The Let's Play Archive

Persona 3 FES

by Dragonatrix

Part 112: 01/27/10 - 01/30/10



Okay, so, right quick: Elizabeth DOES have one new quest for us in Monad. We had to actually enter Monad for her to give it to us though. This isn't the case in Portable, so that's why it threw me. Portable actually gives you 2 new quests here, with the other being... given to you way too early. You'll see later.

As for this one? Fuck this one. This one is the worst. See, Monad rare treasures appear on 2 floors in fixed configurations. Hurray! This two-handed sword appears on floors 3 and 8, because Monad does it in a mirror pattern (2/9, 3/8, 4/7 and 5/6 all share the same rare treasures). Easy right? Not really. Rare chests in Monad have a 2% chance to appear and then there's only a 1-in-3, at best, chance that it contains the thing we want.



That's a 0.66% chance of getting this sword. Presuming the Desire SensorTM doesn't fuck you over and make it even worse. I'm probably definitely going to skip that one unless a miracle happens.

Memories of the School



Anyway, we've got only a tiny number of days to go before the end of the month now. And only Aigis to spend them with.



......



Perhaps my heart is becoming more and more like that of a human...
But as a result... I have realized something.
The heart and body are inseparable...
A human heart can only function normally within a human body...
Um...



Perhaps you gazed out at the view and spoke quietly...
...Oh, I didn't mean to pry.
I was just curious...
I'm doing it now.
Huh...? Um...
...I'm only shaped like a female, and besides... I'm a machine.



Actually... I was becoming a little worried.
At school, I am seen as a human female...
I was concerned that if I stayed with Makoto-san too much, it could cause a misunderstanding...
If that is the case, please tell me right away!



......

> Aigis sounds as if she's trying to convince herself.

Why this all of a sudden?
......



Nice, unsubtle question dodge.

That must be why when I come here after school... sometimes I find a couple alone here.
They might be leaning against one another, or embracing...
I never gave it a second thought before, but lately... It pains me to see them...



The closer my heart becomes to that of a human, the more I realize how much sets us apart...!



I have known this from the beginning, of course.
But... only recently have I realized something.
I have another wish, one just as precious as my desire to live...
My realization is that this second wish can never be granted...

> Aigis seems very distressed...



I lost control of myself again...
But this feeling that you are precious to me will never change...
No matter what happens...





Until now, I have always referred to you as something precious to me.
But that is not the correct way to express this feeling.
However...
If I were to use the proper words... I know it would never come true, and I...!



> Aigis ran off...

> You decide to go back to the dorm.

Living With Determination -Iwatodai Dorm-



I'm skipping it because it adds nothing, but every day now we get someone telling us how many days there are left before the 31st. It's double annoying, because it's every day AND we can already see it at all times.

So my Career Counseling was really confusing.
But, I know that if I'm with you, everything will be okay.

I do sorta wish we got to see Aigis' counselling scene. It must've been way more interesting than ours at least.



Newscaster: She was subsequently stabbed by one of the youth, as the rest of them fled the scene. Doctors say the woman was lucky, and that her wounds will take around one week to heal.



Anyway, before we turn in for the night let's make this sword. Masakado's Katana is Junpei's ultimate weapon and it's the second earliest of its ilk that can be made. All the ultimate weapons follow the same pattern as this one; 450 Attack, 100% Accuracy and +10 to every stat. The only difference is weapon type and how late you can get some of them:



So, yeah, we won't be making any others for obvious reasons. That's actual legit grinding just to get to the second one, never mind all of 'em.

Memories of the School



We'll just keep on moving along with Aigis' link now. Gonna run out of stuff to do just in time it seems.



Perhaps it's because the sun is lower in the sky, and you don't have to look up to see it.
I've gotten used to this view... But it's never exactly the same.
...The same could be said of one's daily routine.
Or of life itself...



January 31st...
You're right.
I come here in order to think.
"I can't let this end... I must protect it." Thoughts like that...



Since last time... I have calmed myself by thinking things through.
I thought about the old lady and Mewlie-san... as well as Kiyoshi-san...
I wonder if Mewlie-san was alone until the moment of her death...
Someplace no one could find her...



