Persona 4

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
Persona 4 Japanese cover
Developer(s)	Atlus
Publisher(s)	Atlus
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2
Genre(s)	Console role-playing
Mode(s)	Single-player

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (ペルソナ4, Perusona 4, abbreviated P4) is chronologically the sixth installment in the Persona console RPG series. The game was developed by Atlus for the Sony PlayStation 2 console. Rather than the city locales of previous games in the series, Persona 4 will take place in a fictional Japanese countryside. It features a weather forecast system with events happening on misty days to replace the moon phase system (with events happening on full moons in Persona 3) implemented in the previous games. Its story is a suspenseful countryside murder mystery with multiple twists and turns in the plot.

A North American release has been set for December 9th, 2008.

Development

Persona 4's gameplay and style stays similar to Persona 3's. The game appears to run on the same engine as its predecessor. Features such as Community (Social Link in English localization,) One More and All-out Attack from Persona 3 return. Shoji Meguro remains as the music director for the game. Although Persona 3 had a more modern style and design, Persona 4 features a more retro one. The glasses, given by Kuma, play an important role in the game, and allow the party to see through the heavy mist inside Mayonaka TV and decrease stamina loss. Apparently Kuma himself does not need a pair. The pistol-like Evokers of Persona 3 are replaced by tarot cards, which the main characters shatter in order to summon their respective Personas.

Plot

In the rural town Inaba, there have been mysterious murders occurring whenever there was fog after heavy rain. There were also rumors about a channel on television airing only at midnight called Mayonaka TV, during which it is said that one can see his/her "other half" when staring at the TV screen. After hearing about a recent unsolved murder which occurred during the fog, the characters—the main character, Chie, and Yōsuke—discuss how each of them had attempted to watch the mysterious TV channel and witnessed the murder victim. The protagonist later realizes that during midnight when the channel is on, his body can phase into his television set as a gateway to enter another world infested with shadows. After discovering this, they all decide to explore. When first completely entering the world, dazed and confused, the main character meets Kuma. Mayonaka TV and the town murders seem to have a connection. The murder victims may be merely victims of Mayonaka TV. Everyone decides that they will together try to solve the mysterious murders by exploring the hidden world of Mayonaka TV. As confirmed by a recent famitsu scan, the cast of Persona 4 will visit Gekkoukan High, from Persona 3, meaning that Persona 3 and 4 take place in the same universe. An older looking Chihiro appears, as a Senior, putting the Story's start two year after the events of Persona 3.

Characters

Main Character (主人公, Shujinkō) Voiced by: Daisuke Namikawa

Persona: Izanagi of the fool Arcanum, Izanagi Ookami of the world Arcanum

The silent male protagonist of the game who represents the player, following the tradition of the Megami Tensei games. He has dark-gray hair with a shape close to a bowlcut. He attends Yasogami High School with Chie, Yōsuke, and Yukiko. As with most protagonists of Megami Tensei games, his entire personality and name is decided and portrayed by the player's in-game actions and decisions. His respective color is olive. Screenshots show he wields two-handed sword type weapons.

His Persona, Izanagi of the Fool Arcanum, appears to wear a long coat reminiscent of Japanese school thugs and wields the Amenonuhoko, which in-game, is a spear with a blade resembling a scout/combat knife. When the Fool Arcana is fully powered up, Izanagi becomes Magatsu Izanagi, a white form with a slightly altered mask and a sword with energy rings around the hilt. There is also an Izanagi Okami, which is the only Persona of the World Arcana in the game. Izanagi is known to use Zio(electric) spells and some buffs/debuffs. The Main Character also has the ability to change personae, similar to what the characters in the first three installments of the series were able to do, and what the main character of Persona 3 and Aigis were able to do.

Yōsuke Hanamura (花村 陽介, Hanamura Yōsuke) Voiced by: Showtaro Morikubo

Persona: Jiraiya,Susano-o of the Magician Arcanum

An awkward boy with slightly unkempt reddish-brown hair who usually walks around with a music player and red/orange headphones around his neck. He uses dual blades ranging from knives to daggers in battle. He is usually very clumsy and often used as comic relief through physical comedy in situations where he either unintentionally causes himself pain, or is forced to go through Chie's angry beatings when he provokes her. When going from place to place, he is usually on his bike. His respective color is orange.

His Persona is Jiraiya of The Magician Arcanum, whose head vaguely resembles a cartoon frog's, and wears a white disco suit and a red scarf. It also has a distinctive ' V ' on its chest. Jiraiya uses wind spells and is also able to use healing spells. Once The Magician Social Link is completed, Jiraiya will evolve into Susano-o.

