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Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4




  • + Incredibly deep storyline + Well recognized art style + Very well written story + Fairly good voice acting + Great soundtrack + Improvements in the battle system are welcome + All around absorbing gameplay Cons : - Sometimes you'll feel the pacing needs work The market for JRPGs is pretty crowded when it comes to the Playstation 2 . There are a multitude to choose from . If you must pick up one JRPG for your Playstation 2 , however , it should be Persona 4 . Just when it seems like we should send the Playstation 2 off , along comes a game that makes it worth playing again . The Persona games , in particular , are known for their incredibly absorbing and mature storylines . This one plays out a lot like a murder mystery that you and your allies must solve . It begins fairly slowly but it's a lot more complex than simply trying to solve murders and mysterious disappearances . This isn't your typical JRPG . It's a pretty dark game with some heavy themes . But for the most part the presentation is very well done . It takes a moment to really take off and get going , but when it does you'll find it to be like a ride you never want to end . It's a deep and enticing story filled with rich characters . The dialog is well written and has its own charms to help Persona 4 stand out as easily one of the best RPGs ever made . Part of solving things is getting yourself into the Midnight Channel . Your characters will have to go into the Midnight Channel and rescue missing people . You'll have to be weary , though . As changes in the weather can have a pretty big impact on things . You must go into the Midnight Channel and save someone before the fog comes or else they will succumb to death . At its core , Persona 4 plays very similar to Persona 3 . You'll go roaming around dungeons that are swarming with enemies . Battles are contact based , but you'll find yourself wanting to battle . It's surprisingly addictive to do so . The battle system itself is pretty easy to learn as it's very straightforward . If you've played Persona 3 it isn't really that different . One of the biggest problems with Persona 3 was the inability to control other party members in combat . This resulted in some of them doing things that could potentially do more harm to you in the long run than help . You can actually control everything that goes in in battle in Persona 4 . Persona 4 also isn't really a hard game . You might have trouble with bosses but for the most part it's a lot easier to plow through than the previous installment . Of course , you're not always spending time in the Midnight Channel . You have a life to lead outside of that as a student , and that's fairly important as well . This helps to really flesh out Persona 4 ' s character development as you have to also be a student . Yet this plays a very large part in the game . As a student you have stats that are helpful in forging other relationships with characters . You'll want to improve your social status as well . It can have plenty of benefits to you in combat . The only real problem with the student life mechanic has more to do with the pacing of the game itself . Persona 4 is a very absorbing and breathtaking story , but there are times when you wish it would speed up or pace a little faster . As much as living the student life can be interesting it isn't nearly as rewarding as the Midnight Channel . At the very least , though , Persona 4 is a very deep and complex game . The visual style of Persona is very unique . There are some animated cutscenes which are just astounding to watch , but the art style in and of itself is worth noting as well . It doesn't take the Playstation 2 to its limits , but it's art over substance approach help it out a little . The environments are quite pretty to look at and the game , for the most part , runs pretty consistently . The battle animations are pretty solid and fluid . The music is also very stylish and fits perfectly with the rest of the game . The voice acting isn't the greatest but it isn't too annoying . The only thing that has the potential to hold Persona 4 back is the pace at which the story moves along . This is actually pretty easy to forgive , however , as you'll probably be too busy forming and improving your social status and battling to care too much that the story is sometimes moving a bit too slow . Other than that one small problem , Persona 4 is a good enough reason to bring out your Playstation 2 for one last JRPG experience . Persona 4 is a masterpiece that isn't to be missed by any JRPG lover .
    • 001 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) For many of you who enjoy the Megaten series , you may already be well aware of this series . Two years ago , Persona 3 broke onto the PS2 , creating an influx of newcomers and old school gamers alike . It provided a unique battle system , an intriguing dark story , a plethora amount of characters , and overall a great experience . Persona 4 is a standalone game , bringing many of the features , settings , and atmosphere from P3 . You are a silent protagonist who transfers into a rural area . Soon enough , you find something mysterious and dangerous . On one rainy night , you look into a television . Voices begin to ring , the storm seems to enrage , and the television flickers on and off . Reaching into the t.v , you are sucked into a whole new dimension . Interesting , is it not ? You'll find many mysteries held within the storyline . Unlike the city life in P3 , you're in a very small town named Inaba . The battle system holds its true colors . Although this time around , there are some tweaks . In P3 , you were unable to control your allies , as they were under the influence of the AI . All you could really do was give them certain commands . This time around though , you are able to control their every move . These actions include using items , attacking , and defending . The all-out-attack is still implemented and the battle mechanics overall are ALL the same . For those who have played P3 , Tartartus was a large dungeon with many different themes and atmospheres . Instead of that , the dungeons in this game are spread out . Giving a more variety in gameplay . Each dungeon is uniquely themed based on the storyline . One night , you may be going through a steamy spa , the next you may going through an abandoned mall . Many of the things you find in P3 and , to an extent P2 , are all found in Persona 4 . If you love the Persona series or you are a newcomer , pick this up , it's well worth your money . ( Side Note : For those who pre-ordered this game , the art-book is quite large ( 100 pages ) and provides a few major spoilers . It's highly recommended you wait to look at it later . Although , the presentation of the package is wonderful , giving both the artbook and soundtrack is awesome ) . Pros + Fast-paced action . + A great , long story . Develops quite fast . + Interesting concept . Different from many other RPGs . + Amazing soundtrack and character voices . It won't disappoint . + Different endings create a twist . + Characters have a lot of depth . + Eerie Atmosphere accompanied with Amazing Artstyle Cons - Long adventure may tire some people out . - Town is somewhat small ; not many places to explore .
    • 002 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) For many of you who enjoy the Megaten series , you may already be well aware of this series . Two years ago , Persona 3 broke onto the PS2 , creating an influx of newcomers and old school gamers alike . It provided a unique battle system , an intriguing dark story , a plethora amount of characters , and overall a great experience . Persona 4 is a standalone game , bringing many of the features , settings , and atmosphere from P3 . You are a silent protagonist who transfers into a rural area . Soon enough , you find something mysterious and dangerous . On one rainy night , you look into a television . Voices begin to ring , the storm seems to enrage , and the television flickers on and off . Reaching into the t.v , you are sucked into a whole new dimension . Interesting , is it not ? You'll find many mysteries held within the storyline . Unlike the city life in P3 , you're in a very small town named Inaba . The battle system holds its true colors . Although this time around , there are some tweaks . In P3 , you were unable to control your allies , as they were under the influence of the AI . All you could really do was give them certain commands . This time around though , you are able to control their every move . These actions include using items , attacking , and defending . The all-out-attack is still implemented and the battle mechanics overall are ALL the same . For those who have played P3 , Tartartus was a large dungeon with many different themes and atmospheres . Instead of that , the dungeons in this game are spread out . Giving a more variety in gameplay . Each dungeon is uniquely themed based on the storyline . One night , you may be going through a steamy spa , the next you may going through an abandoned mall . Many of the things you find in P3 and , to an extent P2 , are all found in Persona 4 . If you love the Persona series or you are a newcomer , pick this up , it's well worth your money . ( Side Note : For those who pre-ordered this game , the art-book is quite large ( 100 pages ) and provides a few major spoilers . It's highly recommended you wait to look at it later . Although , the presentation of the package is wonderful , giving both the artbook and soundtrack is awesome ) . Pros + Fast-paced action . + A great , long story . Develops quite fast . + Interesting concept . Different from many other RPGs . + Amazing soundtrack and character voices . It won't disappoint . + Different endings create a twist . + Characters have a lot of depth . + Eerie Atmosphere accompanied with Amazing Artstyle Cons - Long adventure may tire some people out . - Town is somewhat small ; not many places to explore .
    • 052 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) If u're into rpg's u'll luv this game . It has an interesting story line . The characters ' experiences actually make u take a look at serious concepts in life . The animation is great . It's battle system is alot like Persona 3 , but better . Sum 1 complained about graphics . . . . . Give me a break . It's a PS2 game not PS3 or 360 . Overall great game to have .
    • 053 4  If u're into rpg's u'll luv this game . It has an interesting story line . The characters ' experiences actually make u take a look at serious concepts in life . The animation is great . It's battle system is alot like Persona 3 , but better . Sum 1 complained about graphics . . . . . Give me a break . It's a PS2 game not PS3 or 360 . Overall great game to have .
    • 056 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) If you're a SMT fan , you'll love this . If you didn't like P3 you'll probably love this . It has the same great story telling but fixes most the problems that people complained about . BTW if you want to get the artbook you can still order that version from here : [ . . . ]
    • 057 4  If you're a SMT fan , you'll love this . If you didn't like P3 you'll probably love this . It has the same great story telling but fixes most the problems that people complained about . BTW if you want to get the artbook you can still order that version from here : [ . . . ]
    • 059 4  I'll tell righ now , i have never played an Rpg this good.And i'll tell you i been around lots of rpgs ( ffx , ffx12 , dragon quest , xenosaga , kingdom hearts , star ocean , etc ) This game is the sequel to my former favorite game of all time Persona 3 Fes.It improves and does everything better than P3 . The story is more exciting and interesting.Battles are much more refined with an ability of having your teammate take a bloew for you that might otherwise kill you.Graphics slightly imrpove on P3 . The town is interesting to explore.The music is wonderful , best in game music ever.The Characters are much more down to earth then P3 i think.I mean these are people that are relateable to people in real life.If your a fan of Rpg's you must get this.In fact if your a fan of rpgs at all it's a requirement you get this.You won't be disapointed .
    • 067 4  Pros : + Incredibly deep storyline + Well recognized art style + Very well written story + Fairly good voice acting + Great soundtrack + Improvements in the battle system are welcome + All around absorbing gameplay Cons : - Sometimes you'll feel the pacing needs work The market for JRPGs is pretty crowded when it comes to the Playstation 2 . There are a multitude to choose from . If you must pick up one JRPG for your Playstation 2 , however , it should be Persona 4 . Just when it seems like we should send the Playstation 2 off , along comes a game that makes it worth playing again . The Persona games , in particular , are known for their incredibly absorbing and mature storylines . This one plays out a lot like a murder mystery that you and your allies must solve . It begins fairly slowly but it's a lot more complex than simply trying to solve murders and mysterious disappearances . This isn't your typical JRPG . It's a pretty dark game with some heavy themes . But for the most part the presentation is very well done . It takes a moment to really take off and get going , but when it does you'll find it to be like a ride you never want to end . It's a deep and enticing story filled with rich characters . The dialog is well written and has its own charms to help Persona 4 stand out as easily one of the best RPGs ever made . Part of solving things is getting yourself into the Midnight Channel . Your characters will have to go into the Midnight Channel and rescue missing people . You'll have to be weary , though . As changes in the weather can have a pretty big impact on things . You must go into the Midnight Channel and save someone before the fog comes or else they will succumb to death . At its core , Persona 4 plays very similar to Persona 3 . You'll go roaming around dungeons that are swarming with enemies . Battles are contact based , but you'll find yourself wanting to battle . It's surprisingly addictive to do so . The battle system itself is pretty easy to learn as it's very straightforward . If you've played Persona 3 it isn't really that different . One of the biggest problems with Persona 3 was the inability to control other party members in combat . This resulted in some of them doing things that could potentially do more harm to you in the long run than help . You can actually control everything that goes in in battle in Persona 4 . Persona 4 also isn't really a hard game . You might have trouble with bosses but for the most part it's a lot easier to plow through than the previous installment . Of course , you're not always spending time in the Midnight Channel . You have a life to lead outside of that as a student , and that's fairly important as well . This helps to really flesh out Persona 4 ' s character development as you have to also be a student . Yet this plays a very large part in the game . As a student you have stats that are helpful in forging other relationships with characters . You'll want to improve your social status as well . It can have plenty of benefits to you in combat . The only real problem with the student life mechanic has more to do with the pacing of the game itself . Persona 4 is a very absorbing and breathtaking story , but there are times when you wish it would speed up or pace a little faster . As much as living the student life can be interesting it isn't nearly as rewarding as the Midnight Channel . At the very least , though , Persona 4 is a very deep and complex game . The visual style of Persona is very unique . There are some animated cutscenes which are just astounding to watch , but the art style in and of itself is worth noting as well . It doesn't take the Playstation 2 to its limits , but it's art over substance approach help it out a little . The environments are quite pretty to look at and the game , for the most part , runs pretty consistently . The battle animations are pretty solid and fluid . The music is also very stylish and fits perfectly with the rest of the game . The voice acting isn't the greatest but it isn't too annoying . The only thing that has the potential to hold Persona 4 back is the pace at which the story moves along . This is actually pretty easy to forgive , however , as you'll probably be too busy forming and improving your social status and battling to care too much that the story is sometimes moving a bit too slow . Other than that one small problem , Persona 4 is a good enough reason to bring out your Playstation 2 for one last JRPG experience . Persona 4 is a masterpiece that isn't to be missed by any JRPG lover .
    • 076 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Before i do this , just because this game is a JRPG , doesn't mean that it sucks . Like Final Fantasy . Now the order i received from an amazon seller was screwed up , so i got another from Goozex , which was fine . The gameplay in this RPG is near perfect , a problem is you can keep on spamming the 1 More option , but that makes battles shorter , so it isnt a hassle . The story is well done , and during one part of the game , you have to decide on some choices carefully if you don't want the bad ending , and its easy to mess up . Sound and soundtrack is good . Since this is part of the Shin Megami Tensei series , you'll be surprised it has TWO good endings . The characters stories during their S-Links are extremely well done and makes them a bit human , not just another character you can use an dispose of . The villians purpose is partially based on hints of nihilism , due to the want in human's hearts ( but their views can be altered by you and two other characters choices in the game . ) and they aren't Nietzsche Wannabes . Final Line : Great game , but may be too optimistic . And if optimism is too much for you , get Persona 3 , SMT III : Nocturne , or any other addition of the SMT series .
    • 077 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Before i do this , just because this game is a JRPG , doesn't mean that it sucks . Like Final Fantasy . Now the order i received from an amazon seller was screwed up , so i got another from Goozex , which was fine . The gameplay in this RPG is near perfect , a problem is you can keep on spamming the 1 More option , but that makes battles shorter , so it isnt a hassle . The story is well done , and during one part of the game , you have to decide on some choices carefully if you don't want the bad ending , and its easy to mess up . Sound and soundtrack is good . Since this is part of the Shin Megami Tensei series , you'll be surprised it has TWO good endings . The characters stories during their S-Links are extremely well done and makes them a bit human , not just another character you can use an dispose of . The villians purpose is partially based on hints of nihilism , due to the want in human's hearts ( but their views can be altered by you and two other characters choices in the game . ) and they aren't Nietzsche Wannabes . Final Line : Great game , but may be too optimistic . And if optimism is too much for you , get Persona 3 , SMT III : Nocturne , or any other addition of the SMT series .
    • 090 4  After waiting an eternity for this game I can say I am glad I waited . Persona 4 is a fantastic game that gets you hooked right from the start . It's an RPG that has a close to home feeling to it , since You are a high school student and have to build relationships with friends and what not . The story is a bit weird but here it is : You are a high school student who discovers that on any rainy day , at exactly midnight you can hear murders happening . The interesting part ? The murders happen inside another dimension , only accessible by walking through your TV . After entering the alternate dimension , you must traverse a randomly generated dungeon fighting random bad guys until you reach the end for a final showdown . You can take two partners and on top of that helpers called Persona . The battles are final fantasy style and turn based . There's also an intricate Persona Fusion system . Pick two or more Persona and they will , more than likely , Fuse to make a new , more powerful Persona . You won't be fighting bad guys all the time though . You also have to go to school and make friends and attend classes . Building strong relationships is just as important as saving people from becoming murder victims . You must be committed to going to school from Monday through Saturday and every Night going and saving the next victim in the alternate dimension . There's some stodgy camera work in the dungeons obscuring your view at points but this is very minor . On Sundays in the game , you can do what ever you want until midnight , then it's back to the alternate dimension for you . The game provides a decent challenge , but nothing so difficult that you'll want to bash the TV into a wall and snap the game disk in half . The game does take commitment and without it you can't thoroughly enjoy the game . All I can say at this point to summarize this review is BUY IT RIGHT NOW ! ! !
    • 149 4  This game is called Persona 4 . If you never played it , don't . There are very controversial themes that a proper Christian family wouldn't approve of ; some of these being talking teddy bears , children in public schools , and an obsession with television .

  • 097 4  I Loved the game and the sound track , but in the end it came a very close 2nd to Persona 3 . The story line was great but I wish they had done away with the whole silent protaginist thing . I mean he's the hero of the story , make him say something ! ! ! Also when your doing the LINKS its frustrating as hell since you have to save just before in case they don't go up at all and you end up wasting your day . Also , I wish you could get more diverse with the romance in the game . I mean by the end of the game you choose a girlfriend and then nothing really happens to change the mechanics of the game or the scences that follow . it should be alot earlier , also considering all the gay themes it would have been funny if you could have picked guys for romance too , at least in my opinion .
    • 075 4  Great game . Recommended . Although if your not a fan of Shin Megami Tensei games this may turn you off . Otherwise buy before it runs out and you have to get it on ebay for really expensive .
    • 104 4  This game is a good buy . Story is nicely done , gameplay and soundtrack are great , and like the relatonship aspect of it too .
    • 106 4  The entire game oozes style , the characters are likeable , the dual-gameplay of RPG-style fighting and a high school simulator works crazy well together , and it has a great soundtrack . For RPG fans this game is a must buy .
    • 116 4  Wow ! I love this game ! I have never played the persona series before . I rented it first so see if I liked it and I returned it the next day went to game stop and bought it ! I have been playing when I get home for work . I love it ! Anybody above the ages of 13 can get into . Go buy it !
    • 144 4  Great game . I like the way the changed the persona came around . I enjoy this game alot and there are alot of ways to build up your levels .
    • 153 4  Heard a lot of good things about this game , but when starting it up , it takes too long for you to be in control of the main character . And when you do get control , it is only for like 5 minutes , then you loose it again . Could not get into story , overall , I wish I did not buy this .

  • Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) This game will mostly appeal to those who enjoy the MegaTen series . As a sequel , it's game-play is almost just like it's predecessors , which is a good thing for those who don't like major changes when it comes to sequels . You start off as a high school student ( in the manga his name is Souji Seta ) who just transferred from the big city to a small town called Inaba , due to his parents partaking in oversea jobs , thus forcing him to move in with his uncle and younger cousin , Kojima and Nanako . Later on , a heavy fog sets in the area of Inaba and during one of your classes , your school is dismissed due to an emergency , which ends up being mysterious murder of an announcer woman . Her body was discovered nearby , mutilated and hanging on a TV antenna on the roof of someone's house ( Must suck to be the owner of the house ) . The police investigators are at a lost as they can't seem to figure out how she died or if someone had murdered her , this is because her death was most likely done by a supernatural cause , but the police won't believe that . . They never do . But they gradually run into more murder / homicide cases and all of them show up when it's foggy out . Are these cases somehow related with the mysterious fog ? . . . Maybe . The cases are also somehow related to Television , as a rumor about watching the TV with the screen blank at mid-night on a rainy day , a person will show up on screen ( This is called the Midnight Channel ) , but you'll get more info on that when you actually play the game . This also has some sort of connection to the murders . You'll eventually get to the good stuff when you suddenly start to awake to your Persona ( A living entity inside you , or your other self which is a being that basically gives you all your powers in the game . Sadly you don't get to have an Evoker this time , this means no more shooting yourself in the head with a toy gun . Instead , you ' ' ll be breaking Tarot cards that appear out of no where . . ) and at one point you'll have the ability to strangely go into your TV ( Or any TV , but you'll only be using one through out the entire game ) . On the other side of the TV is an entirely different world infested with monster-like creatures called Shadows ( Brings back memories of Tartarus from PE3 ) and it's basically up to you and your friends to explore the TV world and find any ways to solve the murder cases and prevent anymore people from dying mysteriously . Anyways , for game-play : Battles : You encounter battles the same way as always , as you wander around the TV world there are various forms of shadows lurking about . Either you get to the shadow blob things first by giving them a good whack to the head with whatever weapon you have , or they get you ( this effects being ambushed or having the upper hand with a preemptive attack . ) Battles are fought basically the same as in PE3 . For those who aren't familiar with previous Persona titles , it's basically turn-based , you have your attack , guard , and special skills . You still have your Rush and all that good stuff , nothing different , also ( I don't remember if you can do this or not in PE3 since I never tried until now ) you can chose your party to act on their own ( via computer ) or you can chose to manually control them , but you'll have to switch battle tactics in order to do that , the default party tactics are always on computer and it's a big help to switch them to manual since they aren't exactly your smartest fighters . It's highly suggested that you take your time and try to NOT avoid battles , since if you're not at a good enough level by the time your get ahead in the game and face a boss , you'll be sorry . ) ' : If you balance out your leveling the game should flow smoothly , but being lazy will end up leaving you frustrated . The battles may get a little repetitive , but all RPGs are like that . Once you get the hang of things ( Like getting the enemy's weaknesses down and etc , which will make battles come out easy as pie ) it'll eventually grow on you . One little nice adjustment in battles is that when you hit an enemy with it's weakness and knock it down ( like a fire element attack if it's weak against fire ) , and you hit it AGAIN with it's weakness , it'll stun the enemy or make them dizzy , so basically the first weakness strike will knock them down and the second will make them dizzy . Unlike in the previous game , if you hit them with their weakness it'll knock them down , but if you hit them again it'll wake them up out of their stunned / knock-down state . . . which made no sense whatsoever . Character Interactivity : Okay here , you actually have to interact with your friends and family ( being a angsty loner won't get you anywhere ! ) . Most interactivity will launch character sequences and you get to see your character's relationship with other people develop over time ( the more , the better , especially since it effects how strong your Persona is ) . You have these things called social links , which is basically a link or special bond to certain people you interact with . When you converse or hang out with your friends , saying the right things or making the right choices will make them like your more , thus getting enough points for that , you can level-up these social links which will make your Personas stronger . The social links are exactly the same as the ones in PE3 , the only real difference is that every time you level-up a social link , it doesn't give you this big dramatic sequence where your Persona talks to you in your head and tells you that your bond with x Arcana has strengthened and blah blah blah . . Instead this level-up image with the corresponding Tarot card pops up and says LEVEL UP along with a bar that shows you how much you've leveled that social link until it's maxed out . Also , leveling your social links with party-members will get them to learn new passive abilities like helping you out during battle by snapping you out of rage , or taking a fatal blown for you if your character's about to take a lethal hit . Another new addition is that when you max out social links with your party members , their Persona gets reborn into another Persona . Kind of like a big upgrade . Music and Sound : . . It's actually pretty good ! I already have a lot of the tracks stuck in my head as most of them are pretty catchy . Most voices are bearable , if not good . I'm personally fond of the main character's voice and his friend , Yosuke , great voice actors . ( Voiced by Yuri L . AND Johnny B . , those guys voiced a TON of games together . . . Tales of The Abyss ( Luke and Guy ) and . Hack / / G.U ( Haseo and Kuhn ) anyone ? Johnny's also voiced Nero from DMC4 and Ichigo from Bleach lol . ) Graphics : The graphics have improved compared to the previous game , plus there seems to be a lot more character animation while you're in 3D and it's fun to watch . You still have your awesome 2D anime cut scenes , and those always look good . Set-Backs ? : The only thing major here is that when you go into the TV to Save people , you have to save them before a fog comes ( The weather channel on TV will be a big help , so be sure to check every now and then ) else you'll get a Game Over and will have to start over from the week prior . Of course , they give you PLENTY of time , and it's easy to tell when the fog comes because they only come after 2 - 3 or days of rain . Other Parts Of Gameplay : You also have other stats in the game you can raise , which are very essential in gaining new acquaintances and earning your social links . This time your set of stats are Knowledge , Diligence , Understanding , Courage , and Expression . You can raise any of these through all sorts methods , such as getting the right answers in class , studying , or participating in part-time jobs ( which can also earn you money ) . Of course , a lot of cases in the game , you'll need to use your brain . There are times where you'll have to think like a detective and break everything down into the facts ( I personally thought it was fun , especially when you get it right ! ) . Also , the questions you get asked in class are mostly trivial , some or most , you may have absolutely no idea what the answers are as the questions are very difficult but some are easy ( I'm in highschool so . . lol ) , but all of the questions are REAL , not a bunch of bologna they threw together just to make you mad . You might have to result to using the internet to find your answers , of course , you'll learn something new afterwards ( I learned . . A lot of things . Like , in Japan , a robber would most likely break into your house at 8 in the morning or that the Egyptians used eyeliner as a type of repelant . . ) Other than that , the game is overall , entertaining ( a lot of the scenes in the game are amusing ) of course everyone has their different tastes in games . I'd suggest this game to any MegaTen fan or RPG gamer . Those who are more for action RPGs might not like this game since this game takes a lot of patience and strategy . Plus they talk A LOT ( lots of reading , but it's not wise to skim through them . )
    • 026 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) This game will mostly appeal to those who enjoy the MegaTen series . As a sequel , it's game-play is almost just like it's predecessors , which is a good thing for those who don't like major changes when it comes to sequels . You start off as a high school student ( in the manga his name is Souji Seta ) who just transferred from the big city to a small town called Inaba , due to his parents partaking in oversea jobs , thus forcing him to move in with his uncle and younger cousin , Kojima and Nanako . Later on , a heavy fog sets in the area of Inaba and during one of your classes , your school is dismissed due to an emergency , which ends up being mysterious murder of an announcer woman . Her body was discovered nearby , mutilated and hanging on a TV antenna on the roof of someone's house ( Must suck to be the owner of the house ) . The police investigators are at a lost as they can't seem to figure out how she died or if someone had murdered her , this is because her death was most likely done by a supernatural cause , but the police won't believe that . . They never do . But they gradually run into more murder / homicide cases and all of them show up when it's foggy out . Are these cases somehow related with the mysterious fog ? . . . Maybe . The cases are also somehow related to Television , as a rumor about watching the TV with the screen blank at mid-night on a rainy day , a person will show up on screen ( This is called the Midnight Channel ) , but you'll get more info on that when you actually play the game . This also has some sort of connection to the murders . You'll eventually get to the good stuff when you suddenly start to awake to your Persona ( A living entity inside you , or your other self which is a being that basically gives you all your powers in the game . Sadly you don't get to have an Evoker this time , this means no more shooting yourself in the head with a toy gun . Instead , you ' ' ll be breaking Tarot cards that appear out of no where . . ) and at one point you'll have the ability to strangely go into your TV ( Or any TV , but you'll only be using one through out the entire game ) . On the other side of the TV is an entirely different world infested with monster-like creatures called Shadows ( Brings back memories of Tartarus from PE3 ) and it's basically up to you and your friends to explore the TV world and find any ways to solve the murder cases and prevent anymore people from dying mysteriously . Anyways , for game-play : Battles : You encounter battles the same way as always , as you wander around the TV world there are various forms of shadows lurking about . Either you get to the shadow blob things first by giving them a good whack to the head with whatever weapon you have , or they get you ( this effects being ambushed or having the upper hand with a preemptive attack . ) Battles are fought basically the same as in PE3 . For those who aren't familiar with previous Persona titles , it's basically turn-based , you have your attack , guard , and special skills . You still have your Rush and all that good stuff , nothing different , also ( I don't remember if you can do this or not in PE3 since I never tried until now ) you can chose your party to act on their own ( via computer ) or you can chose to manually control them , but you'll have to switch battle tactics in order to do that , the default party tactics are always on computer and it's a big help to switch them to manual since they aren't exactly your smartest fighters . It's highly suggested that you take your time and try to NOT avoid battles , since if you're not at a good enough level by the time your get ahead in the game and face a boss , you'll be sorry . ) ' : If you balance out your leveling the game should flow smoothly , but being lazy will end up leaving you frustrated . The battles may get a little repetitive , but all RPGs are like that . Once you get the hang of things ( Like getting the enemy's weaknesses down and etc , which will make battles come out easy as pie ) it'll eventually grow on you . One little nice adjustment in battles is that when you hit an enemy with it's weakness and knock it down ( like a fire element attack if it's weak against fire ) , and you hit it AGAIN with it's weakness , it'll stun the enemy or make them dizzy , so basically the first weakness strike will knock them down and the second will make them dizzy . Unlike in the previous game , if you hit them with their weakness it'll knock them down , but if you hit them again it'll wake them up out of their stunned / knock-down state . . . which made no sense whatsoever . Character Interactivity : Okay here , you actually have to interact with your friends and family ( being a angsty loner won't get you anywhere ! ) . Most interactivity will launch character sequences and you get to see your character's relationship with other people develop over time ( the more , the better , especially since it effects how strong your Persona is ) . You have these things called social links , which is basically a link or special bond to certain people you interact with . When you converse or hang out with your friends , saying the right things or making the right choices will make them like your more , thus getting enough points for that , you can level-up these social links which will make your Personas stronger . The social links are exactly the same as the ones in PE3 , the only real difference is that every time you level-up a social link , it doesn't give you this big dramatic sequence where your Persona talks to you in your head and tells you that your bond with x Arcana has strengthened and blah blah blah . . Instead this level-up image with the corresponding Tarot card pops up and says LEVEL UP along with a bar that shows you how much you've leveled that social link until it's maxed out . Also , leveling your social links with party-members will get them to learn new passive abilities like helping you out during battle by snapping you out of rage , or taking a fatal blown for you if your character's about to take a lethal hit . Another new addition is that when you max out social links with your party members , their Persona gets reborn into another Persona . Kind of like a big upgrade . Music and Sound : . . It's actually pretty good ! I already have a lot of the tracks stuck in my head as most of them are pretty catchy . Most voices are bearable , if not good . I'm personally fond of the main character's voice and his friend , Yosuke , great voice actors . ( Voiced by Yuri L . AND Johnny B . , those guys voiced a TON of games together . . . Tales of The Abyss ( Luke and Guy ) and . Hack / / G.U ( Haseo and Kuhn ) anyone ? Johnny's also voiced Nero from DMC4 and Ichigo from Bleach lol . ) Graphics : The graphics have improved compared to the previous game , plus there seems to be a lot more character animation while you're in 3D and it's fun to watch . You still have your awesome 2D anime cut scenes , and those always look good . Set-Backs ? : The only thing major here is that when you go into the TV to Save people , you have to save them before a fog comes ( The weather channel on TV will be a big help , so be sure to check every now and then ) else you'll get a Game Over and will have to start over from the week prior . Of course , they give you PLENTY of time , and it's easy to tell when the fog comes because they only come after 2 - 3 or days of rain . Other Parts Of Gameplay : You also have other stats in the game you can raise , which are very essential in gaining new acquaintances and earning your social links . This time your set of stats are Knowledge , Diligence , Understanding , Courage , and Expression . You can raise any of these through all sorts methods , such as getting the right answers in class , studying , or participating in part-time jobs ( which can also earn you money ) . Of course , a lot of cases in the game , you'll need to use your brain . There are times where you'll have to think like a detective and break everything down into the facts ( I personally thought it was fun , especially when you get it right ! ) . Also , the questions you get asked in class are mostly trivial , some or most , you may have absolutely no idea what the answers are as the questions are very difficult but some are easy ( I'm in highschool so . . lol ) , but all of the questions are REAL , not a bunch of bologna they threw together just to make you mad . You might have to result to using the internet to find your answers , of course , you'll learn something new afterwards ( I learned . . A lot of things . Like , in Japan , a robber would most likely break into your house at 8 in the morning or that the Egyptians used eyeliner as a type of repelant . . ) Other than that , the game is overall , entertaining ( a lot of the scenes in the game are amusing ) of course everyone has their different tastes in games . I'd suggest this game to any MegaTen fan or RPG gamer . Those who are more for action RPGs might not like this game since this game takes a lot of patience and strategy . Plus they talk A LOT ( lots of reading , but it's not wise to skim through them . )
    • 028 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Okay , to be honest , I bought this game on a whim-and a HUGE one at that . I have little money to throw around , so whenever I can , I search online for a monthly purchase , considering the amount I'm given . Tired of playing the same games over and over , I decided to try amazon and look for recommendations . I'm big on RPG's by the way , as well as Japanese culture . And what do you know ? I found P4 of course ! I checked out the product online for reviews , wondering if it was worth my money . After playing it , I've confirmed one thing : IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT . Trendy , and urban , along with a varying cast of characters brought out my love for the Japanese culture once again . I've always wanted to play a dating sim , and though P4 isn't exactly one , it is close to it ( if you take out the fighting element that is ) . Mystery , comedy , hinted at and subtle romance-I'd recommend this game for any RPG lover looking for something new to play aside from the usual FF series or Tales of . . . ( which I love as well ) , but if you're not big on J-culture like I am , then that's another story .
    • 029 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Okay , to be honest , I bought this game on a whim-and a HUGE one at that . I have little money to throw around , so whenever I can , I search online for a monthly purchase , considering the amount I'm given . Tired of playing the same games over and over , I decided to try amazon and look for recommendations . I'm big on RPG's by the way , as well as Japanese culture . And what do you know ? I found P4 of course ! I checked out the product online for reviews , wondering if it was worth my money . After playing it , I've confirmed one thing : IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT . Trendy , and urban , along with a varying cast of characters brought out my love for the Japanese culture once again . I've always wanted to play a dating sim , and though P4 isn't exactly one , it is close to it ( if you take out the fighting element that is ) . Mystery , comedy , hinted at and subtle romance-I'd recommend this game for any RPG lover looking for something new to play aside from the usual FF series or Tales of . . . ( which I love as well ) , but if you're not big on J-culture like I am , then that's another story .
    • 138 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Okay , maybe I am too early , but Persona 4 is similar to P3 , almost same game . So what is the point in giving it such a praise ? More humour , more parables and mature social critics in the game . Flaws from P3 are corrected : levels and dungeons are not so repetitive , there is more to do considering clubs and friends , and bosses are no pushovers for sure ; some boss battles are even sooo time consuming . I liked the game so far and I spent about 25 hours . See you back when I complete game : ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - AFTER COMPLETING GAME - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I am really serious , this game story is so great and characterisation so great that I put it among one of best movies , mangas , animes , books and whatever you can imagine . Story rocks , characters are deep , voice acting is so good and really well related to character's personality . SO MUCH HUMOUR . I thought loosing female sorcerer in FF VII was most touching moment in video games until now . Only flaw is leveling up which can take a lot of time , but not so much as , for instance Digital Devil or Nocturne . MUST READ ADVICE : HAVE SOMEONE HAVE DEKAJA AT THE END ( removing enemy's bonuses like att up and so ) HOW I BEAT GAME ( minor spoilers ) : Up untill november , I rotated people in my party . In October ( I think ) , I got a party made of favorite characters and stopped changing team . You can do it even earlier . I strongly recommend Yukiko in party since she is best healer . Considering main character , read about how personas develop from some FAQ or guide . Level up personas at the beginning of the game and after , when social links are high , fuse them into personas which will get high levels and spells after very creation . My other two members were Teddie and Yosuke . Yosuke has Dekaja and Brave Blade , both of which are GREAT for last boss . DEKAJA IS IMPORTANT . I leveled up Yukiko and main hero to level 76 and others to 74 , last spell that is . It is nice to have lot of macca leafs , esp if you want to use offensive spells and not waste SP on magic like Mediarahan unless you have to . Use Yosuke's Brave Blade , since it spends HP which is replenishable , unlike SP . Friend of mine used Naoto and Kanji , esp Kanji's physicals .
    • 139 4  Okay , maybe I am too early , but Persona 4 is similar to P3 , almost same game . So what is the point in giving it such a praise ? More humour , more parables and mature social critics in the game . Flaws from P3 are corrected : levels and dungeons are not so repetitive , there is more to do considering clubs and friends , and bosses are no pushovers for sure ; some boss battles are even sooo time consuming . I liked the game so far and I spent about 25 hours . See you back when I complete game : ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - AFTER COMPLETING GAME - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I am really serious , this game story is so great and characterisation so great that I put it among one of best movies , mangas , animes , books and whatever you can imagine . Story rocks , characters are deep , voice acting is so good and really well related to character's personality . SO MUCH HUMOUR . I thought loosing female sorcerer in FF VII was most touching moment in video games until now . Only flaw is leveling up which can take a lot of time , but not so much as , for instance Digital Devil or Nocturne . MUST READ ADVICE : HAVE SOMEONE HAVE DEKAJA AT THE END ( removing enemy's bonuses like att up and so ) HOW I BEAT GAME ( minor spoilers ) : Up untill november , I rotated people in my party . In October ( I think ) , I got a party made of favorite characters and stopped changing team . You can do it even earlier . I strongly recommend Yukiko in party since she is best healer . Considering main character , read about how personas develop from some FAQ or guide . Level up personas at the beginning of the game and after , when social links are high , fuse them into personas which will get high levels and spells after very creation . My other two members were Teddie and Yosuke . Yosuke has Dekaja and Brave Blade , both of which are GREAT for last boss . DEKAJA IS IMPORTANT . I leveled up Yukiko and main hero to level 76 and others to 74 , last spell that is . It is nice to have lot of macca leafs , esp if you want to use offensive spells and not waste SP on magic like Mediarahan unless you have to . Use Yosuke's Brave Blade , since it spends HP which is replenishable , unlike SP . Friend of mine used Naoto and Kanji , esp Kanji's physicals .
    • 150 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS TIME AROUND IS THAT PERSONA 4 IS WAY WAY FUN AND GOOD . THIS IS BETTER THEN PERSONA 3 BECAUSE THE STORY IN PART 4 WILL HAVE YOU SO HOOK D YOU WOULD'NT NOT WANT TO GET OFF . PERSONA 3 WAS COOL AS WELL BUT IT HAD YOU FALL ASLEEP AT TIMES AND IT SEEMED STRESSFUL TO MAINTAIN THOUGH THE GAME AS WELL . AS FOR PERSONA 4 IT TAKES ABOUT 3hrs TO REALLY GET THANGS POPIN IN THE GAME IT STARTS OFF REALLY SLOW PACEDED AS WELL . PEOPLE WHO LOVE PERSONA SERIES WILL LOVE THIS ONE THE 4th ALOT TRUST ME BUY IT .

  • Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Warning : May contain very subtle minor spoilers I adored Persona 3 . I owned both the original P3 and even got Fes so if you called me fan boy in this regard I'd nod vigorously . Normally it is the case of a fan to say Oh , nothing can beat my favorite game ! but in the case of Persona 4 I have to kick my elitist pride in the private area and accept that p4 is better than p3 in just about every way . First thing I noticed is these seem like real kids . Chie is a tom-boy who has trouble catching the attention of guys whereas her friend Yuki is gorgeous yet is in a situation in which she feels as if her life is planned out for her . Yosuke is the typical class clown in some regards but in others he is very steadfast and devoted . Indeed all your friends have more than one layer and they struggle with many issues including feeling trapped into roles they do not want or questioning their own sexuality . Even your character the silent protagonist has to deal with a work-a-holic uncle that is apart of the police force while having to help his adorable cousin Nanako by doing activities with her so she will not spend most of her days simply making breakfast , doing laundry , and singing the town mall's theme song . While Persona 3 ' s characters were endearing they seemed a bit shallow . None of them had to confront skeletons such as Am I gay ? or I know that when I'm up on that stage singing these songs everyone sees me as an easy slut . Whereas before shadows were just aimless monsters in Persona 4 they even manifest as darker psyches of the main characters . They must be defeated than embraced for each protagonist to awaken to their inner self . This approach makes everything a lot more personal and even the dungeons are varied representing each person trapped in the other-world instead of being monotonous floors in the same tower . Keys were also added thus certain doors or chests cannot be opened without them . One thing I'll confess is Persona 4 is harder . I got laid to waste fighting Kanji's sensitive brute shadow and before that Yuki's caged Phoenix shadow and the Contrary King like-wise dished up plenty of bruises . This time your tactics have to be really well thought out . Fortunately unlike in Persona 3 you CAN manipulate the actions of all your characters in persona 4 . Just go into your tactics menu and place them under your direct control . The music is what you expect of Persona and is a mix of techno , emotional J-pop , and a bare minimum of heavier tracks . As with the other game it does well for the setting . Concerning the environments they are quite limited just like P3 however I admit they are prettier and have a rustic charm . Unlike before Inaba is truly a small town instead of a beach front city . You will see odd quirky things like a giant toad statue in the general store , a crafty fox that guards an abandoned shrine , an actual true black-smith building adorned with ancient looking armor , and there is even a fishing hole in the flood plains . While p4 may not be much bigger it did put more articulate work into the smaller details . All I can say about social links is they are more complex . Whereas before you only had to up 3 stats now there are at least 5 . Diligence Expression and Understanding are brand new and now instead of only helping relationships with people in the mundane world they even add actions to your friends whom go into combat with you . As expected you go to school , take tests , celebrate holidays , and must balance all of that with trying to solve a murder mystery related to the paranormal . The only direct change is weather is an indicator of what happens instead of moon cycles . Indeed the oppressive fog , symbolical metaphors for people entering the other world , and more serious atmosphere made me think briefly of Silent Hill . I'm not saying P4 is an RPG trying to be a survival horror game but it does deal with disturbing imagery and topics P3 more or less tip-toed around . Even the beautiful nurse looked like an older Alessa Gillespie but its ' safe to say these things are coincidental . Japan has often used themes of duality and other worlds in their culture so eventually anyone is going to see parallels and similarities in their works of fiction . The only thing I got confused about is some characters in P4 look like characters in P3 . Dojima's partner Adachi looks and sounds exactly like Junpei . It would have been better if the designers just admitted Yeah this is Junpei when he got older and decided to be in law enforcement but in truth he is his own separate person . Naoto looks eerily similar to the main silent protagonist in P3 but as his ( ? ) truths become known that theory is completely debunked . I know I've neglected poor Teddy the friendly bear mascot that helps you on the other side of the television as well as a few other key things but I hope I painted you an informative picture of what P4 has to offer you . It is a wonderful game even if we have seen these same graphics and many of these same mechanics in P3 . It is similar to its ' predecessor in all the right ways and gives you just enough innovation to show you Atlus cares about the contentment of its ' fan base . Pros + Wonderful characters you get to truly care about + More complexity added to the social link system . + Dungeons seem less repetitive and are metaphors for each character's struggles making their exploration more interesting . Shadows likewise have more of a purpose . + A story line that trumps and out-shines P3 ' s in every way . In case you are wondering that is hard to do . + Taking away evokers and metaphoric suicides which were unnecessary and giving the protagonists traditional cards similar to the classic Persona games . + Glowing butter-fly save points ! No its ' not as great as having Philimon back , but it is a nice nostalgic nod to Persona 1 - 2 . + As a town Inaba has more charm and neat little details than your residence in P3 . + Kids forced to deal with real issues other games are too squeamish to contend with . + The oppressive fog and murder mystery motif makes P4 a lot more mature and intriguing than P3 . + Direct control of ALL characters . Cons - Cheap one-hit bosses even near the beginning of the game . Leveling up does help but grinding can get lack luster after awhile . - You feel rushed to save people from the TV world because the next time there is fog in your world that person dies and it is an automatic game over . You are given a generous stretch of time between foggy days but that does not take away the pressure of a ticking clock . - Some character designs look too similar to P3 designs . This can lead to confusion and false assumptions if you are a true fan . - There are not as many ways to leave dungeons or as many mid-way points . Stock up on items you need often . This is no cat-walk . - You have less time to do things in P4 . in P3 you could go out during the evening but in P3 once you return home that is it . Certain night shift jobs and your work table occasionally offer more to do , but I miss being able to go to other areas after hours such as the nightclub in P3 . As a side note I'll add I sincerely hope Atlus makes P5 . A game like this on a next gen system with even more ways to socialize , bigger environments , more Persona fusions , and a longer life-simulation aspect balanced with fascinating dungeons would give big companies like squareEnix a run for their money .
    • 003 4  For many of you who enjoy the Megaten series , you may already be well aware of this series . Two years ago , Persona 3 broke onto the PS2 , creating an influx of newcomers and old school gamers alike . It provided a unique battle system , an intriguing dark story , a plethora amount of characters , and overall a great experience . Persona 4 is a standalone game , bringing many of the features , settings , and atmosphere from P3 . You are a silent protagonist who transfers into a rural area . Soon enough , you find something mysterious and dangerous . On one rainy night , you look into a television . Voices begin to ring , the storm seems to enrage , and the television flickers on and off . Reaching into the t.v , you are sucked into a whole new dimension . Interesting , is it not ? You'll find many mysteries held within the storyline . Unlike the city life in P3 , you're in a very small town named Inaba . The battle system holds its true colors . Although this time around , there are some tweaks . In P3 , you were unable to control your allies , as they were under the influence of the AI . All you could really do was give them certain commands . This time around though , you are able to control their every move . These actions include using items , attacking , and defending . The all-out-attack is still implemented and the battle mechanics overall are ALL the same . For those who have played P3 , Tartartus was a large dungeon with many different themes and atmospheres . Instead of that , the dungeons in this game are spread out . Giving a more variety in gameplay . Each dungeon is uniquely themed based on the storyline . One night , you may be going through a steamy spa , the next you may going through an abandoned mall . Many of the things you find in P3 and , to an extent P2 , are all found in Persona 4 . If you love the Persona series or you are a newcomer , pick this up , it's well worth your money . ( Side Note : For those who pre-ordered this game , the art-book is quite large ( 100 pages ) and provides a few major spoilers . It's highly recommended you wait to look at it later . Although , the presentation of the package is wonderful , giving both the artbook and soundtrack is awesome ) . Pros + Fast-paced action . + A great , long story . Develops quite fast . + Interesting concept . Different from many other RPGs . + Amazing soundtrack and character voices . It won't disappoint . + Different endings create a twist . + Characters have a lot of depth . + Eerie Atmosphere accompanied with Amazing Artstyle Cons - Long adventure may tire some people out . - Town is somewhat small ; not many places to explore .
    • 004 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Sometimes , being a good girlfriend means sitting on the couch and watching him play a game or playing a game together . I'm a moderate gamer , the new controls are generally more complicated than I'm willing to commit to . He is a hard core gamer . Some games are easier to watch than others , and some are easier to play . This review is not for the hard core gamer . This review if for the girlfriend ( or boyfriend , who am I to judge ? ) that sits on the couch and watches . Persona 4 is a great girlfriend game . We jokingly refer to it as time to watch the anime . It's a single player game , so my involvement is limited to don't say that . . . say this or I don't think that's the right answer . . . . The characters are interesting and the game is very story driven . With the exception of battle days , which don't happen all that often , the game is actually almost entirely story . I won't get into the plot , but if you're a fan of anime , you will enjoy this game . The game play is intuitive and you will rarely find yourself at a loss wondering what you should do next . The Persona fusing is the most complicated thing about the game , and I usually check the laundry or load the dishwasher when it comes to that point in the game . There are many games that I have sat through in defeated resignation , this is not the case with Persona 4 . I'd find myself telling him that it's been 3 days , when are we going to play the game again ! I hate to admit it , but I think I had a little crush on Rise ! Great characters , great story , a great time overall .
    • 005 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Sometimes , being a good girlfriend means sitting on the couch and watching him play a game or playing a game together . I'm a moderate gamer , the new controls are generally more complicated than I'm willing to commit to . He is a hard core gamer . Some games are easier to watch than others , and some are easier to play . This review is not for the hard core gamer . This review if for the girlfriend ( or boyfriend , who am I to judge ? ) that sits on the couch and watches . Persona 4 is a great girlfriend game . We jokingly refer to it as time to watch the anime . It's a single player game , so my involvement is limited to don't say that . . . say this or I don't think that's the right answer . . . . The characters are interesting and the game is very story driven . With the exception of battle days , which don't happen all that often , the game is actually almost entirely story . I won't get into the plot , but if you're a fan of anime , you will enjoy this game . The game play is intuitive and you will rarely find yourself at a loss wondering what you should do next . The Persona fusing is the most complicated thing about the game , and I usually check the laundry or load the dishwasher when it comes to that point in the game . There are many games that I have sat through in defeated resignation , this is not the case with Persona 4 . I'd find myself telling him that it's been 3 days , when are we going to play the game again ! I hate to admit it , but I think I had a little crush on Rise ! Great characters , great story , a great time overall .
    • 006 4  Sometimes , being a good girlfriend means sitting on the couch and watching him play a game or playing a game together . I'm a moderate gamer , the new controls are generally more complicated than I'm willing to commit to . He is a hard core gamer . Some games are easier to watch than others , and some are easier to play . This review is not for the hard core gamer . This review if for the girlfriend ( or boyfriend , who am I to judge ? ) that sits on the couch and watches . Persona 4 is a great girlfriend game . We jokingly refer to it as time to watch the anime . It's a single player game , so my involvement is limited to don't say that . . . say this or I don't think that's the right answer . . . . The characters are interesting and the game is very story driven . With the exception of battle days , which don't happen all that often , the game is actually almost entirely story . I won't get into the plot , but if you're a fan of anime , you will enjoy this game . The game play is intuitive and you will rarely find yourself at a loss wondering what you should do next . The Persona fusing is the most complicated thing about the game , and I usually check the laundry or load the dishwasher when it comes to that point in the game . There are many games that I have sat through in defeated resignation , this is not the case with Persona 4 . I'd find myself telling him that it's been 3 days , when are we going to play the game again ! I hate to admit it , but I think I had a little crush on Rise ! Great characters , great story , a great time overall .
