of time for that later.
On the sixth and seventh floors, the enemies also increase in difficulty. The Magical Magus isn't too hard once Yosuke silences it with Makajam, but the Heat Balances are annoying, due to their ability to buff their Hit and Evade, cast multi-target Fire spells that hit Chie's weaknesses, and lack of weaknesses besides Light and Dark. If I encounter a group of more than one Heat Balance, I tend to run.
I made it up to the eighth and final floor with relatively little SP left and decided to give the boss a try.
- BOSS: Shadow YukikoMy Party: Yu (10), Yosuke (10), Chie (10)My Personas: Izanagi (10)
Shadow Yukiko has an obvious preference for Fire attacks. Most of the time, I fuse a Persona with inherent Fire resistance and give it a Bufu skill card, so that it resists the boss' attacks and can exploit her weakness (for example, I used Orobas the last time I played Very Hard). Since I'd decided to see whether I could win against her at this level, though, I had to make do without fire resistance or an ice skill, but I ultimately won.
Shadow Yukiko is similar to Shadow Chie in some regards, but hits harder and spends more time on the offensive. Her Double Fang ability is surprisingly deadly, and can pick off under-leveled characters easily if they don't have good armor. Luckily, my Izanagi had a very high Endure stat(I think somewhere around 15-20 out of 99), which helped mitigate the damage.
The main ability to watch out for is Burn to Ashes, a powerful Fire move that will take off most of your health if you don't guard, and will probably kill Chie if she doesn't defend against it. Luckily, Yukiko telegraphs it with "a passionate stare," so you can defend against it. While Yukiko's weak against Ice, she also puts up a White Wall, which only fades on her turn after she uses Burn to Ashes, and which she re-applies almost immediately.
The battle's relatively simple, but it gets harder with the Charming Prince, who can use Makajam to silence people (usually Chie, in my experience), Cleave to inflict a good amount of damage (once, he hit the main character with it, causing him to take the full brunt of Burn To Ashes, resulting in a game over), and Diarama to heal the boss of about one or two turns' worth of damage. Luckily, you can knock him down with electricity, but it takes two hits to dizzy him, and he has too much health to kill. Thankfully, he runs away once you take enough health off Yukiko.
Toward the end of the battle, Shadow Yukiko, starts using Terror Voice to inflict party members with Fear, and then follows up with Shivering Rondo, which inflicts a lot of damage (usually 200+, which generally one-shots party members at this level), but only if they're feared. Since my party members don't yet have the ability to recover, I had to use up some of my Hiranyas and Amrita Sodas.
Not unlike Shadow Chie, Shadow Yukiko also stops telegraphing Burn to Ashes at this phase in the battle, so you have to pay attention to her attack pattern.
After the battle, Chie runs over and asks Yukiko if she's hurt. Yukiko says, "No, I'm not-" which sounds like an answer to Yukiko's question. Yosuke interrupts Yukiko and says that he understands, since Yukiko isn't the only one. As if on cue, Chie tearfully apologizes to Yukiko for being so caught up in her own insecurities that she didn't understand what Yukiko was going through. Yukiko, however, says that she's no different, and never tried to see the "real" Chie. Yukiko then accepts her Shadow as a part of herself, gaining the Persona Konohana Sakuya.
Yukiko falls to her knees in exhaustion, and thanks her rescuers, at which point, Teddie introduces himself to her. Teddie also concludes that the victims had been thrown in and denies ever suspecting the party. The party prepares to take Yukiko home, and leaves Teddie behind since he lives in the TV world, but Yukiko promises to return.
Outside, at the Junes food court, Chie asks if Yukiko is okay, and she is, apart from being a little tired. Choose "Let's call it a day," to get Understanding points out of concern for Yukiko's condition (although "Let's give it some thought" could imply that you should part ways for now think about it on your own). At that point, Chie takes Yukiko home, and Yosuke suggests that you talk to Yukiko once she's recovered.
Evening
Adachi comes over to dinner, introducing himself to you and Nanako, and telling you about Yukiko being found. He playfully calls Dojima a slave-driver, and also points out that he has a soft spot for Nanako. It's noted that dinner is lively for once.
Thursday, April 21
Not much happens today. If you save the people you need to rescue relatively early on, you have the freedom to use the rest of the days however you want, particularly being able to develop party member social links without them bugging you about the deadline. For this reason, although it may be tempting to wait until the last possible day, when your evening's taken up anyway by watching the Midnight Channel, it's usually best to do them at the first opportunity and use the rest of the time to advance Social Links.
