Persona 4 Golden

 PlayStation Vita
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1851 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,584 out of 1851
  2. Mixed: 54 out of 1851
  3. Negative: 213 out of 1851
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  1. Lee_Godspeed
    May 4, 2017
    10
    So having never played a Persona game I was totally blind to it other than the many greatest games/rpg lists it appears in. Wow I was in no expecting it to be as amazing as it was. Over 100 hours play and I never stopped thinking about it when I wasn't even playing it. The story is great very typical to an anime but that's a good thing with characters I was totally invested in and caredSo having never played a Persona game I was totally blind to it other than the many greatest games/rpg lists it appears in. Wow I was in no expecting it to be as amazing as it was. Over 100 hours play and I never stopped thinking about it when I wasn't even playing it. The story is great very typical to an anime but that's a good thing with characters I was totally invested in and cared about. I also loved the combat, very old school turn based action with its own spin with the personas you can create and use with its many different skills and personas. It's also not just fight, fight and fight. It's broken up with having to juggle your everyday school life, from making friends to having to work or study to pass exams. Ive played many games and that of rpgs in my time but this is easily the best I've ever played and also one of the best games in general I've ever played. A must play… Expand
  2. belody42
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    The sole reason I and many others purchased a ps vita. Despite this being my first venture into the Persona series I knew it would be something special and that it would tick all my boxes for a great game, however, little did I know it would become my favourite game of all time (Maybe once I finish Persona 5 it will drop down to second though). The charm, charisma and depth the majority ofThe sole reason I and many others purchased a ps vita. Despite this being my first venture into the Persona series I knew it would be something special and that it would tick all my boxes for a great game, however, little did I know it would become my favourite game of all time (Maybe once I finish Persona 5 it will drop down to second though). The charm, charisma and depth the majority of the cast and story provides is incredible and by the time you finish this game you will feel as though you are saying goodbye to your real life best friends. This is largely thanks to the narrative driven core of the game as well as the unique social link system that was introduced to the series in Persona 3 and has been refined further in each main entry to the series since. This system allows you to become closer to various characters in the game and uncover their backstory and secrets whilst also granting you rewards that make the dungeon crawling aspect of the game easier and more enjoyable. Oh yeah, this game also has dungeon crawling which is sometimes easy to forget due to the game so heavily focusing on the story and characters. Whilst unfortunately the dungeons are usually quite barebones the persona fusion mechanic, the incredible soundtrack by Shoji Meguro and the unique shadow selves manage to still make it an enjoyable experience. The dungeons are found in the supernatural "TV world" and the design and boss of each dungeon give an interesting insight into the character who's psyche you are exploring. Essentially, by going into the TV world you are investigating the inner workings of someone who has been on TV a lot in the real world and who is stuck inside the TV world. It sounds complicated but it makes sense in the game, it's just hard to explain. It allows for a lot more unique and interesting dungeon themes and designs than most JRPG's however, with dungeons ranging from castles to strip clubs and each dungeon boss explores real world insecurities and fears, making the boss encounters and characters who's inner selves you are exploring relatable and engaging. Furthermore, akin to pokemon, you can collect enemy shadows and turn them into your own persona's which you can use to fight alongside you. You can also fuse multiple persona's together to make new more powerful persona's, creating an addictive drive to collect as many persona's as possible in order to see what new adorable or terrifying creatures you can make. Finally I will mention the battle mechanics. The persona and SMT series have a cool "1 more" feauture, meaning that if you hit an enemies weakness you are granted an additional attack. This allows for more strategy than a regular JRPG fight, especially since the enmies can use this "1 more" system too, meaning you have to both hit enemy weaknesses whilst trying to avoid your own teams weaknesses from being hit.
    Overall this is certainly a niche title which I can imagine people either falling in love with or despising but if anything I said piqued your interest you should definetely check it out, you won't regret it.    … Expand
  3. daddydom
    Apr 13, 2017
    10
    Of course, everybody knows it by now. Persona 4 Golden is the best game on the Vita, and maybe even one of the best games ever made. Everything comes together to form something beautiful and compelling. Murder, romance, friendships, even worlds inside TVs! The music, oooooh the music. The same songs for 75+ hours and they never get old. You'll find yourself singing along in no time. BuyOf course, everybody knows it by now. Persona 4 Golden is the best game on the Vita, and maybe even one of the best games ever made. Everything comes together to form something beautiful and compelling. Murder, romance, friendships, even worlds inside TVs! The music, oooooh the music. The same songs for 75+ hours and they never get old. You'll find yourself singing along in no time. Buy the game, play the game. Trust me, you'll never forget it.… Expand
  4. Mallenlane
    Apr 11, 2017
    10
    I bought a PSTV just to play this; it was definitely worth it. The Persona series as a whole is really in a class of its own. They are simply that good, and the stories and characters that engaging.
  5. Valkana
    Apr 4, 2017
    10
    Never played the Persona Series but was told to start with this one on the Vita. The game is the best one on the Vita. In fact it's the best games to take on the go because there is so much to do and you can spend a 100 hrs with it. The story is intriguing and the characters are like able and have personality. Game play wise it's really great and everything seems to fit in perfect. It'sNever played the Persona Series but was told to start with this one on the Vita. The game is the best one on the Vita. In fact it's the best games to take on the go because there is so much to do and you can spend a 100 hrs with it. The story is intriguing and the characters are like able and have personality. Game play wise it's really great and everything seems to fit in perfect. It's definitely worth the purchase. I gave it a 10 because I don't feel there was anything wrong with it for a Portable game and I enjoyed every bit of the world they created.… Expand
  6. gregorius
    Mar 30, 2017
    10
    I'm glad I stayed on this game at the beginning because it's quite slow. Once you get the freedom to actually play the game you will be rewarded with one of the most amazing and likable characters in gaming history. The story itself is quite compelling and engaging to move the plot. The social and life simulation is top notch never in a game I enjoyed do tedious work and be rewarded by it.I'm glad I stayed on this game at the beginning because it's quite slow. Once you get the freedom to actually play the game you will be rewarded with one of the most amazing and likable characters in gaming history. The story itself is quite compelling and engaging to move the plot. The social and life simulation is top notch never in a game I enjoyed do tedious work and be rewarded by it. My time in P4G is meaningful that I feel I'm living a double life. It's that good!… Expand
  7. marcelus
    Mar 17, 2017
    10
    I was introduced to Persona series by this game. Of course many SMT purist hate this entry because is the most friendly one. But if you just like games, RPG's you can find a very different thing here. This game alone makes PSVita worth buying. Yukiko Best Waifu!
  8. fborjas
    Mar 13, 2017
    10
    Persona 4 Golden for PS Vita is a JRPG that completely envelops you for dozens of hours and does not let you escape. You get it with a really varied and charismatic cast of characters, making you live a double life inside the TV and out as a teenager. The plot of murders unfolds little by little as you develop ever deeper bonds with your friends and people around you until you feel onePersona 4 Golden for PS Vita is a JRPG that completely envelops you for dozens of hours and does not let you escape. You get it with a really varied and charismatic cast of characters, making you live a double life inside the TV and out as a teenager. The plot of murders unfolds little by little as you develop ever deeper bonds with your friends and people around you until you feel one more in Inaba. An unforgettable and indispensable game for lovers of JRPG.… Expand
  9. kuehnau
    Feb 11, 2017
    7
    I spent the last two weeks playing Persona 4 Golden and have finally reached end game, which makes me feel as though I can now give the game an honest review.

    Persona 4 Golden is kind of a monster collecting RPG that revolves around collecting cards after battles and then fusing those cards together to form stronger monsters, also known as "Personas". As you play the game, you'll meet    I spent the last two weeks playing Persona 4 Golden and have finally reached end game, which makes me feel as though I can now give the game an honest review.

    Persona 4 Golden is kind of a monster collecting RPG that revolves around collecting cards after battles and then fusing those cards together to form stronger monsters, also known as "Personas". As you play the game, you'll meet friends who can also use Personas, but you are the only character who can change their persona.

    Persona 4 Golden is absolutely a standard JRPG. Even the "normal" difficulty is fairly hard. Thankfully they put in a easy mode that allows you to just enjoy the story and characters while almost effortlessly walking through battles, dungeons and boss encounters.

    Graphically the game looks great and runs well with no visual slow downs that I could see. It's a perfect port to the vita. A recurring problem with most JRPGs is present in the game and that is a lack of creative enemies, you are going to encounter a lot of re-colored enemies in this game, it really lacks diversity on that front.

    As a added bonus, the game is also kind of like a slice of life teenage high schooler sim. The game places a lot of focus on meeting people, forging long lasting relationships, romance and even working part time jobs and going to school.

