Who knew that a game revolving around a serial murder case could end up being a cheerful tale about the power of friendship? With the “Persona” video game franchise celebrating its 30th anniversary this past week, it serves as a great time to revisit the peak of the series and one of the greatest Japanese role-playing games (JRPG) of all-time: “Persona 4.”

After moving to the small Japanese country town of Inaba, the protagonist finds himself wrapped up in a murder mystery that only he and his group of outcast friends can solve by entering the dangerous, secret world inside of the TV. The story unfolds as the protagonist leads his ragtag squad on expeditions into this unknown realm somehow connected to the public’s unconscious, discovering clues and saving potential victims as they fight “Shadows” born from the depths of humanity’s perception of reality. 

The TV world’s dungeon exploration constitutes the main excitement of the gameplay as the battle system follows a scheme similar to the “Pokemon” franchise with weaknesses to exploit and strengths to work your team around. 

The cycle of turn-based battles revolves around pinpointing the enemies’ Achilles heel to gain extra actions and control the flow of the fight. The main strategy comes from your party composition and your own “Persona,” a personal facade to face life’s hardships and the only way to stand up to the “Shadows.” 

While each controllable member is restricted to a single “Persona” with set affinities, the protagonist wields multiple that you can level up with experience points (EXP) and fuse together to create new and improved powers, adding a level of depth to planning for dungeon-crawling. 

With these different unique elements to the gameplay loop, what sets “Persona 4” apart from other turn-based RPGs is the control and pacing of the action. 

Other games in the genre sometimes feel like a slog to get through as you wait for your opportunity to attack, but in this game, the speed of fights accelerate through the system of extra turns. By hammering away at enemy weaknesses and putting together combos of additional attacks, players dictate the tempo and take over without giving the enemies opportunities to strike. 

The ability to wield multiple “Personas” and switch them out within battle gives freedom with experimentation so the player can figure out the ideal strategy to breeze through the hoards of “Shadows.” 

While the action of turn-based battles against the enemies inside the TV world contains the true meat of the gameplay, the bulk of time you spend playing is essentially roleplaying as a normal Japanese high schooler. 

However, “Persona 4” makes a mundane daily high school routine satisfying.

Time spent with other characters develops your “Social Links” which in turn gives extra EXP when creating new “Personas” and special abilities to your party members. This is a peak example of how a game should tie together side quests with main-line progression through the plot. 

The benefits aren’t the only reason to talk with the people who inhabit the small town as the character writing in “Persona 4” outclasses every other RPG.

Each “Social Link” you develop has a unique tale that guides your friend towards a revelation of a repressed truth, leading to character growth and a piece of the formation of the game’s main theme. The development of an individual’s story progresses in a manner that exudes true emotion and feels life-like. 

Beyond the realistic character development, the game’s dialogue invokes a chemistry between characters that no other game is able to replicate. 

Interactions between the party members displays the most genuine portrayal of friendship in a video game. The combination of the well-written script and the excellent performance from the voice actors creates a comforting vibe that makes you want to continue this journey alongside them, even during the slow-paced segments. 

These characters act as the driving force of the story, which provides a great mystery and satisfying reveal to keep players engaged with their progress. 

The plot twists continuously point the player in the wrong direction to the true villain until the final unveiling. To further build these misdirections, the game is littered with small elements with seemingly no importance but eventually all come together to create a surprising reversal. 

“Persona 4” truly sets itself apart as the greatest JRPG with the most rewarding and fast-paced turn-based battle gameplay cycle, a cast of genuine characters who are enjoyable to watch, and a riveting story that feels complete. This is a must-play game for fans of the genre, so whether you play the original or the remake set to release in February, it is an experience you cannot miss out on.

Categories: Arts & Entertainment