Persona 4 Golden is a role-playing video game developed by Atlus and published by Sega for the PlayStation Vita. It is an enhanced port of the 2008 PlayStation 2 game Persona 4 and includes additional content such as a new story arc, new characters, and new features. By 2012, Persona 4 Golden went to PC systems, giving PC gamers a taste of the beloved Persona franchise. Recently, the game also became available to current-gen consoles with a few tweaks to its overall performance and graphics.
In this article, we aim to shine the spotlight on the “Golden” child of the Persona franchise, Persona 4 Golden (P4 Golden). The game that many believe is the best Persona game in existence. Read on as we share with you our review of the game.
P4: Golden – What is it?
The game is set in the fictional town of Inaba, Japan, where the protagonist, a high school student, and his friends become involved in a series of murders. What’s even stranger is that they are all linked to the infamous Midnight Channel, a supposedly strange television program that broadcasts only at midnight when the rain pours.
The player controls the protagonist as he investigates the murders, while also attending school, making friends, and participating in various activities. This includes fishing, gardening, and working part-time jobs.
The player soon learns that a series of murders have been taking place in Inaba and that the victims are being killed by a mysterious entity known as the Midnight Channel. The Midnight Channel is a television channel that appears on rainy nights, and it is said that anyone who sees their shadow on the channel will be killed.
The player and their friends form a group called the Investigation Team to investigate the murders. They soon discover that the Midnight Channel is a portal to a parallel world known as the TV World, where the victims are being held captive. The Investigation Team must travel to the TV World and defeat the Shadows that are possessing the victims in order to save them.
As the Investigation Team investigates the murders, they learn more about the Midnight Channel and the TV World. They also learn more about themselves and their relationships with each other. The game explores themes of friendship, courage, and the importance of finding your true self.
How Does it Play? – Combat System
The combat system in Persona 4 Golden is a turn-based system that allows players to choose from a variety of attacks, skills, and Personas to defeat their enemies. Personas are manifestations of the player’s inner selves, and they can be obtained by fusing together different Personas. The player can also use items and buffs to improve their chances of victory.
The combat system in Persona 4 Golden is well-designed and challenging. Players need to carefully consider their choices in order to defeat their enemies. The game also features a variety of different enemies, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. This forces players to adapt their strategies on the fly.
One of the best things about the combat system in Persona 4 Golden is the variety of options that it gives players. There are a wide variety of attacks, skills, and Personas to choose from, and players can experiment with different combinations to find what works best for them. This makes the combat system both challenging and rewarding.
Overall, the combat system in Persona 4 Golden is one of the best aspects of the game. It is well-designed, challenging, and rewarding. If you are a fan of turn-based RPGs, then you should definitely check out Persona 4 Golden.
How Does it Play? – Outside Combat
Outside the TV world, players can engage in several activities. Much like the previous Persona games, P4 Golden gives players the chance to live a fun, teenage life. Going to school, attending club activities, hanging out with friends, and so much more. All these activities contribute to the strengthening of your character. It may increase his social skills, help him earn more money, or gain stronger friendships.
You have to plan your schedule to not waste the free time you have in every mission. Again, like other Persona games, what you do in your free time outside combat plays a huge role as well. For example, the player’s relationships with their friends can affect their Personas. The stronger your connection with others, the stronger Personas you can create. This makes a rewarding give-and-take mechanic on combat and outside combat.
As a matter of fact, some Persona fans enjoy playing their free time more than combat itself! And why wouldn’t they? Strategizing what to do every given day in order to maximize it is just genuinely fun. It is indeed one of the best selling points of Persona games and P4 Golden just has this aspect in check. Arguably, P4 Golden has the best outside combat gameplay in all of the Persona franchise.
Persona 4 Golden – Pros and Cons
Here are some of the pros and cons of Persona 4 Golden:
| Pros | Cons |
| Engaging Storylines | The game can be a bit slow-paced at times |
| Memorable Characters | May prove too dialog-heavy for some |
| Unique Gameplay Mechanics | The graphics are a bit dated |
| Deep Social Simulations | |
| Beautiful Presentation | |
| Extended Content |
Persona 4 Golden – Verdict
In conclusion, Persona 4 Golden is widely regarded as a fantastic game, known for its engaging storyline, memorable characters, unique gameplay mechanics, and immersive social simulations. Whether you are a fan of the RPG genre or looking for a game with a compelling narrative and rich character development, Persona 4 Golden is definitely worth considering.
As per the argument that it is the best Persona game in existence, well, we don’t disagree with it. As fantastic as Persona 3 and Persona 5 may be, there is just something special about Persona 4 Golden. You just have to experience it for yourself to know what we really mean by that. Picking this game up should be a no-brainer for those that love Persona games, especially those that had the chance to play the original Persona 4 already.