    There's a lot going on and the game requires you to manage your time, you can't do everything at once and when you first start playing, you'll have to decide what things you want to focus on.

    The story is somewhat engaging and it's writing is good enough that Persona 4 Golden will have you caring about the characters and relating to them. Some of the overall themes are fairly cliche and there is a lot of cringy content that revolves around character's sexuality.

    As your character grows, they will often be given dialog choices that are effected by your personality, such as courage and empathy. One would think that these dialog choices would alter the story or paths your character will walk, but the reality is, the only large differance is slightly different dialog. This part of the game is pretty underwhelming and the reality that not all options can be used your first playthrough is slightly annoying.

    The game does feature a "new game plus" mode, but unlike a lot of traditional games that offer this as a feature, almost NOTHING carries over, completely ruining the concept of new game plus. After beating the game, if done correctly, you'll have access to your ultimate persona form, but unfortunately you still cannot use it until late in the end game and requires a lot of grinding in order to make even remotely useful.

    The biggest failure of the game is the ending. You'd think that the game would be close to ending after defeating the final boss and solving the "case", but that's not true. The game will continue to drag on for in-game months, leaving you with almost nothing to do besides chasing the ending to the game. There was no good reason for adding this in and really ruins the ending after glow you'd normally get.

    Persona 4 Golden also adds in a extra character and additional dungeon, but they are both so awful, I wouldn't recommend wasting your time pursuing them in any capacity unless you have extra time to burn.    … Expand
  10. midipon
    Jan 21, 2017
    5
    Overrated waifu filth. Easy as hell with **** for payoff at the end. Terrible bosses, annoying characters, flat world, and boring school segments. Irritating fetch quests, lame dungeons, ugly graphics, and stupid story pacing. The music has okay tracks. But that's it.
  11. ambroser53
    Dec 27, 2016
    10
    Seriously one of my favorite games to ever happen upon. My love for RPGs like this stem from their ability to put meaning and feeling behind the sprites and turn-based battles they consist of. The core mechanics, when looked at from the perspective of a heartless robot, aren't anything to shout about, but it's the meaning the game puts behind everything that really gets you engaged in theSeriously one of my favorite games to ever happen upon. My love for RPGs like this stem from their ability to put meaning and feeling behind the sprites and turn-based battles they consist of. The core mechanics, when looked at from the perspective of a heartless robot, aren't anything to shout about, but it's the meaning the game puts behind everything that really gets you engaged in the world and the fantastically written characters.
    If you have a ps vita you either do or should own this, but for me it was well worth buying a vita for.    … Expand
  12. Leon_90
    Nov 29, 2016
    0
    Quite possibly the worst JRPG in the history of gaming. Old outdated gameplay, very bad graphics (you might actually go blind from the aweful design. I do not recommend at all!
  13. ghostwarmen
    Nov 21, 2016
    10
    By far and large the best JRPG I've played IMO. A fantastic game, near perfection! Fantastic story, very likable characters, and fantastic JRPG gameplay! This is an absolute MUST PLAY!
  14. HTGamer
    Nov 15, 2016
    9
    My first Persona game and I absolutely loved it. I lost my sleep for 3 weeks, thanks to the portability of the Vita and the hooking of the game, I must have played it for 100 hours on my bed.

    Persona 4 Golden is a port of the original PS2 game and it has been adapted to the PS Vita. Graphics are the same as the PS2 version, the soundtrack is amazing, the voice acting is great, and the    My first Persona game and I absolutely loved it. I lost my sleep for 3 weeks, thanks to the portability of the Vita and the hooking of the game, I must have played it for 100 hours on my bed.

    Persona 4 Golden is a port of the original PS2 game and it has been adapted to the PS Vita. Graphics are the same as the PS2 version, the soundtrack is amazing, the voice acting is great, and the story is awesome.

    As for gameplay, it's a mix of JRPG, dungeon crawler and school simulator. Half the time you are a nameless schoolboy who is making friends with various characters, while the town the game is set on is caught in a supernatural murder mystery and all together they will solve the mystery (Japan is the only place in the world where teenagers are more capable than adults, it appears :P). The other half of the game is a somewhat dull dungeon crawler (the multi level maps are atrocious and unbearable) coupled with a fantastic JRPG combat system. Enemies are great, bosses are awesome, and you also have your Personas (summons) at your disposal!

    One of the greatest games I have ever played. I am hyped for Persona 5. Enough said. Buy Persona 4 Golden and play it. Be prepared to lose your sleep :P    … Expand
  15. Iamthe1
    Nov 8, 2016
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is so bad and overrated, it's basically a JRPG Scooby-Doo. Bunch of teenagers solving murders. It's so repetitive like Pokémon, killing 10 levels of shadows and then rinse and repeat. The story is also really weird and disturbing. It gets 2 because of the voice acting and Rise… Expand
  16. Kaprawiec
    Oct 21, 2016
    7
    It's so overhyped, that I dont really know where to start. Boring dungeons, idiotic characters (this bear dude is just too much to handle), really weird story with no pointers how to acquire true ending in the game and LOTS of time consuming uninteresting things to do (I remember running through the halls of the school and reading idle chit-chat). Also those teenagers with their pubertyIt's so overhyped, that I dont really know where to start. Boring dungeons, idiotic characters (this bear dude is just too much to handle), really weird story with no pointers how to acquire true ending in the game and LOTS of time consuming uninteresting things to do (I remember running through the halls of the school and reading idle chit-chat). Also those teenagers with their puberty troubles are a pain to watch as they seem just generic. Graphics are nice, story is so-so, and it sometimes is quite funny. But nothing that spectacular to say that this is the best game on VITA really.… Expand
  17. Aridos
    Sep 21, 2016
    10
    Persona 4 Golden is the must-have game for the PsVita.

    I'm not afraid to say this was the reason I bought a PsTV. The game is a RPG, based around some old japanese town where the hero goes for a year, and from there things roll on, into mystery and adventure, I won't spoil too much. Like the rest of the Shin Megami series beforehand, the game takes RPG conventions and plays around    Persona 4 Golden is the must-have game for the PsVita.

    I'm not afraid to say this was the reason I bought a PsTV.

    The game is a RPG, based around some old japanese town where the hero goes for a year, and from there things roll on, into mystery and adventure, I won't spoil too much.

    Like the rest of the Shin Megami series beforehand, the game takes RPG conventions and plays around with them to create a fluid and fun gameplay.

    A lot of elements show great design, and newcomers will love it, while old-commers already bought it so why are they even reading this?

    The game remembers the best platform for storytelling: if you create compelling characters you can have fun with, you'll be that much more drawn to their stories, and Persona 4 Golden is all about story.

    With the player character in the front and center of it all, it's fun to get lost in personal banters and conversation with the varied characters, something that transcended the 'We'll tell you how this character develops and you'll sit there and like it' moments of Persona 3.
    Showing that the studio has come to understand that fun gameplay and engaging story is better than a good story.

    The Golden tag adds a few new Personas, scenes, interactions, etc.
    It's worth to explore everything new for those who only played Persona 4 Vanilla before, and for anyone else, just enjoy the game the way you want to.
    There's no right or wrong choice in the game, oh, except in the end.

    I don't like to say it for any game, but Persona 4 Golden stumbles near the end of the game-
    There the game will give you a warning to save, and if you lack patience, you'll want to pull out an FAQ and see the 'Right' way to reach the ending of the game.

    It shows that while Atlus has the right track of mind to let the player fail and know they did, but not tell him what he did wrong once he floped, so he can load up a save and do it over to continue anyway.

    Hopefully, this will be fixed with Persona 5, but that's another review.    … Expand
  18. Shlag
    Sep 11, 2016
    10
    Never have I played a game like this.

    The story, the music, the characters, everything, just everything verge on perfection. At first, i was hesitant buying a Vita for it (no real reason to do so really) but every tear i shed while playing this game...every tear made every penny more then worth. Epic. just epic. Be prepared to become an emotional wreck for as long as your    Never have I played a game like this.

    The story, the music, the characters, everything, just everything verge on perfection.

    At first, i was hesitant buying a Vita for it (no real reason to do so really) but every tear i shed while playing this game...every tear made every penny more then worth.

    Epic. just epic. Be prepared to become an emotional wreck for as long as your formidable adventure will last savoring this masterpiece. A-ABSOLUTELY-MUST-BUY!    … Expand
  19. drlowdon
    Sep 2, 2016
    8
    There are two distinct, but linked, elements that make up Persona 4's gameplay. Around 40% of your time will be spent traversing the randomly generated dungeons and defeating enemies in old school turn based battles, the rest of your time is spent going to school, meeting friends and generally trying to make social connections with people. The stronger the connections you make with peopleThere are two distinct, but linked, elements that make up Persona 4's gameplay. Around 40% of your time will be spent traversing the randomly generated dungeons and defeating enemies in old school turn based battles, the rest of your time is spent going to school, meeting friends and generally trying to make social connections with people. The stronger the connections you make with people the stronger your 'persona's' (creatures that help you fight the battles) can become.

