[40%] 
HAY FORUM
HADOU-KEN here with a game review. this time ill be reviewing persona 4, one of teh most kicka** rpgs out for the ps2.
Persona 4 is a japanese role playing game developed by the same company who did the trauma center series, but this same company has dev'ed a large number of other rpgs, most of them being the Shin Megami Tensei series.
Presentation-wise, this game does a pretty good job at it. Artistically, graphics are awesome and this particularly shows in the anime-style cutscenes that appear in the game occasionaly. The games graphics show a particular anime style, and it carries it out quite well. Technically, the graphics do above average. In dungeons, level design can be a bit same-y although the dungeons are different for every character, each having its own particular topic or issue that relates to the characters backstory, but really, when you explore them, there all just long corridors with different rooms. The camera isnt to good in the dungeons either. dosent keep up to well and you might find yourself constantly pressing R3. Still, even in these badly designed dungeons, the art shines over it all. Voices are done well with some cheesy dialogue here and there, making the game seem more like a really good anime series than a cr*ppily dialogued run-off-the-mill rpg. Music is different compared to other japanese rpgs, instead of listening to somewhat orchestral themes and songs, Music throughout the game is mainly modern Jpop, and it really suits the game with its setting and characters.
Story and Setting in Persona 4 is quite unique compared to other rpgs. while most rpgs have you traversing an unknown, medieaval land where there are monsters all over the place , Persona 4 does quite the oppostie, and does it well. Persona 4 isnt set in a large vast land where random encounters are common, its set in a small Japanese rural town called Inaba, Where people are mysteriously getting murdered on rainy days, and also, a rumor is going around school that if you look into your TV screen at midnight during a rainy day, you get to see your soulmate. It seems to be that the grisly murders and this strange rumour is connected, and you and your team of Persona-users must stop this threat before another person dies. This story serves to be a good one, and the game does a brilliant job at telling it.
Gameplay in Persona 4 also strays away from the typical jrpg formula. the game is literally half dating sim half rpg, and both these gameplay elements are terrifically intertwined. since your a school student you can rack up your attributes (eg. Courage, Intelligence. The kind you will probably find in a typical japanese dating sim) by doing tasks like studying, playing sport or doing work. As you build them up new opportunities will open to you such as new Social links (ill explain them in a bit), earning more money or finding new jobs available. Social links are a major component in the game, and these are basically the strength of the bonds you form with other characters in the game. As you build them up, you will be given bonuses and upgrades on the personas you create, and eventually this will lead to making powerful personas with JESUS-LIKE stats. The rpg side is pretty much straightforward, dungeon crawling, levelgrinding and turn based battles, thankfully there isnt any random encounters as you see all the enemies onscreen. What makes it so awesome though, is the Persona system. In the game, the persona is the physical manifestation of your psyche. Each char that is added to your party in the game has a persona with its own unique abilities, stats, strengths and weaknesses, and the best thing about it is, you get to mix and match the personas to make new ones, and there are hundreds of personas to make, each and every one strangely being figures in mythology or ancient history. You can also store these personas. Combining personas and storing them for battle only count for the main character, you. You can use personas in combat, and they are the central key to ownage in a battle. Combat is straightforward, turn based, and you have the typical options to attack with a weapon, use your personas skills, guard, use an item or flee. All enemies, like personas have different strengths and weaknesses, and you find them out through trial and error. FInding and Hitting the enemys weakness will knock them down, and if you knock all enemies down, you can go for an all out attack which usually deals massive damage to all enemies.
Persona 4 is a unique and brilliant RPG, but i wouldn't recommend it to fans of action or FPS games. Still, its a great game and its worth getting.
RATING: 9/10-HADOUS CHOICE
HADOU-KEN here with a game review. this time ill be reviewing persona 4, one of teh most kicka** rpgs out for the ps2.
Persona 4 is a japanese role playing game developed by the same company who did the trauma center series, but this same company has dev'ed a large number of other rpgs, most of them being the Shin Megami Tensei series.
Presentation-wise, this game does a pretty good job at it. Artistically, graphics are awesome and this particularly shows in the anime-style cutscenes that appear in the game occasionaly. The games graphics show a particular anime style, and it carries it out quite well. Technically, the graphics do above average. In dungeons, level design can be a bit same-y although the dungeons are different for every character, each having its own particular topic or issue that relates to the characters backstory, but really, when you explore them, there all just long corridors with different rooms. The camera isnt to good in the dungeons either. dosent keep up to well and you might find yourself constantly pressing R3. Still, even in these badly designed dungeons, the art shines over it all. Voices are done well with some cheesy dialogue here and there, making the game seem more like a really good anime series than a cr*ppily dialogued run-off-the-mill rpg. Music is different compared to other japanese rpgs, instead of listening to somewhat orchestral themes and songs, Music throughout the game is mainly modern Jpop, and it really suits the game with its setting and characters.
Story and Setting in Persona 4 is quite unique compared to other rpgs. while most rpgs have you traversing an unknown, medieaval land where there are monsters all over the place , Persona 4 does quite the oppostie, and does it well. Persona 4 isnt set in a large vast land where random encounters are common, its set in a small Japanese rural town called Inaba, Where people are mysteriously getting murdered on rainy days, and also, a rumor is going around school that if you look into your TV screen at midnight during a rainy day, you get to see your soulmate. It seems to be that the grisly murders and this strange rumour is connected, and you and your team of Persona-users must stop this threat before another person dies. This story serves to be a good one, and the game does a brilliant job at telling it.
Gameplay in Persona 4 also strays away from the typical jrpg formula. the game is literally half dating sim half rpg, and both these gameplay elements are terrifically intertwined. since your a school student you can rack up your attributes (eg. Courage, Intelligence. The kind you will probably find in a typical japanese dating sim) by doing tasks like studying, playing sport or doing work. As you build them up new opportunities will open to you such as new Social links (ill explain them in a bit), earning more money or finding new jobs available. Social links are a major component in the game, and these are basically the strength of the bonds you form with other characters in the game. As you build them up, you will be given bonuses and upgrades on the personas you create, and eventually this will lead to making powerful personas with JESUS-LIKE stats. The rpg side is pretty much straightforward, dungeon crawling, levelgrinding and turn based battles, thankfully there isnt any random encounters as you see all the enemies onscreen. What makes it so awesome though, is the Persona system. In the game, the persona is the physical manifestation of your psyche. Each char that is added to your party in the game has a persona with its own unique abilities, stats, strengths and weaknesses, and the best thing about it is, you get to mix and match the personas to make new ones, and there are hundreds of personas to make, each and every one strangely being figures in mythology or ancient history. You can also store these personas. Combining personas and storing them for battle only count for the main character, you. You can use personas in combat, and they are the central key to ownage in a battle. Combat is straightforward, turn based, and you have the typical options to attack with a weapon, use your personas skills, guard, use an item or flee. All enemies, like personas have different strengths and weaknesses, and you find them out through trial and error. FInding and Hitting the enemys weakness will knock them down, and if you knock all enemies down, you can go for an all out attack which usually deals massive damage to all enemies.
Persona 4 is a unique and brilliant RPG, but i wouldn't recommend it to fans of action or FPS games. Still, its a great game and its worth getting.
RATING: 9/10-HADOUS CHOICE