    • 007 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) For years I've been playing the same , mediocre RPGs . The names change , but nothing else seems to . The Shin Megami Tensei series , on the other hand , has been making widely original content from the beginning and hasn't looked back . I sit here and look at Persona 4 , and it's predecessor , Persona 3 , and I'm just amazed at the amount of content thrown into these games . The games are so deep , I've found myself easily playing 90 + hours , just on the first playthrough . However , I'll be starting my next playthrough soon , because I hadn't even begun to scratch the surface through that 90 hour journey . Social Links : One of the main things that makes the Persona series so spectacular is it's bizarre popularity system . You make friends . Have serious ( sometimes intimate ) relationships . Take tests . Become more popular if you get high scores on your tests . Get more friends . And these friendships are merely the tipping point of the game . These Social Links may seem to be pointless at first , even if they do provide some deep stories and hilarious commentary , however , once you cross over to the other world , you'll find that these mean more to you than you think . Now , remember a few minutes back , when I said it took my 90 hours to finish 1 game ? I didn't even get half of the Social Links . There are a freakin ton . Because you're ranked high socially with so and so , you're able to form stronger and more meaningful Personas , which in turn , will be the main decider in any battle you face . If you have a terrible Persona when facing a random battle , you're dead for sure . And then , just to add a bit more to the mix , as if P4 doesn't want to be like it's father , P3 ( which would be fine , if it were ) , it decides to ALSO make a difference in your own party members . Now , if you're incredibly close to Chie personally , she'll take deadly hits for you ; knock out enemies you're struggling with ; heal your status ailments . And not only that , but unlike P3 , you now have control of all 4 party members . Which makes things a tad easier : ) And by now , if you're still reading this , it probably sounds like these social links are the biggest amount of story this game will get . That's pretty incorrect , actually . These social links are only tiny side plots in this beautiful adventure . The main plot / theme of this game goes beyond the Social Links , and really makes a social commentary on our own world and society today . Then add the insanely odd style ( the art , the colors , the backgrounds , the music ) and it somehow manages to work perfectly with the path the own game goes down . Pure genius all around . AND it's on the ps2 . It's 40 bucks and it's better than almost any game out so far on the new generation consoles . Come on RPG fans . You need to get into this underrated series already .
    • 008 4  For years I've been playing the same , mediocre RPGs . The names change , but nothing else seems to . The Shin Megami Tensei series , on the other hand , has been making widely original content from the beginning and hasn't looked back . I sit here and look at Persona 4 , and it's predecessor , Persona 3 , and I'm just amazed at the amount of content thrown into these games . The games are so deep , I've found myself easily playing 90 + hours , just on the first playthrough . However , I'll be starting my next playthrough soon , because I hadn't even begun to scratch the surface through that 90 hour journey . Social Links : One of the main things that makes the Persona series so spectacular is it's bizarre popularity system . You make friends . Have serious ( sometimes intimate ) relationships . Take tests . Become more popular if you get high scores on your tests . Get more friends . And these friendships are merely the tipping point of the game . These Social Links may seem to be pointless at first , even if they do provide some deep stories and hilarious commentary , however , once you cross over to the other world , you'll find that these mean more to you than you think . Now , remember a few minutes back , when I said it took my 90 hours to finish 1 game ? I didn't even get half of the Social Links . There are a freakin ton . Because you're ranked high socially with so and so , you're able to form stronger and more meaningful Personas , which in turn , will be the main decider in any battle you face . If you have a terrible Persona when facing a random battle , you're dead for sure . And then , just to add a bit more to the mix , as if P4 doesn't want to be like it's father , P3 ( which would be fine , if it were ) , it decides to ALSO make a difference in your own party members . Now , if you're incredibly close to Chie personally , she'll take deadly hits for you ; knock out enemies you're struggling with ; heal your status ailments . And not only that , but unlike P3 , you now have control of all 4 party members . Which makes things a tad easier : ) And by now , if you're still reading this , it probably sounds like these social links are the biggest amount of story this game will get . That's pretty incorrect , actually . These social links are only tiny side plots in this beautiful adventure . The main plot / theme of this game goes beyond the Social Links , and really makes a social commentary on our own world and society today . Then add the insanely odd style ( the art , the colors , the backgrounds , the music ) and it somehow manages to work perfectly with the path the own game goes down . Pure genius all around . AND it's on the ps2 . It's 40 bucks and it's better than almost any game out so far on the new generation consoles . Come on RPG fans . You need to get into this underrated series already .
    • 009 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I love this game . I have always loved Japanese games since they have very pretty art . I don't like games that are totally fighting styled because I think that is just boring . There are so few English games that include social interactions of any kind ( Except maybe the Sims series ) , which is just so sad ! ! A lot of Japanese games have it , which is why a lot of females play Japanese games . Too bad I don't understand Japanese . I think Persona 4 is sort of a game that even female can play ( too bad the main character can only be a guy ! ) I really do hope more games like this come out ! ! I was so into the game ! Plus the game is hilarious , the story is intriguing too . Usually I stop playing a game after a few days but this one I actually played for much longer than normal ! ! ! If there is a Persona 5 , I will definitely buy it ! Actually I just brought Persona 3 FES . Kind of backward but after playing Persona 4 , I want to collect this series !
    • 010 4  I love this game . I have always loved Japanese games since they have very pretty art . I don't like games that are totally fighting styled because I think that is just boring . There are so few English games that include social interactions of any kind ( Except maybe the Sims series ) , which is just so sad ! ! A lot of Japanese games have it , which is why a lot of females play Japanese games . Too bad I don't understand Japanese . I think Persona 4 is sort of a game that even female can play ( too bad the main character can only be a guy ! ) I really do hope more games like this come out ! ! I was so into the game ! Plus the game is hilarious , the story is intriguing too . Usually I stop playing a game after a few days but this one I actually played for much longer than normal ! ! ! If there is a Persona 5 , I will definitely buy it ! Actually I just brought Persona 3 FES . Kind of backward but after playing Persona 4 , I want to collect this series !
    • 014 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) First of all , I want to say that I LOVE this game , and I would highly recommend it . Next , I have to address the points of the person who gave it 2 stars . ( 1 ) the music - yes , it gets a bit repetitive ( but what RPG's music doesn't , especially when it's such a long game ? ) . They could've added more , but what they do have carries emotion , it's catchy , never grating . I was actively humming along . ( 2 ) the graphics - this is a PS2 game , so you can't expect more than PS2 graphics . That said , I had no problem with them . ( 3 ) the English voice acting - it was GREAT . Far exceeded my expectations . That 2 star guy has NO IDEA what he's talking about . Clearly , you haven't heard much english dubbing . The actors were well-suited to their roles , and the way they delivered their lines was spot-on - they were able to convey the level of emotion that was required of them . I certainly felt emotional ( or laughed at loud ) at many points . Of course , it has its flaws . . . the game had a bit too much control for my liking ( as in , the game would tell me what I was going to do or say next at certain points when I would've liked to decide myself ) , and some choices that I made had no impact on the main story ( I understand why this was done , it would've made the game much more difficult to make , but it sometimes made interactions annoying ) . But overall , it was a LOT of fun . The storyline was utterly engrossing ; I was dragged in and actually sad to finish ( even after 100 + hours , going through both a bad ending and the true ending ) . It had some depth to it ; there were times when I just sat back and reflected on what had been said . I was charmed by the characters , and intrigued by the mystery . The enemies were unique , especially the bosses . The battles were challenging , but never to the point where I wanted to quit . It was just . . . awesome . Go out and buy it ! : )
    • 015 4  First of all , I want to say that I LOVE this game , and I would highly recommend it . Next , I have to address the points of the person who gave it 2 stars . ( 1 ) the music - yes , it gets a bit repetitive ( but what RPG's music doesn't , especially when it's such a long game ? ) . They could've added more , but what they do have carries emotion , it's catchy , never grating . I was actively humming along . ( 2 ) the graphics - this is a PS2 game , so you can't expect more than PS2 graphics . That said , I had no problem with them . ( 3 ) the English voice acting - it was GREAT . Far exceeded my expectations . That 2 star guy has NO IDEA what he's talking about . Clearly , you haven't heard much english dubbing . The actors were well-suited to their roles , and the way they delivered their lines was spot-on - they were able to convey the level of emotion that was required of them . I certainly felt emotional ( or laughed at loud ) at many points . Of course , it has its flaws . . . the game had a bit too much control for my liking ( as in , the game would tell me what I was going to do or say next at certain points when I would've liked to decide myself ) , and some choices that I made had no impact on the main story ( I understand why this was done , it would've made the game much more difficult to make , but it sometimes made interactions annoying ) . But overall , it was a LOT of fun . The storyline was utterly engrossing ; I was dragged in and actually sad to finish ( even after 100 + hours , going through both a bad ending and the true ending ) . It had some depth to it ; there were times when I just sat back and reflected on what had been said . I was charmed by the characters , and intrigued by the mystery . The enemies were unique , especially the bosses . The battles were challenging , but never to the point where I wanted to quit . It was just . . . awesome . Go out and buy it ! : )
    • 016 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Persona 4 was introduced to me by the guys on Giantbomb.com , who started a video series that recorded them playing this game . The game's hilarious dialogue and situations coupled with their brilliant quips and responses made for an addictive set of videos . I was no longer content living vicariously through the guys on the site - - I had to play this game for myself . And I was not disappointed ! The story is awesome , the characters have real depth to them , and the production values are great . Good graphics , cool cutscenes , and much of the voice-acting is top-notch . The game is interesting in how it's essentially Final Fantasy with a bit of The Sims mixed in . Or maybe The Sims with a bit of Final Fantasy mixed in . You have your world-saving quest as you always tend to have in RPG's , but there's also a huge social element in which you build friendships , spend time hanging out with people , etc . The game is really lengthy , but don't let that intimidate you ! This game is amazing and must be played !
    • 017 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Persona 4 was introduced to me by the guys on Giantbomb.com , who started a video series that recorded them playing this game . The game's hilarious dialogue and situations coupled with their brilliant quips and responses made for an addictive set of videos . I was no longer content living vicariously through the guys on the site - - I had to play this game for myself . And I was not disappointed ! The story is awesome , the characters have real depth to them , and the production values are great . Good graphics , cool cutscenes , and much of the voice-acting is top-notch . The game is interesting in how it's essentially Final Fantasy with a bit of The Sims mixed in . Or maybe The Sims with a bit of Final Fantasy mixed in . You have your world-saving quest as you always tend to have in RPG's , but there's also a huge social element in which you build friendships , spend time hanging out with people , etc . The game is really lengthy , but don't let that intimidate you ! This game is amazing and must be played !
    • 018 4  Persona 4 was introduced to me by the guys on Giantbomb.com , who started a video series that recorded them playing this game . The game's hilarious dialogue and situations coupled with their brilliant quips and responses made for an addictive set of videos . I was no longer content living vicariously through the guys on the site - - I had to play this game for myself . And I was not disappointed ! The story is awesome , the characters have real depth to them , and the production values are great . Good graphics , cool cutscenes , and much of the voice-acting is top-notch . The game is interesting in how it's essentially Final Fantasy with a bit of The Sims mixed in . Or maybe The Sims with a bit of Final Fantasy mixed in . You have your world-saving quest as you always tend to have in RPG's , but there's also a huge social element in which you build friendships , spend time hanging out with people , etc . The game is really lengthy , but don't let that intimidate you ! This game is amazing and must be played !
    • 019 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I have to admit that jumping into P4 right after playing P3FES for over 100 hours was a little hard getting used to . There are many aspects of P3 that get carried over to P4 with certain twists that take some time to get used to ( like the new battle tactics and a Velvet Room without Elizabeth ) . But after a few hours with it , P4 definitely felt a step above P3 ' s play engine . My only letdown was that the story wasn't as epic as P3 ' s , but the characters are definitely more fleshed-out and memorable . The Persona series is quickly becoming my obsession and I may soon even ask myself Final Fantasy who ?
    • 020 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I have to admit that jumping into P4 right after playing P3FES for over 100 hours was a little hard getting used to . There are many aspects of P3 that get carried over to P4 with certain twists that take some time to get used to ( like the new battle tactics and a Velvet Room without Elizabeth ) . But after a few hours with it , P4 definitely felt a step above P3 ' s play engine . My only letdown was that the story wasn't as epic as P3 ' s , but the characters are definitely more fleshed-out and memorable . The Persona series is quickly becoming my obsession and I may soon even ask myself Final Fantasy who ?
    • 021 4  I have to admit that jumping into P4 right after playing P3FES for over 100 hours was a little hard getting used to . There are many aspects of P3 that get carried over to P4 with certain twists that take some time to get used to ( like the new battle tactics and a Velvet Room without Elizabeth ) . But after a few hours with it , P4 definitely felt a step above P3 ' s play engine . My only letdown was that the story wasn't as epic as P3 ' s , but the characters are definitely more fleshed-out and memorable . The Persona series is quickly becoming my obsession and I may soon even ask myself Final Fantasy who ?
    • 022 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Warning : May contain very subtle minor spoilers I adored Persona 3 . I owned both the original P3 and even got Fes so if you called me fan boy in this regard I'd nod vigorously . Normally it is the case of a fan to say Oh , nothing can beat my favorite game ! but in the case of Persona 4 I have to kick my elitist pride in the private area and accept that p4 is better than p3 in just about every way . First thing I noticed is these seem like real kids . Chie is a tom-boy who has trouble catching the attention of guys whereas her friend Yuki is gorgeous yet is in a situation in which she feels as if her life is planned out for her . Yosuke is the typical class clown in some regards but in others he is very steadfast and devoted . Indeed all your friends have more than one layer and they struggle with many issues including feeling trapped into roles they do not want or questioning their own sexuality . Even your character the silent protagonist has to deal with a work-a-holic uncle that is apart of the police force while having to help his adorable cousin Nanako by doing activities with her so she will not spend most of her days simply making breakfast , doing laundry , and singing the town mall's theme song . While Persona 3 ' s characters were endearing they seemed a bit shallow . None of them had to confront skeletons such as Am I gay ? or I know that when I'm up on that stage singing these songs everyone sees me as an easy slut . Whereas before shadows were just aimless monsters in Persona 4 they even manifest as darker psyches of the main characters . They must be defeated than embraced for each protagonist to awaken to their inner self . This approach makes everything a lot more personal and even the dungeons are varied representing each person trapped in the other-world instead of being monotonous floors in the same tower . Keys were also added thus certain doors or chests cannot be opened without them . One thing I'll confess is Persona 4 is harder . I got laid to waste fighting Kanji's sensitive brute shadow and before that Yuki's caged Phoenix shadow and the Contrary King like-wise dished up plenty of bruises . This time your tactics have to be really well thought out . Fortunately unlike in Persona 3 you CAN manipulate the actions of all your characters in persona 4 . Just go into your tactics menu and place them under your direct control . The music is what you expect of Persona and is a mix of techno , emotional J-pop , and a bare minimum of heavier tracks . As with the other game it does well for the setting . Concerning the environments they are quite limited just like P3 however I admit they are prettier and have a rustic charm . Unlike before Inaba is truly a small town instead of a beach front city . You will see odd quirky things like a giant toad statue in the general store , a crafty fox that guards an abandoned shrine , an actual true black-smith building adorned with ancient looking armor , and there is even a fishing hole in the flood plains . While p4 may not be much bigger it did put more articulate work into the smaller details . All I can say about social links is they are more complex . Whereas before you only had to up 3 stats now there are at least 5 . Diligence Expression and Understanding are brand new and now instead of only helping relationships with people in the mundane world they even add actions to your friends whom go into combat with you . As expected you go to school , take tests , celebrate holidays , and must balance all of that with trying to solve a murder mystery related to the paranormal . The only direct change is weather is an indicator of what happens instead of moon cycles . Indeed the oppressive fog , symbolical metaphors for people entering the other world , and more serious atmosphere made me think briefly of Silent Hill . I'm not saying P4 is an RPG trying to be a survival horror game but it does deal with disturbing imagery and topics P3 more or less tip-toed around . Even the beautiful nurse looked like an older Alessa Gillespie but its ' safe to say these things are coincidental . Japan has often used themes of duality and other worlds in their culture so eventually anyone is going to see parallels and similarities in their works of fiction . The only thing I got confused about is some characters in P4 look like characters in P3 . Dojima's partner Adachi looks and sounds exactly like Junpei . It would have been better if the designers just admitted Yeah this is Junpei when he got older and decided to be in law enforcement but in truth he is his own separate person . Naoto looks eerily similar to the main silent protagonist in P3 but as his ( ? ) truths become known that theory is completely debunked . I know I've neglected poor Teddy the friendly bear mascot that helps you on the other side of the television as well as a few other key things but I hope I painted you an informative picture of what P4 has to offer you . It is a wonderful game even if we have seen these same graphics and many of these same mechanics in P3 . It is similar to its ' predecessor in all the right ways and gives you just enough innovation to show you Atlus cares about the contentment of its ' fan base . Pros + Wonderful characters you get to truly care about + More complexity added to the social link system . + Dungeons seem less repetitive and are metaphors for each character's struggles making their exploration more interesting . Shadows likewise have more of a purpose . + A story line that trumps and out-shines P3 ' s in every way . In case you are wondering that is hard to do . + Taking away evokers and metaphoric suicides which were unnecessary and giving the protagonists traditional cards similar to the classic Persona games . + Glowing butter-fly save points ! No its ' not as great as having Philimon back , but it is a nice nostalgic nod to Persona 1 - 2 . + As a town Inaba has more charm and neat little details than your residence in P3 . + Kids forced to deal with real issues other games are too squeamish to contend with . + The oppressive fog and murder mystery motif makes P4 a lot more mature and intriguing than P3 . + Direct control of ALL characters . Cons - Cheap one-hit bosses even near the beginning of the game . Leveling up does help but grinding can get lack luster after awhile . - You feel rushed to save people from the TV world because the next time there is fog in your world that person dies and it is an automatic game over . You are given a generous stretch of time between foggy days but that does not take away the pressure of a ticking clock . - Some character designs look too similar to P3 designs . This can lead to confusion and false assumptions if you are a true fan . - There are not as many ways to leave dungeons or as many mid-way points . Stock up on items you need often . This is no cat-walk . - You have less time to do things in P4 . in P3 you could go out during the evening but in P3 once you return home that is it . Certain night shift jobs and your work table occasionally offer more to do , but I miss being able to go to other areas after hours such as the nightclub in P3 . As a side note I'll add I sincerely hope Atlus makes P5 . A game like this on a next gen system with even more ways to socialize , bigger environments , more Persona fusions , and a longer life-simulation aspect balanced with fascinating dungeons would give big companies like squareEnix a run for their money .
    • 023 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Warning : May contain very subtle minor spoilers I adored Persona 3 . I owned both the original P3 and even got Fes so if you called me fan boy in this regard I'd nod vigorously . Normally it is the case of a fan to say Oh , nothing can beat my favorite game ! but in the case of Persona 4 I have to kick my elitist pride in the private area and accept that p4 is better than p3 in just about every way . First thing I noticed is these seem like real kids . Chie is a tom-boy who has trouble catching the attention of guys whereas her friend Yuki is gorgeous yet is in a situation in which she feels as if her life is planned out for her . Yosuke is the typical class clown in some regards but in others he is very steadfast and devoted . Indeed all your friends have more than one layer and they struggle with many issues including feeling trapped into roles they do not want or questioning their own sexuality . Even your character the silent protagonist has to deal with a work-a-holic uncle that is apart of the police force while having to help his adorable cousin Nanako by doing activities with her so she will not spend most of her days simply making breakfast , doing laundry , and singing the town mall's theme song . While Persona 3 ' s characters were endearing they seemed a bit shallow . None of them had to confront skeletons such as Am I gay ? or I know that when I'm up on that stage singing these songs everyone sees me as an easy slut . Whereas before shadows were just aimless monsters in Persona 4 they even manifest as darker psyches of the main characters . They must be defeated than embraced for each protagonist to awaken to their inner self . This approach makes everything a lot more personal and even the dungeons are varied representing each person trapped in the other-world instead of being monotonous floors in the same tower . Keys were also added thus certain doors or chests cannot be opened without them . One thing I'll confess is Persona 4 is harder . I got laid to waste fighting Kanji's sensitive brute shadow and before that Yuki's caged Phoenix shadow and the Contrary King like-wise dished up plenty of bruises . This time your tactics have to be really well thought out . Fortunately unlike in Persona 3 you CAN manipulate the actions of all your characters in persona 4 . Just go into your tactics menu and place them under your direct control . The music is what you expect of Persona and is a mix of techno , emotional J-pop , and a bare minimum of heavier tracks . As with the other game it does well for the setting . Concerning the environments they are quite limited just like P3 however I admit they are prettier and have a rustic charm . Unlike before Inaba is truly a small town instead of a beach front city . You will see odd quirky things like a giant toad statue in the general store , a crafty fox that guards an abandoned shrine , an actual true black-smith building adorned with ancient looking armor , and there is even a fishing hole in the flood plains . While p4 may not be much bigger it did put more articulate work into the smaller details . All I can say about social links is they are more complex . Whereas before you only had to up 3 stats now there are at least 5 . Diligence Expression and Understanding are brand new and now instead of only helping relationships with people in the mundane world they even add actions to your friends whom go into combat with you . As expected you go to school , take tests , celebrate holidays , and must balance all of that with trying to solve a murder mystery related to the paranormal . The only direct change is weather is an indicator of what happens instead of moon cycles . Indeed the oppressive fog , symbolical metaphors for people entering the other world , and more serious atmosphere made me think briefly of Silent Hill . I'm not saying P4 is an RPG trying to be a survival horror game but it does deal with disturbing imagery and topics P3 more or less tip-toed around . Even the beautiful nurse looked like an older Alessa Gillespie but its ' safe to say these things are coincidental . Japan has often used themes of duality and other worlds in their culture so eventually anyone is going to see parallels and similarities in their works of fiction . The only thing I got confused about is some characters in P4 look like characters in P3 . Dojima's partner Adachi looks and sounds exactly like Junpei . It would have been better if the designers just admitted Yeah this is Junpei when he got older and decided to be in law enforcement but in truth he is his own separate person . Naoto looks eerily similar to the main silent protagonist in P3 but as his ( ? ) truths become known that theory is completely debunked . I know I've neglected poor Teddy the friendly bear mascot that helps you on the other side of the television as well as a few other key things but I hope I painted you an informative picture of what P4 has to offer you . It is a wonderful game even if we have seen these same graphics and many of these same mechanics in P3 . It is similar to its ' predecessor in all the right ways and gives you just enough innovation to show you Atlus cares about the contentment of its ' fan base . Pros + Wonderful characters you get to truly care about + More complexity added to the social link system . + Dungeons seem less repetitive and are metaphors for each character's struggles making their exploration more interesting . Shadows likewise have more of a purpose . + A story line that trumps and out-shines P3 ' s in every way . In case you are wondering that is hard to do . + Taking away evokers and metaphoric suicides which were unnecessary and giving the protagonists traditional cards similar to the classic Persona games . + Glowing butter-fly save points ! No its ' not as great as having Philimon back , but it is a nice nostalgic nod to Persona 1 - 2 . + As a town Inaba has more charm and neat little details than your residence in P3 . + Kids forced to deal with real issues other games are too squeamish to contend with . + The oppressive fog and murder mystery motif makes P4 a lot more mature and intriguing than P3 . + Direct control of ALL characters . Cons - Cheap one-hit bosses even near the beginning of the game . Leveling up does help but grinding can get lack luster after awhile . - You feel rushed to save people from the TV world because the next time there is fog in your world that person dies and it is an automatic game over . You are given a generous stretch of time between foggy days but that does not take away the pressure of a ticking clock . - Some character designs look too similar to P3 designs . This can lead to confusion and false assumptions if you are a true fan . - There are not as many ways to leave dungeons or as many mid-way points . Stock up on items you need often . This is no cat-walk . - You have less time to do things in P4 . in P3 you could go out during the evening but in P3 once you return home that is it . Certain night shift jobs and your work table occasionally offer more to do , but I miss being able to go to other areas after hours such as the nightclub in P3 . As a side note I'll add I sincerely hope Atlus makes P5 . A game like this on a next gen system with even more ways to socialize , bigger environments , more Persona fusions , and a longer life-simulation aspect balanced with fascinating dungeons would give big companies like squareEnix a run for their money .