    To be honest you have little, if any, say in the way conversations go when making these social connections but most of the characters stories are interesting and well written enough that you'll want to see how they pan out anyway. The same can be said of the central plot that, after a slow opening couple of hours, had me hooked right up until the final credits rolled..

    The time spent in the dungeons won't appeal to anyone that dislikes the turn based battles found in games like the older Final Fantasy titles but the variety of enemies, each with different strengths and weaknesses, and ability to constantly upgrade and adapt your abilities by creating new personas certainly kept me entertained.

    It took me a little over 65 hours to complete Persona 4 and, while it had started to become a little repetitive by the end (what game doesn't after that long?), I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it and will certainly be keeping an eye out for the soon to be released sequel.    … Expand
  20. Clone_Jock
    Aug 13, 2016
    10
    With a soundtrack that will make you sing right after you get out of bed in the morning and a story that hits the "feels" real hard Persona 4 Golden is a real treat to almost anybody who plays it. (Also this is my first review).

    Gameplay - Persona 4 Golden is a single player role-playing game with a social simulation that the game refers to as "Social links". Persona 4 Golden uses    With a soundtrack that will make you sing right after you get out of bed in the morning and a story that hits the "feels" real hard Persona 4 Golden is a real treat to almost anybody who plays it. (Also this is my first review).

    Gameplay - Persona 4 Golden is a single player role-playing game with a social simulation that the game refers to as "Social links". Persona 4 Golden uses elements from traditional RPG's and blends it with the in game social links. For example say you hang out with one of your friends in game for a serious talk, after the talk your "understanding" may increase or if you complete part of a social link your powers to create personas of your friends arcana will grow and so you would be able to make more personas to help you in battle. Think of Persona 4 Goldens gameplay as two parts. One part is in the real world of inaba where you progress your S.L (Social Links), go to school, do part time jobs, etc. The other part is in the TV world (The Dungeon of Persona 4 Golden) where you battle these things known as "Shadows". The battle system in P4G is very simple to grasp onto. Actions such as Attack,skill,etc. will appear in a dialogue box in the lower bottom-left of the screen that you can navigate, and on the right side of the screen their will be character portraits that display each characters HP & SP in your party.

    Soundtrack - "Truth is elusive, its nowhere to be found ..." It's stuck in my head! This games soundtrack will no doubt be your favorite video game soundtrack. It's catchy, upbeat, and it will make you feel younger! Seriously it will! Look up the opening theme for P4G!

    Story - The main reason why you would want to buy P4G is because of the story, its a masterpiece and the S.L's are a huge part of character development in this game and they are so good! The plot is extremely intriguing, and compelling but be ready to put your thinking caps on because the story is convoluted at times. Without spoiling anything I will briefly explain hardly anything about the beginning. On April 11th, 2011, the MC arrives in a small town called inaba to live with his uncle for a year because his parents are away on a business trip. Just after the MC arrives to inaba a TV announcer is found dead hanging from an antenna ... who could do such a thing? We might need people that work in the police force of inaba like Adachi to solve this case.

    Graphics - Though this game does not have the best graphics they are good graphics nonetheless. Keep in mind that P4G is a remake of P4 on the ps2 and does not really offer much of a graphical enhancement going from PS2 to the PsVita (P4G adds a new character named Marie into the mix of P4 and a new opening theme also new events to experience with your group of friends), but when a game gets as good as P4 graphics become almost ignorable because your so focused on other things in the game. The animated cutscene's in P4G look amazing on the other hand.

    Audio - Remember back in the day when you used play on your first console? If your first console came out before 2005 do you remember hearing the audio? Do you remember how clear it was? If you said yes and remember the audio being not so clear that isnt the case for P4G, the audio is extremely clear and literally never sounds off. From the voice acting, to hearing youf footsteps in the TV world everything sounds right.

    Verdict - It is a must buy ... NOW!    … Expand
  21. Eikast
    Aug 10, 2016
    10
    So as someone who just the other week finished the game with the Golden True Ending, I think that I am very qualified in leaving a review. I won't go into spoilers but I highly recommend that you look at a guide around September and December so that you know who to max out social links (prior to end of December for Golden Ending), and in early December to get which ending you would like toSo as someone who just the other week finished the game with the Golden True Ending, I think that I am very qualified in leaving a review. I won't go into spoilers but I highly recommend that you look at a guide around September and December so that you know who to max out social links (prior to end of December for Golden Ending), and in early December to get which ending you would like to get, otherwise the game pretty much ends in December for you and you miss out in 20 or so hours of gameplay).

    This game takes a long time to beat, especially if you're going after the Golden True Ending. Take your time and enjoy the game. If you play it on normal you will need to do some light grinding to make boss fights somewhat doable (or even easy if you're high enough). This game is hands down the best game on the PS Vita. I kind of wish they released it later on the PS4 so that more people can enjoy this game. If you have ever liked any sort of JRPG game, then you will enjoy this game. Persona 4 is how you do a good JRPG.    … Expand
  22. ptonyoliver
    Aug 1, 2016
    10
    Persona 4 Golden is a near perfect game, the best game on the Vita and in the franchise. Everything it offers and does it offers and does well. Story, characters, music, gameplay, mechanics, challenge, etc. It is one of my favorite games of all time and I'm glad I could play it.
  23. 50gamechallenge
    Jul 6, 2016
    9
    What do you get when you combine a classic turn based RPG, a visual novel, and a dating simulator? Probably not what you expected. What separates Persona 4 Golden from the flood of other Japanese imports hitting the market, with their copy-and-paste mechanics, is its individuality and creative spark.

    The story follows the protagonist, Yu Narukami, as he boards a train to stay with his    What do you get when you combine a classic turn based RPG, a visual novel, and a dating simulator? Probably not what you expected. What separates Persona 4 Golden from the flood of other Japanese imports hitting the market, with their copy-and-paste mechanics, is its individuality and creative spark.

    The story follows the protagonist, Yu Narukami, as he boards a train to stay with his detective uncle Dojima and young cousin Nanako in the sleepy town of Inaba. In this time your character attends school, meets some new friends and gets tangled up in a paranormal murder case shrouded in rumors of “The Midnight Channel,” a television show that appears at midnight to show the viewer their true love. Victims begin to appear around town hanging from telephone wires and without a single lead for Detective Dojima or his partner Adachi, it's time for the investigation team of high school friends to figure out what's really going on here.

    The main focus for the player is going to be, well, personas. These allies are summoned through tarot cards and earned through a card shuffle mini game after battles or through fusion. With little more than physical attacks and items, you're going to need to collect as many as possible. Personas are comparable to Pokemon (and the parent series of Persona, Shin Megami Tensei, actually started the collectible monster genre 4 years prior to the release of Pokemon), except you only want to see them as what they are: a tool. This might strike players used to their monsters being friends that level up with you as shallow, but in P4G there are hundreds of potential personas to help you along the way. The personas complement a fluid turn-based battle system that always felt fresh and new. Combat focuses heavily on your ability to play against enemy weaknesses and keep status buffs in a healthy rotation, something that feels more like an afterthought in typical RPGs. The battle system kept me interested as I traversed through the often bland and randomly generated dungeons for an hour or more at a time, an aspect that the previous Persona 3 suffered from as well. People new to the series might lose interest in this regard, but a player that enjoys grinding and hunting for treasure will feel right at home.

    As I continued through P4G, it became apparent that personality is where it counts. The jazzy pop soundtrack, vibrant color scheme, and varied character interactions set the tone for a memorable experience. Every character from your party members to the townspeople have their own fleshed out story to tell, and Golden invites you to speak to everyone you see and grow your reputation in Inaba. The social link mechanic allows you to form personal bonds with those you meet allowing new fusions, persona abilities, equipment, and stories in a way that transforms the conventional dating sim process found in many visual novels.

    Golden is a highly polished remake of the original PS2 title. The graphics received a complete overhaul, some enemies and bosses have been altered to get rid of outdated mechanics too heavily reliant on luck, and the new voice actors come from many notable roles in the industry (seriously, Johnny Yong Bosch has been in everything.) You'll also find extra content in the television channels available at the start screen, consisting of a trivia mini game, concept art, and footage from Persona Live concerts. Maybe the most prominent of additions is Marie, a character with a cloudy past.

