Getting the Most out of AliExpress

 AliExpress
      This isn't so much a review of the app but a walk through of how to get the best experience out of using AliExpress.

     AliExpress gets a bad reputation due to the amount of low quality bootlegs, defective goods and nightmare fuel toys.  However, there is a way to get a good experience out of shopping through the app, including getting free goods and discounts.

     I highly recommend using the app over the browser website.  If someone feels inclined to use the browser app, I suggest using it with the Honey browser add on installed.  It will automatically add coupons to get you the best price.

     The app has features that the browser version does not such as... freebies.

Freebies

     This feature is only available to users who access AliExpress via the app.  You can find the Freebies tab in two places on the app.  Towards the top of the Home page and in the Games section of your Account page.

     Users can apply for up to 2 freebies a day.  The daily reset is at the same time every day.  Keep an eye on your Won tab as freebies won must be collected within 48 hours.  You can also see unclaimed freebies in the Unpaid tab under your Account page.  Technically the freebies aren't completely free.  They require you to pay 1 cent (Or your country's equivalent).  Now doing this can sometimes be tricky depending on how you are paying.  If you have won a freebie but are having trouble claiming it I will give you a quick tutorial below.  This is only if it isn't letting you claim your freebie.  Most people won't need this.

Optional Freebie Claiming Tutorial: If a freebie is in your unpaid tab but it won't allow you to claim it due to being such a low amount (Usually happens with CC purchases) add any small item to your cart.  Try something you were already planning to buy or just whatever the cheapest thing in your wish list was.  Go to pay and as the Credit Card verification is loading exit out quickly so it won't go through.  When you reload the app whatever you were trying to purchase i s now in your Unpaid tab with your freebie.  You'll need to do this next part in a browser instead of the app.  Log into AliExpress in your web browser and go to your Unpaid tab.  Click the "Select all" box (This box is only visible in the browser version).  Now pay for all of the items together.  Allow it to process and boom.  Your freebie is paid for and will be shipped to you soon.

     Once you have your freebie make sure to go back to the Freebies page and write a review for the freebie.  Whether it is a positive or negative review won't matter but writing a review will increase your odds of winning more freebies in the future.  Not writing a review will hurt your chances of winning more.  So remember to review!  Take photos of the packaging as well as the product to add to the review.  Popular reviews will work in your favour.

Bootlegs

     Whether you are against bootlegs or not, you can still use AliExpress.  Remember that AliExpress is a marketplace like eBay and Amazon.  There are a lot of knockoffs in all of those marketplaces.  However, there are also legitimate store fronts.  The trick is to finding the right ones if you want to avoid bootlegs.  There are artists and small businesses with shops on AliExpress such as Zomo Plus, which sells custom keycaps.  Wonderful Life store on AliExpress is the official seller of Zizai Orangebrush's Devil's Love goods.

     If you are unsure whether something is a bootleg or not be sure to check the details.  If they list the brand then they are stating it is not a bootleg.  Reviews and photos that show tags, logos, etc are also good indications.

     If you purchase something you believed was an official product and are shipped a bootleg, you can open a Dispute and receive a full refund from AliExpress.  AliExpress does not condone false advertising and bootleggers and not only will they refund you but it will be a mark against the store you purchased it from.  Stores with too many marks against them get closed.  So doing this will help the community.  I will explain the dispute process further down.

     If you don't mind bootlegged goods but would prefer avoiding poorly made ones, that is also fairly easy if you know how.

     Again, checking reviews is important.  Not so much for what people wrote but to look at the photos.  Fake reviews may give the product 5 stars but fake reviews don't add photos.  And photos are a great way of checking the product quality.  If there are no photos or you suspect the product may be of low quality, but really want that product there is a good way to handle that as well.  This is also a great way to use AliExpress as a way to find cute stuff without actually shopping on the app at all.  Because bootleggers will often use official product photos...  Save the official product photo from the AliExpress page and go to Google.  Click the little photo/camera icon in the search box to do an image search (Or use google lens).  This should lead you to the official page where that image came from.  Then you can purchase the genuine product without having to worry about quality.  I have personally done this several times.

Things to Avoid:  As a rule of thumb the following product categories should never be purchased from AliExpress unless you are 100% sure it is a genuine official branded product and not a cheap bootleg.

*Makeup

*Electronics

*Beauty/Skin Care

*Anything that goes in your mouth or eyes (Such as contacts or baby dummies)

**If purchasing goods for babies or children always wash and sanitise thoroughly before allowing the child to touch the item.

This is because many bootlegs are made in unhealthy conditions.  These items could be dangerous and/or toxic.  Electronics can often overheat and explode or burst into flames.  It is best to avoid any chances of these situations occurring.  Also, I shouldn't need to say this but please do not purchase bootlegs of official goods with the intent of reselling them.

Coins and Coupons

     There are lots of ways to earn coins on the app.  You can tap the Coins tab at the top of the Home page or on the Account page by scrolling down to the Games area.

     Playing the games will earn you coins, as well as tapping the treasure chest on the same page as Fantastic Farm.  You get coins for tapping the chest every day.  The more consecutive days you do this, the more coins each day gives you.  Sometimes they will even add temporary games you can take advantage of for a limited time to get coins and coupons from.  Make sure to always take advantage of these.

     There are multiple ways to use coins but the best way is to convert them into coupons.  However! Do not convert them into store specific coupons unless you absolutely want to buy stuff from that shop.  What you want is an AliExpress coupon.  This will be applied to your entire order, no matter how many shops you are purchasing from.  Though do not convert your coins until the day you intend to use the coupon.  They expire quickly and you don't want to waste it.

     To get an AliExpress coupon go to the Coins tab (Or Fantastic Farm under Games).  Next to your farm plot you'll see some buttons on the left.  Tasks and Coupons.  Tasks is another way to earn coins but sometimes it doesn't work correctly.  The Coupon tab is what you want to click.  NOTE:  Do not tap the Coupons tab on the Home page.  This only takes you to the coupons you have   And tapping Get Coupons from that page takes you to the Friend Invite Coupons only (Yes, it is designed to be confusing for some reason.  But that is why I am here to help).  When you are on the Coupon page accessed from the Fantastic Farm/Coins page you will see at the top a way to convert your coins into AliExpress coupons.  There are a limited amount available, so if they are gone, wait until tomorrow and go to the page earlier.  The AliExpress coupons ad the best coupons on the app because they can be used with any purchase.