I gave the Fish Hook to the old man, obtaining the River Rod as a reward, then went back to Yasogami for basketball practice.
Strength Rank 2
Kou will invite you to eat out- choose Aiya, since it gives more points. He'll mention that he gets candy from girls, expressing annoyance at getting it and at being called "Kou-chan," but he offers to share it with you.
Evening'
Nanako mentions that "the rain stopped" even though it didn't seem to rain at all today.I started reading "Expert Study Methods."
Friday, February 22
If you've saved Yukiko, on the way to school, you and Yosuke overhear an argument betwen Eri and her stepson Yuuta. Yosuke remarks how the murders have people on edge- it's interesting that the effects they have on the community are often explored. Yosuke wonders how the culprit carried them out, but you don't have any answers- you can only wait for Yukiko's recovery.
Magician Rank 2
While Yosuke comments on how tough the meat is at Sozai Daigaku, he hears two housewives gossiping about how harmful Junes is to the community. If you remark that it's "tough," Yosuke tries to play it off, saying that it's mainly something that his parents deal with- he merely has to take into account that everyone knows him and watch his behavior. Somewhat fittingly, most of the early Social Link scenes are little more than small talk, since you're still getting to know the people in question.
Evening
I continued reading "Expert Study Methods."
Saturday, April 23
On the way to school (Yes, Japan has class on Saturdays), two girls talk about getting jobs, and the characteristics they need for it in a somewhat blatant tutorial, similar to how one housewife tells you what the square button does. As they suggest that there's someone at the school who has a sugar daddy and doesn't need to work, Ai quickly walks by, clearly offended.
In class, Ms. Sofue asks Yosuke about tulip mania, and you can get the answer easily if you pay attention to the dialogue or use the review function.
After school, the game tells you about part-time jobs. There are four available at this point.
- Making Envelopes. This increases your Diligence, and is essentially the job that you need to do to gain access to the others.
- Translating. This increases your Expression but requires Knowledge.
- Making Cranes: This increases your Understanding, but requires Diligence. Unlike other jobs, you don't get paid, but get rare items once you complete the cranes (which takes at least two nights)
- Assistant Day Care Volunteer: You improve your Understanding. Supposedly, this has stat requirements, but I was able to do it with my starting stats. You are able to access the Temperance Social Link through this.
Strength Rank 3
Kou proposes another outing to Aiya, but he suddenly remembers that he can't. Daisuke realizes it's related to his family, the House of Ichijo, and invites you to talk about it.
At Aiya, Daisuke asks for your help, and responds best you agreeing without question. After you agree, he says that Kou lives by himself near his family, but once a week, goes before the house. The head of his family, his grandmother, is quite strict and has forced him to give up on things in the past, but he won't follow her orders and give up on basketball. Offer to help again, and Daisuke's glad he trusted you. He offers to treat you, but realizes he used up his money.
Evening
After talking to Nanako, I finished Expert Study Methods, which means that I'm guaranteed an additional Knowledge boost from studying, on top of the standard one, and the bonus one from randomly reading dictionary entries. All this helps a lot, but while Knowledge is the easiest stat to gain points in, it also takes the most points to level up.
February 24
Kou and Daisuke call to hang out, the first in a series of events that raises your relationship values with one or more groups of friends, but doesn't let you go up a rank.
In this case, Kou and Daisuke go with you to Okina City. They talk about how they're not used to the city, and how Junes is the most "urban" place around. Daisuke notes that he finds Yosuke hilarious, but offers to bring him along since he knows you're friends with him.
In the evening, I made envelopes, getting a small boost to Diligence.
April 25
In the morning, a "brisk girl" (Yumi) walks by with an unknown girl. They talk about how culture clubs are available, and you can do one at the same time as a sports club, but Yumi doesn't think much of that, since she thinks those who do will "half-ass" both clubs, and the other girl's a bit taken aback by her bluntness. Around the same time, a girl(Ayane, the representative of the other culture club), runs by, but then runs back to get her bag, much to the other two's bewilderment.
In class, Mr. Kondo holds an outdoor lecture on building muscles. The correct answer is "overcompensation," which segues into the exercise part.
In the afternoon, I chose to join the drama club with Yumi.