    Marie can be unlikable from the start of her social link, often rude and lacking in social awareness. I found myself pressing fast forward through her dialogue but the conclusion of my time with Marie and the way our interactions filled out the overall narrative left me with a feeling of regret about judging this relevant piece of the puzzle too quickly. The content exclusive to Golden along with my 100+ hours spent in Inaba left me wishing for more time with the investigation team that altered my perspective of what can at times feel like a dying genre as a JRPG fan. It's a reoccurring lesson in P4G and even in life that sometimes it's best to just see where things go.

    If you have the time to spare and a love for well-crafted storytelling, Persona 4 Golden will treat you to an experience you won't soon forget. And while there are flaws throughout, it's hard to be down when you're having such a good time with good friends.
    ________________________________________

    Rating: 9/10
    + Persona fusion/battle system
    + Plenty of style and personality
    + Social link system is a fun way to interact with characters
    - Massive time investment and bland dungeon design
    - Extra content might not appeal or stand out to new players

    Recommended for: fans of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, or narrative-driven story games like Life is Strange, Ace Attorney, Or Danganronpa.    … Expand
  24. chayshirin
    Jun 25, 2016
    9
    80 hours of pure, unadultered fun. Relatable characters, sweet story and side stories. Fun combat, endearing graphics and enchanting music score! Go get a Vita and play this.
  25. gq_foine
    Jun 8, 2016
    10
    The best game in the franchise! The best RPGs game in the last 9yrs!!! The story, music, characters, game development is amazing!! If you liked Persona 4 on PS2. Well this is like the remastered super elite version!!!! In my top 3 best RPGs of all time right behind Chrono Trigger and FFVI.
  26. alexaxa
    May 22, 2016
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Really good RPG! The story/intrigue is great but it's just sad that you most probably need to follow a walkthrough to see the real ending since it requires specific conversation options at one point of the game.… Expand
  27. joker7195
    May 16, 2016
    9
    i love the persona games persona 3 fes being my fav out of the all the games but persona 4 has to grow on u so fast this game is really more light compared to the other persona games i would love to play it a lot more buuuuut just like what kingdom hearts did that put the games on every consoles this being the amazing vida that i wish i could buy but can't offered unfortunately whenever iti love the persona games persona 3 fes being my fav out of the all the games but persona 4 has to grow on u so fast this game is really more light compared to the other persona games i would love to play it a lot more buuuuut just like what kingdom hearts did that put the games on every consoles this being the amazing vida that i wish i could buy but can't offered unfortunately whenever it comes to games that do this i really need to think hard will it affect the review? No it should not this game just needs a 10-10 but from me i will give a 9-10 i would love if the game could give a better way of leveling up in fes there was a option after battle to get a card that increases the amount of exp u get thats what saved me time in that game as i said i had a limited amount of time before i had to stop this game is great everyone should have a chance to play it.… Expand
  28. FinalFantasy467
    May 11, 2016
    10
    When I got the game I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I read the great reviews when it was first released and had the idea that I would like the game but wasn't expecting it to become my favorite game of all time. Love the story and characters. The events and a thing call social links adds so much depth to the characters an humor as well. By the time you are finished, youWhen I got the game I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I read the great reviews when it was first released and had the idea that I would like the game but wasn't expecting it to become my favorite game of all time. Love the story and characters. The events and a thing call social links adds so much depth to the characters an humor as well. By the time you are finished, you feel almost sad. Not because the ending is sad but because it feels like you have developed relationships with these characters and its hard to leave. Can't wait for Persona 5… Expand
  29. Ogie
    Apr 25, 2016
    10
    This game is just incredible. Amazing story, amazing gameplay, amazing music, really good graphic. What do you want more? This game is perfect or almost perfect in everything. The game is too much enjoyable, it won't let you leave for long. Even this is just english version for west, this dubbing is amazing and best I have seen in games so far. Persona 4 Golden is just... wow! For everyThis game is just incredible. Amazing story, amazing gameplay, amazing music, really good graphic. What do you want more? This game is perfect or almost perfect in everything. The game is too much enjoyable, it won't let you leave for long. Even this is just english version for west, this dubbing is amazing and best I have seen in games so far. Persona 4 Golden is just... wow! For every RPG fan this should be must and even for people who usually don't like this genre I can say this will change you opinion on RPGs! The best PS VITA game!

    GRAPHIC - 8
    GAMEPLAY - 10
    LASTING APPEAL - 10
    EXECUTION - 10

    OVERAL - 9,5    … Expand
  30. Rising94
    Apr 13, 2016
    10
    A esto si que llamo una obra maestra en los rpg. Es un juego que mantiene la línea de los combate por turnos. Buena jugabilidad, bonitos graficos, buena música y gran variedad de Personae. Es un juego perfectos para las personas que le gustan los jrpg puro y duro. Además tiene un inglés básico y entendible. Sigue así Atlus!
  31. bulletchan
    Apr 11, 2016
    10
    The Persona franchise after 3 has seen re-release after re-release. First it was P3, then P3:FES, then P3P, then P4, now P4G. Every time they release a new one, they become that much closer to perfecting their gameplay formula.

    P4 is one of the greatest games of all time, with an incredible story and polish. The Golden improves on this formula once again, by adding a large amount of    The Persona franchise after 3 has seen re-release after re-release. First it was P3, then P3:FES, then P3P, then P4, now P4G. Every time they release a new one, they become that much closer to perfecting their gameplay formula.

    P4 is one of the greatest games of all time, with an incredible story and polish. The Golden improves on this formula once again, by adding a large amount of content, improving the visuals, and slapping it on the vita. If you have a vita, buy this game. Atlus is the best publisher/developer, and they deserve every penny and high metacritic score they receive.    … Expand
  32. ThecriticGoD
    Mar 15, 2016
    10
    It would be wrong to call this the new Final Fantasy because eventhough it's a turn-based RPG there are way too many differences with FF, but if there's one saga that's to continue with the legacy of the great turn RPGs, it's Persona, and Persona IV is simply the most refined in the saga. Great characters, great anime-like graphics, great storyline, great music, great everything basically.It would be wrong to call this the new Final Fantasy because eventhough it's a turn-based RPG there are way too many differences with FF, but if there's one saga that's to continue with the legacy of the great turn RPGs, it's Persona, and Persona IV is simply the most refined in the saga. Great characters, great anime-like graphics, great storyline, great music, great everything basically. I just can't think of any RPG saga that is close to Persona nowadays.

    And also, best game in the PS Vita by far, definetely worth it's prize.    … Expand
  33. DanHazy
    Feb 28, 2016
    10
    I'll list three of my favorite games so you will know what type of gamer is writing this review.  

    Atelier Totori  Danganronpa  Fire Emblem  THE GOOD:  MUSIC: Music is amazing. Some of the best game music you will hear.   GRAPHICS:Graphics are good,, this is a touched up PS2 game so the expectations should be along those lines.     VOICE ACTING: Voice acting is great. The    I'll list three of my favorite games so you will know what type of gamer is writing this review.  

    Atelier Totori 
    Danganronpa 
    Fire Emblem 

    THE GOOD: 

    MUSIC: Music is amazing. Some of the best game music you will hear.  

    GRAPHICS:Graphics are good,, this is a touched up PS2 game so the expectations should be along those lines. 
      
    VOICE ACTING: Voice acting is great. The voice actor for Chie Satanoka was different from the original PS2 title, but I didn't hardly notice a difference and the replacement is just as talented. This game was voice acted about 80 percent of the time. 

    GAMEPLAY: Gameplay is awesome. From dungeon exploring to enhancing social links. 
      
    STORY: Story is perhaps the best part of all. Great story with twist and turns. With several humorous moments   

    THE BAD: 

    This is expected from any RPG so I couldnt take away from the score but the dungeons and enhancing social links does run a bit stale towards the end. Especially if you unlock the extra playable dungeons. My gameplay time was 70 hours when I finished this game.  

    IN DEPTH REVIEW: 

    You control a party of up to four characters in the dungeons. You can eventually choose between seven or eight characters. Each character has thier unique playstyle. From healer/magic user, to a juggernaut with great attack but low hit. When your not in dungeons, you spend time going to school and spending time with freinds. After school ends in the afternoon, you can spend time with a freind. When you do this, you increase social link ranks which allow you to bonus experience to a persona that you can create. When a social link is maxed, you can create that social links special persona also.  
    You can create personas by fusing together one of more the personas that you currently have. You can get personas by fighting battles. They can simply be acquired at the end of battle.  

    The battle system is composed of finding an enemy's weakness and expoiting it for extra damage and a chance for an all out attack. An all out attack is when all four party members attack at once for big damage. There are no random encounters, most all fights can be avoided if you wish. Also, there is instant kill in this game, which the eneimies can use also. This means that you can get a gameover screen in the blink of an eye. This wasnt a huge problem in this game and there are items you can obtain to prevent it.  

