MSQ

[Penthea]

Out of curiosity (I hope this doesn't sidetrack us) which mechanic was this?

The time keeping. Having limited time to do things and needing to plan how time is spent. I'm the sort of person who wants to be able to take their time to do as little or as much as they want whenever they want to. After some googling I found that mechanic is present throughout the game so it became clear that Persona is just not for me. I was disappointed because I was enjoying the story and I really like the aesthetic. I can deal with mechanics like that if they're temporary but if they're a core feature of the game I just end up getting frustrated.

I know the Persona series is widely loved and highly praised so I know there isn't something wrong with the game. But there isn't something wrong with me either. We're just not a good match. And that's it. Instead of spending time complaining about Persona I went to play Xenoblade Chronicles 1 which I thoroughly enjoyed.

It's a waste of time to push for a change in a central mechanic if the majority of the playerbase don't mind it or enjoy it. No game company with any sense is going to risk alienating their large fanbase just to please those who are not part of that group. Which is why OP needs to accept that the msq's role in this game will never change no matter how much they complain about it. They're wasting time that could be spent doing something they enjoy. Especially given they already said there are better options out there. Why complain that a strawberry milkshake doesn't taste like chocolate instead of just getting a chocolate milkshake? I don't understand why someone would choose to feel constantly disappointed instead of do something that makes them happy.

[WhiteArchmage]

The time keeping. Having limited time to do things and needing to plan how time is spent. I'm the sort of person who wants to be able to take their time to do as little or as much as they want whenever they want to. After some googling I found that mechanic is present throughout the game so it became clear that Persona is just not for me. I was disappointed because I was enjoying the story and I really like the aesthetic. I can deal with mechanics like that if they're temporary but if they're a core feature of the game I just end up getting frustrated.

I know the Persona series is widely loved and highly praised so I know there isn't something wrong with the game. But there isn't something wrong with me either. We're just not a good match. And that's it. Instead of spending time complaining about Persona I went to play Xenoblade Chronicles 1 which I thoroughly enjoyed.

If I may derail this a bit, if the time keeping mechanic is what's keeping you off, I would suggest Persona 1 and 2; as the first in the series they were still finding their gameplay: 1 is a 1st person dungeon crawler with 3rd person exploration outside dungeons; while 2 is divided in "2: Innocent Sin" and "2: Eternal Punishment", both 3rd person dungeon crawlers. The story is... mostly ok, but they ARE sequential, with characters from the previous game appearing in the next one, so I suggest you play them 1, 2:IS, 2:EP. They're a little hard to get a hold of, though. Comes from being PS1 games with PSP ports.

[ItMe]

The time keeping.

Huh...
That's interesting.
Typically I can't stand games with internal clocks (they stress me out), but Persona 5 having one that advances under your control worked for me.
I understand why it didnt work for you though.

Also, I totally agree with your larger on topic comments about milkshakes~