*DISCLAIMER*
Yes, I’m aware that Persona 4 is not the last PS2 game. However, I’m going to be bold and say that it’s the last good PS2 game to come out given the system’s current release schedule.
With that said, I was not looking forward to Persona 4 AT ALL. In 2007, I bought Persona 3. In early 2008, I had to buy Persona 3 FES. Then all of a sudden I hear about Persona 4 coming out at the end of the year here in the states. It’s not like they’re pumping them out overseas, I know Persona 3 had been out for quite some time in Japan before it was released here. I didn’t like the art style, the cast of characters, the colors, or the fact it was coming out so early and I hadn’t even started on Persona 3 FES. Sounds like a personal problem, I suppose.
I bought the game anyways. I guess I’m just a fanboy, or something. I have to say that it’s a lot better than Persona 3. That game was fun, but it was very constrictive. In Persona 3, you were bound by a calendar, the moon’s phases, and how healthy your character was. In Persona 4, you’re bound by the weather. That’s pretty much it. There’s also quite a few cosmetic changes. While the concept is still the same, they’ve implemented it in way that just feels right. A lot of little changes can go a long way, I guess.
The story is a bit different, as well. Murders are happening in your town you recently moved to, and you somehow get involved. I don’t want to spoil it, but the main plot of the game is this land inside of a TV where most of the plot happens. This is where you’ll do the bulk of your fighting. It’s not like Persona 3 where you just go up a tower the whole time. There are still social links, where you go and meet friends, and say the right things to them in order to power up. You can hold jobs, trade in raw materials to make new items, read books, and other things you couldn’t do in Persona 3.
Persona 4 is a pretty solid game. A lot of RPGs these days get flack for being for being “turn-based” or old-school or something. Persona 4 might not be your modern action-rpg, but it’s definitely modern. It fulfills my needs, to say the least. Even though it’s on the PS2, it actually looks pretty good. I’m proud to have this game in my collection.
If you like this game, you can buy it on Amazon
