Does anyone recommend Persona 4?

[PlasticPorter]

I really like RPGs and this one looks really good but I don't know anyone who's played it.
For me to play it I'd have to go through the trouble of buying a new video cord for my PS2, so does anyone here recommend it?
and why would you recommend it to others?

 

[Hurray Forums]

The review forum is usually a better place for deciding whether or not to pick up a game. However for the sake of being a little bit more helpful than just telling you "look elsewhere" here is my rough checklist for "will I like Persona 4".

Do you enjoy Social Simulators? You can go without using the Social Links system but that really is a big part of the reason to play Persona 4 and not another RPG.

Do you enjoy JRPGs? Persona 4 uses many gameplay and story elements present in JRPGs so chances are if you haven't liked other JRPGs you won't like this one.

Can you tolerate Japanese culture? This shouldn't be a problem for most people since you don't have to LOVE Japanese culture to enjoy this game, just be able to tolerate it. However if you go into a rage at the sight of a bowl of ramen or an anime facial expression you probably shouldn't pick this game up.

Do you enjoy Pokemon? I don't mean the actual pokemon games but the concept of collecting monsters to fight battles for you since Persona 4 uses a similar system.

Do you enjoy cutesy/childish characters and events? The game isn't entirely childish and cutesy, in fact it sometimes makes the jump to somber and mature, but these elements do play a big enough part in the game that you won't enjoy the game if you can't enjoy them.

 

[Arcane Azmadi]

*cough* [http://www.rpgfan.com/features/go2008/index.html]

EVERYONE recommends Persona 4. The only reason I haven't got it yet is that I'm still replaying through Persona 3 FES and I'm waiting to see if they're going to release a FES version of P4.

 

[ihatefullmetalalchemist]

yes if you accept that you need a gameguide to get the most out of it

 

[PhoenixFlame]

Like HurrayForums says, it depends on if you like the JRPG elements with a dash of the social sim stuff that is also a genre in and of itself in Japan. If you haven't been indoctrinated into that, it might prove to be a jarring experience.

But as someone who plays and likes console RPGs in general, it's a solid game. It'll give you plenty of game time, the social elements provide an interesting diversion from the normal hack and slash, and the battle system is balanced with a few unique elements (knockdown via rock-paper-scissors type system, persona combinations, and the like). I prioritize story above a lot of other elements in RPGs as well and the story is engaging and fun, if not a little bit campy - but if you've ever watched any anime series to its conclusion that's a good thing, not a bad thing.

Replayability is low, honestly, but you get so many hours out of it that it's plenty fulfilling. I'd get Persona 3: FES if you're interested in more of that, as that has even more hours of gameplay. Persona 4, though, seems to improve on some of the not-so-good things about 3.