     Users can also get store specific coupons fairly easily.  At checkout you can apply coupons to items in your cart directly from that page by tapping the Add Coupon option above each store you are purchasing from and selecting whichever applies to your purchase.  These can be used together with AliExpress coupons.  Just remember to activate your AliExpress coupons before completing checkout.

     If you have a lot of friends who you would like to invite to AliExpress you can take advantage of the above mentioned Friend Invite Coupons.  Tap Coupons from the Home page, then Get Coupons at the bottom of that page.  You will see a way to invite friends to get coupons.  For example inviting 2 friends will get you a 3 Dollar Off coupon.  Or go to your Account Page and tap the Invite Friends box.  Share your code and those who use it will get an 18 Dollar Off coupon and you'll get a 2 Dollar Off coupon (My Code is INQ97U2D).  Only 20 AliExpress Platform coupons can be obtained per month.

     You can also receive Cash Back if you are able to persuade others to purchase things that you have purchased.  This is especially useful to influencers or people who have a lot of friends who buy similar types of stuff.  Taping the Cash Back box from your Account page you will see a list of your recent qualifying purchases.  Each will have an Invite button below it.  Share the link with friends and if others purchase the item using your link, you get cash back on your purchase.  This can be up to 100% of the purchase price.

More Free Stuff

     There is another way of getting free stuff on AliExpress.  At the bottom of the app tap the Feed tab.  From there click Live (Or click the Live button from the top of the Home page).  Any shops giving away free stuff during their live shows will usually have it printed on the thumbnail for their live show.  These are pretty easy to use.  Just tap the show and follow whatever instructions to get the free stuff.  Sometimes just being logged into their live show will give you a chance of winning the free stuff,  Other times they will require you to type a response when it is time to choose who gets the free items.  Some will make it a game where you answer questions or they spin a wheel to see what you win.  Whatever way that store does it, this is an easy way of getting free stuff.  Especially if you join the live shows of people who have less viewers (Less competition increases your odds).

Refunds and Disputes

     Whatever issue you had with your transaction can easily be addressed in the app.  Item never arrived?  Received defective goods?  Fell for a bad bootleg?  It is proper protocol to talk to the seller first.  However, due to language barriers sometimes this doesn't go well.  Still, one should always make the effort.  Many sellers will offer coupons instead of a refund for poor quality products... I suggest not taking this option.  You already purchased a bad product from them, why would you purchase more?  If you believe you deserve a refund, insist on a refund.

     Sellers can issue a refund themselves but some will pretend they are not able to (I have had sellers issue refunds).  This is because issuing refunds will be a mark against their store.  They may already have several marks against their store from selling low quality goods in the past.  Sometimes they will give you a sad story about trying to feed their starving family (No joke, it has happened).  If they refuse to refund you for a bootleg or defective product you can resort to the dispute system.

     Take photos of the product, as well as screen shops from the sale page or shipping page, depending on what your dispute is about.  Gather all the information required to prove that you have been wronged and deserve a refund.  Go to your Shipped page and tap on the item.  Or if you already confirmed the item was received, go to the To Be Reviewed page to find the purchased item.  Tap on that item and click Open Dispute.  There you can make your claim (Clear and concise.  No one cares if it was meant to be a gift for your son or you were going to wear it to a party and have to buy something else now.  Stick to why this product is not what the sale page presented it to be.  How did it not work.  What was broken, ripped, etc.  How do you know it was not the official product and is a replica, etc.  Add detailed photos and/or videos.  I have never had AliExpress deny my a full refund for damaged, defective or knock off goods that I received.  It will take a few days but they should issue you a full refund and you can dispose of the faulty product at your leisure.

     Any open disputes can be viewed on your Account page.

     I hope that this has been helpful.  If anyone has questions or comments please leave them below!

Persona OA Chat Log Translations: Ryuji

     This is a (incomplete) basic translation for the chat logs with each character in the Persona OA app.  English speaking users can use it to better understand the conversations in the app and make better choices when the characters ask questions.  As there is a lot of dialogue I have separated each character's interactions into a separate post.  Also, this does not include post-dungeon interactions in your room where you decide what stat boosting item to use.

     Please bear in mind, the translations may be off a bit but they should give you an idea of what is being said.  I took some creative liberty to make the translations sound more natural rather than making them direct word for word translations.

** (+1) (+2) (+3) Means this is how many music notes this response gives.

     I have not gone all of the way through the game yet so I don't have every character dialogue unlocked yet.  As I unlock more I will update this list.

Akira/Ren
Morgana
Ann
Ryuji
Yusuke
Makoto
Futaba
Haru
Akechi
Confidants (Sojiro, etc)

Ryuji

Scene 01
*Yo!  You're [Name], aren't you?
*I heard about you.  You're helping the Phantom Thieves?
*Since you're going to be our ally from now on, I wanted to meet you.
*My name is Ryuji Sakamoto.  Nice to meet you.
[Options]
A --Nice to meet you!
B --Please be gentle...

A (+1)
*Hey, you're easier to talk to than I thought.

B
*Huh?  Wait, seriously?!  Uh, sure, I got this...!

*I thought we'd take a nice walk, what do you think?
*Whoa, check out that bike!  It's so cool!
*Hey, the guy riding the bike looks really cool too!  He seems really popular with the ladies!
*Is he a celebrity or something?  Hey, [Name], do you know?
[Options]
A --He's just an ordinary person
B --I'm not sure

A
*How the hell is he so popular then?
*If  he's ordinary then what the hell's wrong with me?...

B
*Yeah, I don't know either.  Well then why is he so damn popular then?
*What am I doing wrong?...
[Options]
A --It's the bike.
B --Maybe get a bike

A
*The bike...  If you have a cool bike then you'll be surrounded by hot girls?!