    THE GOLDEN VERSION DIFFERENCE: 

    Different voice actor for Chie  
    More animations  
    More social links  
    Costumes that you can equip in dungeons.  
    An extra dungeon  

    There is also a bathing scene with the girls and some costumes show nudity. I obtained a costume that showed part of naotos rear. The bathing scene shows some rear also.  

    This wraps up this review. Hope it helps.    … Expand
  34. Irouzan
    Feb 9, 2016
    10
    This review is going to be short as this game has already been reviewed a lot and gotten praise everywhere.

    Persona 4 Golden is a port of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 for the ps2, with a lot of upgrades and changes. One of the major additions is a new character, Marie, and a side story to go with her, as well new Social Links for her and Adachi. Overall Persona 4 was and is a great    This review is going to be short as this game has already been reviewed a lot and gotten praise everywhere.

    Persona 4 Golden is a port of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 for the ps2, with a lot of upgrades and changes. One of the major additions is a new character, Marie, and a side story to go with her, as well new Social Links for her and Adachi.

    Overall Persona 4 was and is a great game, and Persona 4 Golden makes it even better, and portable as well. With a great story involving unforgettable characters solving a murder mystery that spans two different worlds, and with many different personas to use in battle and fuse together, this game is arguably the best on the vita when it came out, and even in 2015-2016.

    Persona 4 Golden deserves a 9.5 at least, if you enjoy JRPGs and stories with memorable characters. This is of course THE game to buy if you purchase a vita, and you will not regret that decision.    … Expand
  35. houjo2000
    Jan 26, 2016
    10
    I loved this game on ps2 years ago when it came out- finally giving it another go on Vita now, and it's a rare time where I think I appreciate the game even more now than I did then.

    Graphically beautiful, the music is unique and well themed. Overall- unique fits the game, but it's also very accessible. To simplify it- P4G mixes dungeon crawling and a social school life game. The    I loved this game on ps2 years ago when it came out- finally giving it another go on Vita now, and it's a rare time where I think I appreciate the game even more now than I did then.

    Graphically beautiful, the music is unique and well themed.

    Overall- unique fits the game, but it's also very accessible.

    To simplify it- P4G mixes dungeon crawling and a social school life game. The key here is how well it is done- with everything interlocking and what you do in both aspects benefiting the other. Managing your social life well increases your abilities in the dungeon- being skilled at clearing the dungeon quickly gives you more time to pursue your social life.

    Of course, many small things were added after the ps2 version that help fill up an already very complete game with great replay value. This is one of the best RPGs ever made.    … Expand
  36. Super_Cloud
    Jan 1, 2016
    10
    I can't believe how insanely good this game is! The soundtrack is absolutely amazing, there is not alot of game with vocal music for normal battle theme! This game in my opinion has the best cast of character of all time, you will like them all! I was really sad when the game ended, i stated a new game immediately, when i finished the game the first time, i have over 300 hours overI can't believe how insanely good this game is! The soundtrack is absolutely amazing, there is not alot of game with vocal music for normal battle theme! This game in my opinion has the best cast of character of all time, you will like them all! I was really sad when the game ended, i stated a new game immediately, when i finished the game the first time, i have over 300 hours over multiple playthough, this game has so much dialogue, every time you start a new game it still feel fresh! Everyone that play this game should try to avoid spoiler at all cost! What a fantastic game, easily my favorite game of all time with SO4.… Expand
  37. EpicNate6
    Dec 28, 2015
    10
    the game is practically perfect. I love story, game play and setting. I thought its themes were very thought provoking and relateable for everyone. If i had to share a few nit-picks they'd be that some of the voices (especially Chie and Teddie) can get annoying and I think the battle system should have featured more party customization.
  38. MatadorVoraz
    Dec 16, 2015
    10
    A fantastic game, held me for many hours, there are several reasons. Great upgrade system, great battle system, great story, great soundtrack, great secondary activities and pastime. Surely, the best game I played on PS Vita.
  39. BowserTheBig69
    Nov 14, 2015
    10
    Persona 4 Golden is probably the best game I ever played. This game changed my life, and I have to tell you all why.

    First, the graphics. This is the "worst" part of game since it's a game from PS2 with some fixes, but it's impossible to hide the roots of the game. But the artistic design of ALL the Persona and the characters is really, really good. The number of Persona is huge, and    Persona 4 Golden is probably the best game I ever played. This game changed my life, and I have to tell you all why.

    First, the graphics. This is the "worst" part of game since it's a game from PS2 with some fixes, but it's impossible to hide the roots of the game. But the artistic design of ALL the Persona and the characters is really, really good. The number of Persona is huge, and the users will be enjoy seeing all the quality of all of them.

    Let's continue with the sound. This is probably one of the best section in the game: there are a lot of songs, and the best: all of them are fantastic. The opening, the battle theme, the bosses theme... All are incredible good songs and some of them have lyrics. There is even a music game of Persona 4, so the music is an incredible favorable point.

    And now, the gameplay itself. The game it's a year and you have to do normal life like a student... But when you finish your class, you have to rescue people in the TV world. Sounds crazy (and IT'S CRAZY) but the combination of life simulator and RPG is unbelievable. All the 80h of the game you are enjoying, and the hours seem minutes. The social links is the best point of the game: it's a system that indicates the level of a relationship with a friend you have (and, of course, if you get level 10 with a girl, you'll boyfriends!). This system has a lot of importance in the RPG part too. Each social link is an Arcana, and when you fuse a Persona of these Arcana, you will gain more experience than usual.

    The plot is really good, and the characters... You will fall in love with them. ALL are amazing and have their own story, and you will see how they developed during the game. The game has a lot of funny moments, but has really sadly moments too. Theses aspects are really balanced, having more funny moments and the beginning and more sadly moments at the end.

    A total perfect game that all of you have to play.    … Expand
  40. JQLeitch
    Oct 22, 2015
    9
    This game is enthralling and a must have for your PS Vita. The story is ridiculously interesting and you'll be wanting answers straight from the beginning. It's a typical JRPG (may or may not be a positive) with an incredible story. Highly recommended.
  41. xDaudex
    Oct 6, 2015
    10
    Hands down one of the best games I have ever played.

    Pros:
    Amazing characters
    Amazing story
    Unique gameplay

    Cons:
    Grinding can be kind of annoying
    I wish when you died you would keep xp from the start of the current floor
    Game takes awhile to get into
  42. RaidXT
    Sep 13, 2015
    10
    this i probably one of the few RPG's that i've played in my life that that i actually enjoy playing.
    a fun cast of characters, fun dialog, fun gameplay, interesting story.
    pretty much everything you would expect from a good RPG. this game gives me high hopes for Persona 5 to be atleast as good as P4G. i recommend this game for every PS Vita/PSTV owner out there (or the original PS2    this i probably one of the few RPG's that i've played in my life that that i actually enjoy playing.
    a fun cast of characters, fun dialog, fun gameplay, interesting story.
    pretty much everything you would expect from a good RPG.
    this game gives me high hopes for Persona 5 to be atleast as good as P4G.
    i recommend this game for every PS Vita/PSTV owner out there (or the original PS2 version if you own a PS2/PS3).    … Expand
  43. LVeldhuizen
    Jul 30, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. With Persona 4 Golden, Atlas has done the best job a video game creator could ever do. This game is an absolute masterpiece! The attractive, long story is fun to both play and watch through with a very cool plot. It's worth playing through it at least two times because of New Game+ with optional endings, optional bosses and extra cutscenes. They made Persona 4 even better with the Golden version by introducing new ways of battle, a new character and a new ending. This game is the only game ever made that deserves a 5/5, 10/10 or 100/100!… Expand
  44. br3ndanp
    Jul 29, 2015
    10
    I was never big into anime or JRPG's, but after seeing the praise for this game, I decided to pick it up in a recent sale. After getting through the long intro, the game just... opened. I found myself hooked with all the different mechanics, collecting Personas, managing S-Link relationships, doing jobs, attending school, and most of all, crawling through dungeons. Definitely one of my newI was never big into anime or JRPG's, but after seeing the praise for this game, I decided to pick it up in a recent sale. After getting through the long intro, the game just... opened. I found myself hooked with all the different mechanics, collecting Personas, managing S-Link relationships, doing jobs, attending school, and most of all, crawling through dungeons. Definitely one of my new favourite games, I can't put it down.… Expand
  45. SwitSwat
    Jul 8, 2015
    10
    This was my first experience with the Vita and also my first Shin Megami Tensei game. Simply put, I loved it and this might very well be my favorite RPG to date. The silly cast, engaging story, colorful environments, and the amount of things you can do in this 70+ hour adventure make a well deserved 10/10. And if you already played the original on PS2, there's still plenty of fun extras toThis was my first experience with the Vita and also my first Shin Megami Tensei game. Simply put, I loved it and this might very well be my favorite RPG to date. The silly cast, engaging story, colorful environments, and the amount of things you can do in this 70+ hour adventure make a well deserved 10/10. And if you already played the original on PS2, there's still plenty of fun extras to make it worth another visit.… Expand
  46. GoombaJMR
    Jul 2, 2015
    10
    One of the best JRPGs to grace into humanity's hands, I'd say. Atlus does its job with near-perfection - again. It's not a perfect game, but almost all of the aspects (music, characters, gameplay itself) are just so well done and polished that it's hard to find any negatives. If you could only get one game for the PS VITA, I'd definitely say this is the right game to get, even if youOne of the best JRPGs to grace into humanity's hands, I'd say. Atlus does its job with near-perfection - again. It's not a perfect game, but almost all of the aspects (music, characters, gameplay itself) are just so well done and polished that it's hard to find any negatives. If you could only get one game for the PS VITA, I'd definitely say this is the right game to get, even if you aren't a fan of anime or RPGs! If you want to know a few examples of why this game isn't perfect, I guess the thing would be that the graphics aren't 100% perfect (which I don't really care about, but you may...), and that the balance between battling in dungeons and hanging out with friends and etc. isn't that solid. On the other hand, everything else about it is wonderful! Please, take some time and play this game!