To live means to be connected to other people, but life is finite, and farewells are inevitable.
It's sad to consider, but you and I must part one day as well...
And then... I'll never be able to see you again...
There's so much in life that cannot be understood... It's filled with pain...



Leaving you alone...
When I consider that, I can no longer hold back my feelings...
...But I understand now.
That's just how it is.
No two viewings are alike. No two days are alike.
It is natural for everything to disappear, return, and remain in a constant state of change...
Life is finite and ephemeral.



It is a miracle for any two like-minded people to meet within the chaotic flux...
That's why forging bonds and relationships is a source of happiness.
That is the root cause of... the joys of being alive...
It's not a cold, but a warm kind of sorrow... Shining more brightly as a result of its limits...



I need to tell you...
Even if my wishes are unfulfilled, I have to share my true feelings...
......

> You feel Aigis' strong resolve...

Makoto-san...
I...



This might genuinely be the only time this makes real sense. It's a natural progression of her initial programming being modified from slowly gaining emotions and a sense of being human.

> Aigis looks embarrassed...

I know that I'm a machine. I know... that I can't be touched.
But I don't know why...!
All I can see or think about is you, Makoto-san...



> You sense Aigis' strong affection towards you...







I wonder if something really has broken inside of me...
I feel... so happy...
Umm... W-We should go back.
I-I'll go ahead. I... I can't look at you now.
Um...
S-See you later...

> You decide to go back to the dorm separately.

Living With Determination -Iwatodai Dorm-



So back in the dorm, tonight everyone has something new to say. Except Mitsuru.

So, I will do the same.



I heard that when I grow up, I'll acquire a taste for it.
Do you think that's true?
Yeah, I think so.
You're right... I don't know what I'm worrying about.
Well, lets do out best so we can look forward to drinking coffee together.



Alright, then let's go to Tartarus, Makoto!



Great!
Good. We need to be fully prepared if we want to win.



When I close my eyes, I see his sad face, just like in that video...
I gotta get rid of the Dark Hour and return a smile to his face.



We've been through so much together...
But, we can't think about that now. We have to concentrate on defeating Nyx.
So let's get going to Tartarus.

No, Akihiko. We're not going back to Tartarus. We have no reason to. We've finished both areas as best as we can and there's nothing else to do there for the next few days.



Newscaster: Police are ruling it a suicide over a failing grade on his college entrance exams. There have been at least eight reported cases of suicide as a result of the exams, and...



There's really not much to these days, but we're so close to the 31st now. That's undoubtedly part of why.



Just gonna go to Shinsoudou while we have time to pick this up. Could make a second one if I really wanted to but nah. This is fine.



So, the great thing about today is that we can get Aigis to rank 10 apparently. Wanted to do that today at the latest.

Living With Determination -Iwatodai Dorm-
once again no thats not a mistake on my end this really plays here



That's a lot of cases full of bullets, jeez. Makes sense since she'd need to reload a lot and all but goddamn.

The shells on the floor are only blanks. There is no gunpowder in them...
S-So, what do you think of my room? ...Are you surprised?
To be honest... I was hesitant to invite you here.
I have no heartwarming or pleasant decorations...
It's hard to believe that I once thought this room was normal...

> Aigis looks embarrassed...

But that's why I wanted to show it to you.



Damn, what a twist that is. I never would've seen that one coming.

I'm not like human women, such as Yukari-san or Mitsuru-san.
That used to make me sad...
...But I figured something out.
There's something only I can say, because I am unable to die.
What is it?



No matter how or when your life comes to an end...
At that moment, I will be at your side...
You will... remain in my heart.
O-Oh yes... Um...
Makoto-san... Will you accept this?

> Aigis gave you something.



It is... one of the parts that had to be replaced after I collapsed at the Moonlight Bridge.
I asked Mitsuru-san to have it sent here.
I have... changed, since then.



If you fall, get right back up...

I'll fight by your side and protect you...
This is the proof... I wanted you to hold onto it.
It's... a part of me.
If to live means to spend time with people you've forged relationships with...



My connection to you is my reason for living...
The thing that's most precious to me... is to be at your side.

> Aigis has an innocent smile upon her face.

