Persona 4 (left half) and Persona 3 (right half) are the best Japanese RPG’s of this gener

Persona 4 (left half) and Persona 3 (right half) are the best Japanese RPG’s of this generation. They have mature and very well written stories. I got to know and became attached to these characters unlike any other games. The quality of character development and being able to relate to these characters really surprised me when I first played, especially since these are Japanese in origin. Developer Atlus really deserves credit for their great localization of the game for Western audiences. They share similarities and differences, but both follow a basic premise: you’re a transfer student in Japan who balances a social/academic life at school with fighting the occult. How well you cultivate your relationships during the day directly affects your powers and abilities in your fight against the occult. The characters, locations and themes draw from the world’s many religions and mythologies (particularly Greek mythology in P3 and Japanese-Shinto mythology in P4). This mix of the Japanese Dating Sim and Turn-Based RPG genres makes for a very rich experience. For example, a typical day: stayed out late battling the occult made my character tired for his midterms. Afterschool, my character hangs out with his friend and learns about his problems at home. That night, the strengthened friendship with my friend gains me access to new Personas and abilities that could win me a boss battle. Persona 3 and Persona 4 have their own unique and considerably different stories. In Persona 3, you’re a student in an city setting trying to date girls, make friends and get good grades during the day. But every night at midnight, you and a select few experience a secret hidden hour called “The Dark Hour”. During this time, these select few can utilize a “Persona”; a physical manifestation of your psyche (or other-self) that you summon by shooting yourself in the head with a special pistol. Using these personas, you fight the occult and unravel a larger, overarching plot. The drama and comedy during the day is great, and the battle-system at night is addicting. Every full moon a special event (coupled with a boss battle) takes place. While playing, it’s important to keep your eye on the phases of the moon while managing time and energy for schoolwork, leveling up your party and a social life. In Persona 4, you’re a student back from living abroad who transfers to a school in a small, sleepy village in the Japanese country-side. You balance a social/academic life during the day again, while you explore a strange television-world after classes (instead of at night). Every few weeks an ominous, thick fog blankets the town, and someone gets kidnapped. The dungeons are themed-based off each victim’s personal secrets, and your team must rescue them before the fog clears in your world…or they suffer a very strange, painful death. You summon Personas like it’s predecessor, but by crushing a Tarot card instead of committing spiritual suicide. My guess is that there was a strong reaction to Persona 3’s unusual method. You don’t need to play them in order to understand the stories, since they are indirect sequels (but share some references and characters). The story-telling and character development is consistent throughout, so you’re never left with plotless lulls between events. These are lengthy, 70+ hour stories that will have you glued to your chair for weeks. Replay value is high since it’s IMPOSSIBLE to know everyone’s story the first time through. -- source link

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