Review: Persona 4 (PS2)

Gamestyle has always enjoyed the Shin Megami Tensei releases, partially because Atlus addressed issues and took risks that many other developers avoided. Despite the acclaim of Persona 3 and its enhanced spin-off Persona 3 FES, Atlus have revamped key ingredients to make this a worthwhile sequel.

Gone is the focus around the daily procession of time, instead the game revolves around the weather forecast and has decamped to the countryside. This is a simple change in focus, but one that introduces a little more freedom and at the same time allows the player to plan ahead. Key events only happen during certain weather conditions, such as murders or broadcasts on the midnight channel. So you can legislate for when you need to rescue someone by, or when another person may vanish. This television station is your portal into the Shadow realm, and while the majority of your schoolmates regard it as a cult fetish; only you and your team know its true intent.

The storyline was covered initially in our preview and now that we’ve experienced the game it doesn’t disappoint. The main characters are incredibly varied and by exploiting the social link dynamic, you are able to form closer links and develop their own personal stories further. The social link has always been an attraction of the series and in Persona 4 you are able to control your free time with greater efficiency. Spending time with other characters also provides the added attraction of improving your own statistics, unlocking fighting options and bringing new bonuses to the creation of Personas. Whereas other RPG’s place their focus on the battlefield, what you do away from combat is just as important in this series.

The flair for exploring taboo subjects in Persona continues, sadly characters no longer point a gun at their head to unleash a Persona, but this instalment tackles homophobia and sexuality. One could argue that the game doesn’t go far enough to debate such issues yet to see these in an actual game is a promising development. The storyline is always entertaining and is matched by a challenging gaming experience. There is a great temptation when in the Shadow world to avoid confrontation and simply to reach the end boss quickly, or use the rush function. The combat system is fairly reminiscent of early incarnations and remains a fine example of an efficient turn based system. The personalities of the group members are also maintained during this setting and can be enhanced via social links.

Fights also provide rewards of financial gain and experience.  By growing in stature you are able to create increasingly powerful Personas to command on the battlefield. Items can also be collated and sold at the local weaponry store, which in turn allows the vendor to create new and wonderful things to sell. To put it simply, everything in Persona 4 has a purpose and a tangible benefit, so you should make good use of all available avenues.

Visually there has been little improvement since the last incarnation. As Persona 4 uses the same technology and was developed over a short period, this comes as no surprise. It remains a strong engine for the system, but is easily eclipsed by more lavish genre offerings, most notably from the publisher. The character designs are as innovative as ever, with the bosses proving to be most memorable. These take the form of the darker sides of each character; each of who remain in denial that such monstrosities could be part of their personality.

For this release a soundtrack compact disc has been bundled into the overall package. Normally dismissed as a novelty, its inclusion is welcome as Persona 4 features an original and memorable musical accompaniment.  Composed by Atsushi Kitajoh, Ryota Kozuka and Shoji Meguro, it’s a fine demonstration of what an original and varied composition can bring to a video game.

Great sequels are few and far between nowadays. Developers and publishers seem content to churn out releases, slowly diluting any worthwhile aspects of the original release. In Persona 4, Atlus have achieved the summit of what an RPG should deliver, confirming the series as one of the finest exponents of the genre on any system. Such quality overcomes any minor flaws or complaints that Gamestyle could highlight. This is a marvellous game and as such warrants our highest recommendation.

Rating: 9 / 10

Words by Jason Julier