The Persona franchise has gained traction in recent years thanks to the endless stream of critical acclaim for Persona 5. It's a game that resonated with both returning fans of the series and new players thanks to its superb art direction, stellar story, and strong gameplay. However, while the fifth mainline entry was the first to truly capture a big audience, Persona's beginnings stretch far beyond the PlayStation 4. Revelations: Persona released in 1996, and since then games have trickled out on a regular basis, with many believing Persona 4 to be the best of the bunch.
Initially released on the PlayStation 2 and remastered for the PlayStation Vita, Persona 4 was undoubtedly the pinnacle of the series before P5 hit shelves globally in the Spring of 2017. Its characters were unforgettable and its quirky, intriguing story kept players guessing for the dozens of hours it took to finish. What was once a near-impossible game to find and play is now accessible to almost everybody, and while its age is obvious, it could be worth revisiting in the coming months.
Persona 4 is Still a Masterpiece
Before the Phantom Thieves took players' hearts, there was another cast of characters that captured the attention and affection of fans. Chie, Kanji, Rise, and Nanako may be some of the best acted, written, and developed characters in the JRPG genre, and as so many new games come and go, only a few wield personalities that stay are memorable all these years later. After the player arrives in the rural town of Inaba, they soon adopt a friendship group at Yasogami High School, and as the story takes a murderous turn, the team begins to investigate. Persona 4 is a great coming of age game, and when the credits roll the cast feel like they've changed significantly.
Persona 5 is known for its stunning presentation, but Persona 4 was the game to make it commonplace for the franchise. It's a title that oozes style, and so many of the systems and mechanics from Persona 3 were refined to make it a pleasure to experience. Even in the shadow of its successor, Persona 4 more than stacks up, and does enough to feel like a unique experience. With its definitive edition being on the PlayStation Vita, the portability makes it far easier to consume and even more addicting.
Persona 5 Could Render it Redundant
Persona games seem to get longer with every release. Persona 5 is well over 100 hours, and spending so many hours in one game means that it's hard to conjure the excitement to play the next, knowing it's such a significant time commitment. Persona 5 is by far the most popular in 2022, so the desire to start another game in the series may be low amongst many gamers. Because of this, the very existence of Persona 5 could make a playthrough of Persona 4 feel pointless, as it doesn't have the graphical, technical, or mechanical prowess that P5 has. If players are going to experience just one Persona game, then Persona 5 seems ideal at a glance.
However, Persona 4 is unique enough in both its story and its core design to feel like its own game. Whereas Joker and the Phantom Thieves' story is locked to home consoles and PC as a Switch port remains elusive, Persona 4 is a game that's best enjoyed on the go. The randomly-generated dungeons, bite-sized Social Link events, and simple-to-consume story beats make it a perfect portable experience, especially in comparison to Persona 5, which requires more attention from the player due to its ambition. Persona 4 and 5 have similarities, but one doesn't replace the other in any way.
Persona 4 is More Accessible Than Ever
Persona 4 launched in the United States on the PlayStation 2 in late 2008, two years after the release of the PlayStation 3. Because of this, it didn't sell well, and a remaster on the Vita didn't do much to help. Sony's PlayStation Vita was a commercial flop, and so Persona 4 was once again isolated to a platform where it had no chance of succeeding. However, in 2022, it's become so much more accessible on other devices. A digital release on Steam did well to give the game new life, and the astronomical user base of the platform means it was the first time that Persona 4 had the potential to capture a huge audience. Its verification on the Steam Deck has upheld the game's commitment to portability, too.
Until now, Xbox users haven't had the opportunity to experience all that Persona 4 has to offer, but following the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase this Summer, this will change. Persona 3 Portable, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 5 Royal are coming to Xbox Game Pass, giving the game yet another home and more players' hearts to capture. Persona 4 being on the hardware of PC, Sony, and Microsoft gives it no excuse. Most gamers will have at least one system that houses the game, and so it will no longer require a trip to the back of the cupboard to dust off the old PlayStation Vita. In 2022, Persona 4 is more current than ever, and because of its low sales in the past, it feels like a whole new game.
A Golden Opportunity
2022 is the tenth anniversary of Persona 4 Golden's PlayStation Vita release. In the decade since, it's seen numerous spin-offs like Persona 4 Arena Ultimax and Persona 4: Dancing All Night, and it laid the groundwork for Persona 5, which was an introduction to the franchise for gamers everywhere. It's a series that is no longer only known by JRPG fans, and it's finally getting the mainstream that it deserves.
Playing through Persona 4 for the first time is something that so many fans would love to experience once again. It has so much heart and some superb music, art, and writing that makes any return trip to Inaba feel worth it for so many players. The Playstation Vita will forever be its home, but the litany of platforms that it's now on means everyone can enjoy the dramatic tale that unfolds in the halls of Yasogami High.
Persona 4 Golden is available for PC and PlayStation Vita.