    • 024 4  Warning : May contain very subtle minor spoilers I adored Persona 3 . I owned both the original P3 and even got Fes so if you called me fan boy in this regard I'd nod vigorously . Normally it is the case of a fan to say Oh , nothing can beat my favorite game ! but in the case of Persona 4 I have to kick my elitist pride in the private area and accept that p4 is better than p3 in just about every way . First thing I noticed is these seem like real kids . Chie is a tom-boy who has trouble catching the attention of guys whereas her friend Yuki is gorgeous yet is in a situation in which she feels as if her life is planned out for her . Yosuke is the typical class clown in some regards but in others he is very steadfast and devoted . Indeed all your friends have more than one layer and they struggle with many issues including feeling trapped into roles they do not want or questioning their own sexuality . Even your character the silent protagonist has to deal with a work-a-holic uncle that is apart of the police force while having to help his adorable cousin Nanako by doing activities with her so she will not spend most of her days simply making breakfast , doing laundry , and singing the town mall's theme song . While Persona 3 ' s characters were endearing they seemed a bit shallow . None of them had to confront skeletons such as Am I gay ? or I know that when I'm up on that stage singing these songs everyone sees me as an easy slut . Whereas before shadows were just aimless monsters in Persona 4 they even manifest as darker psyches of the main characters . They must be defeated than embraced for each protagonist to awaken to their inner self . This approach makes everything a lot more personal and even the dungeons are varied representing each person trapped in the other-world instead of being monotonous floors in the same tower . Keys were also added thus certain doors or chests cannot be opened without them . One thing I'll confess is Persona 4 is harder . I got laid to waste fighting Kanji's sensitive brute shadow and before that Yuki's caged Phoenix shadow and the Contrary King like-wise dished up plenty of bruises . This time your tactics have to be really well thought out . Fortunately unlike in Persona 3 you CAN manipulate the actions of all your characters in persona 4 . Just go into your tactics menu and place them under your direct control . The music is what you expect of Persona and is a mix of techno , emotional J-pop , and a bare minimum of heavier tracks . As with the other game it does well for the setting . Concerning the environments they are quite limited just like P3 however I admit they are prettier and have a rustic charm . Unlike before Inaba is truly a small town instead of a beach front city . You will see odd quirky things like a giant toad statue in the general store , a crafty fox that guards an abandoned shrine , an actual true black-smith building adorned with ancient looking armor , and there is even a fishing hole in the flood plains . While p4 may not be much bigger it did put more articulate work into the smaller details . All I can say about social links is they are more complex . Whereas before you only had to up 3 stats now there are at least 5 . Diligence Expression and Understanding are brand new and now instead of only helping relationships with people in the mundane world they even add actions to your friends whom go into combat with you . As expected you go to school , take tests , celebrate holidays , and must balance all of that with trying to solve a murder mystery related to the paranormal . The only direct change is weather is an indicator of what happens instead of moon cycles . Indeed the oppressive fog , symbolical metaphors for people entering the other world , and more serious atmosphere made me think briefly of Silent Hill . I'm not saying P4 is an RPG trying to be a survival horror game but it does deal with disturbing imagery and topics P3 more or less tip-toed around . Even the beautiful nurse looked like an older Alessa Gillespie but its ' safe to say these things are coincidental . Japan has often used themes of duality and other worlds in their culture so eventually anyone is going to see parallels and similarities in their works of fiction . The only thing I got confused about is some characters in P4 look like characters in P3 . Dojima's partner Adachi looks and sounds exactly like Junpei . It would have been better if the designers just admitted Yeah this is Junpei when he got older and decided to be in law enforcement but in truth he is his own separate person . Naoto looks eerily similar to the main silent protagonist in P3 but as his ( ? ) truths become known that theory is completely debunked . I know I've neglected poor Teddy the friendly bear mascot that helps you on the other side of the television as well as a few other key things but I hope I painted you an informative picture of what P4 has to offer you . It is a wonderful game even if we have seen these same graphics and many of these same mechanics in P3 . It is similar to its ' predecessor in all the right ways and gives you just enough innovation to show you Atlus cares about the contentment of its ' fan base . Pros + Wonderful characters you get to truly care about + More complexity added to the social link system . + Dungeons seem less repetitive and are metaphors for each character's struggles making their exploration more interesting . Shadows likewise have more of a purpose . + A story line that trumps and out-shines P3 ' s in every way . In case you are wondering that is hard to do . + Taking away evokers and metaphoric suicides which were unnecessary and giving the protagonists traditional cards similar to the classic Persona games . + Glowing butter-fly save points ! No its ' not as great as having Philimon back , but it is a nice nostalgic nod to Persona 1 - 2 . + As a town Inaba has more charm and neat little details than your residence in P3 . + Kids forced to deal with real issues other games are too squeamish to contend with . + The oppressive fog and murder mystery motif makes P4 a lot more mature and intriguing than P3 . + Direct control of ALL characters . Cons - Cheap one-hit bosses even near the beginning of the game . Leveling up does help but grinding can get lack luster after awhile . - You feel rushed to save people from the TV world because the next time there is fog in your world that person dies and it is an automatic game over . You are given a generous stretch of time between foggy days but that does not take away the pressure of a ticking clock . - Some character designs look too similar to P3 designs . This can lead to confusion and false assumptions if you are a true fan . - There are not as many ways to leave dungeons or as many mid-way points . Stock up on items you need often . This is no cat-walk . - You have less time to do things in P4 . in P3 you could go out during the evening but in P3 once you return home that is it . Certain night shift jobs and your work table occasionally offer more to do , but I miss being able to go to other areas after hours such as the nightclub in P3 . As a side note I'll add I sincerely hope Atlus makes P5 . A game like this on a next gen system with even more ways to socialize , bigger environments , more Persona fusions , and a longer life-simulation aspect balanced with fascinating dungeons would give big companies like squareEnix a run for their money .
    • 025 4  Persona 4 was created immediately , so it's been said , as a result of feedback from Persona 3 ' s new system . At this point , I haven't completed the game yet . But the improvements really show . This game is better than Persona 3 in almost every way , from story to game play . You'll be playing for a couple of hours before you even get to the first battle . And it's at least 3 hours until you're left to explore any dungeons . Also , remember those long runs in Persona 3 where nothing would happen , between the full moons ? Gone . Being in what seems like the same dungeon over and over again ? Also gone , kinda . Well , the repetition is not as bad . Let's leave it at that . And how about not being able to control the other characters ? Yup , that's changed too . Of course , this makes the game much easier , especially for people who slaved through the Answer . Other good changes : The story is better . Remember those 20 somethings who disguised themselves as teenagers and populated the Gekkokan High's SEES dormitory ? Well , they're way more realistic now . Meaning , they act and talk like real teenagers ( Junpei being the exception in the original ) . Some things have changed , but not for better or worse . There's also no more dark hour . Instead , you enter into the Midnight Channel , a flatscreen plasma TV set that connects you to dungeons . The setting is more rural . The animation is also a bit different , but you can just look screen shots to see that . I don't want to get into the story , because it'd be too many spoilers . But let's just say this is more of a mystery novel . Or at least it seems to be . In a way , this review is completely unnecessary . Persona 3 was a game that needed few improvements , and this installment managed to provide almost all of them . Anyone who wanted to buy this game before it came out is going to love it , and I'm jealous of those new people who are going to get to experience Persona 3 and 4 for the first time . I'd love to do that again .
    • 027 4  This game will mostly appeal to those who enjoy the MegaTen series . As a sequel , it's game-play is almost just like it's predecessors , which is a good thing for those who don't like major changes when it comes to sequels . You start off as a high school student ( in the manga his name is Souji Seta ) who just transferred from the big city to a small town called Inaba , due to his parents partaking in oversea jobs , thus forcing him to move in with his uncle and younger cousin , Kojima and Nanako . Later on , a heavy fog sets in the area of Inaba and during one of your classes , your school is dismissed due to an emergency , which ends up being mysterious murder of an announcer woman . Her body was discovered nearby , mutilated and hanging on a TV antenna on the roof of someone's house ( Must suck to be the owner of the house ) . The police investigators are at a lost as they can't seem to figure out how she died or if someone had murdered her , this is because her death was most likely done by a supernatural cause , but the police won't believe that . . They never do . But they gradually run into more murder / homicide cases and all of them show up when it's foggy out . Are these cases somehow related with the mysterious fog ? . . . Maybe . The cases are also somehow related to Television , as a rumor about watching the TV with the screen blank at mid-night on a rainy day , a person will show up on screen ( This is called the Midnight Channel ) , but you'll get more info on that when you actually play the game . This also has some sort of connection to the murders . You'll eventually get to the good stuff when you suddenly start to awake to your Persona ( A living entity inside you , or your other self which is a being that basically gives you all your powers in the game . Sadly you don't get to have an Evoker this time , this means no more shooting yourself in the head with a toy gun . Instead , you ' ' ll be breaking Tarot cards that appear out of no where . . ) and at one point you'll have the ability to strangely go into your TV ( Or any TV , but you'll only be using one through out the entire game ) . On the other side of the TV is an entirely different world infested with monster-like creatures called Shadows ( Brings back memories of Tartarus from PE3 ) and it's basically up to you and your friends to explore the TV world and find any ways to solve the murder cases and prevent anymore people from dying mysteriously . Anyways , for game-play : Battles : You encounter battles the same way as always , as you wander around the TV world there are various forms of shadows lurking about . Either you get to the shadow blob things first by giving them a good whack to the head with whatever weapon you have , or they get you ( this effects being ambushed or having the upper hand with a preemptive attack . ) Battles are fought basically the same as in PE3 . For those who aren't familiar with previous Persona titles , it's basically turn-based , you have your attack , guard , and special skills . You still have your Rush and all that good stuff , nothing different , also ( I don't remember if you can do this or not in PE3 since I never tried until now ) you can chose your party to act on their own ( via computer ) or you can chose to manually control them , but you'll have to switch battle tactics in order to do that , the default party tactics are always on computer and it's a big help to switch them to manual since they aren't exactly your smartest fighters . It's highly suggested that you take your time and try to NOT avoid battles , since if you're not at a good enough level by the time your get ahead in the game and face a boss , you'll be sorry . ) ' : If you balance out your leveling the game should flow smoothly , but being lazy will end up leaving you frustrated . The battles may get a little repetitive , but all RPGs are like that . Once you get the hang of things ( Like getting the enemy's weaknesses down and etc , which will make battles come out easy as pie ) it'll eventually grow on you . One little nice adjustment in battles is that when you hit an enemy with it's weakness and knock it down ( like a fire element attack if it's weak against fire ) , and you hit it AGAIN with it's weakness , it'll stun the enemy or make them dizzy , so basically the first weakness strike will knock them down and the second will make them dizzy . Unlike in the previous game , if you hit them with their weakness it'll knock them down , but if you hit them again it'll wake them up out of their stunned / knock-down state . . . which made no sense whatsoever . Character Interactivity : Okay here , you actually have to interact with your friends and family ( being a angsty loner won't get you anywhere ! ) . Most interactivity will launch character sequences and you get to see your character's relationship with other people develop over time ( the more , the better , especially since it effects how strong your Persona is ) . You have these things called social links , which is basically a link or special bond to certain people you interact with . When you converse or hang out with your friends , saying the right things or making the right choices will make them like your more , thus getting enough points for that , you can level-up these social links which will make your Personas stronger . The social links are exactly the same as the ones in PE3 , the only real difference is that every time you level-up a social link , it doesn't give you this big dramatic sequence where your Persona talks to you in your head and tells you that your bond with x Arcana has strengthened and blah blah blah . . Instead this level-up image with the corresponding Tarot card pops up and says LEVEL UP along with a bar that shows you how much you've leveled that social link until it's maxed out . Also , leveling your social links with party-members will get them to learn new passive abilities like helping you out during battle by snapping you out of rage , or taking a fatal blown for you if your character's about to take a lethal hit . Another new addition is that when you max out social links with your party members , their Persona gets reborn into another Persona . Kind of like a big upgrade . Music and Sound : . . It's actually pretty good ! I already have a lot of the tracks stuck in my head as most of them are pretty catchy . Most voices are bearable , if not good . I'm personally fond of the main character's voice and his friend , Yosuke , great voice actors . ( Voiced by Yuri L . AND Johnny B . , those guys voiced a TON of games together . . . Tales of The Abyss ( Luke and Guy ) and . Hack / / G.U ( Haseo and Kuhn ) anyone ? Johnny's also voiced Nero from DMC4 and Ichigo from Bleach lol . ) Graphics : The graphics have improved compared to the previous game , plus there seems to be a lot more character animation while you're in 3D and it's fun to watch . You still have your awesome 2D anime cut scenes , and those always look good . Set-Backs ? : The only thing major here is that when you go into the TV to Save people , you have to save them before a fog comes ( The weather channel on TV will be a big help , so be sure to check every now and then ) else you'll get a Game Over and will have to start over from the week prior . Of course , they give you PLENTY of time , and it's easy to tell when the fog comes because they only come after 2 - 3 or days of rain . Other Parts Of Gameplay : You also have other stats in the game you can raise , which are very essential in gaining new acquaintances and earning your social links . This time your set of stats are Knowledge , Diligence , Understanding , Courage , and Expression . You can raise any of these through all sorts methods , such as getting the right answers in class , studying , or participating in part-time jobs ( which can also earn you money ) . Of course , a lot of cases in the game , you'll need to use your brain . There are times where you'll have to think like a detective and break everything down into the facts ( I personally thought it was fun , especially when you get it right ! ) . Also , the questions you get asked in class are mostly trivial , some or most , you may have absolutely no idea what the answers are as the questions are very difficult but some are easy ( I'm in highschool so . . lol ) , but all of the questions are REAL , not a bunch of bologna they threw together just to make you mad . You might have to result to using the internet to find your answers , of course , you'll learn something new afterwards ( I learned . . A lot of things . Like , in Japan , a robber would most likely break into your house at 8 in the morning or that the Egyptians used eyeliner as a type of repelant . . ) Other than that , the game is overall , entertaining ( a lot of the scenes in the game are amusing ) of course everyone has their different tastes in games . I'd suggest this game to any MegaTen fan or RPG gamer . Those who are more for action RPGs might not like this game since this game takes a lot of patience and strategy . Plus they talk A LOT ( lots of reading , but it's not wise to skim through them . )
    • 030 4  Okay , to be honest , I bought this game on a whim-and a HUGE one at that . I have little money to throw around , so whenever I can , I search online for a monthly purchase , considering the amount I'm given . Tired of playing the same games over and over , I decided to try amazon and look for recommendations . I'm big on RPG's by the way , as well as Japanese culture . And what do you know ? I found P4 of course ! I checked out the product online for reviews , wondering if it was worth my money . After playing it , I've confirmed one thing : IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT . Trendy , and urban , along with a varying cast of characters brought out my love for the Japanese culture once again . I've always wanted to play a dating sim , and though P4 isn't exactly one , it is close to it ( if you take out the fighting element that is ) . Mystery , comedy , hinted at and subtle romance-I'd recommend this game for any RPG lover looking for something new to play aside from the usual FF series or Tales of . . . ( which I love as well ) , but if you're not big on J-culture like I am , then that's another story .
    • 031 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) My first introduction to the Shin Megami Tensei series was Persona 3 : FES , which was an absolutely enthralling game and the best RPG I had ever played . Then Persona 4 came out , and I had a new favorite RPG . Yes , this IS a PS2 game . Released in 2008 . This doesn't hurt the game at all ( unless you REALLY care about having the absolute best graphics , which I don't ) , but it does make it cheaper and more accessible to a wider variety of people . When most games advertise 40 or more hours of gameplay , they're lying because all of that content is coming from grinding , fetch quests , or similar wastes of time . When Persona 4 advertises 60 + hours of gameplay , they're lying because you'll spend at least 80 hours on a single playthrough unless you skip a lot of the more interesting parts of the game . P4 ' s definitely not a game for people who want something to play through quickly , but what RPG is ? One of the more unique aspects of Persona 3 that's been carried over to Persona 4 is the gameplay split between dungeons and the real world : In dungeons , you do the usual exploring / killing monsters / etc . The combat in Persona 4 is similar to that from Persona 3 , but there are several battle mechanic changes that may throw P3 veterans for a loop ( you can hit knocked-down enemies without them getting back up , for example ) . One of the key features in combat is the ability of the main character to change personas , which can radically change his class - one persona change can turn him from a physical brute to a healer , or from an elemental magic caster to a support spell caster . Each persona is assigned one of the major arcana from Tarot , and you can get a rough idea of what each persona's strengths and weaknesses are by looking at its arcana . The fusion system is as complicated as ever , and if you're not familiar with it I highly recommend using a guide to learn the basics of person fusion . In the real world , much of your time is spent on Social Links , or building relationships with people . Like your personas , each Social Link correlates with one of the major arcana ( and having a persona from the proper arcana makes social links progress much faster ) . Each person you form a social link with has their own ( * usually * interesting ) storyline , and building their social link grants more power to the personas you fuse and ultimately lets you unlock the strongest persona in a given arcana . Unlike Persona 3 , a very large chunk of the Social Links in Persona 4 involve your teammates - building their social links grants them various bonuses in battle , so focusing on the social links of the party members you use is worth your while . The actual storyline is fairly interesting ; without spoiling too much , I will say that it was great overall , although near the end the increasingly obvious amount of red herrings they throw at you gets annoying . Most of the main characters have interesting and likeable personalities , and the only real dud was obviously made a loser on purpose . The music in Persona 4 is a highlight of the game . As usual , Shoji Meguro composed an excellent soundtrack ; there's a general pop / rock theme throughout the game , and although the main songs sound strange at first , they definitely grow on you . The voice acting in Persona 4 is top-notch ; in particular , Dojima's VA is so natural that he doesn't sound like he's acting at all , and Kanji's VA does an excellent job across the board . Persona 4 is very easy for a Shin Megami Tensei game , but those who haven't played an SMT game before will have a sharp learning curve where they figure out the battle system ( where using stat-changing spells and status spells is actually important and spamming basic elemental spells is a good way to die against many enemies ) . Overall , Persona 4 is a very long , but very well-done game . If your PS2 is still lying around , or if you have a PS3 with backwards compatibility for PS2 games , I'd highly recommend buying Persona 4 .
    • 032 4  My first introduction to the Shin Megami Tensei series was Persona 3 : FES , which was an absolutely enthralling game and the best RPG I had ever played . Then Persona 4 came out , and I had a new favorite RPG . Yes , this IS a PS2 game . Released in 2008 . This doesn't hurt the game at all ( unless you REALLY care about having the absolute best graphics , which I don't ) , but it does make it cheaper and more accessible to a wider variety of people . When most games advertise 40 or more hours of gameplay , they're lying because all of that content is coming from grinding , fetch quests , or similar wastes of time . When Persona 4 advertises 60 + hours of gameplay , they're lying because you'll spend at least 80 hours on a single playthrough unless you skip a lot of the more interesting parts of the game . P4 ' s definitely not a game for people who want something to play through quickly , but what RPG is ? One of the more unique aspects of Persona 3 that's been carried over to Persona 4 is the gameplay split between dungeons and the real world : In dungeons , you do the usual exploring / killing monsters / etc . The combat in Persona 4 is similar to that from Persona 3 , but there are several battle mechanic changes that may throw P3 veterans for a loop ( you can hit knocked-down enemies without them getting back up , for example ) . One of the key features in combat is the ability of the main character to change personas , which can radically change his class - one persona change can turn him from a physical brute to a healer , or from an elemental magic caster to a support spell caster . Each persona is assigned one of the major arcana from Tarot , and you can get a rough idea of what each persona's strengths and weaknesses are by looking at its arcana . The fusion system is as complicated as ever , and if you're not familiar with it I highly recommend using a guide to learn the basics of person fusion . In the real world , much of your time is spent on Social Links , or building relationships with people . Like your personas , each Social Link correlates with one of the major arcana ( and having a persona from the proper arcana makes social links progress much faster ) . Each person you form a social link with has their own ( * usually * interesting ) storyline , and building their social link grants more power to the personas you fuse and ultimately lets you unlock the strongest persona in a given arcana . Unlike Persona 3 , a very large chunk of the Social Links in Persona 4 involve your teammates - building their social links grants them various bonuses in battle , so focusing on the social links of the party members you use is worth your while . The actual storyline is fairly interesting ; without spoiling too much , I will say that it was great overall , although near the end the increasingly obvious amount of red herrings they throw at you gets annoying . Most of the main characters have interesting and likeable personalities , and the only real dud was obviously made a loser on purpose . The music in Persona 4 is a highlight of the game . As usual , Shoji Meguro composed an excellent soundtrack ; there's a general pop / rock theme throughout the game , and although the main songs sound strange at first , they definitely grow on you . The voice acting in Persona 4 is top-notch ; in particular , Dojima's VA is so natural that he doesn't sound like he's acting at all , and Kanji's VA does an excellent job across the board . Persona 4 is very easy for a Shin Megami Tensei game , but those who haven't played an SMT game before will have a sharp learning curve where they figure out the battle system ( where using stat-changing spells and status spells is actually important and spamming basic elemental spells is a good way to die against many enemies ) . Overall , Persona 4 is a very long , but very well-done game . If your PS2 is still lying around , or if you have a PS3 with backwards compatibility for PS2 games , I'd highly recommend buying Persona 4 .
    • 033 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I first saw this game on giantbomb.com endurance run , which first pecked my interest . I completed this 60 + hour Japanese role playing game with great interest . The story will hold your interest if you are at all interested in role playing games . The graphics are classic PS2 and occasionally makes somethings harder to pick out of the environment , however the game makes up for this with an intuitive battle system , story , and pure enjoyment .
    • 034 4  I first saw this game on giantbomb.com endurance run , which first pecked my interest . I completed this 60 + hour Japanese role playing game with great interest . The story will hold your interest if you are at all interested in role playing games . The graphics are classic PS2 and occasionally makes somethings harder to pick out of the environment , however the game makes up for this with an intuitive battle system , story , and pure enjoyment .
    • 035 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Well here we go again . . . Persona 4 is basically a polished up retread of Persona 3 . If you enjoyed that game and want more of the same , here it is . . . if you want something new , well , ummm , this is not the game for you . Persona 4 sees a transfer student ( you ) join his class at the local high school . Here he makes new friends and accidently discovers a hidden world where monsters roam . . . which of course has to be explored ! First up , let me tell you that the social-sim aspects of this game are virtually identical to P3 . You go to school everyday , have exams , make friends , spend after school time getting to know people better , do homework and visit the shops . I was actually quite annoyed at the way this game simply re-cycled all the same features as it's predecessor with regard to school life . So make sure you are prepared for another whole year of studying , making your friends feel happy , and sitting in noodle bars . However a lot of other stuff has changed . What is great here is the new storyline . Gone is the tower of Tartarus and the full moon monsters . Here , we have a mystery TV channel that only appears at midnight when it's raining . . . if you switch on and see a person on the screen , it means that person is destined to die . . . spooky ! So the chapters of the game involve trying to save a person each time they appear on the TV channel , which means you have to enter the TV world and find them . And yes , that does mean that you dive in through the screen ! Once inside the screen , you need to enter a dungeon which is cleverly built around the missing person's particular fears or repressed desires ( there's a lot of things driven by the subconscious in this game ) . To my surprise and enjoyment , this includes a strip joint and a gay sauna ! Rather adventurous for a social sim RPG ! And in a rather boffo idea , each boss is a twisted version of the missing person's anti-persona . At the start of the game the missing people are destined to become your team mates in battle , so each twisted boss you fight becomes the persona that the rescued person goes on to use in battle later . As in P3 , the battles in this game are great fun . Characters have to summon a persona to cast spells ( although the shooting in the head part has been dropped ! ) , and they all have specific weaknesses or strengths . As before , your character can summon from a choice of several personas , and these are a mixture of the classic monsters from the series , plus a few new ones ( I think they saved a few that weren't in P3 for this game ) . Improvements and changes are as follows : You can now directly control all four players - hooray ! And now the knock down status only causes a missed turn if it is followed by another kick to the weakness - good idea , as in P3 , a hit to a downed character made them stand up again , which made little sense to me . As characters level up and your social links with them imporve , there are some nice touches - characters with strong social links will rush in front of the main character ( you ) and take a heavy blow , or do funny things like slap people out of the confused status , or help downed team mates stand up , etc . I will say this though - the game on the whole seemed a lot easier than P3 , and it also had less variety . Remember the Tartarus tower was not the only place you had to fight in P3 - there were also the full moon bosses ? Well , the TV channel is the only place anything happens in this games and it seemed a lot shorter . Another plus point for me - you can now be friends with more than one girl rather than just picking one as a romantic interest and discarding all the others - which I found rather mean in P3 ! Back on the plus side , the story is great this time . The mystery behind the spooky channel and why people keep cropping up there really kept me hooked . This time , your timescale for the plan of attack is governed by the weather rather than the cycles of the moon , which was a refreshing change . There were also some really good plot twists that kept me guessing . The people you befriend are also very well rounded - all have distinct personalities and great voice acting - although the voice of Chie got rather irritating for me during battles . Sadly the levelling up process has been changed - as you get stronger the points gained for winning fights begins to shrink , so levelling up in the final dungeon eventually became pointless as I was only getting a few hundred per battle once I got in the 70s - 80s - very annoying if you are a grinder like me ! The final boss was still challenging , but there was no bonus dungeon at all - although I did play the FES version of P3 , so I had been spoiled ! So my bottom line is that P4 is a great addition to the series , but as P3 was so clever I felt that this sequel was doing a bit too much re-hashing and not offering enough new ideas . I still spent weeks playing it though , so it's a good solid game that will give you many hours of distraction .