B
*Bike...  Wait, are you saying girls like guys who ride bikes?!

*Well, I guess bikes are cool...
*My senior rides a bike too and she's pretty cool... (Makoto)
*If that's the case...
*Should I get a bike?
[Options]
A --Do you want to be popular?
B --Can you afford one?

A
*Damn right!

B
*Naw, they're way too expensive...

*Oh shit, is it that late already?  My bad, I got some other stuff I gotta do.
*I'll catch you later, [Name].
*See ya.

Scene 02
*Hmm...?

*I was coming to Shibuya...

[Options}

A --Ryuji?

B --Who were you again?

C --The cat?

A (+2)

*Oh hey, nice to see you again, [Name].

B

*Ryuji Sakamoto, you forgot.

*Did I remember you name?  It's [Name], isn't it?

C

*I'm clearly a human being.  I'm Ryuji Sakamoto, remember?

*By the way, what are you up to?

[Options]

A --Walking

B --Going to Central Town

C --Going to the underground mall at the train station

A

*A walk?  Didn't we take a walk together last time I saw you?

* You walk a lot, huh?  I like it.

B (+1)

*Hey, I go there too sometimes.

*I hang out at the arcade or... the arcade.

C

*Oh, you going shopping or something?

*Maybe we'll bump into each other again then.

*Well, I'm heading out soon.

*Hey, how about next time we hang out together, what do ya say?

*As your senior I should probably get to know you better.

*Want to hang out sometime?

[Options]

A --Not really

B -- Up to you

A

*Oh, I guess I'm off to uh... Harajuku then?  I just need to get some clothes.

B

*Then I'm off to Harajuku for now..  I just need to get some clothes.

*Well, I'll see you later.

Scene 03 

*There are a lot of cool clothes in the shops around here.
*Hey, what kind of clothes do you usually wear?
[Options]
A --T-shirts
B --Jackets
C --Cosplay

A (+2)
*I gotcha!
*You can wear them all year 'round.  You can get them in lots of different styles too.
*What kind should I buy?..

B(+1)
*Jackets...
*Yeah, I already have this one...
*But... I guess some styles can make you look more mature, right?  I guess I should keep that in mind.
*So, about that... What kind should I get?

C
*Really!?
*A wild cosplayer has appeared. (Not really what he said.  He was just surprised that cosplay was what you 'usually wear')
*So then... What should I get?

*What about going for a totally new style?  Let's keep looking!
*How about some cool biker clothes?
[Options]
A --You want to be popular with the ladies?
B --A bike is in your future

A
*Come on, I already answered that.

B
*Naw, they're way too expensive...

*Remember that bike in Odaiba we saw?
*I mean, it is a bike.  I think I could be pretty popular if I had one.

[Options]
A --It's too late
B --Is that true?

A (+1)
*Yeah yeah.
*Individuality is important for bein' popular with girls.

B
*Damn right!
*I guess I'll just have to prove it, huh?

*Ok, I'm totally getting a bike.
*I'm gonna start saving up from today on.
[Options]
A --You have my support
B --What about your clothes?

A (+2)
*Yeah, let's do this!

B
*Oh yeah, that's right...
*I figure I'll put today's clothes money into my bike fund!

*Look at it this way - if I buy a bike I'll be way more popular!
*And what if my helmet had a skull on it?
*Aw man... I'm getting goosebumps just thinkin' about it!

Scene 04
*Man, it's been a while since I saw a movie.

[Options]

A --What happened to saving for a bike?

B --What kind of movie are we going to see?

A
*I'm still saving up.

B
*Huh?  Oh, some romance film.

*If I get a bike I'll be popular with the ladies, right?
*So that's why I've decided to practice being a cool boyfriend.
[Options]
A --Aren't you getting ahead of yourself?
B --You sure are eager to study

A
*It's best to start preparing early.

B(+2)
*Hell yeah.  I'm not really great with studying other stuff though.

*Oh hey, isn't it almost time for the movie to start?
*Let's go!
*Oh man, that was pretty good...
*Did you notice the main character had a bike?
*He's exactly how I want to be!  I'm so glad I saw this film!
[Options]
A --It was pretty cool I guess
B --It had a real impact

A(+2)
*It was, right?  You thought so too?

B
*No man could watch that and not be impacted by its awesomeness!

*Aw man, I'm all sicced up now!  Let's go grab some food...
*Come on!

Scene 05 
*Hey, sorry for calling you out here suddenly. I wanted to talk to you about something...
*You see, there's a big test at school next week...

*And uh, well... I haven't studied for it at all.

[Options}

A --Time to study

B --That's on you, man

C --I'm going home now.  (The 'I'm out, biznatch' answer)

A

*Yeah, I know, I know.

B

*Uh yeah, I know!  That's why I need your help.

C

* --Wait!  Let me explain!

*Tch, shit man... What do you think is going to happen if my grades drop any more?

*I'll lose my allowance...

*Then it's good-bye to any hope of getting a bike...

*But I'm just no good at studying...

[Options]

A --What do you mean?

B --Is there something stopping you from studying?

A

*It's just really hard to me...

B

*It's just really complicated circumstances...

*I get really easily distracted at home and end up just doing other things... (Actual translation is that there is a lot of temptation in his room)

*Reading manga, playing video games...

*Especially the manga, because I just bought the most recent volumes in the series...

*I just can't study!-- I mean no one could study surrounded by all that, right?

[Options]

A --Why not?

B --Why not study at the library?

C --I guess you have a point.

A

*...I don't know why.

*Whenever I'm supposed to be studying for a test I just feel the urge to read my manga instead...

B

*UGGGHHHHHH!

*It's just too quite and I can't concentrate!

C(+2)

*Right!?  I knew you would understand!

*My room is full of anime and games and stuff... I just can't focus on studying there!

*That's why... I'm gonna study in your room!  What do ya' think?

[Options]

A --Are you serious?!

B --That's fine with me.

