This 12 months, I took my first step into the world of Persona. As somebody who’s into horror, with an amazing curiosity in visible novels and turn-based battling, you’d suppose I’d have made the plunge sooner, however no. The Persona video games have sat in my ever-expanding backlog for some time now, and as soon as Persona 4 Golden made its approach to the Nintendo Swap earlier this 12 months, I made a decision that it was time.
I began with Persona 4 Golden,figuring that this could set me up properly to play each Persona 5 Royale and the upcoming Persona 3 Reload title properly, contemplating they’re all self-contained tales. With that call made, I buttoned up my faculty uniform and delved into the mysterious – however cosy – city of Inaba, which is impressed by Mount Fuji and riddled with fixed catastrophe.
I didn’t fairly anticipate to develop into as enthralled as I did with Persona 4 Golden, however Atlus creates deeply attention-grabbing characters and locations them in a world that feels totally lived in, with fight that – whereas repetitive – is satisfying to get proper. I received’t be the primary or final to say among the creepy jokes or dynamics that additionally emerge, which admittedly add to only how unnerving every little thing else is, however these apart, this murder-mystery oozes model and boasts a roster of characters you’ll shortly develop into hooked up to.
If you happen to’re not acquainted, Persona 4 has you play as a pupil who’s moved to a brand new faculty for a 12 months, which sounds regular sufficient… at first. Away from the town he’s accustomed to, our protagonist makes buddies with an array of quirky personalities, however it doesn’t take too lengthy for useless our bodies to start turning up on telephone strains. That’s proper. Persona 4 will get darkish quick, and it lands on this ragtag group of buddies – who’re a bit like Scooby Doo’s thriller gang in a unique timeline – to truly resolve what’s happening.
And there’s such an attention-grabbing array of characters at play; cowards, powerful guys, teen idols, and even a teddy bear are the folks you end up bonding with and battling via dungeons alongside. Dungeons which exist within a tv, may I add. Yup, Persona will get even weirder, and that’s precisely why I like it a lot. Whether or not you’re determined to know what occurs subsequent in your relationship with Persona 4’s resident DILF, Dojima, or are simply dying to resolve the serial murders which might be ongoing, Persona 4 Golden retains you glued to it all through its 70+ hour size.
It’s a recreation that I’ve grown to like discussing. Whereas I used to be taking part in it, my buddies had been always asking who I believed the ‘offender’ was, and if I’d gotten any nearer to fixing the unfolding thriller. There are infinite issues to speak about. What do you imply there’s a portal main to a different dimension in my tv? And why is there a speaking teddy bear, aptly named Teddie? Additionally, what the hell are all these unusual shadows? Having not performed Persona earlier than, there was a lot to find, and at no level did any of it really feel overwhelming. Weird, enjoyable, and sometimes lovely – I am ashamed it took me so lengthy to play Persona 4 Golden, and I’m glad I lastly acquired round to it this 12 months.
Subsequent 12 months, I’m trying ahead to seeing what Persona 3 Reload is all about. Then, possibly I’ll lastly deal with Persona 5 Royale the 12 months after that too…