    • 036 4  Well here we go again . . . Persona 4 is basically a polished up retread of Persona 3 . If you enjoyed that game and want more of the same , here it is . . . if you want something new , well , ummm , this is not the game for you . Persona 4 sees a transfer student ( you ) join his class at the local high school . Here he makes new friends and accidently discovers a hidden world where monsters roam . . . which of course has to be explored ! First up , let me tell you that the social-sim aspects of this game are virtually identical to P3 . You go to school everyday , have exams , make friends , spend after school time getting to know people better , do homework and visit the shops . I was actually quite annoyed at the way this game simply re-cycled all the same features as it's predecessor with regard to school life . So make sure you are prepared for another whole year of studying , making your friends feel happy , and sitting in noodle bars . However a lot of other stuff has changed . What is great here is the new storyline . Gone is the tower of Tartarus and the full moon monsters . Here , we have a mystery TV channel that only appears at midnight when it's raining . . . if you switch on and see a person on the screen , it means that person is destined to die . . . spooky ! So the chapters of the game involve trying to save a person each time they appear on the TV channel , which means you have to enter the TV world and find them . And yes , that does mean that you dive in through the screen ! Once inside the screen , you need to enter a dungeon which is cleverly built around the missing person's particular fears or repressed desires ( there's a lot of things driven by the subconscious in this game ) . To my surprise and enjoyment , this includes a strip joint and a gay sauna ! Rather adventurous for a social sim RPG ! And in a rather boffo idea , each boss is a twisted version of the missing person's anti-persona . At the start of the game the missing people are destined to become your team mates in battle , so each twisted boss you fight becomes the persona that the rescued person goes on to use in battle later . As in P3 , the battles in this game are great fun . Characters have to summon a persona to cast spells ( although the shooting in the head part has been dropped ! ) , and they all have specific weaknesses or strengths . As before , your character can summon from a choice of several personas , and these are a mixture of the classic monsters from the series , plus a few new ones ( I think they saved a few that weren't in P3 for this game ) . Improvements and changes are as follows : You can now directly control all four players - hooray ! And now the knock down status only causes a missed turn if it is followed by another kick to the weakness - good idea , as in P3 , a hit to a downed character made them stand up again , which made little sense to me . As characters level up and your social links with them imporve , there are some nice touches - characters with strong social links will rush in front of the main character ( you ) and take a heavy blow , or do funny things like slap people out of the confused status , or help downed team mates stand up , etc . I will say this though - the game on the whole seemed a lot easier than P3 , and it also had less variety . Remember the Tartarus tower was not the only place you had to fight in P3 - there were also the full moon bosses ? Well , the TV channel is the only place anything happens in this games and it seemed a lot shorter . Another plus point for me - you can now be friends with more than one girl rather than just picking one as a romantic interest and discarding all the others - which I found rather mean in P3 ! Back on the plus side , the story is great this time . The mystery behind the spooky channel and why people keep cropping up there really kept me hooked . This time , your timescale for the plan of attack is governed by the weather rather than the cycles of the moon , which was a refreshing change . There were also some really good plot twists that kept me guessing . The people you befriend are also very well rounded - all have distinct personalities and great voice acting - although the voice of Chie got rather irritating for me during battles . Sadly the levelling up process has been changed - as you get stronger the points gained for winning fights begins to shrink , so levelling up in the final dungeon eventually became pointless as I was only getting a few hundred per battle once I got in the 70s - 80s - very annoying if you are a grinder like me ! The final boss was still challenging , but there was no bonus dungeon at all - although I did play the FES version of P3 , so I had been spoiled ! So my bottom line is that P4 is a great addition to the series , but as P3 was so clever I felt that this sequel was doing a bit too much re-hashing and not offering enough new ideas . I still spent weeks playing it though , so it's a good solid game that will give you many hours of distraction .
    • 037 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I just finished my first play-through Persona 4 yesterday . It took eight months ( 120 hours of game-play ) to complete and I loved every minute of it . This is the best rpg around . I highly recommend Persona 4 and hope that Persona 5 will come soon from Atlus .
    • 038 4  I just finished my first play-through Persona 4 yesterday . It took eight months ( 120 hours of game-play ) to complete and I loved every minute of it . This is the best rpg around . I highly recommend Persona 4 and hope that Persona 5 will come soon from Atlus .
    • 039 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) So after my freind beat P # i decided i wanted to get in on the whole persona action but ihad already watched her beat P3 so i picked up P4 . I could not have made a better choice . This is one of the most hilarious , deep , meaningful , entertainging , and all around great games i have ever played . This game requires you to be smart . Its big on strategy in battle and with personas . Every minute i played i got more and more attatched to the characters . The dungeons are actually fun because of the individual stories each of them have . The length is daunting , i put in about 90 hours including the time i died and had to restart from 5 levels below because i don't save nearly often enough . Don't let that scare you though . The game goes by really quickly . My advice would be play this game . Seriously , whether your new to Atlus or not this game is fantastic .
    • 040 4  So after my freind beat P # i decided i wanted to get in on the whole persona action but ihad already watched her beat P3 so i picked up P4 . I could not have made a better choice . This is one of the most hilarious , deep , meaningful , entertainging , and all around great games i have ever played . This game requires you to be smart . Its big on strategy in battle and with personas . Every minute i played i got more and more attatched to the characters . The dungeons are actually fun because of the individual stories each of them have . The length is daunting , i put in about 90 hours including the time i died and had to restart from 5 levels below because i don't save nearly often enough . Don't let that scare you though . The game goes by really quickly . My advice would be play this game . Seriously , whether your new to Atlus or not this game is fantastic .
    • 041 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Put away your princess and stable your dragon . It's ok , they'll be there when you come back . Persona 4 is a RPG masterpiece set in our world . For all you anime fans : Persona 4 is closer to Paranoia Agent than Record of Lodoss War in theme . Not that it's REQUIRED you be a Japanophile to appreciate this amazing RPG , but it certainly doesn't hurt . Even western-centered gamers will find some of the threads ( like a young girl dealing with the impending death of a father who abandoned her ) to be poignant and refreshingly unpretentious . Many of the games characters are plucked from modern Japanese cultural memes . A Pop Icon , a Boy Detective , and even a silver-haired street tough await you when you take a trip to Persona 4 ' s ficitonal Inaba City . It's worth noting that Persona 4 blends three styles of play together to form a strangely unique amalgam . The player can spend days in a simulation of day to day adolescent pursuits . He can collect and combine otherworldly creatures ( Personas ) ala Pokemon . ( gotta enslave them all ! ) And , lastly , he can enter randomly generated dungeon crawls that give you roughly 11 levels of battling each and occur enough times over the course of your adventure that you will almost always have something new to kill or something shiny to create . The item creation aspect is perhaps the games only flaw . In order to get new armor and weapons players must collect a number of tokens from shadows ( monsters ) in the dungeon . This can be difficult given that these shadows are not guaranteed to drop items and some can be tough to encounter with any frequency . On top of this , you won't know ( without a guide ) exactly how many items you need to unlock a given piece of equipment . This is a small gripe , though , as the time you spend grinding for drops helps your characters stay on top of their game with yen and experience points flowing in as they battle . The game is difficult ( although not VERY difficult ) on the hardest mode and amazingly casual on the lowest . I predict that even a RPG beginner can clear the easy mode as long as they spent enough time grinding and collected / fused the top personas for their level . This game is solid and the story has to be experienced to be believed . If you think the modern world's problems pale in comparison to epic struggles of sword on shield , Persona 4 may just change your mind .
    • 042 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Put away your princess and stable your dragon . It's ok , they'll be there when you come back . Persona 4 is a RPG masterpiece set in our world . For all you anime fans : Persona 4 is closer to Paranoia Agent than Record of Lodoss War in theme . Not that it's REQUIRED you be a Japanophile to appreciate this amazing RPG , but it certainly doesn't hurt . Even western-centered gamers will find some of the threads ( like a young girl dealing with the impending death of a father who abandoned her ) to be poignant and refreshingly unpretentious . Many of the games characters are plucked from modern Japanese cultural memes . A Pop Icon , a Boy Detective , and even a silver-haired street tough await you when you take a trip to Persona 4 ' s ficitonal Inaba City . It's worth noting that Persona 4 blends three styles of play together to form a strangely unique amalgam . The player can spend days in a simulation of day to day adolescent pursuits . He can collect and combine otherworldly creatures ( Personas ) ala Pokemon . ( gotta enslave them all ! ) And , lastly , he can enter randomly generated dungeon crawls that give you roughly 11 levels of battling each and occur enough times over the course of your adventure that you will almost always have something new to kill or something shiny to create . The item creation aspect is perhaps the games only flaw . In order to get new armor and weapons players must collect a number of tokens from shadows ( monsters ) in the dungeon . This can be difficult given that these shadows are not guaranteed to drop items and some can be tough to encounter with any frequency . On top of this , you won't know ( without a guide ) exactly how many items you need to unlock a given piece of equipment . This is a small gripe , though , as the time you spend grinding for drops helps your characters stay on top of their game with yen and experience points flowing in as they battle . The game is difficult ( although not VERY difficult ) on the hardest mode and amazingly casual on the lowest . I predict that even a RPG beginner can clear the easy mode as long as they spent enough time grinding and collected / fused the top personas for their level . This game is solid and the story has to be experienced to be believed . If you think the modern world's problems pale in comparison to epic struggles of sword on shield , Persona 4 may just change your mind .
    • 043 4  Put away your princess and stable your dragon . It's ok , they'll be there when you come back . Persona 4 is a RPG masterpiece set in our world . For all you anime fans : Persona 4 is closer to Paranoia Agent than Record of Lodoss War in theme . Not that it's REQUIRED you be a Japanophile to appreciate this amazing RPG , but it certainly doesn't hurt . Even western-centered gamers will find some of the threads ( like a young girl dealing with the impending death of a father who abandoned her ) to be poignant and refreshingly unpretentious . Many of the games characters are plucked from modern Japanese cultural memes . A Pop Icon , a Boy Detective , and even a silver-haired street tough await you when you take a trip to Persona 4 ' s ficitonal Inaba City . It's worth noting that Persona 4 blends three styles of play together to form a strangely unique amalgam . The player can spend days in a simulation of day to day adolescent pursuits . He can collect and combine otherworldly creatures ( Personas ) ala Pokemon . ( gotta enslave them all ! ) And , lastly , he can enter randomly generated dungeon crawls that give you roughly 11 levels of battling each and occur enough times over the course of your adventure that you will almost always have something new to kill or something shiny to create . The item creation aspect is perhaps the games only flaw . In order to get new armor and weapons players must collect a number of tokens from shadows ( monsters ) in the dungeon . This can be difficult given that these shadows are not guaranteed to drop items and some can be tough to encounter with any frequency . On top of this , you won't know ( without a guide ) exactly how many items you need to unlock a given piece of equipment . This is a small gripe , though , as the time you spend grinding for drops helps your characters stay on top of their game with yen and experience points flowing in as they battle . The game is difficult ( although not VERY difficult ) on the hardest mode and amazingly casual on the lowest . I predict that even a RPG beginner can clear the easy mode as long as they spent enough time grinding and collected / fused the top personas for their level . This game is solid and the story has to be experienced to be believed . If you think the modern world's problems pale in comparison to epic struggles of sword on shield , Persona 4 may just change your mind .
    • 044 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) This is the most amazing game ever created ! It combines every kind of game out there and roles it into a perfectly balanced experience . I couldn't put it down . Definitely a must ! Don't ask , BUY .
    • 045 4  This is the most amazing game ever created ! It combines every kind of game out there and roles it into a perfectly balanced experience . I couldn't put it down . Definitely a must ! Don't ask , BUY .
    • 046 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I'd long since fallen out of love with JRPGs . The silly , convoluted stories , the constant boring grinds just to get to a tiny snippet of story before having to go back to hours of random encounters . . . Then along came P4 , which changed all that . I resisted purchasing it for a good long while , because I'm used to people with more patience heaping praise on JRPGs , and I expected this game to be no different . Yet , after a watching a few videos , and having a few friends demand that I try it , I made the plunge , and I couldn't have been happier . The story is about as far away as one can get from traditional JRPG fare ( though the weird creature designs remain , but with good reason this time ) , and the combat is fast and furious , and beautiful to watch ( surprising for a PS2 game this late in the game ! ) . Combat still exists as leveling up dungeon crawls , but the way it is designed allows for this to be done in bite sized pieces before getting to take a day off for character development in the life sim , or other such things that constantly act like a carrot dangling in front of you . For fans of RPGs , this is an easy recommendation . Some may have a tough time dusting off their PS2s after firing up their next-gen consoles , but for those who crave gameplay and story over flashy graphics and hype it isn't a stretch to call the game Game of the Year material , and easly one of the best JRPGs to come along in over a decade . Highly recommended !
    • 047 4  I'd long since fallen out of love with JRPGs . The silly , convoluted stories , the constant boring grinds just to get to a tiny snippet of story before having to go back to hours of random encounters . . . Then along came P4 , which changed all that . I resisted purchasing it for a good long while , because I'm used to people with more patience heaping praise on JRPGs , and I expected this game to be no different . Yet , after a watching a few videos , and having a few friends demand that I try it , I made the plunge , and I couldn't have been happier . The story is about as far away as one can get from traditional JRPG fare ( though the weird creature designs remain , but with good reason this time ) , and the combat is fast and furious , and beautiful to watch ( surprising for a PS2 game this late in the game ! ) . Combat still exists as leveling up dungeon crawls , but the way it is designed allows for this to be done in bite sized pieces before getting to take a day off for character development in the life sim , or other such things that constantly act like a carrot dangling in front of you . For fans of RPGs , this is an easy recommendation . Some may have a tough time dusting off their PS2s after firing up their next-gen consoles , but for those who crave gameplay and story over flashy graphics and hype it isn't a stretch to call the game Game of the Year material , and easly one of the best JRPGs to come along in over a decade . Highly recommended !
    • 048 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Persona 4 is a great game . The graphics are great for a PS2 game and the voice acting is ok . The game starts off slow with a lot of video and not many choices for the 1st couple of hours . However , the opening sets up the plot for the game , and the plot the where the game shines brightest . The low point of P4 comes from the repetitive gameplay once you get into the middle of the game and have to start leveling your fighting skills . This may turn off those who are not used to Japanese RPG's or who are easily bored . For those who stick it out , the story told by the game is worth the time spent .
    • 050 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) After playing through both Persona 3 and Fez , I have become a big fan of the serious . I played through a little bit of P4 and have noticed a lot of little tweaks here and there - - ranging from battle / fusion to the social elements of the game . I have also found all the changes to be an improvement that has made the game even better . Don't worry , the challenge is still there ! Perhaps the last great RPG to hit the PS2 and one that will become a classic in my eyes in the years to come .
    • 051 4  After playing through both Persona 3 and Fez , I have become a big fan of the serious . I played through a little bit of P4 and have noticed a lot of little tweaks here and there - - ranging from battle / fusion to the social elements of the game . I have also found all the changes to be an improvement that has made the game even better . Don't worry , the challenge is still there ! Perhaps the last great RPG to hit the PS2 and one that will become a classic in my eyes in the years to come .
    • 054 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I was blown away when I first played Persona 3 , and then blown away yet again when P3 : FES came out . Because of this , I had high expectations for Persona 4 . Needless to say , not only did the game meet expectations , it exceeded them . This game has a few elements that the casual gamer might find difficult to pick up , and the day-to-day social activities might not appeal to some gamers . The translation for the game is spot on and the voice-actors fit the characters pretty well . I haven't stopped playing it since I received the game and it's been 70 + hours . All-in-all , this is a must have game for jrpg players .
    • 055 4  I was blown away when I first played Persona 3 , and then blown away yet again when P3 : FES came out . Because of this , I had high expectations for Persona 4 . Needless to say , not only did the game meet expectations , it exceeded them . This game has a few elements that the casual gamer might find difficult to pick up , and the day-to-day social activities might not appeal to some gamers . The translation for the game is spot on and the voice-actors fit the characters pretty well . I haven't stopped playing it since I received the game and it's been 70 + hours . All-in-all , this is a must have game for jrpg players .
    • 058 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I'll tell righ now , i have never played an Rpg this good.And i'll tell you i been around lots of rpgs ( ffx , ffx12 , dragon quest , xenosaga , kingdom hearts , star ocean , etc ) This game is the sequel to my former favorite game of all time Persona 3 Fes.It improves and does everything better than P3 . The story is more exciting and interesting.Battles are much more refined with an ability of having your teammate take a bloew for you that might otherwise kill you.Graphics slightly imrpove on P3 . The town is interesting to explore.The music is wonderful , best in game music ever.The Characters are much more down to earth then P3 i think.I mean these are people that are relateable to people in real life.If your a fan of Rpg's you must get this.In fact if your a fan of rpgs at all it's a requirement you get this.You won't be disapointed .
    • 060 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Persona 4 is so similar to its previous iteration that if not for the fact that you live in a house rather than a student dorm , you'd almost think you were playing the same game . That's not entirely true . The story this time around is vastly improved . Rather than There's a tower , lets explore . Why ? I dunno . That guy asked us to . Whys he want us to ? Dunno . Never asked . You're more a Scooby Doo gang , following on the heels of a murder mystery , in which people appear in a bizarre television broadcast before turning up dead , with nary a deus ex machina corporation or chairman in sight . You're dropped in the middle when a girl from your school whom you met the day after arriving is the latest victim . Any fan of the game will recognize and instantly fall in line with just about everything . THe Velet Room setup is similar , Margaret replaces the annoying robot from P3 , and now speaks with inflection in her voice . Dungeon crawls are more annoying , in that you have to buy return potions rather than having those warp points that I found useful . Various settings now replace the tower , and you're pursuing a person through them , rather than just seeing whats above the next staircase . The bonus system now only features Personas and penalties , which I find stupid . The bonus cards made the game a lot swifter , and made it worthwhile to grind that you might get a boatload of gold or some nifty gear , or bonus XP . Now its just turned a grind-a-thon into a grind-a-nom-a-thon-a-con . This is to be expected , but I still frowned after learning that feature had been cut . Characters have improved in this incarnation , and feel more like people , rather than archetypes . Junpei from P3 was supposed to embody the real person to help stave off the feeling that you are playing a game , and that quality has been extended to every main character this time around . You have the shy introvert sick of being dumped on by her parents , the quirky energetic girl you tries to overcome her personal fears with boundless energy , and the smart and also dumb slacker who manages to be friends with anyone . If that doesn't remind you of 3 people YOU knew in high school , it must've had less than 50 people . Social Links are a bit better put together , and advance under circumstances other than date after date after date . Overall , the game has improved . A couple aspects did not move in the direction of good , but those are more personal nits than anything . The setting is more realistic , with a better flow and feel . Personalities are better fleshed out . And the story has enough elements that're weird ore creepy you don't get a feeling of drudging along . And the best part is , you no longer wince every time you use your powers becuase it looks like you're blowing your brains out .
    • 061 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Persona 4 is so similar to its previous iteration that if not for the fact that you live in a house rather than a student dorm , you'd almost think you were playing the same game . That's not entirely true . The story this time around is vastly improved . Rather than There's a tower , lets explore . Why ? I dunno . That guy asked us to . Whys he want us to ? Dunno . Never asked . You're more a Scooby Doo gang , following on the heels of a murder mystery , in which people appear in a bizarre television broadcast before turning up dead , with nary a deus ex machina corporation or chairman in sight . You're dropped in the middle when a girl from your school whom you met the day after arriving is the latest victim . Any fan of the game will recognize and instantly fall in line with just about everything . THe Velet Room setup is similar , Margaret replaces the annoying robot from P3 , and now speaks with inflection in her voice . Dungeon crawls are more annoying , in that you have to buy return potions rather than having those warp points that I found useful . Various settings now replace the tower , and you're pursuing a person through them , rather than just seeing whats above the next staircase . The bonus system now only features Personas and penalties , which I find stupid . The bonus cards made the game a lot swifter , and made it worthwhile to grind that you might get a boatload of gold or some nifty gear , or bonus XP . Now its just turned a grind-a-thon into a grind-a-nom-a-thon-a-con . This is to be expected , but I still frowned after learning that feature had been cut . Characters have improved in this incarnation , and feel more like people , rather than archetypes . Junpei from P3 was supposed to embody the real person to help stave off the feeling that you are playing a game , and that quality has been extended to every main character this time around . You have the shy introvert sick of being dumped on by her parents , the quirky energetic girl you tries to overcome her personal fears with boundless energy , and the smart and also dumb slacker who manages to be friends with anyone . If that doesn't remind you of 3 people YOU knew in high school , it must've had less than 50 people . Social Links are a bit better put together , and advance under circumstances other than date after date after date . Overall , the game has improved . A couple aspects did not move in the direction of good , but those are more personal nits than anything . The setting is more realistic , with a better flow and feel . Personalities are better fleshed out . And the story has enough elements that're weird ore creepy you don't get a feeling of drudging along . And the best part is , you no longer wince every time you use your powers becuase it looks like you're blowing your brains out .
    • 062 4  Persona 4 is so similar to its previous iteration that if not for the fact that you live in a house rather than a student dorm , you'd almost think you were playing the same game . That's not entirely true . The story this time around is vastly improved . Rather than There's a tower , lets explore . Why ? I dunno . That guy asked us to . Whys he want us to ? Dunno . Never asked . You're more a Scooby Doo gang , following on the heels of a murder mystery , in which people appear in a bizarre television broadcast before turning up dead , with nary a deus ex machina corporation or chairman in sight . You're dropped in the middle when a girl from your school whom you met the day after arriving is the latest victim . Any fan of the game will recognize and instantly fall in line with just about everything . THe Velet Room setup is similar , Margaret replaces the annoying robot from P3 , and now speaks with inflection in her voice . Dungeon crawls are more annoying , in that you have to buy return potions rather than having those warp points that I found useful . Various settings now replace the tower , and you're pursuing a person through them , rather than just seeing whats above the next staircase . The bonus system now only features Personas and penalties , which I find stupid . The bonus cards made the game a lot swifter , and made it worthwhile to grind that you might get a boatload of gold or some nifty gear , or bonus XP . Now its just turned a grind-a-thon into a grind-a-nom-a-thon-a-con . This is to be expected , but I still frowned after learning that feature had been cut . Characters have improved in this incarnation , and feel more like people , rather than archetypes . Junpei from P3 was supposed to embody the real person to help stave off the feeling that you are playing a game , and that quality has been extended to every main character this time around . You have the shy introvert sick of being dumped on by her parents , the quirky energetic girl you tries to overcome her personal fears with boundless energy , and the smart and also dumb slacker who manages to be friends with anyone . If that doesn't remind you of 3 people YOU knew in high school , it must've had less than 50 people . Social Links are a bit better put together , and advance under circumstances other than date after date after date . Overall , the game has improved . A couple aspects did not move in the direction of good , but those are more personal nits than anything . The setting is more realistic , with a better flow and feel . Personalities are better fleshed out . And the story has enough elements that're weird ore creepy you don't get a feeling of drudging along . And the best part is , you no longer wince every time you use your powers becuase it looks like you're blowing your brains out .
    • 063 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I'm going to say it straight out : Persona 4 was the most fun RPG I've played on the PS2 . I've played Persona ( which I had mixed feelings about ) , and Persona 3 FES ( which I also had mixed feelings about ) , so initially , I had doubts about purchasing this game . However , it blew me away : it was SO good that after beating it , I turned around and played it again , simply to see all of the elements of the story fit together . But enough ; let's get to the meat of the review : THE GOOD : 1 ) Characters - I have never enjoyed the characters in a video game as much as I enjoyed the foul-mouthed high school kids of Persona . Excellent voice work , together with excellent translation , made for a one-of-a-kind experience . I actually cared about these characters , and that's amazing . 2 ) Story - very good for a video game . And when you think you've seen everything , there's more yet to see . 3 ) Mechanics - everything that was broken in Persona 3 ( combat , social links , etc . ) is fixed in Persona 4 . Kudos to the development team for working to improve the great ideas from the previous games . 4 ) Persona compendium - Yeah , I might be a little geeky here , but the compendium information acted as an excellent introduction to many religions , angelic lore , etc . While this was present in earlier games , I really grew to appreciate it here , since it was far more reasonable to complete it . 5 ) Extras - I really liked the art book sent with the game . In theory , I would have liked the CD as well , but see below . THE BAD : 1 ) Music - easily the most annoying music I've ever heard . It pained me to listen to it , over and over . 2 ) Dungeon design - The dungeons are repetitive . It's not as pronounced as Tartarus in P3 : FES , but it's still annoying . That's it . So in short , if you can get past the horrible music , prepare yourself for a wholly immersive RPG experience . I can count only a few times that a game has been this satisfying . Happy Gaming !
    • 064 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I'm going to say it straight out : Persona 4 was the most fun RPG I've played on the PS2 . I've played Persona ( which I had mixed feelings about ) , and Persona 3 FES ( which I also had mixed feelings about ) , so initially , I had doubts about purchasing this game . However , it blew me away : it was SO good that after beating it , I turned around and played it again , simply to see all of the elements of the story fit together . But enough ; let's get to the meat of the review : THE GOOD : 1 ) Characters - I have never enjoyed the characters in a video game as much as I enjoyed the foul-mouthed high school kids of Persona . Excellent voice work , together with excellent translation , made for a one-of-a-kind experience . I actually cared about these characters , and that's amazing . 2 ) Story - very good for a video game . And when you think you've seen everything , there's more yet to see . 3 ) Mechanics - everything that was broken in Persona 3 ( combat , social links , etc . ) is fixed in Persona 4 . Kudos to the development team for working to improve the great ideas from the previous games . 4 ) Persona compendium - Yeah , I might be a little geeky here , but the compendium information acted as an excellent introduction to many religions , angelic lore , etc . While this was present in earlier games , I really grew to appreciate it here , since it was far more reasonable to complete it . 5 ) Extras - I really liked the art book sent with the game . In theory , I would have liked the CD as well , but see below . THE BAD : 1 ) Music - easily the most annoying music I've ever heard . It pained me to listen to it , over and over . 2 ) Dungeon design - The dungeons are repetitive . It's not as pronounced as Tartarus in P3 : FES , but it's still annoying . That's it . So in short , if you can get past the horrible music , prepare yourself for a wholly immersive RPG experience . I can count only a few times that a game has been this satisfying . Happy Gaming !