    Gameplay: 10/10
    Story: 8.5/10
    Music: 9.5/10
    Presentation: 9.5/10
    Length/PostGame: 9.5/10
    Overall: 9.5/10    … Expand
  47. themonsterofROC
    Jun 10, 2015
    10
    This was my first SMT game, it took me about two months to get into as I had been playing it on and off but once I really sat down and treatd it like a console game instead of a mobile game(most vita games are console games) I got sucked into the world of iniba and it changed my perception of what JRPG's were and what turn based combat is
  48. Ducks123
    Jun 4, 2015
    10
    This game has an amazing story,great dialogue,awesome battle system and is a JRPG out of the JRPG genre to me since you will also simulate a Japanese high school life and overall a must play game even if you are not a JRPG fan,since you will spend a lot of time on this masterpiece of a re-release
  49. slim1985
    May 20, 2015
    10
    one of the best JRPG all the time for me the AMAZING gameplay system the story and the soundtracks the interfaces everything is perfect about this game i just loved it that much i highly recommend it for jrpg fans its a MUST
  50. X-Rock
    May 2, 2015
    10
    This is hands down my favorite game of all time. It's not so much a game as an actual experience that just does a fantastic job of immersing you into its world, its characters, the story, everything. In the 95 hours it took me to finish it, I laughed, I cried, felt like a badass, summoned Helel, Satan, and Odin all in awesome, epic battles. There isn't really anything that I can find wrongThis is hands down my favorite game of all time. It's not so much a game as an actual experience that just does a fantastic job of immersing you into its world, its characters, the story, everything. In the 95 hours it took me to finish it, I laughed, I cried, felt like a badass, summoned Helel, Satan, and Odin all in awesome, epic battles. There isn't really anything that I can find wrong about this game. Everything from the story, characters, gameplay, and music is just fantastic. You owe it to yourself to play this game.… Expand
  51. Rox22
    Apr 18, 2015
    10
    This is what a HD remake/port should be.

    P4G offers everything that P4 did but adds and improves on it. The HD visuals are just gorgeous. The gameplay is even better this time around as they have made a few tweaks that are clearly done in response to P4 fan feedback. The additional characters and events do feel a little disjointed from the narrative, they are still a welcome    This is what a HD remake/port should be.

    P4G offers everything that P4 did but adds and improves on it.

    The HD visuals are just gorgeous. The gameplay is even better this time around as they have made a few tweaks that are clearly done in response to P4 fan feedback.

    The additional characters and events do feel a little disjointed from the narrative, they are still a welcome addition.

    There's not much else I can say that wasn't already said in my P4 review.

    Overall:
    Persona 4 Golden is officially my favorite game (at time of writing this.) It is well worth buying PS Vita just for this game. To date, this is the only game I will score a perfect 10, since from my point of view, this game is perfect.

    Side Note:
    Why this version of P4G has not gotten a PS3/PS4 port is beyond me. I know that I, and countless others, would buy it again in a heartbeat.    … Expand
  52. skeith
    Feb 26, 2015
    10
    This was a good and game on the PS2, and now this is a great game on the PS Vita, perhaps the best game so far on the PS Vita. Playing this game is like reading a long and interesting book. Many interesting interactions with the characters and a very interesting case to solve. The game has many stuff to do, to keep you interested the whole gameplay. This game has opened my eyes that JRPGThis was a good and game on the PS2, and now this is a great game on the PS Vita, perhaps the best game so far on the PS Vita. Playing this game is like reading a long and interesting book. Many interesting interactions with the characters and a very interesting case to solve. The game has many stuff to do, to keep you interested the whole gameplay. This game has opened my eyes that JRPG is still growing strong. This is not a game for people who dislike reading though, for this game has many words.… Expand
  53. GildedMind
    Feb 22, 2015
    10
    Persona 4 is the epitome of a game gone 'perfect.' It bears no flaws, and shows no sign of incompetency; it reeks of polish. This is no more evident than in the game's fantastic presentation. Menu's sparkle, character-art pops and the music fits each mood perfectly. The gameplay is split into two separate parts, combat and socializing. During most months a schoolmate of yours will bePersona 4 is the epitome of a game gone 'perfect.' It bears no flaws, and shows no sign of incompetency; it reeks of polish. This is no more evident than in the game's fantastic presentation. Menu's sparkle, character-art pops and the music fits each mood perfectly. The gameplay is split into two separate parts, combat and socializing. During most months a schoolmate of yours will be kidnapped and thrown into a mysterious TV world and it will be your responsibility to head into the TV world and rescue them. Inside you will battle hideous creatures known as 'shadows' the rejected emotions we all carry within ourselves personified. The combat's surface-level simplicity actually makes the overall experience much deeper and more strategic. There are clearly layed out attacks, and very few complications. (Fire-attack, wind-attack, physical-attack,) but that means that instead of focusing on move-advantage during combat you focus on the general strategies at play. It's up to you to decide on how you want each battle to play out, since almost all enemies in the game can be killed near instantly most well placed attacks will do it. But since you too can die near instantaneously it can often be a difficult decision between deciding whether or not you want to go all in and rush a battle and risk a misstep and getting hammered, or playing it safe and risk drawing the battle on for far too long. The game is merciless, which is made no more evident than in the boss fights, where it feels like more of a game of 'how many walls can I put between my enemy and me?' It's a well thought out survival. The second portion of the game comes in these 'socializing' sections. The game has a heavy theme based around friendship, and it is the bonds you forge with others that make you more powerful. This may seem like a cheesy idea but it's handled with such maturity and such depth that it feels more than just your typical 'friendship is magic' type trope. So when you're not battling shadows, you're usually trying to power up your social-links by spending time with your friends. Each time a schoolmate of yours is kidnapped you only have a limited amount of time to save them, and it's completely up to you on how to spend that time. Preparation is key, but so is relaxation. One day you may be training, than buying equipment, hanging out with friends... and then another day you might be fishing or gardening for life-saving vegetables. The story is expertly written, with likable characters, an interesting villain and a massive array of plot-twists and subtle themes including a particularly interesting conflict of ideologies near the end. I won't spoil any of it for you here though. All and all, everything looks nice, plays nice and sounds nice with the voice acting being a major highlight of the game. If you don't like RPGs, Persona is certainly not going to change your mind on that. It really is a typical turn-based rpg at its heart, but the surrounding elements are what make it flawless. Persona 4 Golden is certainly deserving of a perfect score; just, do yourself a favour and watch neither of the anime adaptions. They're terrible.… Expand
  54. killerofdeth
    Jan 21, 2015
    9
    really great game. It's a fun but hard game. Even on normal you can die a lot. The story is great and the s link mini story is great s links not only for story some s links can give you more experience when fusing a persona. character s links can make it so they can help a downed ally or get rid of a status aliment or even block a mortal blow for you. the mini s link story are also greatreally great game. It's a fun but hard game. Even on normal you can die a lot. The story is great and the s link mini story is great s links not only for story some s links can give you more experience when fusing a persona. character s links can make it so they can help a downed ally or get rid of a status aliment or even block a mortal blow for you. the mini s link story are also great really giving the characters depth and character development without pushing the story on you. Combat is also good with the weakness system found in most shin megami games. gives more depth and makes sure you don't keep rapidly press x even weaker foes still require some strategy and it makes blocking really useful sine it can take a lot of damage and makes sure you don't get exploited for weakness. Fusing personas is also addicting and you can spend a lot of time in there. So my conclusion for this game is that it's a great game and anyone who just got a ps vita and loves anime and manga go get this game but for most of you who own a ps vita for a long time, you've already gotten the game and beaten it.… Expand
  55. Master_Haar
    Dec 29, 2014
    9
    with Persona u can never worry about the experience going down it will always be better because each new franchise they add more features and listen to what really annoy the gamers and delete it.