A

*Hell yeah, I'm serious!  I'm super excited but it's your call.  What do you say?

B(+3)

*Alright!  I'm totally studying in [Name]'s room.

*If I can't pass this test it'll take me even longer to be popular.

*So I'll be dropping by your place tomorrow after school, to study!


Scene 06 [Coming soon]

Persona OA Chat Log Translations: Ann

     This is a (incomplete) basic translation for the chat logs with each character in the Persona OA app.  English speaking users can use it to better understand the conversations in the app and make better choices when the characters ask questions.  As there is a lot of dialogue I have separated each character's interactions into a separate post.  Also, this does not include post-dungeon interactions in your room where you decide what stat boosting item to use.

     Please bear in mind, the translations may be off a bit but they should give you an idea of what is being said.  I took some creative liberty to make the translations sound more natural rather than making them direct word for word translations.

** (+1) (+2) (+3) Means this is how many music notes this response gives.

     I have not gone all of the way through the game yet so I don't have every character dialogue unlocked yet.  As I unlock more I will update this list.

Akira/Ren
Morgana
Ann
Ryuji
Yusuke
Makoto
Futaba
Haru
Akechi
Confidants (Sojiro, etc)

Ann

Scene 01
*Hey, you!  You're [Name], right?

*Sorry for calling you out like that.  I heard we got a new member and I just really wanted to know more about you

*I'm Ann Takamaki.  It's great to finally meet you..

[Options]

A --Nice to meet you too!

B --You're cute...

A

Yeah, having more friends is great.  It's really encouraging, you know...!

*[Name], let's do our best!

B

*Oh, really?

*I've been working out a lot lately.  I guess the results are finally showing, huh?

*Oh, do you have some time right now?

*I was thinking of getting some crepes.  Wanna come?

*I really want to check out this one shop that sells them.

*OMG, so gooood!  Sweets are just the best thing ever...!

*No way, they were having a half price toppings deal today... I think maybe I went a little overboard.

*When I get home I'm really going to have to burn off all these extra calories!

*No wait, I'm going to push myself even harder!

[Options]

A --Are you going on a diet?

B --You're really fired up

C --Don't you think you're being too hard on yourself?

A

*Well, I'm not sure I'd call it a diet.  Oh yeah, I never told you.

B(+2)

*Yup!  It's what I have to do if I want to be the best!

*Oh right, I didn't tell you.

C

*No way, not at all.  I can never be the best... if I don't prove I have what it takes.

*You see, I'm actually a model.  Even if I'm just newbie right now.

[Options}

A -- Being a model is amazing

B --I want to see your work

C-- Sign my chest (Ok, it really just asks for her autograph... But mine is better)

A(+1)

*So, I'm really just starting out!  Even so, I really want to work hard and become a great model one day!

B(+2)

*I've been in a few magazines!  I'll bring them with me next time.

C

*You want my- my autograph?  Are you for real?

*But I guess I should really start thinking about that kinda stuff, right?

*Oh, it's already getting pretty late.  Thanks for spending time with me today.

*It was really great getting to know you, [Name]!  I'm looking forward to working with you from now on as a member of the Phantom Thieves!

Scene 02 

*Oh...?  [Name].
*What a coincidence that we bumped into each other here.
[Options]
A --What are yo doing here?
B --Were you training?
C -- Were you doing a photo shoot?

A
*I'm running today.
*I'm a bit worried about my body...  I really need to get into better shape.

B
*Yeah, I'm out running today.
*It's really important to get into good shape, you know.

C
*No, not today.  I'm just out for a run.
*It's really important to get into good shape, you know.

*I need to keep pushing myself more and more, so I can be a great model.
*In order to accomplish my goal I'll keep on training as hard as I can.
[Options]
A --You're already sexy
B --You're thin enough already

A(+2)
*Really?!  Well, I'm glad you think so!
*Wait a minute, that's not right!
*That kind of thinking is really dangerous!

B
*tsk tsk tsk, it's no good just being thin.

*There are a lot of models who are way better than me.
*Looking at models you probably think just trying on clothes and taking photos looks like fun, right?
*But what you never see is that everyone is actually working really hard.
*And so... I'm going to work really hard too!
[Options]
A --Hang in there
B --You're really cool

A(+1)
*Yup!  I'm going to really give it all I've got and do my best!

B(+2)
*Thank you so very much.
*But you know, it'll be way cooler moving forward.

*Someday I'm sure I'll catch up to the top models.
*Oh... I guess I really got all fired up.  Sorry about that.
*Thanks for listening.

Scene 03 

*Hmm, which to get.
*I really can't tell...I'm not sure which one is the best choice...
*Huh?  Ah... [Name]!   Wow, talk about the right place at the right time!
*I'm shopping for beauty products and stuff to help me train.
*But I'm having a really hard time figuring out which to get.
*Now that you're here, what do you think I should get?
[Options]
A --Facial Massage Product
B --EMS Machine (EMS stands for Electric Muscle Stimulator.  It is used to work out your muscles)
C --Parfait

A(+1)
Oh, I guess you're right.  But how do you use it?  Wow!  Some sort of foam came out of it!
*I... I've never used something like this before.
*Hey, would you do me a favour and help me pick out more stuff?

B(+1)
*Whoa!  It says anyone can build up their muscles just by putting this on their body!
*Just put these on your abs and before you know it you're ripped.
*Well, it sure sounds pretty good.
*Your advice is really helpful!
*Hey, would you do me a favour and help me pick out more stuff?

C
*Oh yeah, Parfaits!
*I saw some really delicious looking ones in a shop earlier...
*Hold on!  This isn't the time for that.  I'm trying to buy beauty products to help me to look more attractive!
*But then... I guess something that looks delicious is a beautiful product of sorts, in a way.
*Hey you.  Do you have some time to spare?  Would you please help me choose what to buy while I shop?

*Alright!  The shopping was successfully completed!
*I mean, I'm really sorry you had to waste so much time helping me.
*But you really saved me!  I'm so grateful.
[Options]
A --You're welcome
B --It was nice to team up together

A or B (Same)
*Someday I'll really have to thank you properly.
*And when I do I'll be even more beautiful thanks to the stuff we bought today!
*Well anyway, you should probably be going home now.