    • 065 4  I'm going to say it straight out : Persona 4 was the most fun RPG I've played on the PS2 . I've played Persona ( which I had mixed feelings about ) , and Persona 3 FES ( which I also had mixed feelings about ) , so initially , I had doubts about purchasing this game . However , it blew me away : it was SO good that after beating it , I turned around and played it again , simply to see all of the elements of the story fit together . But enough ; let's get to the meat of the review : THE GOOD : 1 ) Characters - I have never enjoyed the characters in a video game as much as I enjoyed the foul-mouthed high school kids of Persona . Excellent voice work , together with excellent translation , made for a one-of-a-kind experience . I actually cared about these characters , and that's amazing . 2 ) Story - very good for a video game . And when you think you've seen everything , there's more yet to see . 3 ) Mechanics - everything that was broken in Persona 3 ( combat , social links , etc . ) is fixed in Persona 4 . Kudos to the development team for working to improve the great ideas from the previous games . 4 ) Persona compendium - Yeah , I might be a little geeky here , but the compendium information acted as an excellent introduction to many religions , angelic lore , etc . While this was present in earlier games , I really grew to appreciate it here , since it was far more reasonable to complete it . 5 ) Extras - I really liked the art book sent with the game . In theory , I would have liked the CD as well , but see below . THE BAD : 1 ) Music - easily the most annoying music I've ever heard . It pained me to listen to it , over and over . 2 ) Dungeon design - The dungeons are repetitive . It's not as pronounced as Tartarus in P3 : FES , but it's still annoying . That's it . So in short , if you can get past the horrible music , prepare yourself for a wholly immersive RPG experience . I can count only a few times that a game has been this satisfying . Happy Gaming !
    • 066 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Pros : + Incredibly deep storyline + Well recognized art style + Very well written story + Fairly good voice acting + Great soundtrack + Improvements in the battle system are welcome + All around absorbing gameplay Cons : - Sometimes you'll feel the pacing needs work The market for JRPGs is pretty crowded when it comes to the Playstation 2 . There are a multitude to choose from . If you must pick up one JRPG for your Playstation 2 , however , it should be Persona 4 . Just when it seems like we should send the Playstation 2 off , along comes a game that makes it worth playing again . The Persona games , in particular , are known for their incredibly absorbing and mature storylines . This one plays out a lot like a murder mystery that you and your allies must solve . It begins fairly slowly but it's a lot more complex than simply trying to solve murders and mysterious disappearances . This isn't your typical JRPG . It's a pretty dark game with some heavy themes . But for the most part the presentation is very well done . It takes a moment to really take off and get going , but when it does you'll find it to be like a ride you never want to end . It's a deep and enticing story filled with rich characters . The dialog is well written and has its own charms to help Persona 4 stand out as easily one of the best RPGs ever made . Part of solving things is getting yourself into the Midnight Channel . Your characters will have to go into the Midnight Channel and rescue missing people . You'll have to be weary , though . As changes in the weather can have a pretty big impact on things . You must go into the Midnight Channel and save someone before the fog comes or else they will succumb to death . At its core , Persona 4 plays very similar to Persona 3 . You'll go roaming around dungeons that are swarming with enemies . Battles are contact based , but you'll find yourself wanting to battle . It's surprisingly addictive to do so . The battle system itself is pretty easy to learn as it's very straightforward . If you've played Persona 3 it isn't really that different . One of the biggest problems with Persona 3 was the inability to control other party members in combat . This resulted in some of them doing things that could potentially do more harm to you in the long run than help . You can actually control everything that goes in in battle in Persona 4 . Persona 4 also isn't really a hard game . You might have trouble with bosses but for the most part it's a lot easier to plow through than the previous installment . Of course , you're not always spending time in the Midnight Channel . You have a life to lead outside of that as a student , and that's fairly important as well . This helps to really flesh out Persona 4 ' s character development as you have to also be a student . Yet this plays a very large part in the game . As a student you have stats that are helpful in forging other relationships with characters . You'll want to improve your social status as well . It can have plenty of benefits to you in combat . The only real problem with the student life mechanic has more to do with the pacing of the game itself . Persona 4 is a very absorbing and breathtaking story , but there are times when you wish it would speed up or pace a little faster . As much as living the student life can be interesting it isn't nearly as rewarding as the Midnight Channel . At the very least , though , Persona 4 is a very deep and complex game . The visual style of Persona is very unique . There are some animated cutscenes which are just astounding to watch , but the art style in and of itself is worth noting as well . It doesn't take the Playstation 2 to its limits , but it's art over substance approach help it out a little . The environments are quite pretty to look at and the game , for the most part , runs pretty consistently . The battle animations are pretty solid and fluid . The music is also very stylish and fits perfectly with the rest of the game . The voice acting isn't the greatest but it isn't too annoying . The only thing that has the potential to hold Persona 4 back is the pace at which the story moves along . This is actually pretty easy to forgive , however , as you'll probably be too busy forming and improving your social status and battling to care too much that the story is sometimes moving a bit too slow . Other than that one small problem , Persona 4 is a good enough reason to bring out your Playstation 2 for one last JRPG experience . Persona 4 is a masterpiece that isn't to be missed by any JRPG lover .
    • 068 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) It's becoming ever more apparent that the PS2 ' s days are numbered , but just like they did last year , Atlus has delivered once again . Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 continues what Persona 3 ( and Persona 3 FES ) started in completely re-inventing the RPG series , and while it doesn't leave quite as large an impact upon the gamer as the last game , Persona 4 is a brilliant game in it's own right . After meeting up with your group , strange killings begin to happen , leading you into being able to travel into the mysterious Midnight Channel , where you are able to unleash personae and navigate randomly generated dungeons . While the dungeon floors aren't nearly as deep as the last time around , the game is all the more fresher because of it , and once again you're entrusted in keeping up relationships and personal growth in order to succeed during combat . The characters and story are deeply developed , the combat is fun , and the multiple themed dungeons are inventive , varied , and beg to be explored . If there's any drawbacks to the game , it's some occasional camera issues , and the fact that presentation wise , virtually nothing has changed since the last game . That aside , Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 is an engaging , addictive , and brilliant RPG that offers so much to keep you occupied , and may very well be the last , great game we'll see on the PS2 . If indeed it is , what a way to go out .
    • 069 4  It's becoming ever more apparent that the PS2 ' s days are numbered , but just like they did last year , Atlus has delivered once again . Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 continues what Persona 3 ( and Persona 3 FES ) started in completely re-inventing the RPG series , and while it doesn't leave quite as large an impact upon the gamer as the last game , Persona 4 is a brilliant game in it's own right . After meeting up with your group , strange killings begin to happen , leading you into being able to travel into the mysterious Midnight Channel , where you are able to unleash personae and navigate randomly generated dungeons . While the dungeon floors aren't nearly as deep as the last time around , the game is all the more fresher because of it , and once again you're entrusted in keeping up relationships and personal growth in order to succeed during combat . The characters and story are deeply developed , the combat is fun , and the multiple themed dungeons are inventive , varied , and beg to be explored . If there's any drawbacks to the game , it's some occasional camera issues , and the fact that presentation wise , virtually nothing has changed since the last game . That aside , Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 is an engaging , addictive , and brilliant RPG that offers so much to keep you occupied , and may very well be the last , great game we'll see on the PS2 . If indeed it is , what a way to go out .
    • 070 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) The Good : I'm honestly not sure where to start . I'm tempted to say Everything that isn't listed in the ' Bad ' category , but that would be poor form indeed ! Graphically the game is consistent in its presentation , and stylish in the extreme . Whether you're speaking of backgrounds , characters , or menus , the entire game is lavishly detailed and animated to an extent few games will ever aspire to . The game's striking gold / black motif is shoved in your face from the very first screen , but it is so tastefully handled it never seems obtrusive - - on the contrary , the quirky color choices in the game ( slate / orange for text boxes , red / black for shadow effects , etc ) add to the game's already generous ' flavor . ' I really don't have a better word to describe it at the moment . The game's pace ebbs and flows fairly predictably , with trips through dungeons eventually being sublimated by class trips , dates , and frequent romps through town strengthening your social connections . There are a few distinct sequences that are heavy on action , or dialog , but those are few and far between . Expect to drop 70 - 80 hours if you want to finish the game with an appreciable level of completion . To me , that means best ending + most ( but not all ) social ranks maxxed . Combat is quick , and has a smooth flow that makes it seem dangerous without seeming tedious . Too short , and the encounters seem like tedium that artificially inflates the game's lifespan . Too long , and the encounters become stale , drawn out experiences that players dread . P4 manages to strike a pleasant balance between the extremes , aided by the ability to easily escape or outright evade enemies entirely . The character abilities are well balanced , and grow in strength steadily and predictably . Item drops occur at an acceptable level to ensure a steady , yet carefully restricted , flow of cash . The localization , voice acting , and dialog ( in general ) are beyond reproach . In the world of video games , this one hit the ball out of the park , and into the parking garage across the street . Every time something disappointed me , five more things would crop up that took my breath away . That's how this game can pull off a five star rating , despite having several glaring detractors . A rarity , indeed ! The Bad : The game starts out slowly . So slowly , in fact , that I spent nearly two hours getting through the game's long introductory sequences , and actually entering one of the many dungeons . This was an immediate letdown since I was expecting something more complex than a simple Rogue-like , but eventually I learned to tolerate it , and actually enjoy it at times . As a game designer I find that statement exceptionally difficult to spit out , as my general practice is to shelve a game when it presents me with such a serious disappointment . My backlog of games is numerous , and there's really no reason to stick with something that is under-performing in this day and age . Nevertheless , something told me to push forward , and my perseverance was rewarded with a rich tapestry of character interaction , and a serviceable story to boot . Randomly generated dungeons aren't my cup of tea , as they almost universally lack sufficient creativity and expression to breath life into important game environments . When you're ( figuratively ) fighting for your life , you don't want it to be in a bland environment that is largely identical to everything else you've seen lately . P4 doesn't do much to break this mould , but at least there are a few dungeons in the game that are static . . . and those are much more inventive and enjoyable . I'd like to state for the record that forcing a Game Over when the main character falls in battle , even when others are present who can revive him , is a dick move that I seldom tolerate . Again , this is an example of a cheap design decision that is wholly overcome by general excellence everywhere else in the game . Folks , this doesn't happen very often in the world of gaming . The Bottom Line : As long as you can stomach several novels worth of dialog , buy it . Your patience will be rewarded . As was said by a more eloquent gent than I : I left my heart in Inaba . Indeed .
    • 071 4  The Good : I'm honestly not sure where to start . I'm tempted to say Everything that isn't listed in the ' Bad ' category , but that would be poor form indeed ! Graphically the game is consistent in its presentation , and stylish in the extreme . Whether you're speaking of backgrounds , characters , or menus , the entire game is lavishly detailed and animated to an extent few games will ever aspire to . The game's striking gold / black motif is shoved in your face from the very first screen , but it is so tastefully handled it never seems obtrusive - - on the contrary , the quirky color choices in the game ( slate / orange for text boxes , red / black for shadow effects , etc ) add to the game's already generous ' flavor . ' I really don't have a better word to describe it at the moment . The game's pace ebbs and flows fairly predictably , with trips through dungeons eventually being sublimated by class trips , dates , and frequent romps through town strengthening your social connections . There are a few distinct sequences that are heavy on action , or dialog , but those are few and far between . Expect to drop 70 - 80 hours if you want to finish the game with an appreciable level of completion . To me , that means best ending + most ( but not all ) social ranks maxxed . Combat is quick , and has a smooth flow that makes it seem dangerous without seeming tedious . Too short , and the encounters seem like tedium that artificially inflates the game's lifespan . Too long , and the encounters become stale , drawn out experiences that players dread . P4 manages to strike a pleasant balance between the extremes , aided by the ability to easily escape or outright evade enemies entirely . The character abilities are well balanced , and grow in strength steadily and predictably . Item drops occur at an acceptable level to ensure a steady , yet carefully restricted , flow of cash . The localization , voice acting , and dialog ( in general ) are beyond reproach . In the world of video games , this one hit the ball out of the park , and into the parking garage across the street . Every time something disappointed me , five more things would crop up that took my breath away . That's how this game can pull off a five star rating , despite having several glaring detractors . A rarity , indeed ! The Bad : The game starts out slowly . So slowly , in fact , that I spent nearly two hours getting through the game's long introductory sequences , and actually entering one of the many dungeons . This was an immediate letdown since I was expecting something more complex than a simple Rogue-like , but eventually I learned to tolerate it , and actually enjoy it at times . As a game designer I find that statement exceptionally difficult to spit out , as my general practice is to shelve a game when it presents me with such a serious disappointment . My backlog of games is numerous , and there's really no reason to stick with something that is under-performing in this day and age . Nevertheless , something told me to push forward , and my perseverance was rewarded with a rich tapestry of character interaction , and a serviceable story to boot . Randomly generated dungeons aren't my cup of tea , as they almost universally lack sufficient creativity and expression to breath life into important game environments . When you're ( figuratively ) fighting for your life , you don't want it to be in a bland environment that is largely identical to everything else you've seen lately . P4 doesn't do much to break this mould , but at least there are a few dungeons in the game that are static . . . and those are much more inventive and enjoyable . I'd like to state for the record that forcing a Game Over when the main character falls in battle , even when others are present who can revive him , is a dick move that I seldom tolerate . Again , this is an example of a cheap design decision that is wholly overcome by general excellence everywhere else in the game . Folks , this doesn't happen very often in the world of gaming . The Bottom Line : As long as you can stomach several novels worth of dialog , buy it . Your patience will be rewarded . As was said by a more eloquent gent than I : I left my heart in Inaba . Indeed .
    • 072 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Can't wait to play Street Fighter 4 and Fallout 3 but for now . . . Persona 4 . So before I start my review . I've been playing RPGs since I was 5 , I'm currently in my mid 20s . Right off the bat if you're a hardcore RPG fan then you will love this game . If you're into fighting and FPS this probably is not the game for you unless you want to take a break from another genre . I read a lot of reviews before I bought this game and was really excited about the concept of social linking and fusing special characters . The only thing that turned me off about the game from reviews were comments about 2 - 4 hours of cut scenes . Just the thought of that was a deal breaker . But I bought the game anyway . So here's the thing that was misleading about the 2 - 4 hour cut scene comments . Yes you might not get a chance to battle anything within the first 2 hours ( NOT 4 hours ) . BUT , you do get to control the character , and that time is actually spent making friends , learning the layout of the city , and going to school . I was relieved and the 2hours went by very quickly as you're constantly doing things , not sitting around watching cut scenes only . As you play this game though , 2 hours will fly by quickly during any day you play . I've already logged 87 hours of game play . And this is just my first play through , you have to play it twice to fully beat the game . And the second time around you do get to keep certain skills and equipment which make the game experience difference . I don't really think that's a plot spoiler . If I could change anything about the game it would be the amount of activities you could do in one day . More would be better . Two I wish that the game lasted longer than one school year , how about the entire 4 years if you're hardcore enough to put the time in . Can you imagine doing a 2nd play through after 4 years in the game world ? What'd that be ? 800 hours ? HAHA . Count me out , but it would be cool . Besides that there's not too much I'd change about this game . Maybe make some of the steamier scenes a little more graphic ; ) ! Overall , its pretty kid safe , I'd say 13 and up . My girlfriend loves the story line so when I'm not in the dungeons she watches me play for hours cause we get wrapped up into it . I have to say I've been VERY disappointed lately by the RPGs being offered on consoles . And this has been the first GREAT RPG since Final Fantasy 7 , 10 and Shinmue 2 . Anyone ever played Crystalis for the NES ? Loved that game . And don't worry I only play this game 3 nights a week . : )
    • 073 4  Can't wait to play Street Fighter 4 and Fallout 3 but for now . . . Persona 4 . So before I start my review . I've been playing RPGs since I was 5 , I'm currently in my mid 20s . Right off the bat if you're a hardcore RPG fan then you will love this game . If you're into fighting and FPS this probably is not the game for you unless you want to take a break from another genre . I read a lot of reviews before I bought this game and was really excited about the concept of social linking and fusing special characters . The only thing that turned me off about the game from reviews were comments about 2 - 4 hours of cut scenes . Just the thought of that was a deal breaker . But I bought the game anyway . So here's the thing that was misleading about the 2 - 4 hour cut scene comments . Yes you might not get a chance to battle anything within the first 2 hours ( NOT 4 hours ) . BUT , you do get to control the character , and that time is actually spent making friends , learning the layout of the city , and going to school . I was relieved and the 2hours went by very quickly as you're constantly doing things , not sitting around watching cut scenes only . As you play this game though , 2 hours will fly by quickly during any day you play . I've already logged 87 hours of game play . And this is just my first play through , you have to play it twice to fully beat the game . And the second time around you do get to keep certain skills and equipment which make the game experience difference . I don't really think that's a plot spoiler . If I could change anything about the game it would be the amount of activities you could do in one day . More would be better . Two I wish that the game lasted longer than one school year , how about the entire 4 years if you're hardcore enough to put the time in . Can you imagine doing a 2nd play through after 4 years in the game world ? What'd that be ? 800 hours ? HAHA . Count me out , but it would be cool . Besides that there's not too much I'd change about this game . Maybe make some of the steamier scenes a little more graphic ; ) ! Overall , its pretty kid safe , I'd say 13 and up . My girlfriend loves the story line so when I'm not in the dungeons she watches me play for hours cause we get wrapped up into it . I have to say I've been VERY disappointed lately by the RPGs being offered on consoles . And this has been the first GREAT RPG since Final Fantasy 7 , 10 and Shinmue 2 . Anyone ever played Crystalis for the NES ? Loved that game . And don't worry I only play this game 3 nights a week . : )
    • 074 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Great game . Recommended . Although if your not a fan of Shin Megami Tensei games this may turn you off . Otherwise buy before it runs out and you have to get it on ebay for really expensive .
    • 078 4  Before i do this , just because this game is a JRPG , doesn't mean that it sucks . Like Final Fantasy . Now the order i received from an amazon seller was screwed up , so i got another from Goozex , which was fine . The gameplay in this RPG is near perfect , a problem is you can keep on spamming the 1 More option , but that makes battles shorter , so it isnt a hassle . The story is well done , and during one part of the game , you have to decide on some choices carefully if you don't want the bad ending , and its easy to mess up . Sound and soundtrack is good . Since this is part of the Shin Megami Tensei series , you'll be surprised it has TWO good endings . The characters stories during their S-Links are extremely well done and makes them a bit human , not just another character you can use an dispose of . The villians purpose is partially based on hints of nihilism , due to the want in human's hearts ( but their views can be altered by you and two other characters choices in the game . ) and they aren't Nietzsche Wannabes . Final Line : Great game , but may be too optimistic . And if optimism is too much for you , get Persona 3 , SMT III : Nocturne , or any other addition of the SMT series .
    • 079 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Persona 4 is the most recent entry in Atlus's Persona series . It takes place in a small town in Japan called Inaba where a bunch of bizzarre , supernatural murders occur . The player takes on the role of a silent protagonist who together with his friends decide to solve the murder mystery and stop the killer . The game is split between a social sim where the player explores the town of Inaba , takes on part-time jobs after school and hangs out with friends . These relationships form Social Links which provide bonuses when creating new Personas in the Velvet Room . The other part of the game is dungeon crawling in the Midnight Channel . Battles are based on exploiting enemies weaknesses to knock them down . When all enemies are down the party can launch an all-out attack and end the battles quickly . The game is really made by the characters . They're likeable and memorable and make the game very satisfying . The mystery is intriguing and will leave you guessing right up to the end . The only reservation I have with it is the length . It can take 80 + hours to complete which can be a bit much . There's also a New Game + which lets you carry over certain things to play a second time . Which you may want to do to see and do everything . Persona 4 is worth a look for any RPG fan and a good point of entry into the Shin Megami Tensei series .
    • 080 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Persona 4 is the most recent entry in Atlus's Persona series . It takes place in a small town in Japan called Inaba where a bunch of bizzarre , supernatural murders occur . The player takes on the role of a silent protagonist who together with his friends decide to solve the murder mystery and stop the killer . The game is split between a social sim where the player explores the town of Inaba , takes on part-time jobs after school and hangs out with friends . These relationships form Social Links which provide bonuses when creating new Personas in the Velvet Room . The other part of the game is dungeon crawling in the Midnight Channel . Battles are based on exploiting enemies weaknesses to knock them down . When all enemies are down the party can launch an all-out attack and end the battles quickly . The game is really made by the characters . They're likeable and memorable and make the game very satisfying . The mystery is intriguing and will leave you guessing right up to the end . The only reservation I have with it is the length . It can take 80 + hours to complete which can be a bit much . There's also a New Game + which lets you carry over certain things to play a second time . Which you may want to do to see and do everything . Persona 4 is worth a look for any RPG fan and a good point of entry into the Shin Megami Tensei series .
    • 081 4  Persona 4 is the most recent entry in Atlus's Persona series . It takes place in a small town in Japan called Inaba where a bunch of bizzarre , supernatural murders occur . The player takes on the role of a silent protagonist who together with his friends decide to solve the murder mystery and stop the killer . The game is split between a social sim where the player explores the town of Inaba , takes on part-time jobs after school and hangs out with friends . These relationships form Social Links which provide bonuses when creating new Personas in the Velvet Room . The other part of the game is dungeon crawling in the Midnight Channel . Battles are based on exploiting enemies weaknesses to knock them down . When all enemies are down the party can launch an all-out attack and end the battles quickly . The game is really made by the characters . They're likeable and memorable and make the game very satisfying . The mystery is intriguing and will leave you guessing right up to the end . The only reservation I have with it is the length . It can take 80 + hours to complete which can be a bit much . There's also a New Game + which lets you carry over certain things to play a second time . Which you may want to do to see and do everything . Persona 4 is worth a look for any RPG fan and a good point of entry into the Shin Megami Tensei series .
    • 082 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I don ; t need to write a letter about this games since others already did . I have never played Persona before , and I can say it was great , great story , great music ! Persona 3 and 4 along Hack GU are the best games I have played in regards of these 2 features ( story and music ) oh and Legend of the Dragoon .
    • 083 4  I don ; t need to write a letter about this games since others already did . I have never played Persona before , and I can say it was great , great story , great music ! Persona 3 and 4 along Hack GU are the best games I have played in regards of these 2 features ( story and music ) oh and Legend of the Dragoon .
    • 084 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) This was my first try at any of the ' Shin Megami Tensei ' series , Persona or otherwise , and I've got to say that it wildly exceeded my expectations . The characters are lovable and well-written , and getting to know all of their stories through the Social Links is a very rewarding and addictive experience . The combat half of the gameplay was pleasantly challenging , requiring a notably high level of tactical thinking and effort to get through . The graphics are very nice for a PS2 game , and the voice acting . . . my God , the voice acting . The cast list reads like a who's-who of voice actors , and they're all at the top of their form . It's just ' great ' . All told , I really can't think of a single thing to complain about , other than that it was too short ! They promise you a year , but then they cut you off at December when the game started in April ! I could have used those extra months to get to know the Basketball team better , dammit !
    • 085 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) This was my first try at any of the ' Shin Megami Tensei ' series , Persona or otherwise , and I've got to say that it wildly exceeded my expectations . The characters are lovable and well-written , and getting to know all of their stories through the Social Links is a very rewarding and addictive experience . The combat half of the gameplay was pleasantly challenging , requiring a notably high level of tactical thinking and effort to get through . The graphics are very nice for a PS2 game , and the voice acting . . . my God , the voice acting . The cast list reads like a who's-who of voice actors , and they're all at the top of their form . It's just ' great ' . All told , I really can't think of a single thing to complain about , other than that it was too short ! They promise you a year , but then they cut you off at December when the game started in April ! I could have used those extra months to get to know the Basketball team better , dammit !
    • 086 4  This was my first try at any of the ' Shin Megami Tensei ' series , Persona or otherwise , and I've got to say that it wildly exceeded my expectations . The characters are lovable and well-written , and getting to know all of their stories through the Social Links is a very rewarding and addictive experience . The combat half of the gameplay was pleasantly challenging , requiring a notably high level of tactical thinking and effort to get through . The graphics are very nice for a PS2 game , and the voice acting . . . my God , the voice acting . The cast list reads like a who's-who of voice actors , and they're all at the top of their form . It's just ' great ' . All told , I really can't think of a single thing to complain about , other than that it was too short ! They promise you a year , but then they cut you off at December when the game started in April ! I could have used those extra months to get to know the Basketball team better , dammit !