Yōsuke's Shadow takes the form of a cartoon frog with a body on top; the body and frog resemble his Persona. This could mean that Yōsuke is afraid or worried about growing up or that others see him as immature or childish.

Chie Satonaka (里中 千枝, Satonaka Chie) Voiced by: Yui Horie

Persona: Tomoe Gozen,Suzuka Gongen of the Chariot Arcanum

An upbeat girl with short light-brown hair who usually wears a green athletic jacket decorated with buttons. Her weapon is a pair of greaves. She has an obsession with Chinese martial arts, and even uses them in battle, similar to Lisa Silverman of Persona 2. Her obsession goes so far that she even attacks Yōsuke over a Jackie Chan DVD. Most of the time, she is friendly, cheerful, and energetic, but she has a short temper, especially with Yōsuke. Her respective color is green.

Her Persona is Tomoe Gozen of The Chariot Arcanum, a muscular female figure wearing a yellow outfit reminiscent of Bruce Lee's Game of Death costume, wielding a double bladed naginata. Tomoe Gozen is shown to use both physical and ice spells. However Kuma will take over as the main ice caster when he comes into play, thus Tomoe will stop learning ice spells near the level the player obtains Kuma. Tomoe evolves into Suzuka Gongen after completing The Chariot Social Link.

Chie's Shadow takes the form of a long haired, masked dominatrix supported by three pale Chies. Based on the shadow's dialog it seems that Chie feels like she's living in Yukiko's shadow and thus feels like all she can do is support Yukiko's popularity.

Yukiko Amagi (天城 雪子, Amagi Yukiko) Voiced by: Ami Koshimizu

Persona: Konohana-sakuya,Amaterasu of the Priestess Arcanum

An elegant but introverted girl with long groomed black hair and a red hairband in it who usually wears either a red jacket or a pink kimono, carrying with her either a paper fan, which she also uses in battle, or a red umbrella. Her family hosts a famous hotel in the city and Yukiko is always busy for training herself to succeed the business. She is branded the next owner of the hotel but feels stress for her name.

Her Persona is Konohana-sakuya of The Priestess Arcanum, resembling a Tokusatsu heroine and being almost completely pink in color. Like Yukiko, it appears to use its petal-like wings as fans. Konohana-sakuya is skilled with healing and fire spells. Konohana-sakuya will evolve into Amaterasu once the High Priestess Social Link reaches Rank 10.

Her Shadow takes the form of a caged phoenix with Yukiko's head that is able to summon a prince-like shadow to assist it. It represents her boundaries and limitations on living a normal teenager's life. Her Mayonaka TV dungeon is a Romanesque Castle.

Kanji Tatsumi (巽 完二, Tasumi Kanji) Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki

Persona: Take-Mikazuchi,Rokuten-Mao of the Emperor Arcanum

A male delinquent with a bright-blonde/silver, swept-back, crewcut who has a scar above his left eye, many piercings, metal jewelry, and wears a black sweater with a skull-and-crossbones design on it under his school uniform. He uses brute force in combat, using weapons such as steel chairs. He apparently gets into a lot of fights in the streets. He also attends Yasogami High. His mother runs a dyehouse in their home with Amagi's family being their acquainted customer, Kanji is skilled with tailoring for this reason. His respective color is gray.

His Persona is Take Mikazuchi of The Emperor Arcanum, which, like Kanji, is a large, imposing figure with a skeleton-like design exterior. He uses electric spells and physical attacks. Once The Emperor Social Link is completed, Take-Mikazuchi will evolve into Rokuten Maō.

Kanji's Mayonaka TV dungeon is a men's bathhouse. His shadow is a surrounded in a bed of roses while holding two male symbols. It represents himself questioning his true sexuality and being unsure of the opposite sex, as the sensitive side under his rough exterior is often gone unappreciated by girls. The true Kanji's sexual orientation remains debatable among fandom. After he joins the protagonist's crew his sexuality is being made fun occasionally due to his Shadow. He does show interest in females especially towards Naoto Shirogane (due to the awkward, almost homosexual moments), even knowing her true gender.

Rise Kujikawa (久慈川 りせ, Kujikawa Rise) Voiced by: Rie Kugimiya

Persona: Himiko,Kanzeon of the Lovers Arcanum

A cheery-looking female with bright-red hair tied in two pigtails. She was one of the most popular idols in Japan, but suddenly quit her job and transferred to Yasogami High School as a freshman out of reasons unknown. Her look is reminiscent to Alana from Revelations: Persona. She is the support character after Kuma. Her respective color is pink.