Scene 04
*[Name], over here!

*Sorry to just suddenly invite you here.

*Actually, I got these movie tickets free from work.

*I wanted to thank you for before... I wasn't sure but I thought maybe we could go see a movie together.

*Do you like movies?

[Options]

A --I don't watch them

B --I really quite like them

C --Anything but horror

A

*Oh, is that right?  But I really wanted to see this one.  It's the new action film everyone's been talking about.

*I bet you'll really enjoy this one, [Name]!  Let's go!

B(+1)

They're great, right?  This one is a recent popular action movie.  Let's go!

C

*Really?  You don't like those?  Actually... I'm not really good with those either.

*But this one is just a recent action movie I've been wanting to see.

*I bet you'll really enjoy this one, [Name]!  Let's go!

*So good... That was great!

*Especially the hero's sidekick.  That actress was great, wasn't she?!

*The action was exciting and super hot!

*I would love to be an action film actress too!  What do you think, [Name]?

[Options]

A --You'd be perfect

B --Can you do action?

C --You're not sexy enough for that

A(+2)

*Really?!

*...But, before all that I will still need to work hard on my modelling.

B

*Well... I'm not really sure.

*I mean is being a model really suitable for action films? Ahahaha

C

*Oh yeah, that actress in the movie was super sexy.

*I mean, I guess before I start thinking about all that I need to work hard on my modelling.

*Alright, I have to do my best and train hard from now on!

Scene 05 
*Sorry to be such a bother.  Thanks for meeting me here.

*Actually, my next modelling shoot is having me wear a maid uniform.

*I thought coming here would be good research.

*But... Coming here all by myself would be kinda hard...

*Well, you sure are a life saver.

[Options]

A --Do you like maid costumes?

B --Did you want sweets?

C --I'll have a cup of coffee

A

*Hm... Well, I guess.

*I mean, I don't dislike them but I don't think they're great or anything either.

B

*This is research for modelling!

*But, I guess... it would be rude not to order something now that I'm here.

C

*Whoa you started ordering right away!

*Do you... come here a lot?..

*Wow... These maids are amazing.  Their smiles and kindness really moved me.

*I guess maids work really hard while making it look effortless.  I'm not really sure I'll be able to portray one accurately...

[Options]

A --Let's study more

B --I'm sure you'll be moe (If you are unfamiliar with the slang term 'moe' you can read about it here)

A(+2)
*Yeah, good idea.

*That's why I like you so much.

*Ok, I'm going to try even harder!

B(+3)
*Really?!  Do you really think I could be a maid who's truly moe?

*I'll have to work really hard so everyone else will think so too!

*You know, I feel like I figured something out!

*When it's time to do my next photo shoot, I think I'll finally be able to do a decent job now.

*Ahaha.  Thanks for helping me out, [Name].

Scene 06 [Coming Soon]

Persona OA Chat Log Translations: Morgana

     This is a (incomplete) basic translation for the chat logs with each character in the Persona OA app.  English speaking users can use it to better understand the conversations in the app and make better choices when the characters ask questions.  As there is a lot of dialogue I have separated each character's interactions into a separate post.  Also, this does not include post-dungeon interactions in your room where you decide what stat boosting item to use or the intro/tutorial for the game.

     Please bear in mind, the translations may be off a bit but they should give you an idea of what is being said.   I took some creative liberty to make the translations sound more natural rather than making them direct word for word translations.

** (+1) (+2) (+3) Means this is how many music notes this response gives.

     I have not gone all of the way through the game yet so I don't have every character dialogue unlocked yet.  As I unlock more I will add the new translations.

[Dialogue links soon to come]
Akira/Ren
Morgana
Ann
Ryuji
Yusuke
Makoto
Futaba
Haru
Akechi
Confidants (Sojiro, etc)

Morgana

Note for Mona Dialogue: Mona often uses the word Wagahai to refer to himself.  This is a very arrogant/pretentious way of saying "I".  This doesn't really translate to English very well but it is an important part of the character's speech.

Scene 01
*Hey, you're the newcomer, right?  Joker was just telling me all about you.
[Options]
A --Who are you?
B --A talking cat...?
C -- Yeah Mona

A or B or C (Same outcome)
*That's pretty rude.  I am [Morgana] a member of the great Phantom Thieves!

*Hey you, you can use Persona right?
*Because I said I'd cooperate, I'll be your teacher, and share my knowledge of how to become a Phantom Thief.
[Options]
A --Is that right?
B -- It sure seems that way.
C --I think I understand.

A or B or C (Same outcome)
*Hm, I dunno... Is this really the right person?  Just in case, can you confirm your name?
[After Entering your name]
*Say what, it really is you after all?  Ok [Name], let's start exploring!
[Options]
A --Where?
B --Exploring?

A or B (Same outcome)
*It's called Mementos.  It's the place you'll be exploring from today on.
*I'll explain the details later.  Come on!

Scene 02
*Today I'll teach you what you need to know to be a Phantom Thief.

*First of all, I'll explain the most important thing for a Phantom Thief to have!  You wouldn't want to start without knowing this one, right?

*The most important thing for a Phantom Thief is--... [Name], What do you think it is?

[Options}

A --A disguise

B --Gun skills?

C --Being a thief is bad

A

*Yeah, I guess that's important too.  You couldn't be a very good thief if people knew your true identity, after all.

*However, there is more than that to being a Phantom Thief.  Which is...

B (+1)

*I guess that is pretty important.  However, that's not it.

*Before handing a weapon, there is something much more important you need.

*And that is...

C

*It seems you know your stuff.  That is very true...

*Yep, being a thief is definitely a bad idea...!

*Well, I guess that's all for today.  I'll just be on my way now.

*...What?  That's it.  I said we're all done here...!

*Fine, if you're finally ready to take this seriously.  The most important thing about being a Phantom Thief is...

*It's having conviction!

*What we're stealing is a target's distorted heart.