    • 087 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I haven't been able to play very far into this game yet seeing as I'm still working on P3 FES . It is very fun so far and you will not be disappointed . Atlus is an amazing company and I hope they keep up the good work ! i'd recommend this game to any RPG fan . BUY IT NOW ! ! ! : )
    • 088 4  I haven't been able to play very far into this game yet seeing as I'm still working on P3 FES . It is very fun so far and you will not be disappointed . Atlus is an amazing company and I hope they keep up the good work ! i'd recommend this game to any RPG fan . BUY IT NOW ! ! ! : )
    • 089 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) After waiting an eternity for this game I can say I am glad I waited . Persona 4 is a fantastic game that gets you hooked right from the start . It's an RPG that has a close to home feeling to it , since You are a high school student and have to build relationships with friends and what not . The story is a bit weird but here it is : You are a high school student who discovers that on any rainy day , at exactly midnight you can hear murders happening . The interesting part ? The murders happen inside another dimension , only accessible by walking through your TV . After entering the alternate dimension , you must traverse a randomly generated dungeon fighting random bad guys until you reach the end for a final showdown . You can take two partners and on top of that helpers called Persona . The battles are final fantasy style and turn based . There's also an intricate Persona Fusion system . Pick two or more Persona and they will , more than likely , Fuse to make a new , more powerful Persona . You won't be fighting bad guys all the time though . You also have to go to school and make friends and attend classes . Building strong relationships is just as important as saving people from becoming murder victims . You must be committed to going to school from Monday through Saturday and every Night going and saving the next victim in the alternate dimension . There's some stodgy camera work in the dungeons obscuring your view at points but this is very minor . On Sundays in the game , you can do what ever you want until midnight , then it's back to the alternate dimension for you . The game provides a decent challenge , but nothing so difficult that you'll want to bash the TV into a wall and snap the game disk in half . The game does take commitment and without it you can't thoroughly enjoy the game . All I can say at this point to summarize this review is BUY IT RIGHT NOW ! ! !
    • 091 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Once my favorite genre , JRPGs became really dull and repetitive and I about gave up on them . I more or less stumbled upon this game after seeing all the good online reviews and the one from a popular video game review show . I figured why not and gave it a chance ? This game has the best cast of characters of any game I have ever played . They are simply the most likeable , fun , and real characters I have ever seen in a game . Normally the silent protagonist thing irks me , but you are frequently given choices as to what he will say or do , and it really makes feel like you , the player , are the main character in the game . Imagine that . A role playing game where you play a role ! You really get to know everyone over the very long time you will be playing this game - - close to 100 hours . Each character has a very well defined personality . The game is full of downright hilarious hijinks particularly during school events . The amazing thing is that this game does not drag on or become a level grind . You spend half the time leading a somewhat normal life of going to school , hanging out with friends and investigating the main mystery . It can actually be overwhelming how much stuff you can do and you have to choose what you can fit into your day . The other half , dungeon crawling , is surprisingly fun and the battle system works very well . The acting for the voice overs is seriously some of the best in any rpg let alone video game . Good thing too , cause there sure is a lot of it . Atlus really put a lot of effort into localizing this . Another more famous company - - cough SquareEnix cough - - should learn something about this . There are only a few drawbacks . First the game starts out very slow with ample character introductions . Once you enter the Midnight Channel though the game really picks up . Second is the game can be downright hard on the normal difficulty . No sweat though , when you start the game choose the Beginner difficulty ; it won't be a cakewalk on this level , but using your brain to stratagize is a good thing . I picked up Persona 3 FES and hope to have as memorable an experience as I did with this .
    • 092 4  Once my favorite genre , JRPGs became really dull and repetitive and I about gave up on them . I more or less stumbled upon this game after seeing all the good online reviews and the one from a popular video game review show . I figured why not and gave it a chance ? This game has the best cast of characters of any game I have ever played . They are simply the most likeable , fun , and real characters I have ever seen in a game . Normally the silent protagonist thing irks me , but you are frequently given choices as to what he will say or do , and it really makes feel like you , the player , are the main character in the game . Imagine that . A role playing game where you play a role ! You really get to know everyone over the very long time you will be playing this game - - close to 100 hours . Each character has a very well defined personality . The game is full of downright hilarious hijinks particularly during school events . The amazing thing is that this game does not drag on or become a level grind . You spend half the time leading a somewhat normal life of going to school , hanging out with friends and investigating the main mystery . It can actually be overwhelming how much stuff you can do and you have to choose what you can fit into your day . The other half , dungeon crawling , is surprisingly fun and the battle system works very well . The acting for the voice overs is seriously some of the best in any rpg let alone video game . Good thing too , cause there sure is a lot of it . Atlus really put a lot of effort into localizing this . Another more famous company - - cough SquareEnix cough - - should learn something about this . There are only a few drawbacks . First the game starts out very slow with ample character introductions . Once you enter the Midnight Channel though the game really picks up . Second is the game can be downright hard on the normal difficulty . No sweat though , when you start the game choose the Beginner difficulty ; it won't be a cakewalk on this level , but using your brain to stratagize is a good thing . I picked up Persona 3 FES and hope to have as memorable an experience as I did with this .
    • 093 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Today , I finished one of the better RPGs I have played in my short life . I've been playing RPGs since I was twelve and have since searched to find those that would quench my thirst in terms of story , gameplay , music , and overall development . Persona 4 was one of the few of these which I found . + I was skeptical at first . The cartoonish appearance didn't quite appeal to me . Little did I know within the first couple hours of gameplay there'd be less cartoon business and much serious business . The story is set in a small Japanese town , Inaba . The story follows the silent protagonist in his quest to solve a series of murders , save the inhabitants of Inaba , and catch the killer within a year . The plot is elaborate . The creators of the game leave clues everywhere but use common snares in order to throw the protagonist and the player off course with ease . There are several twists , but they are built upon the long series of days spent within the game rather then occur randomly to poorly enhance the story . Rather , each twist adds character to the story and furthers the mystery . + The story also allows for a lot of character development using a system known as Social Links . This system not only allows the player to learn more about the characters within Persona 4 , but it also enhances the power of your characters and the protagonist . Character development is one of the strongest assets of this game . Very few games I have ever played take as much time to get to know the characters as this one does . + The battle system is incredibly fun , though difficult . While players will strive to level up their characters , if one is to survive within the world of Persona 4 , they must also learn enemies ' weaknesses in order to maintain the full control of the battle system . + Music plays a key role in enhancing the game as well . The music adds to the mystery as several tracks are used to define moments within the game which almost speak for the dialogue of the characters . Overall , Persona 4 is a game that is based primarily on story and character development . The battle system , the Social Links , and the music all add to the overall satisfaction which is Persona 4 .
    • 094 4  Today , I finished one of the better RPGs I have played in my short life . I've been playing RPGs since I was twelve and have since searched to find those that would quench my thirst in terms of story , gameplay , music , and overall development . Persona 4 was one of the few of these which I found . + I was skeptical at first . The cartoonish appearance didn't quite appeal to me . Little did I know within the first couple hours of gameplay there'd be less cartoon business and much serious business . The story is set in a small Japanese town , Inaba . The story follows the silent protagonist in his quest to solve a series of murders , save the inhabitants of Inaba , and catch the killer within a year . The plot is elaborate . The creators of the game leave clues everywhere but use common snares in order to throw the protagonist and the player off course with ease . There are several twists , but they are built upon the long series of days spent within the game rather then occur randomly to poorly enhance the story . Rather , each twist adds character to the story and furthers the mystery . + The story also allows for a lot of character development using a system known as Social Links . This system not only allows the player to learn more about the characters within Persona 4 , but it also enhances the power of your characters and the protagonist . Character development is one of the strongest assets of this game . Very few games I have ever played take as much time to get to know the characters as this one does . + The battle system is incredibly fun , though difficult . While players will strive to level up their characters , if one is to survive within the world of Persona 4 , they must also learn enemies ' weaknesses in order to maintain the full control of the battle system . + Music plays a key role in enhancing the game as well . The music adds to the mystery as several tracks are used to define moments within the game which almost speak for the dialogue of the characters . Overall , Persona 4 is a game that is based primarily on story and character development . The battle system , the Social Links , and the music all add to the overall satisfaction which is Persona 4 .
    • 095 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I Loved the game and the sound track , but in the end it came a very close 2nd to Persona 3 . The story line was great but I wish they had done away with the whole silent protaginist thing . I mean he's the hero of the story , make him say something ! ! ! Also when your doing the LINKS its frustrating as hell since you have to save just before in case they don't go up at all and you end up wasting your day . Also , I wish you could get more diverse with the romance in the game . I mean by the end of the game you choose a girlfriend and then nothing really happens to change the mechanics of the game or the scences that follow . it should be alot earlier , also considering all the gay themes it would have been funny if you could have picked guys for romance too , at least in my opinion .
    • 096 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I Loved the game and the sound track , but in the end it came a very close 2nd to Persona 3 . The story line was great but I wish they had done away with the whole silent protaginist thing . I mean he's the hero of the story , make him say something ! ! ! Also when your doing the LINKS its frustrating as hell since you have to save just before in case they don't go up at all and you end up wasting your day . Also , I wish you could get more diverse with the romance in the game . I mean by the end of the game you choose a girlfriend and then nothing really happens to change the mechanics of the game or the scences that follow . it should be alot earlier , also considering all the gay themes it would have been funny if you could have picked guys for romance too , at least in my opinion .
    • 098 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Persona 4 belongs in the conversation of upper echelon RPGs in the Playstation 2 catalogue ( no hyperbole intended . ) RPGS are known for their inaccessibility ; they often cater to a niche market . Sequels can be intimidating for new comers but Persona 4 gets rid of many potential gameplay mechanics that could otherwise be a realization for tentative gamers . Persona 4 combines elements of the dating / social-simulation genre , elements of a dungeon crawler , and monster raising . These monsters are called Personae , the embodiment of facets of the character's personality . The game does a great job of fusing these different gameplay elements together . The definite recommendation does not come from gameplay alone but rather presentation . This game is slick ! The atmosphere feels very modern , and trendy . The characters are quirky yet likable , reflecting the personality of their surroundings . The game is like a comic book in how it moves quickly from scene to scene . My main complaint - and this also is true of its predecessor , Persona 3 - - is that the game pacing is deceiving at first . It takes about thirty minutes to an hour before you are plunged into the game . It is true that the context of the story needs to be established ( neither can I offer an ample alternative to what the developers have chosen . ) The game makes an assumption that you will stick with the game for more then an hour ( and I assume with the current economic downturn you probably will . ) Persona 4 is a great title this late in the Playstation 2 development cycle . The game is relatively attractive and plays great . Truthfully , game sales should not dictate the legacy of a game . Persona 4 can easily go toe-to-toe with any of the hard hitters in the Playstation 2 catalogue .
    • 099 4  Persona 4 belongs in the conversation of upper echelon RPGs in the Playstation 2 catalogue ( no hyperbole intended . ) RPGS are known for their inaccessibility ; they often cater to a niche market . Sequels can be intimidating for new comers but Persona 4 gets rid of many potential gameplay mechanics that could otherwise be a realization for tentative gamers . Persona 4 combines elements of the dating / social-simulation genre , elements of a dungeon crawler , and monster raising . These monsters are called Personae , the embodiment of facets of the character's personality . The game does a great job of fusing these different gameplay elements together . The definite recommendation does not come from gameplay alone but rather presentation . This game is slick ! The atmosphere feels very modern , and trendy . The characters are quirky yet likable , reflecting the personality of their surroundings . The game is like a comic book in how it moves quickly from scene to scene . My main complaint - and this also is true of its predecessor , Persona 3 - - is that the game pacing is deceiving at first . It takes about thirty minutes to an hour before you are plunged into the game . It is true that the context of the story needs to be established ( neither can I offer an ample alternative to what the developers have chosen . ) The game makes an assumption that you will stick with the game for more then an hour ( and I assume with the current economic downturn you probably will . ) Persona 4 is a great title this late in the Playstation 2 development cycle . The game is relatively attractive and plays great . Truthfully , game sales should not dictate the legacy of a game . Persona 4 can easily go toe-to-toe with any of the hard hitters in the Playstation 2 catalogue .
    • 100 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) If you played Persona 3 FES then you will know what to expect , but if not then this rpg here spices up the genre . This game takes place in a modern Japanese setting and each person can summon a spirit ( Persona ) that casts magic for the user . The fights are turned based but with it's own style . You basically live out a year ( Game time ) and interact with your other characters ; dating , hanging out , etc . Then at night you venture into a tv world and fight evil shadows . Definitely a game you'll have to play to believe , and trust me you'll be glad you did . If you love rpg's do yourself a favor and GET THIS GAME !
    • 101 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) If you played Persona 3 FES then you will know what to expect , but if not then this rpg here spices up the genre . This game takes place in a modern Japanese setting and each person can summon a spirit ( Persona ) that casts magic for the user . The fights are turned based but with it's own style . You basically live out a year ( Game time ) and interact with your other characters ; dating , hanging out , etc . Then at night you venture into a tv world and fight evil shadows . Definitely a game you'll have to play to believe , and trust me you'll be glad you did . If you love rpg's do yourself a favor and GET THIS GAME !
    • 102 4  If you played Persona 3 FES then you will know what to expect , but if not then this rpg here spices up the genre . This game takes place in a modern Japanese setting and each person can summon a spirit ( Persona ) that casts magic for the user . The fights are turned based but with it's own style . You basically live out a year ( Game time ) and interact with your other characters ; dating , hanging out , etc . Then at night you venture into a tv world and fight evil shadows . Definitely a game you'll have to play to believe , and trust me you'll be glad you did . If you love rpg's do yourself a favor and GET THIS GAME !
    • 103 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) This game is a good buy . Story is nicely done , gameplay and soundtrack are great , and like the relatonship aspect of it too .
    • 105 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) The entire game oozes style , the characters are likeable , the dual-gameplay of RPG-style fighting and a high school simulator works crazy well together , and it has a great soundtrack . For RPG fans this game is a must buy .
    • 107 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) It's been a long time since I've had this much fun with an RPG . It has an incredible murder mystery plot with a ton of varied fun gameplay . When this came in the mail I was only expecting the game . Surprisingly it also came with an art book and the game's soundtrack ( which is incredible , btw ) . It's hard to match the value of buying this game . This game comes highly recommended !
    • 108 4  It's been a long time since I've had this much fun with an RPG . It has an incredible murder mystery plot with a ton of varied fun gameplay . When this came in the mail I was only expecting the game . Surprisingly it also came with an art book and the game's soundtrack ( which is incredible , btw ) . It's hard to match the value of buying this game . This game comes highly recommended !
    • 109 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I recently started playing jrpg's and have quickly started to amass anything that has Shin Megami Tensei on it , or has been published by Atlus . Very compelling game with a deep story line that is obviously meant for a mature audience . I like this approach , I am tired of the Japanese rpgs that are meant for kids , but have a great story and equally good gameplay . This game satisfies the want for a game that has the appearance of such but a story that gears toward the 20 something demographic . Think of it in terms of South Park , kinda cute looking but definately adult . The game is extremely long and I definately recommend the guide book to go along with it . I am very satisfied with this game .
    • 110 4  I recently started playing jrpg's and have quickly started to amass anything that has Shin Megami Tensei on it , or has been published by Atlus . Very compelling game with a deep story line that is obviously meant for a mature audience . I like this approach , I am tired of the Japanese rpgs that are meant for kids , but have a great story and equally good gameplay . This game satisfies the want for a game that has the appearance of such but a story that gears toward the 20 something demographic . Think of it in terms of South Park , kinda cute looking but definately adult . The game is extremely long and I definately recommend the guide book to go along with it . I am very satisfied with this game .
    • 111 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Persona 4 is a curious game in that it combines a great variety of gameplay mechanics and , where most designs fail , Persona 4 delivers magnificently . It is truly rare that an RPG ( role-playing game ) comes along and so smoothly incorporates the ancient Adventure-style gameplay and puzzle-solving reminiscent of the Monkey Island series with a dungeon crawl . Add a dash of the format of combat and RPG-number crunching that made Final Fantasy and Pokemon successful RPG's and you have Persona 4 . Smooth graphics , short loading times , NPC's ( non-player characters ) that seem like actual people with real personalities , and an environment that draws the player into the game from Day 1 in April are just a few of the facets of Persona 4 that make it such an incredible experience . For all those games-are-art fanatics , RPG gamers , and anyone looking for a blend of action , romance , comedy , and satire without being cliched or sappy about it , this game is for you .
    • 112 4  Persona 4 is a curious game in that it combines a great variety of gameplay mechanics and , where most designs fail , Persona 4 delivers magnificently . It is truly rare that an RPG ( role-playing game ) comes along and so smoothly incorporates the ancient Adventure-style gameplay and puzzle-solving reminiscent of the Monkey Island series with a dungeon crawl . Add a dash of the format of combat and RPG-number crunching that made Final Fantasy and Pokemon successful RPG's and you have Persona 4 . Smooth graphics , short loading times , NPC's ( non-player characters ) that seem like actual people with real personalities , and an environment that draws the player into the game from Day 1 in April are just a few of the facets of Persona 4 that make it such an incredible experience . For all those games-are-art fanatics , RPG gamers , and anyone looking for a blend of action , romance , comedy , and satire without being cliched or sappy about it , this game is for you .
    • 113 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) this game is a must have for any true RPG fan or if you have just started gaming because this is a must have . this game follows a story very simmilar to persona 3 but this time there is no dark hour or tartaus . this time you fight the shadows inside a TV ( yes seriously im not joking ) . igor is back but with a new assianet as soon as you put the disk get ready for 60 hours of fun , excientment , adeventure , romance and death . so get set . get ready and go
    • 114 4  this game is a must have for any true RPG fan or if you have just started gaming because this is a must have . this game follows a story very simmilar to persona 3 but this time there is no dark hour or tartaus . this time you fight the shadows inside a TV ( yes seriously im not joking ) . igor is back but with a new assianet as soon as you put the disk get ready for 60 hours of fun , excientment , adeventure , romance and death . so get set . get ready and go
    • 115 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Wow ! I love this game ! I have never played the persona series before . I rented it first so see if I liked it and I returned it the next day went to game stop and bought it ! I have been playing when I get home for work . I love it ! Anybody above the ages of 13 can get into . Go buy it !
    • 117 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) All I can say is , wow . I have a ps3 , a Wii , and a 360 but for the last two months , all I've been playing is a ps2 game . This game's got it all : A great story , depth , challenge , re playability and not to mention it takes around 90 hours to complete . The characters ' personalities and back stories are so in depth and believable that they seem like real people . Managing your relationships with them is just as compelling as the battles . The dungeons are all randomly generated which is something I usually loath but this game actually pulls it off masterfully . The battles are more or less traditional jrpg fare but the way the game makes you utilize strategy and micromanagement keeps it from ever getting repetitive . Just because this game is on a system that's almost 9 years old doesn't mean it's any less worth playing than even the highest caliber ps3 / Wii / 360 game . If you consider yourself and rpg fan at all then playing this game is an absolute requirement , I can't stress that enough .
    • 118 4  All I can say is , wow . I have a ps3 , a Wii , and a 360 but for the last two months , all I've been playing is a ps2 game . This game's got it all : A great story , depth , challenge , re playability and not to mention it takes around 90 hours to complete . The characters ' personalities and back stories are so in depth and believable that they seem like real people . Managing your relationships with them is just as compelling as the battles . The dungeons are all randomly generated which is something I usually loath but this game actually pulls it off masterfully . The battles are more or less traditional jrpg fare but the way the game makes you utilize strategy and micromanagement keeps it from ever getting repetitive . Just because this game is on a system that's almost 9 years old doesn't mean it's any less worth playing than even the highest caliber ps3 / Wii / 360 game . If you consider yourself and rpg fan at all then playing this game is an absolute requirement , I can't stress that enough .
    • 119 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I'm an RPG fan and Persona 4 is the best RPG for the PS2 , hands down . It may be , arguably , the best PS2 game period . The characterization and dialogue is the best in any game I have played . The Class campout is up there with the best of Seinfeld for laughs . The voice acting is neck and neck with the Metal Gear series . The graphics aren't stellar , but I have no complaints . The battle mechanics are very customizable . I can see how this game wouldn't do for the typical Halo fan .
    • 120 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I'm an RPG fan and Persona 4 is the best RPG for the PS2 , hands down . It may be , arguably , the best PS2 game period . The characterization and dialogue is the best in any game I have played . The Class campout is up there with the best of Seinfeld for laughs . The voice acting is neck and neck with the Metal Gear series . The graphics aren't stellar , but I have no complaints . The battle mechanics are very customizable . I can see how this game wouldn't do for the typical Halo fan .
    • 121 4  I'm an RPG fan and Persona 4 is the best RPG for the PS2 , hands down . It may be , arguably , the best PS2 game period . The characterization and dialogue is the best in any game I have played . The Class campout is up there with the best of Seinfeld for laughs . The voice acting is neck and neck with the Metal Gear series . The graphics aren't stellar , but I have no complaints . The battle mechanics are very customizable . I can see how this game wouldn't do for the typical Halo fan .
    • 122 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Persona 4 is an excellent RPG which I would recommend to anyone . It is unique in many ways . It is part Sim and part RPG , this turns out to be an excellent combination . The game never gets boring and leveling up is easy and the battles are really fast . The end result is that the battles are fast and fun and you never have to grind to become more powerful .
    • 123 4  Persona 4 is an excellent RPG which I would recommend to anyone . It is unique in many ways . It is part Sim and part RPG , this turns out to be an excellent combination . The game never gets boring and leveling up is easy and the battles are really fast . The end result is that the battles are fast and fun and you never have to grind to become more powerful .
    • 124 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I'm quite pleased to see that this game is quite driven by a solid story with graphics that is rather impressive for being a ps2 game . About the story : I must say , playing through this game for the first time making choices of my own and exploring it under my own power , it was very enjoyable . Now playing through the second time utilizing a social link guide , I'm finding that I had missed a significant amount of the extended story that ; though it is optional to complete the game , brings about a whole new experience and immersion factor . The storyline blends well with each of those people you create a social link with while opens up more a fuller story , it as well offers up more skills and increasingly powerful Personas to complement it . Details concerning the story , reading through the text and listening , it almost feels like the words are almost a direct translation with very little localization . This is not a bad thing , but it also creates for some very perplexing moments as those who aren't familiar with the Japanese culture or have a computer nearby to look up what it is , may find themselves confused . However , by doing this as well , it almost offers up some perspective into the Japanese culture though presented in a simplified fashion . However , it carries with it a little leeway in terms of the differences between current to near future Japanese cultures . About the end , it almost has me feeling that life is very transient . Without spoiling the game , I will not go into detail . Game play : For an avid Role Playing Gamer who has came from a long line from the likes of Final Fantasy , Wild ARMs , and such , I was finding myself quite challenged in the way that this is designed . Normally , I would go through the game without dieing as much as I have had in this game especially in NORMAL mode . Most reviewers that I followed have said that this game is harder than what they're used to and would agree with what I said . Now , the game designers had provided a form of balance that has me almost quite perplexed as the culture from which this is design around kind of contradicts the way I've been grown to believe . However , though , thinking through all the animes , one would almost have come to expect such . Here is what I've been grown to believe , the leader must be willing to sacrifice him / herself for the good of the team as the team comes before the leader . Now , this battle system has been almost designed to be the exact opposite in which the team is willing to sacrifice themselves for the leader . Normally , this is so because the team believes strongly in the beliefs of the leadership so much so that they will go to the end for it . Another factor in the game play though many say is optional , I'd like to believe is mandatory , fusion . This doesn't necessarily create for the players a unique persona in the form of aesthetics but it does create a form of a unique persona in terms of behavior . A metaphor for this would be something along the lines of a car that the exterior would look like a cookie cutter but what goes in the internals of the car changes how it performs . Having experienced this , it almost creates a unique experience to the game that will highly vary from each player and play through . Notable things to consider that perhaps has created a different experience for me : Backwards Compatible PS3 . The reason for noting this is that I'm running two virtual PS2 memory cards having rolled back to reverse a decision I had made earlier in the game . Having said that , though the game says I only logged 150 hours , I'd like to say that having rolled back saves not because of battle decisions but story line decisions and to laugh over highly humorous scenes , easily 200 + hours . Highly recommended .