    I"m sure that every JRPG gamer will love it, because the gameplay is really cool,Fun and easy with a huge selection of powers and magic attacks they give u the choice to make the best team    with Persona u can never worry about the experience going down it will always be better because each new franchise they add more features and listen to what really annoy the gamers and delete it.

    I"m sure that every JRPG gamer will love it, because the gameplay is really cool,Fun and easy
    with a huge selection of powers and magic attacks they give u the choice to make the best team that suit ur style .
    the game has multiple endings based on your choices which is cool because u make ur own story    … Expand
  56. SameerXC
    Dec 24, 2014
    9
    I've heard so many great things about the Persona series from my friends at school and I've never played a Persona game myself but needed a new PS Vita game to play so I was like "Why not give Persona 4 Golden a Try?". I spent only $20 at Gamestop and I think it was well worth it to buy. Anyways, the animations are absolutely beautiful and stunning. I do admit that you do have to play forI've heard so many great things about the Persona series from my friends at school and I've never played a Persona game myself but needed a new PS Vita game to play so I was like "Why not give Persona 4 Golden a Try?". I spent only $20 at Gamestop and I think it was well worth it to buy. Anyways, the animations are absolutely beautiful and stunning. I do admit that you do have to play for a while to get to certain save points but it gives you enough to take breaks when you're not playing the game. What got me hooked into this game was that you can build relationships with other people and you can have them as teammates when you battle. The battle system is set up like a Final Fantasy game sort of thing. The cutscenes are pretty long but the plot will keep you hooked on to the game. I played three hours of gameplay and it didn't even feel like three hours. The game itself I heard is about 60+ hours which is longer than a lot of PS Vita games out there and it will keep you occupied if you have nothing to do. So if you need a new PS Vita game with an intriguing storyline, awesome gameplay and a nice battle system I highly recommend this game.… Expand
  57. beatlemnkyhuman
    Dec 3, 2014
    9
    Wish I could give it a 9.8.

    Amazing cast, Amazing visuals, Amazing story, Amazing writing and character development just overall amazing.

    I did feel some of the grinding however and no classic form of entertainment should feel like work at any point.
  58. 10mooses
    Nov 25, 2014
    10
    Took me 100 hours to finish and my only criticism is that it isn't long enough. It's worth buying a vita for and I'm not even a RPG fan, never mind JRPGs.
  59. Lewster1234
    Nov 20, 2014
    10
    Best JRPG off all time perfect characters and story...................................................................................................
  60. saxo27
    Nov 12, 2014
    10
    This game, without a doubt, is one of the best games I have ever played. The lenght of the game is extensive. The music is well crafted and uniqu to the game. The battle system is smooth and engaging. Where this game truely shines is in the voice acting and character development. Persona 4 Golden has the player (or at least me) truely caring and feeling for the various characters. TheThis game, without a doubt, is one of the best games I have ever played. The lenght of the game is extensive. The music is well crafted and uniqu to the game. The battle system is smooth and engaging. Where this game truely shines is in the voice acting and character development. Persona 4 Golden has the player (or at least me) truely caring and feeling for the various characters. The characters can be funny, dramatic, annoying, persistent and a vast arrary of other qualities. The development team produced well rounded protagonists with quite a bit of depth. Everything about this game shines and it deserves to be played. ATLUS is a company that has been producing quality and this is a fine example. Enjoy.… Expand
  61. reconplayer9037
    Nov 6, 2014
    10
    This is hereby my favorite game on the PS VITA, the story is amazing, the characters are well done and the RPG elements are well implemented. It has all the elements from Persona 4, more events and an extra character. I have played this game start to finish 5 times already..... Yeah, its that good.
  62. TheOneTwoThree
    Sep 16, 2014
    10
    Plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likreMore like morePlzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likreMore like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre More like more likre… Expand
  63. Sploolordcam
    Sep 11, 2014
    10
    One of the very few games which I give a perfect score to, Persona 4 Golden has made it onto my list of all time favorite games, a list which is usually only dominated by nostalgia! The Vita version of this classic PS2 jRPG includes a new "true" ending to the story as well as a new "bad" ending, an updated soundtrack, and new social links. The game itself plays like a detective RPG. Set inOne of the very few games which I give a perfect score to, Persona 4 Golden has made it onto my list of all time favorite games, a list which is usually only dominated by nostalgia! The Vita version of this classic PS2 jRPG includes a new "true" ending to the story as well as a new "bad" ending, an updated soundtrack, and new social links. The game itself plays like a detective RPG. Set in the small town of Inaba, the player goes through a year making friends and investigating a string of murder cases which upset the tranquility of your new town. The gameplay sports an intuitive turn based battle system where your relationship to your fellow party members can determine the actions they may take in battle. The tried and true turn-based gameplay which jRPGs are so famous for is enhanced through the amazing vocal soundtrack which seems to bounce in beat with your party and keep even the most mundane of fights feeling exciting. In the game you can collect various "Personas" which level up and learn new moves as they progress. Fusion of these personas is also extremely handy to create powerful new personas and give you and your allies a wide range of tactics to employ. The story in the game is absolutely top notch, from each ending and each social link you gather an extremely in depth and developed view of each of the many major characters in the game. The mystery keeps you guessing who the killer is, and the social aspects of the game allow you to become extremely connected to the various characters who all have their share of very human character flaws. When not dungeon crawling, you are able to control the daily life of the main character and choose your path through Inaba. From when to complete homework, where you want to work as a part time job, and even if you feel like going to bed early, there are plenty of options which the game offers. Persona 4 Golden is an experience I won't soon forget, the title lends credence to the quality of the game. It is quite Golden, and as such deserves a 10/10… Expand
  64. Kai82
    Sep 9, 2014
    10
    One of the best if not the best RPG of all time. The characters, npcs and setting is unmatched. The story is a believable masterpiece with lot of plot twists and multiple endings. All characters fell alive and have their own stories / personalities. The game-play is a mixture of rpg and daily live sim. Your decisions matter. You can make friends (= gain additional / better abilities), workOne of the best if not the best RPG of all time. The characters, npcs and setting is unmatched. The story is a believable masterpiece with lot of plot twists and multiple endings. All characters fell alive and have their own stories / personalities. The game-play is a mixture of rpg and daily live sim. Your decisions matter. You can make friends (= gain additional / better abilities), work (= make money), learn for school (better exam results) and much more. Except for some events it is totally up to you. For me this game alone is a reason to buy a vita.… Expand
  65. peterphnguyen
    Aug 24, 2014
    10
    To define the word perfection and the idea of a perfect game would be simply PERSONA 4 GOLDEN. I had always looked down upon JRPGs and never understood their appeal even though I watch anime and read manga. I finally took the chance of buying a vita just for this game and would like to say that this has blown me away. This has imo the best characters ever in any video game, I am truly inTo define the word perfection and the idea of a perfect game would be simply PERSONA 4 GOLDEN. I had always looked down upon JRPGs and never understood their appeal even though I watch anime and read manga. I finally took the chance of buying a vita just for this game and would like to say that this has blown me away. This has imo the best characters ever in any video game, I am truly in love and would have to admit that I was in tears when the game ended.
    English voice acting is also perfect (maybe minus Teddie) and the humour is amazing. I have since bought the DVD's, the art-book and also the ps3 once again so I can play the other Persona games. 70+ hours in one week, beautiful game and would love to thank Atlus for introducing me to this genre.    … Expand
  66. supermegablox
    Aug 18, 2014
    10
    This is by far the 2nd best game i have ever played(best being Jet Set Radio) i had never played an ATLUS game before i played Persona 4 Golden. i never thought going through high school would be so much fun. the characters all had amazing back stories, and Persona 4 Golden teaches you alot about life, people and just emotions in general. its one of the few games that was able to bring aThis is by far the 2nd best game i have ever played(best being Jet Set Radio) i had never played an ATLUS game before i played Persona 4 Golden. i never thought going through high school would be so much fun. the characters all had amazing back stories, and Persona 4 Golden teaches you alot about life, people and just emotions in general. its one of the few games that was able to bring a tear to my eye, and the only story id say was better was that of the anime Clannad.… Expand
  67. WelshTom
    Jul 25, 2014
    10
    One of the greatest RPGs of all time. As you get lost in its intriguing plot, you will try to balance the silent protagonist's social life with challenging dungeon crawling. Polished gameplay, colourful characters and a wonderful soundtrack make this an unforgettable experience.
  68. MichaelCutts
    Jul 24, 2014
    10
    I'm usually not one for JRPGS. I'm terrible at micromanaging and have a tendency to not see a 60 hour campaign to its entirety. That being said, Persona 4 Golden is one of my favorite RPGs ever. I haven't felt this strongly about a group of characters since Mass Effect 2. This game alone is worth buying a Vita for.
  69. gruff
    Jul 23, 2014
    10
    This is a great game. The story is unpredictable which keeps it interesting as well as the strategic combat. It does a great job getting you invested in all of the characters through their back stories and just hanging out with them. Not many games can make you laugh like this game and then make you this sad too. It definitely lives up to all the hype and exceeded my expectations for it.This is a great game. The story is unpredictable which keeps it interesting as well as the strategic combat. It does a great job getting you invested in all of the characters through their back stories and just hanging out with them. Not many games can make you laugh like this game and then make you this sad too. It definitely lives up to all the hype and exceeded my expectations for it. Highly Recommend!!!… Expand
  70. AntonArnold
    Jul 16, 2014
    10
    A lot of games interest me for a few hours and then ultimately lose me. I never return. P4G has been an exception. 25+ hours into the game and it still feels fresh. Sure, some of the dialogue is hokey and borderline offensive, but the game still has charm. Looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds.
  71. YatterJTZ
    Jul 6, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One struggles to put into words the superb quality of this game. Brilliant story full of twist and turns, humorous dialogues, loveable characters that make social links worth maxing out, and strategical RPG gameplay that really makes the player choose their moves carefully all are the ingredients that helped make this game the wonder that it is. Challenge is also there with increasingly difficult boss and enemy battles and with time management in maxing out all social links before a year has been and gone. I have played this game four times over and enjoyed just as much each time, with secrets after the player's first playthrough such as hidden bosses. By far, one of the best games on the PS Vita and definitely one to pick up.… Expand
  72. erhanz
    Jun 30, 2014
    10
    Just finished Persona 4 The Golden last night. I must admit that this game is a MASTERPIECE. I'll say it upfront, i'm giving this game a 10/10. I enjoyed the game very much.