*By eliminating the distortion, we can force the target to have a change of heart.

*A person without conviction can never change the hearts of others.

*So to be a Phantom Thief...  Conviction is the most important thing.

[Options]

A --Cool

B --That's pretty complicated

C --Moving on, I'm super hungry.

A(+2)

*Nyafufufufu...I guess it is pretty cool, huh [Name]?

B

*Well, I'm sure you'll understand soon enough.

C

*You're making me really nervous about all this, you know...

*But, now that you mention it, I guess I'm getting pretty hungry too...

*Well, anyway, don't worry.  I'm going to teach you everything you need to know.

Scene 03

*[Name], I already explained that conviction is the most important thing for a Phantom Thief to have.
*But that's not all.  Today I'll tell you what else you need to be a Phantom Thief.
*The Phantom Thieves are always on the side of the weak.
*Help the weak and punish those who oppress them (Direct translation: Help the weak, punish the strong)
*Today you'll practice doing this as a Phantom Thief.
*In other words, you'll be helping people.  After helping them out you'll disappear without ever revealing your true identity...
*How about it, [Name]?  Think you can pull it off?
[Options]
A --It depends
B --Seems hard
C --Let's change into our Phantom Thief disguises

A
*Well, that's true but... Couldn't you at least try?

B
*Be more confident.  You're going to help a lot of people, right?
*Don't worry.  This is your chance to do some good, so get out there.

C
*Uh, this is the real world.  We can't do that here.
*If you don't take this seriously you're going to cause me a lot of trouble, you know.

*For now just see if you can find anyone who's in trouble.
*Hm... Who to choose...
*Oh!  Hey look over there!  Do you see someone who looks like they're in trouble?
*It looks like there are some tourists from a foreign country over there.  Quick, this is your chance, [Name].  Let's go help them out!
[Options]
A --I can't speak English
B --I think I'm going to throw up (Direct translation is spit, but I'm guessing they mean throw up)
C --I-- can I... help you

A(+1)
*That's fine!
*It's all about feeling.  That's what Ann told me.  Come on, [Name], give it a try!

B
*Hey, it's alright to be scared!  I'm here to back you up in case of an emergency.  Come on!

C
*Why are you saying that to me?  You're way too nervous!
*It's alright.  I'm here to back you up in case of an emergency.  Come on!

*You did it, [Name]!  It looks like you really helped out that tourist.  They seemed pleased!
*You did well today.  I'm so proud.
*Were you able to understand a little about what it means to be a Phantom Thief?
*Let's do our best from now on!

Scene 04
*[Name], today I'll teach you how to be stealthy like a proper Phantom Thief.
*First off, to avoid being noticed you need to walk quietly.
*If you can't do that you won't be a very good Phantom Thief.
*Creeping about silently.  This is how we successfully steal treasures.
*This is the secret to being a great Phantom Thief!  What do you think?  Are you impressed?
[Options]
A --Wow!
B --Can you do it, Morgana?
C --Not really

A(+3)
*Right?
*However, if you can stay calm, you'll be able to do it too.
*You know, it's still possible for you to catch up with the rest of us!

B
*Wow, that's a pretty stupid question...
*Creeping around is what I've done my whole life, don't you get it?

C
*Great... you're so dry...
*You'll soon understand our greatness!  Get ready, [Name].

*Let's move on to the next thing!
*The next special skill you'll need is...  Being fast!
*I don't just mean walking quickly.  It is also important for a Phantom Thief to be able to ambush an enemy which requires speed.
*Ninja stealthiness...  Do you know how to train for that?
[Options]
A --Running?
B --Watch ninja films?
C --I don't have a clue!

A(+1)
*That is the correct answer!  But just running normally won't do.
*You have to run without making any noise.  Come on, we'll do it together!

B
*You think you could figure it out just by watching movies?
*Movies may help but today we are going to do special training by actually moving our bodies.
*Is this alright with you?  We need to run without making any noise.  Come on, we'll do it together!

C
*You don't have to say it so confidently!
*Is this alright with you?  We need to run without making any noise.  Come on, we'll do it together!

*Yeah.  You're really getting it now, right?
*Your so lucky!  Not everyone is fortunate enough to be taught by a pro like me.
[Options]
A --I learnt a lot! (Direct translation is 'Good Study')
B --Let's run more
C --I'm hungry now

A(+3)
*Nyafufufu...  If you keep that up you're going to embarrass me.

B(+2)
*Whoa, you're really motivated.
*I think we've done enough running for today.  You don't want to push your body too hard, right?

C
*If you move more, you burn more calories and get hungry...  That's just how the body works.

*Alright, lets go home and rest for the day.
*[Name], keep working hard from now on!


Scene 05
*You're really starting to seem like a real Phantom Thief, [Name]!
*Let's do our best again today.
*Now that you've mastered being covert you're ready to learn how to search for enemies...!
*Learn enemy positions and situations...  This is an important skill for any Phantom Thief to learn.
*We can't always rely on navigation support from Futaba.
*Ok, let's start training.
*I'm going to hide somewhere in this park.  You are going to have to find me within the time limit.
[Options]
A --Easy
B --What do you mean 'Search for enemies'?
C --Hide and Seek...

A
*Don't get cocky.

B
*You--, weren't you paying attention to anything I just said...?!
*When we start I'll be hiding, so your job will be to search for me.

C
*Wrong!  This is serious Phantom Thief training!  Don't let your guard down.

*We will be alternating between chasing and hiding.  Make sure you don't make a sound, ok?
*Well, let's get started!
*Whoa, you found me in no time!
*That makes 5 wins and 5 losses...  I guess that makes today's training a draw.
*Not too shabby, don't you think?  Not bad for the first time.
*You have a real knack for this, [Name].
[Options]
A --I'm just a good student
B --I can't even move anymore

A(+3)
*It seems like this training is really helping you.
*I look forward to watching you grow!

B
*Well, I did my best today so it was probably pretty hard for you.