    • 125 4  I'm quite pleased to see that this game is quite driven by a solid story with graphics that is rather impressive for being a ps2 game . About the story : I must say , playing through this game for the first time making choices of my own and exploring it under my own power , it was very enjoyable . Now playing through the second time utilizing a social link guide , I'm finding that I had missed a significant amount of the extended story that ; though it is optional to complete the game , brings about a whole new experience and immersion factor . The storyline blends well with each of those people you create a social link with while opens up more a fuller story , it as well offers up more skills and increasingly powerful Personas to complement it . Details concerning the story , reading through the text and listening , it almost feels like the words are almost a direct translation with very little localization . This is not a bad thing , but it also creates for some very perplexing moments as those who aren't familiar with the Japanese culture or have a computer nearby to look up what it is , may find themselves confused . However , by doing this as well , it almost offers up some perspective into the Japanese culture though presented in a simplified fashion . However , it carries with it a little leeway in terms of the differences between current to near future Japanese cultures . About the end , it almost has me feeling that life is very transient . Without spoiling the game , I will not go into detail . Game play : For an avid Role Playing Gamer who has came from a long line from the likes of Final Fantasy , Wild ARMs , and such , I was finding myself quite challenged in the way that this is designed . Normally , I would go through the game without dieing as much as I have had in this game especially in NORMAL mode . Most reviewers that I followed have said that this game is harder than what they're used to and would agree with what I said . Now , the game designers had provided a form of balance that has me almost quite perplexed as the culture from which this is design around kind of contradicts the way I've been grown to believe . However , though , thinking through all the animes , one would almost have come to expect such . Here is what I've been grown to believe , the leader must be willing to sacrifice him / herself for the good of the team as the team comes before the leader . Now , this battle system has been almost designed to be the exact opposite in which the team is willing to sacrifice themselves for the leader . Normally , this is so because the team believes strongly in the beliefs of the leadership so much so that they will go to the end for it . Another factor in the game play though many say is optional , I'd like to believe is mandatory , fusion . This doesn't necessarily create for the players a unique persona in the form of aesthetics but it does create a form of a unique persona in terms of behavior . A metaphor for this would be something along the lines of a car that the exterior would look like a cookie cutter but what goes in the internals of the car changes how it performs . Having experienced this , it almost creates a unique experience to the game that will highly vary from each player and play through . Notable things to consider that perhaps has created a different experience for me : Backwards Compatible PS3 . The reason for noting this is that I'm running two virtual PS2 memory cards having rolled back to reverse a decision I had made earlier in the game . Having said that , though the game says I only logged 150 hours , I'd like to say that having rolled back saves not because of battle decisions but story line decisions and to laugh over highly humorous scenes , easily 200 + hours . Highly recommended .
    • 126 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) This is must own of any JRPG fan . It's simply amazing , and the best PS2 game release this year .
    • 127 4  This is must own of any JRPG fan . It's simply amazing , and the best PS2 game release this year .
    • 128 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Persona 4 is one of the best rpg's i have played this generation ( 2005 - 2008 ) so far . Atlus has truly released a Classic in my eyes . They listened to their fans and changed a couple of things in p4 . First of all Atlus added the option to directly command you units . For those of you who have played Persona 3 you will know how much of a godsend this is . The characters A.I . in P3 was very good but sometimes they would do moves that were just down right stupid and you would usually end up dying from their mistake . In p4 they solve this problem by letting you command what moves the other characters in your team preform . Another great addition is the ability to be able to just warp to the map instead of having to walk all the way out of the area . What i mean is in P3 you would have to walk all the way out of the school area in p4 they made it to where you just press square and a nice little menu comes up asking what you want to do or where you want to go . A great time saver . The combat is mostly the same as p3 but there are new added persona . Also when you get knocked down now you do not have to was a turn getting up . The story is very good its a murder / mystery and you are trying to figure out what the heck is going on around you . Overall the characters are great and the game is just fantastic if you are an RPG player i suggest not passing this game up .
    • 129 4  Persona 4 is one of the best rpg's i have played this generation ( 2005 - 2008 ) so far . Atlus has truly released a Classic in my eyes . They listened to their fans and changed a couple of things in p4 . First of all Atlus added the option to directly command you units . For those of you who have played Persona 3 you will know how much of a godsend this is . The characters A.I . in P3 was very good but sometimes they would do moves that were just down right stupid and you would usually end up dying from their mistake . In p4 they solve this problem by letting you command what moves the other characters in your team preform . Another great addition is the ability to be able to just warp to the map instead of having to walk all the way out of the area . What i mean is in P3 you would have to walk all the way out of the school area in p4 they made it to where you just press square and a nice little menu comes up asking what you want to do or where you want to go . A great time saver . The combat is mostly the same as p3 but there are new added persona . Also when you get knocked down now you do not have to was a turn getting up . The story is very good its a murder / mystery and you are trying to figure out what the heck is going on around you . Overall the characters are great and the game is just fantastic if you are an RPG player i suggest not passing this game up .
    • 130 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) This game is fun to play and adds life to the Playstation 2 . I do find the persona creating confusing , but , I'm sure I'll be able to figure it out . I reccomend this game to all RPG players and also to those who enjoy decision making games . A lot of work went into this game and it shows . Buy it . You'll like it .
    • 131 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) This game is fun to play and adds life to the Playstation 2 . I do find the persona creating confusing , but , I'm sure I'll be able to figure it out . I reccomend this game to all RPG players and also to those who enjoy decision making games . A lot of work went into this game and it shows . Buy it . You'll like it .
    • 133 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Now that I'm close to opening the last dungeon in Persona 4 , I'm qualified to give a full review of this game . It's my favorite Persona game so far . It might even be my favorite SMT-type game , but I'll need to finish SMT3 : Nocturne to determine that . Some have said that Persona 4 is more like Persona 3.5 , which is partially true . The engine is the same and the battles are largely the same except for some well-regarded tweaks . Being able to control all your party members is what really made this game better than Persona 3 for me . When a party member did something stupid in 4 , there was no one to blame except me . I also enjoyed the story more in Persona 4 . Sure , it's not as epic , but I could relate to it more and the mystery of the Midnight Channel murders drew me in . The social links also had more of an impact on me by providing small story arcs that were actually engaging about each character in the game . One thing I didn't like about P4 was the pacing , though it may be largely my fault . Because I wanted to have as much time as possible for social links , I would usually beat a dungeon 2 - 4 days after I unlock it . This wasn't really hard as long as you were good at fusing personas . Most of the normal enemies were fair ( other than a couple of insta-death enemies ) and the boss battles were challenging , but not impossible . Beating dungeons this quickly meant that I'd get the rest of the month for quests and social links , which unfortunately becaue tedious after about the second week . I'm usually a pansy when it comes to boss battles , but I found all of Persona 4 ' s bosses to be fantastic . They were challenging , but never cheap . If I had problems with a boss , I would usually go to the velvet room and fuse a persona to counter that boss's strengths . There were a couple of fights where I barely scraped by with just my main character alive ; those were exciting . Now that I'm at the the last dungeon , I'm sort of sad to see it end . I'm not the type to replay games , especially not 60 + hour games , and I'm not planning on replaying P4 for a while . Thanks to my army of awesome personas , I feel encouraged to tackle SMT3 again and maybe finally beat it . If this is the last game you play on the PS2 , you won't be disappointed . What a great way to say goodbye to the PS2 .
    • 134 4  Now that I'm close to opening the last dungeon in Persona 4 , I'm qualified to give a full review of this game . It's my favorite Persona game so far . It might even be my favorite SMT-type game , but I'll need to finish SMT3 : Nocturne to determine that . Some have said that Persona 4 is more like Persona 3.5 , which is partially true . The engine is the same and the battles are largely the same except for some well-regarded tweaks . Being able to control all your party members is what really made this game better than Persona 3 for me . When a party member did something stupid in 4 , there was no one to blame except me . I also enjoyed the story more in Persona 4 . Sure , it's not as epic , but I could relate to it more and the mystery of the Midnight Channel murders drew me in . The social links also had more of an impact on me by providing small story arcs that were actually engaging about each character in the game . One thing I didn't like about P4 was the pacing , though it may be largely my fault . Because I wanted to have as much time as possible for social links , I would usually beat a dungeon 2 - 4 days after I unlock it . This wasn't really hard as long as you were good at fusing personas . Most of the normal enemies were fair ( other than a couple of insta-death enemies ) and the boss battles were challenging , but not impossible . Beating dungeons this quickly meant that I'd get the rest of the month for quests and social links , which unfortunately becaue tedious after about the second week . I'm usually a pansy when it comes to boss battles , but I found all of Persona 4 ' s bosses to be fantastic . They were challenging , but never cheap . If I had problems with a boss , I would usually go to the velvet room and fuse a persona to counter that boss's strengths . There were a couple of fights where I barely scraped by with just my main character alive ; those were exciting . Now that I'm at the the last dungeon , I'm sort of sad to see it end . I'm not the type to replay games , especially not 60 + hour games , and I'm not planning on replaying P4 for a while . Thanks to my army of awesome personas , I feel encouraged to tackle SMT3 again and maybe finally beat it . If this is the last game you play on the PS2 , you won't be disappointed . What a great way to say goodbye to the PS2 .
    • 135 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) If you've never played an RPG ( actually , from what I've learned , this game is a JRPG ) , this game is likely to give you pause . BUT if you're willing to learn the game mechanics and give it a shot , it's actually a ton of fun . So why the 3 stars ? Mainly because my fiancee got suckered into buying this game for me , based on the rave reviews here and all over the gaming sites . She thought she was buying a game I'd really enjoy , and was very upset with the initial result . As a casual gamer , I normally wouldn't have time to bother with this type of game . But given I'm on sabbatical , I've had time to do some research , gain an understanding of the strategy - and I'm actually pretty involved in the game now . I've actually found the experience to be surprisingly entertaining . So this 3 - star review is really for people like me ( or for women buying games for boyfriends who might be like me ) - If you usually spend less than an hour or two playing a game , for instance to kick back and blow off some steam after work before heading out to the bars , do NOT buy this game . I'm in over 30 hours on this title - and I've never given 30 hours to ANY game without having already beaten it . Also , if the concept of fusing personas , leveling up via social links , and whatnot sounds a bit too geeky - either keep an open mind and give this game a shot ( you might end up enjoying it , like I have ) , or ignore all of the rave reviews here and everywhere else - ' Cuz regardless of how wonderful an RPG this might be , even with critics relating that it transcends the genre , it's still an RPG . So while I'm certain that all of the RPG fanatics will rate this review as unhelpful - hopefully it'll save someone a few bucks - as they'd probably be better off buying a cool racing game or something that requires a little less dedication on their part . If you're looking for instant gratification out of the box , you're not gonna get it out of Persona 4 . In fact , I think there are 2 hours of cut scenes before you even cast your first spell . Anyway - this is a retraction of my initial review , which rated that game at 0 stars because I absolutely HATED this game when I first popped in the disc . Since then , I've put in the time and would likely give it 4 stars .
    • 136 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) If you've never played an RPG ( actually , from what I've learned , this game is a JRPG ) , this game is likely to give you pause . BUT if you're willing to learn the game mechanics and give it a shot , it's actually a ton of fun . So why the 3 stars ? Mainly because my fiancee got suckered into buying this game for me , based on the rave reviews here and all over the gaming sites . She thought she was buying a game I'd really enjoy , and was very upset with the initial result . As a casual gamer , I normally wouldn't have time to bother with this type of game . But given I'm on sabbatical , I've had time to do some research , gain an understanding of the strategy - and I'm actually pretty involved in the game now . I've actually found the experience to be surprisingly entertaining . So this 3 - star review is really for people like me ( or for women buying games for boyfriends who might be like me ) - If you usually spend less than an hour or two playing a game , for instance to kick back and blow off some steam after work before heading out to the bars , do NOT buy this game . I'm in over 30 hours on this title - and I've never given 30 hours to ANY game without having already beaten it . Also , if the concept of fusing personas , leveling up via social links , and whatnot sounds a bit too geeky - either keep an open mind and give this game a shot ( you might end up enjoying it , like I have ) , or ignore all of the rave reviews here and everywhere else - ' Cuz regardless of how wonderful an RPG this might be , even with critics relating that it transcends the genre , it's still an RPG . So while I'm certain that all of the RPG fanatics will rate this review as unhelpful - hopefully it'll save someone a few bucks - as they'd probably be better off buying a cool racing game or something that requires a little less dedication on their part . If you're looking for instant gratification out of the box , you're not gonna get it out of Persona 4 . In fact , I think there are 2 hours of cut scenes before you even cast your first spell . Anyway - this is a retraction of my initial review , which rated that game at 0 stars because I absolutely HATED this game when I first popped in the disc . Since then , I've put in the time and would likely give it 4 stars .
    • 137 4  If you've never played an RPG ( actually , from what I've learned , this game is a JRPG ) , this game is likely to give you pause . BUT if you're willing to learn the game mechanics and give it a shot , it's actually a ton of fun . So why the 3 stars ? Mainly because my fiancee got suckered into buying this game for me , based on the rave reviews here and all over the gaming sites . She thought she was buying a game I'd really enjoy , and was very upset with the initial result . As a casual gamer , I normally wouldn't have time to bother with this type of game . But given I'm on sabbatical , I've had time to do some research , gain an understanding of the strategy - and I'm actually pretty involved in the game now . I've actually found the experience to be surprisingly entertaining . So this 3 - star review is really for people like me ( or for women buying games for boyfriends who might be like me ) - If you usually spend less than an hour or two playing a game , for instance to kick back and blow off some steam after work before heading out to the bars , do NOT buy this game . I'm in over 30 hours on this title - and I've never given 30 hours to ANY game without having already beaten it . Also , if the concept of fusing personas , leveling up via social links , and whatnot sounds a bit too geeky - either keep an open mind and give this game a shot ( you might end up enjoying it , like I have ) , or ignore all of the rave reviews here and everywhere else - ' Cuz regardless of how wonderful an RPG this might be , even with critics relating that it transcends the genre , it's still an RPG . So while I'm certain that all of the RPG fanatics will rate this review as unhelpful - hopefully it'll save someone a few bucks - as they'd probably be better off buying a cool racing game or something that requires a little less dedication on their part . If you're looking for instant gratification out of the box , you're not gonna get it out of Persona 4 . In fact , I think there are 2 hours of cut scenes before you even cast your first spell . Anyway - this is a retraction of my initial review , which rated that game at 0 stars because I absolutely HATED this game when I first popped in the disc . Since then , I've put in the time and would likely give it 4 stars .
    • 140 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) This game was really Fun and had a really good story but The overall emotion of the Game does not compare to the Emotions I felt when playing Persona 3 the charecters the story of P3 were better overall but P4 was a very Good game the problems I had with P4 were the voice acting which was alright but the execution of some lines felt strange and unconvincing and the music was annoying like P3 but if you havent played P3 / fes yet I suggest you play it first
    • 141 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) This game was really Fun and had a really good story but The overall emotion of the Game does not compare to the Emotions I felt when playing Persona 3 the charecters the story of P3 were better overall but P4 was a very Good game the problems I had with P4 were the voice acting which was alright but the execution of some lines felt strange and unconvincing and the music was annoying like P3 but if you havent played P3 / fes yet I suggest you play it first
    • 142 4  This game was really Fun and had a really good story but The overall emotion of the Game does not compare to the Emotions I felt when playing Persona 3 the charecters the story of P3 were better overall but P4 was a very Good game the problems I had with P4 were the voice acting which was alright but the execution of some lines felt strange and unconvincing and the music was annoying like P3 but if you havent played P3 / fes yet I suggest you play it first
    • 143 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Great game . I like the way the changed the persona came around . I enjoy this game alot and there are alot of ways to build up your levels .
    • 145 4  Amazon Verified Purchase ( What's this ? ) This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I have actually never played anyone of the Persona games before and this was my first entry based on the great reviews . While the game is fun at best I would not say that it is great . The premise of the game is basically a dungeon crawler with basic simulation . It is a dungeon crawler because you have to traverse 7 dungeons moving from room to room and floor to floor until you reach the boss at end floor . It incorporates simple simulation by allowing you to choose what you would like to do during your time after school , in the evening , and on your days off . Your activities during these times will gain you extra experiences towards your status and your relationship with your friends . Your time in the dungeons allow you to level up your characters persona providing new abilities . The game of course is not as simple as it sounds . The way you battle in the game is through your persona , your avatar in a way , and is a representation of your inner feeling , soul , strength and what not . Each of your party member has a specific persona that is non changeable , the main character is the only one with changeable personas . In order to gain more personas for the main character you would have to either collect persona cards , or combine different personas together . You collect cards from battling creatures and you receive better personas from combining the cards . Then there is your attributes list such as your intellect , courage , and expression . There are five in all to level up by working part-time jobs . The higher the level in each category the better the job will be . Your friends , colleagues , and personas are connected to a tarot card insignia such as the tower , the chariot , the death etc . and by spending time with them you level up your relationship within the categories . The higher your level the more bonus you receive and better persona to merge . It sounds daunting and intimidating but it is every simple and addicting . Spending time with your friends , collecting new personas , and participating in school activities and part-time jobs makes persona 4 extremely addicting and fun . In fact , the simulation part reminds me of Harvest Moon and I find Harvest Moon ingeniously addicting . All else the game is pretty mediocre . The graphics are basic , the voice overs are okay , the story is very Japanese centric , there are no random battles , and the game is extremely repetitive . It is fun to try out at best but I would not compare this to the likes of Final Fantasy X , Dragon Quest VIII , or even Suikoden III . A nice deviation of your time .
    • 146 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) I have actually never played anyone of the Persona games before and this was my first entry based on the great reviews . While the game is fun at best I would not say that it is great . The premise of the game is basically a dungeon crawler with basic simulation . It is a dungeon crawler because you have to traverse 7 dungeons moving from room to room and floor to floor until you reach the boss at end floor . It incorporates simple simulation by allowing you to choose what you would like to do during your time after school , in the evening , and on your days off . Your activities during these times will gain you extra experiences towards your status and your relationship with your friends . Your time in the dungeons allow you to level up your characters persona providing new abilities . The game of course is not as simple as it sounds . The way you battle in the game is through your persona , your avatar in a way , and is a representation of your inner feeling , soul , strength and what not . Each of your party member has a specific persona that is non changeable , the main character is the only one with changeable personas . In order to gain more personas for the main character you would have to either collect persona cards , or combine different personas together . You collect cards from battling creatures and you receive better personas from combining the cards . Then there is your attributes list such as your intellect , courage , and expression . There are five in all to level up by working part-time jobs . The higher the level in each category the better the job will be . Your friends , colleagues , and personas are connected to a tarot card insignia such as the tower , the chariot , the death etc . and by spending time with them you level up your relationship within the categories . The higher your level the more bonus you receive and better persona to merge . It sounds daunting and intimidating but it is every simple and addicting . Spending time with your friends , collecting new personas , and participating in school activities and part-time jobs makes persona 4 extremely addicting and fun . In fact , the simulation part reminds me of Harvest Moon and I find Harvest Moon ingeniously addicting . All else the game is pretty mediocre . The graphics are basic , the voice overs are okay , the story is very Japanese centric , there are no random battles , and the game is extremely repetitive . It is fun to try out at best but I would not compare this to the likes of Final Fantasy X , Dragon Quest VIII , or even Suikoden III . A nice deviation of your time .
    • 147 4  I have actually never played anyone of the Persona games before and this was my first entry based on the great reviews . While the game is fun at best I would not say that it is great . The premise of the game is basically a dungeon crawler with basic simulation . It is a dungeon crawler because you have to traverse 7 dungeons moving from room to room and floor to floor until you reach the boss at end floor . It incorporates simple simulation by allowing you to choose what you would like to do during your time after school , in the evening , and on your days off . Your activities during these times will gain you extra experiences towards your status and your relationship with your friends . Your time in the dungeons allow you to level up your characters persona providing new abilities . The game of course is not as simple as it sounds . The way you battle in the game is through your persona , your avatar in a way , and is a representation of your inner feeling , soul , strength and what not . Each of your party member has a specific persona that is non changeable , the main character is the only one with changeable personas . In order to gain more personas for the main character you would have to either collect persona cards , or combine different personas together . You collect cards from battling creatures and you receive better personas from combining the cards . Then there is your attributes list such as your intellect , courage , and expression . There are five in all to level up by working part-time jobs . The higher the level in each category the better the job will be . Your friends , colleagues , and personas are connected to a tarot card insignia such as the tower , the chariot , the death etc . and by spending time with them you level up your relationship within the categories . The higher your level the more bonus you receive and better persona to merge . It sounds daunting and intimidating but it is every simple and addicting . Spending time with your friends , collecting new personas , and participating in school activities and part-time jobs makes persona 4 extremely addicting and fun . In fact , the simulation part reminds me of Harvest Moon and I find Harvest Moon ingeniously addicting . All else the game is pretty mediocre . The graphics are basic , the voice overs are okay , the story is very Japanese centric , there are no random battles , and the game is extremely repetitive . It is fun to try out at best but I would not compare this to the likes of Final Fantasy X , Dragon Quest VIII , or even Suikoden III . A nice deviation of your time .
    • 148 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) This game is called Persona 4 . If you never played it , don't . There are very controversial themes that a proper Christian family wouldn't approve of ; some of these being talking teddy bears , children in public schools , and an obsession with television .
    • 152 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Heard a lot of good things about this game , but when starting it up , it takes too long for you to be in control of the main character . And when you do get control , it is only for like 5 minutes , then you loose it again . Could not get into story , overall , I wish I did not buy this .
    • 154 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) You're the new kid in town , there are a bunch of murders , and one of your cohorts wants to sleep with you but he's too punk to admit it . There's an old woman who sets fire to her dead husband's letters , a dungeon boss that's a half-robot / half-girl that wants to be all-boy , and you fight inside of a television . People die when the weather is foggy , your uncle hates you , and there's a little boy who grew inside of a stuffed bear after it escaped from the demon dimension . You can have multiple girlfriends at a time , your allowance is $400 , and sometimes you wear glasses . You're quite pimp . Of all of the Tarotistic , Freudian , demon-slaying , day-job-hustling high-school simulations I've ever played , this is definitely one . Eagerly awaiting Persona 5 .
    • 155 4  You're the new kid in town , there are a bunch of murders , and one of your cohorts wants to sleep with you but he's too punk to admit it . There's an old woman who sets fire to her dead husband's letters , a dungeon boss that's a half-robot / half-girl that wants to be all-boy , and you fight inside of a television . People die when the weather is foggy , your uncle hates you , and there's a little boy who grew inside of a stuffed bear after it escaped from the demon dimension . You can have multiple girlfriends at a time , your allowance is $400 , and sometimes you wear glasses . You're quite pimp . Of all of the Tarotistic , Freudian , demon-slaying , day-job-hustling high-school simulations I've ever played , this is definitely one . Eagerly awaiting Persona 5 .
    • 156 4  This review is from : Shin Megami Tensei : Persona 4 ( Video Game ) Briefly put , the Persona game line should be a combination of Sims 3 and the book and dice game World of Darkness except set in high school . Sadly , it has many flaws and no virtues of these . The music is tedious , the graphics are ugly , and the game thieves from uncredited sources without redeeming quality . The English voice acting is horrible , the anime sequences ( like Robotech ) seemed ripped from an unrelated anime , and the graphics are dated to old Sierra adventure games . I love the basic concept of the Shin Megami Tensei Persona games . Problem being , it's not executed very well at all . Even with the example of the western game Sims 3 , Persona sticks to a somewhat poorly wrought story , moronic dialogue , and a plot that wavers between modern day chivalric romance ( where it shines ) and the authorial decision to interpet that a striking ten day discussion creates eternal friendship . This specific Persona game , Persona 4 , suffers badly in comparison to Persona 3 . There is less exploration outside the city , less identification of the city as something to protect or even worth protecting , less interesting characters , and even exacerbatingly boring school options . Of course , Persona 3 was not a glorious nor triumphant game in any way , even in these presented categories of exploration , identification , characterization , and width of gameplay . If I could suggest anything to the game designers , I'd tell them to play Sims 3 , to play Mage : the Awakening , to play Rome : Total War . At that point they might build Shin Megami Tensei Strategy , with the Persona games permitting a player to act as an individual agent ( with NPC friends ) in the strategic situation they are undergoing . Either that or to make Persona more of a Sim-Life at high school , exploring a larger city , making friends and companions freely . Get rid of the tight-knit story , it doesn't work .
    • 157 4  Briefly put , the Persona game line should be a combination of Sims 3 and the book and dice game World of Darkness except set in high school . Sadly , it has many flaws and no virtues of these . The music is tedious , the graphics are ugly , and the game thieves from uncredited sources without redeeming quality . The English voice acting is horrible , the anime sequences ( like Robotech ) seemed ripped from an unrelated anime , and the graphics are dated to old Sierra adventure games . I love the basic concept of the Shin Megami Tensei Persona games . Problem being , it's not executed very well at all . Even with the example of the western game Sims 3 , Persona sticks to a somewhat poorly wrought story , moronic dialogue , and a plot that wavers between modern day chivalric romance ( where it shines ) and the authorial decision to interpet that a striking ten day discussion creates eternal friendship . This specific Persona game , Persona 4 , suffers badly in comparison to Persona 3 . There is less exploration outside the city , less identification of the city as something to protect or even worth protecting , less interesting characters , and even exacerbatingly boring school options . Of course , Persona 3 was not a glorious nor triumphant game in any way , even in these presented categories of exploration , identification , characterization , and width of gameplay . If I could suggest anything to the game designers , I'd tell them to play Sims 3 , to play Mage : the Awakening , to play Rome : Total War . At that point they might build Shin Megami Tensei Strategy , with the Persona games permitting a player to act as an individual agent ( with NPC friends ) in the strategic situation they are undergoing . Either that or to make Persona more of a Sim-Life at high school , exploring a larger city , making friends and companions freely . Get rid of the tight-knit story , it doesn't work .

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