Summary
- Release Year: 2012
- Genres: Adventure, Role-playing game (RPG), Visual Novel
- Platforms: PlayStation Vita
- Developers: Atlus
- Publishers: Atlus, Atlus USA, NIS America
Persona 4 Golden: A Golden Return to Inaba
Originally released in 2008 for the PlayStation 2, Persona 4 was an instant classic JRPG. In 2012, it was given an enhanced rerelease on the PlayStation Vita, titled Persona 4 Golden. This updated version featured a number of quality-of-life improvements, gameplay enhancements, new locations, balance tweaks, online functionality, new difficulty options, an additional side character storyline, and a changed endgame.
Persona 4 Golden is set in the rural town of Inaba, where the protagonist, Yu Narukami, moves to live with his uncle and cousin after his parents go overseas for work. Shortly after arriving in Inaba, Yu and his friends discover a strange new world called the Midnight Channel, where people’s Shadows—dark manifestations of their inner selves—can be seen. As they investigate the Midnight Channel, Yu and his friends uncover a series of murders that are linked to the Shadows.
To fight the Shadows, Yu and his friends must summon their Personas, powerful beings that represent their inner strength. Each Persona has its own unique abilities, and Yu can fuse different Personas together to create even more powerful ones. The Persona system is one of the most iconic and beloved aspects of the Persona series, and it allows for a great deal of customization and strategy in battle.
In addition to the main story, Persona 4 Golden also features a number of side quests and optional activities. Players can spend time building relationships with their friends and classmates, which will give them access to new abilities and support in battle. They can also participate in a variety of minigames, such as fishing, gardening, and cooking.
Persona 4 Golden is a massive game with a lot to offer players. It’s a sprawling JRPG with a gripping story, memorable characters, and addictive gameplay. It’s also one of the most beautiful and stylish JRPGs ever made, with a vibrant and colorful art style that brings the world of Inaba to life.
What’s New in Persona 4 Golden?
Persona 4 Golden features a number of improvements and additions over the original Persona 4. These include:
- New characters: Marie, a mysterious girl who appears in the Velvet Room, and Tohru Adachi, a new social link character.
- New locations: The Velvet Room has been expanded, and there are new areas to explore in Inaba, such as the Midnight Channel’s new dungeon, the Hollow Forest.
- Gameplay enhancements: The battle system has been tweaked and improved, and there are new difficulty options to choose from.
- Quality-of-life improvements: The game’s menus have been streamlined, and there are a number of other small changes that make the game more user-friendly.
- Online functionality: Persona 4 Golden introduced online functionality to the series, allowing players to interact with each other in a variety of ways, such as sending messages, trading items, and fighting in the online arena.
Critical Reception
Persona 4 Golden was met with critical acclaim upon release. It received perfect scores from a number of major publications, including IGN, GameSpot, and Edge. It was also nominated for a number of awards, including Game of the Year at the 2012 Golden Joystick Awards.
Legacy
Persona 4 Golden is considered to be one of the greatest JRPGs of all time. It has sold over a million copies worldwide and has been ported to a number of different platforms, including the PlayStation Vita, PlayStation TV, Windows, and Nintendo Switch. It is also available on Xbox Game Pass.
Persona 4 Golden is a testament to the power of the Persona series. It is a game that has something to offer everyone, from its gripping story and memorable characters to its addictive gameplay and beautiful art style. If you’re a fan of JRPGs, then you owe it to yourself to play Persona 4 Golden.
10/10
Review Score
9/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