The Path is Open



> A mysterious voice rings in your head...







Living With Determination -Iwatodai Dorm-



Hey, it's Metatron. He's level 87, makes Aigis' ultimate weapon and is required for the Last Judge fusion skill. He's pretty okay if you tape something onto him to nix his Curse weakness. He even naturally learns the passives to Repel... Fire, Ice and Elec. Huh. He does suffer a bit from a lack of good offensive moves but being a fusion of, surprise, Uriel, Raphael, Gabriel and Michael makes it relatively easy to give him something good.

Unfortunately, he's level 87 so that's very irrelevant at that point. You'll see, in the relatively unlikely event you don't know why.



I, um... actually have one more favor to ask...
At the base of my neck, behind the knot of the ribbon...
My most important component is located there.
The source of the artificial psyche that makes me who I am...



It's extremely delicate, so I am forbidden to expose it outside of the laboratory's clean room...

So, a clean room is a special type of room generally used for medical patients that are incredibly sick or need specific recovery processes. They're literally very clean, yeah, but they're also designed to be pretty well sealed so no outside germs, infections, etc. can get in.

That's a bit of an oversimplification, but that's not really the point here:

I... want you to touch it.



...It makes this an incredibly, absurdly stupid and dangerous idea.

Even so... I want you to do this.
I want to leave indelible proof in this body of the understanding that you and I have reached...
Not as a memory that can be erased, but as something permanent... Something irrevocable.

> Aigis is gazing at you intently...



......
I'm so happy...
Well then...
Oh, umm...



I apologize in advance if I say something odd, or make unusual noises...

It's really weird how Aigis' scene is the most blatant and mostly dispenses with allusions.

As a precaution, I will cut off motor functions to my arms and legs.

> Aigis casts her eyes downward shyly...

Well then, umm...



......

Seriously just the most blatant.



The biggest issue, in theory, with Aigis' scene using the dorm music is that I can't just use that as the segue here.

Fortunately we're not sticking around long anyway.



Since we're going to be taking Koromaru for a walk, but we're not the only one.

Joy



Instead, everyone's just hanging out at the shrine this time.

And Fuuka somehow gets stuck inside the jungle gym.



> Everyone is having fun, as if trying to make the most of this moment...

> You spent a pleasant evening with them...

Frankly, we could've done with more stuff like that. It's so few and far between, which helps solidify the idea that these guys aren't really friends per se but like... by this point that's meant to have changed.



For a long-ass time, that excuse would work but it really doesn't any more.



Oh yeah, and Saturday is super-boring because we have dick all to do. Big surprise, I'm sure.



Newscaster: In light of the sharp income divide, we'll poll citizens on what gives them hope for the future. Our first report will be "Young Pessimists of the Punctured Bubble." We'll follow youths who have thrown away their hopes as a result of disillusionment in capitalism...

Even the Dorm is unexciting this morning.

Not much of a grand penultimate day, is it?

Mass Destruction (Reincarnation)



So, we'll just switch over to that there alternative save we have now to finish off the rest of these at least.



Last Judge is... well, it's unexciting to say the least. A big golden hand smashing down a gavel fits the name and all...



But, frankly, the damage is underwhelming at this point. It costs 30% of Makoto's SP and requires Metatron and Mithra. It has 800 base power and 99% accuracy. Yeah, it's technically meant to be comparable to Morning Star but available earlier at the Fusion Skill cost but it's only one level so it's super not worth it.



A fierce blow with a gigantic hammer...
Is this how the judges in your world dispense justice with their gavels?
Please accept your reward.

The rewards for these are almost exclusively the Winter outfits as you may, or may not, recall. Just gonna skip over those unless they're particularly interesting now.



So, the last one required Metatron. This one requires... Loki and Susano-O. Thanks, Persona 3. Your quest order makes so much sense.



Anyway, Trickster is hot garbage. It costs 15% SP and rolls every ailment on every enemy (which is an upgrade from vanilla where it also sometimes hits you instead).



When I say every ailment? That's not just the ones you think of as actual ailments. It includes Freeze and Shock. Thanks, Trickster. You're not worth using in any scenario ever.