*There's still a lot more skills I need to teach you.
*Let's keep doing our best moving forward.
[Options]
A --Leave it to me
B --Easy as Pie (Direct translation: Asameshimae which literally means Before Breakfast.  However this is an idiom and is not to be taken literally)
C --Can we take a taxi home?

A(+2)
*That's a pretty confident reply... I gotta say, I'm moved...
*I think you'll be a great addition to the Phantom Thieves!

B(+1)
*That's a pretty confident reply... I gotta say, I'm moved...
*I think you'll be a great addition to the Phantom Thieves!

C
*Isn't that super expensive, [Name]?  If you're that rich we should get sushi...
*You really shouldn't be wasting money.
*As part of your special training we should walk home.  (NOTE:  This is roughly a 3 hour walk according to Google Maps)

*By the way, you seem to have the basics down.  It may be time to teach you some more challenging skills soon.
*Well, do you want to know what skills you'll be training for next?
*Nyafufufu...  Let's just say it's something really special so you should be looking forward to it!

Scene 06 [Coming Soon]
*

Persona OA Battle Tips

     If you haven't read my tutorial on how to play Persona OA without knowing Japanese then please check it out here first.

     If you are struggling with the dungeons (Palaces, Mementos) then this might help.  Have you worked your way through a dungeon several times and can't seem to complete it?  When you tap on it in the map does it say Boss, even though you've fought it several times?  You may need to read the feedback from your team mate to determine what changes to make to beat that dungeon. Not sure how to?

Let Me Explain!

     When you exit a dungeon and scroll down through all that amazing loot you picked up during exploration, you may notice you have a little word bubble at the bottom from whatever companion went in with you.  If there is anything mentioned in brackets then they are telling you that a change needs to happen for you to defeat the boss or further explore the dungeon.  Take note of whatever the kana looks like if you can't read it.  It will correlate with either a stat on your player stat list (The star you can access from the map screen in the top right corner) or a stat on your persona.

     If it's a persona stat it can easily be fixed by simply switching to a persona that has a higher level in that particular stat.  In the image to the right you can see that Ryuji mentioned we needed greater Strength to progress further.  If you look at your Persona stats you can see it is the top stat listed.  Just scroll through until you find the one with a high strength stat and choose it for the battle.

     If you need to increase a player stat it could take longer.  This is doubly true if you can't read the dialogue because it means you wont know what books or games or movies or magazines or what not you are reading/watching/playing and thus wont know what stat they are going to increase.  Though even if you can read the text sometimes it isn't obvious which stat that is going to improve.  In this case you may just want to keep an eye on that stat and play a different dungeon until then.

     You can see an example of what 'm talking about in the graphic to the left.  If it's too small to see you can simply tap the image to enlarge it.

     This should help you get a better edge at beating a dungeon.  As you play and open more dungeons you will also open up different difficulties for past dungeons.  Each dungeon shows you the level you should be to play them so keep that in mind.  This isn't just your player level, you should try to keep this in mind with the persona and companion you choose to take with you as well

     Another issue you mat have is that your companions aren't levelling or that you have stopped getting post dungeon interactions with them.  In the companion selection screen where you choose your persona and team mate to explore with, look under your chosen character.  If their level bar is locked then you can not level them up until you improve a particular stat.

     On the right you can see what this will look like.  Under the bar it will tell you what stat you need to improve to continue levelling this character.  Again, you do not need to be able to read this in order to know what it means.  You can simply match the stats up to the text.  In the image to the left it says I need Knowledge of 4 or more.  You can see the number value is 4.  Before the number it will list the stat.  Simply match that to the player stats star and when that symbol reaches rank 4, you're good to go (Or whatever stat needs to be whatever level for the character you are stuck on).  Until your stat is high enough, focus on levelling other characters instead. Just like in the Persona 5 game.  If you aren't a high enough rank to hang out with that character there is no point wasting a day hanging out with them.

     For me, Ryuji hit the lock really fast because I explored with him almost exclusively.  What can I say, Ryuji is best boy.

     I hope this helps you guys get further in the game!  Let me know if there's anything else I can elaborate on.

How To Play Persona O.A.

Persona O.A.
     This is a great app for any fan of Persona games (Which are usually played via playstation).  This is doubly true for fans of Persona 5.  Persona O.A, is a Persona 5 game in the form of an app.  You play as yourself, but you wield multiple Persona and meet up with the members of the Phantom Thieves, travelling through Mementos and special event Palaces to steal hearts and gain levels.

     A lot of people complain because the application is Japanese only.  Though knowing Japanese certainly makes the game play easier and more enjoyable, English speaking users can still play the app so long as they know what to do.  I've decided to make a tutorial on how to play this app for those who can't read Japanese.  This will cover the basic functions of the app.  There is a great deal of dialogue in the story cut scenes that will not be covered here.  To view translations for those go here.

     Upon loading the app for the first time you'll be guided through the game elements and account set up by Sae Niijima.  I have created some graphics to take you through the account setup.  Click them to expand the images to a larger size if you find them difficult to read.

     Above you can see how to set up your new account.  If you have an existing account and know your user code, you can enter it in through the data transfer method.  Below you can see how to enter your name into the next section.

     Once you are able to start playing you will always start the app on the main home screen.  The home screen character and background changes every time you reload it.  It pulls from various characters in Persona 5 like the main characters and confidants.  They will have a quote under them as well but this isn't really important.  It is just a fun element of the game, so don't worry about not being able to read it.  The things you need to know on this page can be seen in the graphic below.

     I wouldn't worry too much about the Calendar, Twitter or P5A buttons.  If you want to watch the P5A with subtitles you can do so at Crunchy Roll.  The calendar will talk about upcoming events but it is all in Japanese, so unless you want to translate it don't worry about it.  The events will notify you when you start the app up if they are happening anyway.  The calendar is just to set up notifications for future events.

     The news also covers the more recent events, just like the calendar but again, it's in Japanese.  Just keep an eye on the dates so you know when something new is happening.

     The Event button shows you all the events (dialogues) in the game with the various characters.  You can see which you are missing and replay the ones you have already unlocked.

