Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

20 to 40 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Just plain fun"

Persona 4 (PS2)

In 2008, guys from Atlus graced the shelves with the next installment in the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series and it was all just what we expected from a from such a well-established JRPG franchise, the title retains trademark elements like the gripping, unique storyline, memorable characters, and the unique atmosphere. It most certainly lives up to the predecessor, but does suffer from minor kinks that hold it back from being the best in the series.

The genre of Persona 4 is a fusion of social simulation and dungeon crawling turn-based strategy combat games, and for what it is, it works like a charm. The social simulation mechanic is used to convey the great story from the perspective on an unnamed protagonist, a boy who moved outside of the big city to the small town of Inaba, to attend high school and live with his uncle. As soon as he gets accommodated to his new environment, strange murders start occurring, with victims hanging off of the TV antennas with mysterious causes of death, and in the middle of everything, while you spend time in school you're introduced to the rumor of the "Midnight channel", if you watch a switched off TV on rainy nights at midnight, your true soul mate will be revealed. The legend happens, but not quite as rumor depicted it. You and your friends discover that you can enter a whole new TV world, littered with shadows, as games common enemies. You and meet Teddy, a TV world resident that brings our heroes up to speed, from where on they start making connections between the real-life murders and the TV world.
I would like to go on about the story, but every character is so well rounded and constructed, and the main plot line so engaging, that anything I say from this point on counts as a spoiler in my book. Each character you meet, and develop social links with, has a great back story, and the character development subplots are one of the best I've come across. The only complaint is the ending, which seems a bit rushed, but the journey is worth the phoned in payoff.

In the TV world, dungeon crawling element takes place, and, in the style continued from Persona 3, there are no standard JRPG random encounters, instead you are able to see blobs, which represent groups of Shadows and depending on your approach, you have the have the chance to strike first. After that, its follows the basic JRPG formula, but it revolves around various Persona, spirits you receive in form of cards, and while equipped, certain elemental attacks and abilities are unlocked. There is a system which allows you to craft two Personas into more powerful ones, and later on you're able to combine multiple cards for even better results. Also, linked with Persona are social links, the better the social linking with a person of special attribute, the stronger the Persona with the same. The rest is, your standard JRPG, equipment customization and inventory.
The style of Persona 4 is great. It scream retro while pumping with the JPOP vibe, and the colorful layout takes the opposite turn from the previous game, where the atmosphere was a bit depressing, rendering this game easier to swallow, but a pleasure to chew.
Pros:
• Good story
• Unique style
• Replay ability
Cons:
• The grinding
Bottom line, the game is way more light-hearted than Persona 3. IT takes a while to get used to bright colors, but the narrative gradually eases gamers in, and after the initial play through, leave a taste for another go. For JRPG fans, this is a must have title, and for average gamers is a gateway game to the genre.
Rating: 8.5

-Petar
GameNTrade Ltd.