Sun Rank 1
The club president welcomes you to the club, introducing himself, his VP/girlfriend and Yumi Ozawa. Yumi's quite annoyed at the president and VP flirting with each other, but offers to give you voice training. Since it's the first event, and relationship points aren't on the line, feel free to say "Ahhh," as she instructs, or do something else. When she asks you to come again, you can say "Okay," "Yes, Ma'am!" (Apparently, Yumi is not the sort who's prone to Ma'am Shock), or "I Want to Quit (which requires Courage you likely don't have at this point)
Evening
I spent the evening making envelopes, getting a boost to my Diligence.
April 26
In class, Mrs. Nakayama asks Chie about which of the numbers don't exist, and "Marriage Numbers" is the answer. She accepts it, even though she seems to indicate that Chie actually didn't know it. On a side note, Mrs. Nakayama addresses Chie as "Miss Satonaka," but oddly enough, later goes back to "Satonaka-san."
Strength Rank 4
The first order of business is that the club advisor introduces Ai, who promises to serve as club manager. Unfortunately for him, we never find out what that entails, as Ai bluntly says that she's not interested in participating except to make up for skipping classes. Of course, Ai turns out to be The Moon social link, making her one case of a Social Link that's mostly unlikable at first.
At Aiya, Kou expands on his family situation, and notes that he feels more comfortable around you and Daisuke. He also reveals that he was adopted, and he has a two-year-old adoptive sister, whom he believes will be his family's successor. He has mixed feelings about that development, but doesn't elaborate.
Evening
I studied in the evening, and got the extra bonus from the dictionary entries. It's a randomly occurring bonus that sometimes gives you two knowledge upgrades instead of one (or three instead of two if you read Expert Study Methods).
April 27
Today's the first of a few consecutive rainy days just before the deadline to rescue a character, essentially the game's way of telling you to get to it and save the kidnapped person before it's too late. The bad news is that on rainy days, virtually all Social Links that take place outdoors are unavailable, essentially making the day good for little else than fishing, improving your stats or dungeon crawling. The good news, though, is that there's a bug that allows you to start Marie's Social Link, since it's triggered by going inside the Velvet Room and talking to her (you can't do it from the entrance inside the TV World, though).
Aeon Rank 1 You take Marie out to Souzai Daigaku, and order some steak skewers for her, not unlike Yosuke's Social Link. You have the opportunity to choose what to call them, something that Marie chooses.
Yosuke shows up, and you introduce him to Marie. One thing to note about Marie's Social Link is that various members of the Investigation Team show up during the link, and unless I'm mistaken, it isn't possible to advance it if they aren't there.
- Yosuke.
- Chie.
- Yosuke.
- Yukiko and Chie.
- Yosuke, Chie, Yukiko, Kanji, Rise and Teddie.
- Kanji and Rise.
- Teddie and Yukiko.
- No one.
- No one.
- No one.
You then go to the hill overlooking town, and Marie, struck by the view, starts composing a poem before furiously denying that she is. She then insists that you show her around town when you can.
Evening I ate some red Miso from the fridge that was beyond its expiration date for a significant boost to my Courage, but ended up having to go to bed for the night.
April 28
The rain's still coming down. Luckily, the Sun Social Link, being held indoors, is available. (The basketball team, however, gets forced out of the gym)
Sun Rank 2
Drama club continues, and you're asked to memorize two parts of a line, but your success or failure has no effect. This may be because even if you do it perfectly, you're still outclassed by Yumi, who rubs in how much her clubmates leave to be desired, even if it is partly to get them to work harder. Yumi eagerly awaits taking part in the play alongside you.
Evening I made some more envelopes, and my Diligence went up a rank.
April 29
Today is the last day to save Yukiko. Because it's Showa Day, you also get the day off from school today, although that doesn't really matter in a gameplay perspective. What does matter is that no matter how you choose to spend today, you will be forced to watch the Midnight Channel in the evening, so you may as well go to the TV.
I went back to Yukiko's castle, and did Level Grinding on the eighth floor, until everyone was Level 14. Before doing so, I also went back to the haunted shopping district (since I wasn't allowed to return earlier), and picked up the Skill Spanner, a strong weapon for Yosuke that also gives him 50 SP.
Evening
At night on the day of the deadline, you watch the weather, and go up to watch the Midnight Channel. If you didn't save the victim, the game ends, but if you did, you'll see that no one's on. Regardless, you can't do anything else, but wait.
Of course, there's a bit more to the story this time. Nanako changes the channel from the news without permission, and then asks to go to Junes. Dojima tentatively plans on going at some point, even if he knows thy can go there almost any time (You can sometimes go to Junes in the evening with the Dojimas and see various scenes with your party members), and invites you along.
After watching the Midnight Channel, you get a glimpse of a mysterious individual in the fog.