     You will start with some free PP (Persona Points).  You can spend these on the Persona Gacha which gives you a random Persona or skill card.  You can also spend your points on Persona wallpapers for your phone.  To use the Gacha, visit the Velvet Room at the bottom left.  To buy wallpapers, tap the More Options button on the top left.  You can see this screen below.

     The above graphic gives you a basic run down of the options here.  The only important ones are the Take The Day (I may have mistranslated this) option which gives you your data transfer code, and the Persona Point option.

     If you tap the Persona Points button you will be taken to the screen on the left of this text.  At the top left you have the Back button, the top right is your total PP.  You can scan QR codes with the top option or use the second option to type in codes.  The codes are obtained by purchasing official Persona products or from various magazines which release new codes every issue.  These magazines include PASH, Anime Japan, and several others.  A full list can be found on the official site.  If anyone gets access to the codes in these magazines and would like to share them, please leave a comment on this post.

     The bottom option is where you can spend your existing PP on special wallpapers.  The wallpapers cost quite a bit but when you purchase one you have options on what dimensions you would like to save the file as.  You will also unlock more wallpapers as you progress through the various dungeons.  Special seasonal events will allow you to unlock event exclusive wallpapers as well.  To be honest you can probably find any of these wallpapers online for free though.  Don't be like me and waste your PP on the wallpapers.

     If you access the Velvet Room through the home screen you will need to know what the various options given there are.  You can see the translations on the graphic below.

     You get your personas by playing the gacha.  There are more than one available usually.  Different gachas cost different amounts and give you access to different levels of persona.  There are also special event gachas that appear sometimes.

     The top gacha on the screen to the left is a special gacha.  It costs more (300PP for one draw) but you can get really amazing persona from it.  I got Futaba's persona on my first play.  However, all of the gacha only give you a chance at a persona.  You can alternatively get a skill card instead.  It's random so you never know if you'll get something good or not.

     If you do get a skill card you can use it on a persona by clicking the Skill Mastery button.  Skill cards have the skill type printed on as an image.  You can only use certain skill types on certain persona.  This is easy enough to figure out though.  If you look at your persona in Skill Mastery mode, at the bottom it shows what types of skills they can learn (And which they already have).  Below you can see the bottom skill area of a persona.  Below that is what a skill card option looks like in the skill select screen.  Clicking the cards image on the right of the skills will take you to your available skill cards so you can select one.  Once a card is used, it disappears.  Choose wisely.

     The compendiums are a way to see what personas and items you have gathered.  Looking at a Persona Compendium is a good way to see how strong it is.  You can also view the level that the personas you have are and how rare they are (More stars mean rarer persona).  I will show you what the stat translations are below.

Strength:
Magic:
Endurance:
Agility:
Luck:

     Those are what the stat options on the bottom left side say, in that order.  As you can see this persona has a lot of Luck but very little Strength.  Different dungeons are easier with different types of persona.  So it is good to collect a good range of persona with various stats and abilities.

     In order to level up your persona you;ll have to explore the dungeon areas such as Mementos and the special event Palaces.  Also please forgive the fact that I wrote Momentos instead of Mementos in all of my graphics.

     When you go to Mementos from the home screen you can choose which dungeon to explore.  More will unlock as you progress through the game and special Event Palaces will appear near the top of the list.  Each dungeon has a different difficulty level and recommended level written on it.  So choose the ones that will work best for you at the level that you are.  If you are unsure about what level you currently are, or what your personal stats are you can tap the button in the top right corner during dungeon selection.  It will take you to the screen to the left (You can change your name here if you want as well).

From the top, clockwise: Knowledge, Courage, Dexterity, Kindness, Charm

     After selecting a dungeon you get to choose one persona to take with you and one companion.  You can only choose from the characters you have met thus far.  You start with Morgana, then you meet Ann, then Ryuji, and so on.  The more dungeons you explore, the more characters you'll meet.

     Your persona, companion and yourself each will gain experience and levels when you are exploring a dungeon.  Below you can see what it looks like while you are exploring.

     This part of the game just requires you to wait.  You can exit the dungeon at any time by clicking the Finish Exploration button in the bottom left.  However, it is best to wait for the Investigation bar to fill up or the Security to be at 100 percent.  Because when either of these gauges fill, you will no longer be gaining items or experience. (UPDATE: Check out how to beat dungeons you get stuck on here)

     The game does not need to be open for exploration to commence.  If you want to play other parts of the app just click the Back button from this screen.  If you want to close the app, you can do that as well.  The exploration will continue until either security or investigation maxes.  Then you'll have to come back and tell it to finish so you can go to another dungeon.  If your security bar maxes before exploration does, don't worry.  You can always come back and continue to explore later.

     To the right you can see what it looks like when you complete an exploration.  You, your persona, and your companion rank ups are displayed as well as how close they are to get another level.  Scrolling down shows what items you found and how much PP you earned.

     After exploration you may trigger some dialogue with whatever companion you took with you into the dungeon.  If you can't read the dialogue you have two options.  Either you can click through it and guess at any dialogue options it gives you to choose, or you can use a translation app to help you translate the text.  Though these applications aren't always accurate.  You can see what I mean below.

     Like in the Persona 5 game, different options will have an effect on the affection of the character.  You'll get little music note animations if you choose the option that makes the character happy.  You will also be able to use items you found on your exploration, such as books, magazines, DVDs, etc.  An option to watch/read them will appear when you get home after your time spent with your chosen companion.  Depending on what you read or watch, you can boost different stats.  Boosted stats will help level companions as well as help you defeat certain dungeon bosses.

     After this you can go explore another (or the same) area.  This is pretty much the whole game.  If there is anything I missed that you want explained or elaborated on, just let me know.  I hope you enjoy playing this really cute Persona app game!

• Free
• Seller: Aniplex Inc
• Category: Entertainment
• Size: 113 MB
• Languages: Japanese
• Copyright: ©ATLUS ©SEGA All rights reserved.　©ATLUS ©SEGA/PERSONA5 the Animation Project

You must be at least 17 years old to download this app. Gambling and Contests