Eh, the social links aren't really dating sims. Most of them have nothing to do with romance. A lot of the better ones happen after the game opens up more and you start speaking to more people.
But yeah, the dungeon crawling has always been pretty simple. The PSP version gives you full party control at least, the PS2 versions have AI controlled party members. But for that you have to deal with the garbage presentation of the story.
I think that seemed to be my main issue with it, too much focus on the dating/social side of things and not enough of the hitting monsters with big sticks. And I only call it a "dating sim" because there seemed to be a lot of thirst between the NPC's.
Maybe I had too high expectations after all the hype and adulation, but it seemed mediocre at best. I perhaps should've given it more time, but I expect to be at least moderately entertained within the first 5 hours, I was bored to tears the whole time.
I did like the presentation though, the menus and stuff looked pretty cool.
Ah yes, the shitty "dating Sim" criticism of Persona games.
Sigh
I'm sorry, "social links".
It doesn't make that aspect of the game seem any less lame and superfluous IMO.
She has a toothbrush.
never fails to make me laugh