The jack-in-the-box that Loki and Susano-o made... What could be inside?
A box like that sleeps deep inside your heart, and you never know what will come out of it...
Please accept your reward.



Oh good, at least next we get the second best Fusion skill. Vishnu and Ananta are needed for this one and it...



Makes the entire party invincible for one turn. No questions asked. No drawbacks. No catches. No caveats. No exceptions. 1-round flat invulnerability. It only costs 30% SP which is pretty damn cheap for that all things considered.



Before the world was created, and until the very end, Vishnu slept on Ananta's back.
It must be very comfortable, lying on those scales.
Please accept your reward.



Ardhanari is our penultimate Fusion skill and disappointingly does not summon Seraph from Digital Devil Saga.



Shiva and Parvati are needed to do... thoroughly underwhelming Fire damage to every enemy. It costs 30% SP and has a base power of 900! Sounds great, but it's an element that is frequently resisted/nulled/drained/repelled and Shiva is not really a spellcaster-y Persona and Parvati is way too low a level to be worth using directly. Sorry Ardha; you were really, absurdly good once but here you're just... not.



The fire is so strong that it reduces everything to cinders.
This could be a disaster in the kitchen, so don't get carried away.
Please accept your reward.



Last we have Armageddon, the objective best Fusion skill by a gigantically unfair margin. It requires Satan and Helel ben Shahar.



See, Armageddon is special. It costs 100% of Makoto's SP to use, so you only get 1 shot. You only need 1 shot in almost every fight:



Armageddon does not calculate damage. It cannot miss. It inflicts 9,999 damage no ifs, ands or buts. It's Almighty elemental purely to avoid being negated/drained/repelled. Armageddon is almost always the "fuck you, I win" button. There's a tiny, tiny, tiny number of fights where it is NOT an instant kill (it's a whopping 2; noticably more in Portable though).

One of them makes using Armageddon mandatory. Yes, really.

But wait, I said it costs 100% SP. The cost there was clearly less!



'Cos we're using Helel as our active Persona. If Satan had Spell Master (he does), that'd only affect it if he was active instead. It seems redundant with Victory Cry to keep that going doesn't it? It serves a purpose though. A very, very niche and small one but...



See, Victory Cry triggers before EXP is given out. This is very minor but because you don't get a full HP/SP restore on level up, that makes an awkward moment where you have to restore like 3SP or just do a fight normally or return to the entrance. It's only noteworthy because you will probably never notice that it's impossible to get a full heal on level up even with Cool Breeze or Victory Cry. It's only really apparent in this situation and never again.

It also does mean we can cast it twice in one fight before needing to do something to recover SP. That one's more obvious and yet less relevant in general.



The ultimate power of Armageddon...
Please be very careful when using this...
For the sake of the whole world.
Please accept your reward.



The Plume of Dusk is a unique plot macguffin-y item that exists in lore and we can only get one here. Lorewise, these things do stuff like "make evokers work at all" and let Mitsuru's bike work in the Dark Hour when she still used it. There's a reason for that, and it's dumb, but we'll cover that later.

As an item, it's a passive effect that instantly restores the entire party to full HP/SP when Makoto hits 0 HP. It's a one-time thing, but it's a very absurdly useful one-time thing. This is the only place you can get one and it's pretty much exclusively designed with one thing in mind.

You CAN get more than the one though. If you play on Easy difficulty, you start with 10 as a freebie to help folks get accommodated to fights and stuff without any real danger. That's nice. Beginner in Portable starts you with 30 which seems a mite excessive to me, but I'm sure someone somewhere was thankful for it.

So, yeah, anyway, that's every request done for Elizabeth now barring two. We can't do one of them yet at all (#55 is still straight up not available) and I'm not getting that katana. No, I'm not doing it. It's just a couple Soma. It's not worth it. Nope. Definitely not.


















I, uh...

Look, it only took like... three hours... at least.

...



I heard that it laid a curse on the Tokugawa clan long ago...
I wonder what kind of fortune it will bestow upon you...?
Please acceept your reward.



Two Soma is a nice reward on paper, but it's not at all worth the hassle of running Monad to the third floor and hoping against hope to get it. Again and again and again...