Her Persona is Himiko of The Lovers Arcanum, who wears a white gown, has a satellite dish for a face and holds a object similar to the torch wielded by the actual Himiko. She will provide background and enemy information for the frontlines during and outside of battles. Her ultimate persona obtained when the main character reaches rank 10 in the Lovers social link is Kanzeon.

Rise's Shadow is a colorful pole dancer with pigtails like hers. Her Mayonaka TV dungeon is an disco amphitheater which looks more of a strip club. They all represent her fear of her popstar image being turned into more of a sex symbol since she is supposed to be a good girl.

Naoto Shirogane (白鐘 直斗, Shirogane Naoto) Voiced by: Romi Paku

Persona: Sukuna-Hikona,Yamato-Takeru of the Wheel of Fortune Arcanum

A young, serious, masculine looking female with dark-blue hair who almost always wears a navy-blue officer's hat, and sometimes, a black officer's uniform along with it. Naoto's clothes and gestures are reminiscent to those of Raidou Kuzunoha while Naoto's face and hair resembles that of the protagonist of Persona 3. Naoto uses a revolver in combat, similar to Takaya of Persona 3. Naoto is known as a famous detective, dubbed the "Detective Prince" by the media, though Naoto still attends Yasogami High. Naoto's respective color is blue.

Naoto's Persona is Sukuna Hikona of Wheel of Fortune Arcanum, a Persona that is smaller than its own user and wears a cape over a blue suit and shorts. It uses an energy sword longer than itself and is capable of using almighty and fire spells as seen in the trailers. When Naoto's Social Link, Fortune, is completed Naoto's Persona will evolve into Yamato Takeru.

Naoto's shadow is a robot version of herself with large toy like laser guns, rocket feet and a jet pack. Her Mayonaka TV dungeon is like an industrial factory/laboratory or military base. This form represents the feeling that she's being treated like a kid.

Kuma (クマ, Kuma) Voiced by: Kappei Yamaguchi

Persona: Kintoki-Douji,Kamui of the Star Arcanum

A strange stuffed-bear-like creature with blue fur and a red/white jumpsuit who resides in the world of Mayonaka TV. When talking, he usually ends his speeches with "-kuma". He serves as outside support in battle, but is later replaced and becomes a party member during battle. When fighting, he uses knuckles and other hand-worn weapons. He is often used as comic relief. His head is safely removable, as demonstrated when Yousuke forcefully pulled it off, suspecting Kuma's appearance was merely a costume. Kuma's human form later in the game is a blonde, charming, bishonen looking teenager when he removed his costume to take a drink from the summer heat (even though Yousuke tried to keep his costume on still believing no one was actually inside). His respective color is peach.

His Persona is Kintoki Douji of The Star Arcanum, who has the appearance of a bulbous red boiler with stubby limbs in a blue cape, carrying a tomahawk missile (the axe (tomahawk) is Kintoki's trademark) in its arms. It is capable of using ice spells. He is also the other main healer. By completing Kuma's Social Link, Kamui will replace Kintoki-Dōji.

Kuma's shadow is a larger form of his bear costume coming out of a hole in the ground. This could represent Kuma hiding who he really is, a lonely Shadow. Kuma was a lost Shadow that soon became lonely, Kuma learned to speak and become friendly with humans, he even took a human form just to be with them. After gaining a personality, he recieved his own Persona.

Igor Voiced by: Isamu Tanonaka

A mysterious, long-nosed gentleman who resides in the Velvet Room (which has recently taken the form of a limousine). As in the other Persona games, Igor's purpose is to assist the player in acquiring new powers and Persona.

Margaret Voiced by: Sayaka Ohara

A mysterious woman replacing Elizabeth as Igor's assistant. She is of the Empress Arcanum.

Chihiro Fushimi Voiced by: Ai maeda

The treasurer from Persona 3 makes a return in Persona 4. It is unknown what her role is though there is speculation that she may have become the new Student Council President. She was seen greeting the group in front of Gekkoukan High (possibly they were on a field trip there). She appears to have become more confident in the two years between Persona 3's beginning and Persona 4's.

Gameplay

Persona 4 has kept the Social Links and Dungeon Crawling gameplay from Persona 3. The battles have similarities, such as the One More System and All Out Attack, but several major changes have been made as well. Most notably, the player is allowed to completely control the actions of the other party members when their turns hit. In Persona 3, the player was only able to set tactics with the characters acting on their own. Persona 4 still carries some sort of AI function in battles as an "Automatic" command. Social Links between the characters also affect how they react in battle with the main character. (For example, if the main character gets knocked down, then an ally will come by and pick him up).

Soundtrack

The opening theme is titled "Pursuing My True Self" and is by 平田志穂子.

External links

• Persona 4's Official Japanese Website
• Persona 4's Official English Website