    The story about a young boy who was sent to live with his uncle in the countryside, Inaba Town. He will have to live there for a year. The first time he arrived, lots of rumor about the midnight channel and people    Just finished Persona 4 The Golden last night. I must admit that this game is a MASTERPIECE. I'll say it upfront, i'm giving this game a 10/10. I enjoyed the game very much.

    The story about a young boy who was sent to live with his uncle in the countryside, Inaba Town. He will have to live there for a year. The first time he arrived, lots of rumor about the midnight channel and people missing. What exactly happened in Inaba & what's our hero role in all of this? Play and find it out.

    Plus point:
    - This game has like every aspect to make the game enjoyable. First of all, a strong main story. I mean yeah, you are a high schooler who is a student at days while playing the role of a guy who can summon persona and whack the ass of Shadows? That's pretty much cool. And not just that, we got lines of strong supporting characters. You could unfold what happened in Inaba, searching for the truth or stop at the false truth, it's all up to you. Because the fate of the story is in your hand.
    - Social links & normal life! Supporting characters are not just supporting characters, you can actually bond with them and get extra side story. Our hero is a high school student, so it's just normal to have activities outside school. You can go on a date, hang out with your friends, find a girlfriend, eat at the restaurant, learn more about your friends, you can do part time jobs, read books, make lunch, etc. This makes the game just real and we can relate it to our life as well.
    - Music! Shoji Meguro is definitely a genius. He writes most of the songs for the Megami Tensei series and yes, this game has addictive music. The battle music, theme song, background music, it's just awesome. It makes you enjoy the game more than ever.
    - Persona 4 The Golden is like a complete edition of Persona 4. At first i thought just some extra scene and a little upgrade. I was wrong. The new shuffle system, extra scene of going skiing, going to beach, festival & stuffs? It's just awesome. New social link like Marie and her true story? That's just awesome. This is my 2nd time playing it and i'm still amazed by the new contents. Costumes, Riding Bike, 3rd Evolution. Epilogue showing how's your friend a year later, & etc. Thumbs up Atlus, just...awesome.

    Minus Point:
    - Seriously? None. But if i have to point it out. You can get the "True" True Ending only if you play it the 2nd time. Well, most people would love to play it again. But not for me, uh-uh. I don't like playing the whole game for the 2nd time. But by playing it the 2nd time, that means you can get the other Social Link that you haven't got the first time. Well it's all about perspective though.

    After all i REALLY....REALLY recommend you to buy this game if you own a Vita. This game is a masterpiece and you GOT to have this game. 10/10, nuff said & just grab the f*cking game.    … Expand
  73. madrat986
    Jun 14, 2014
    10
    As a kid, i was hooked on jRPGS like Final fantasy 1-9, Chrono Trigger, Shining force, Breath of Fire etc. At some point, when i finished breath of fire IV (which is awesome, i recommend) i stopped playing jRPGs. They have a feel about them that is too familiar, and more or less, the same. I don't get that feeling with persona. It's new, refreshing and a role-playing aspect of an ROLE PLAYAs a kid, i was hooked on jRPGS like Final fantasy 1-9, Chrono Trigger, Shining force, Breath of Fire etc. At some point, when i finished breath of fire IV (which is awesome, i recommend) i stopped playing jRPGs. They have a feel about them that is too familiar, and more or less, the same. I don't get that feeling with persona. It's new, refreshing and a role-playing aspect of an ROLE PLAY GAME (RPG). Characters are well developed, and that is the accent of the game. Fighting has some cool mechanics, and that is fine too. Game feels like a mix between final fantasy, monster rancher and life simulator. It is weird, i give you that, but it kinda works. It works better than anyone would expect. While today RPGs teach you that you can get ANYTHING you want if you grind long enough, talk to people etc... persona is not like that. It gives you options and it's up to you how you'll play your "cards". Great story, great characters and amazing gameplay on great system. 10/10… Expand
  74. Avianar80
    Jun 12, 2014
    10
    A lot of people have asked me if it's worth buying a Vita, and my answer is always another question, 'Do you like JRPGs?" If yes, then Persona 4 Golden is the main reason to buy this system. I had never played a Persona game before, but the hype finally got to me, and I'll admit that I bought the system to play P4G. I have not had a single bit of buyer's remorse, because the game isA lot of people have asked me if it's worth buying a Vita, and my answer is always another question, 'Do you like JRPGs?" If yes, then Persona 4 Golden is the main reason to buy this system. I had never played a Persona game before, but the hype finally got to me, and I'll admit that I bought the system to play P4G. I have not had a single bit of buyer's remorse, because the game is fantastic. A beautiful story with many twists and turns, great fluid gameplay that never feels stiff (here's looking at you, Final Fantasy X...), and characters that will stick with you forever. There's a reason Persona 4 has sparked the most spinoffs, and it's because it's easily one of the best RPGs ever conceived. If you haven't played this game, do yourself a favor and buy it. Truly a game that lives up to the hype.… Expand
  75. MrMudkip
    May 9, 2014
    9
    This game is awesome! I am a big Persona fan and this remake hit the spot. The characters were enjoyable expect for a few people that were just **** The dialogue is brilliant the added character is awesome. The game is a grind fest which can be off putting but if you can look past that i recommend this game to anyone who has a ps vita.
  76. UCA
    May 8, 2014
    5
    It's a diffcult game. But I think this game is too simple because you really only can be two skills, dodge an attack and attack with your weapon or magic.
  77. gabrielpatty
    May 1, 2014
    10
    the 1st reason I bought a PS VITA. Worth my money, time and praise. I love this game and because of that I love my VITA. I wish Atlus Would make a PERSONA exclusive game for vita.
  78. brandog0
    Apr 7, 2014
    10
    one of my all time favorite games! the vita version is by far a huge improvement on the ps2 version, if you haven't played this yet I recommend you do! it's fantastic!
  79. backInBone
    Mar 26, 2014
    8
    I bought this game last month and just got the platinum trophy yesterday, 120+ hours spent. This is the first time I've played Persona franchise and I found it impressive. You are free to take actions almost every day in the game and there are so many things you can do and may want to do. To be honest, exploring dungeons in this game is extremely tedious for me and I don't like the storyI bought this game last month and just got the platinum trophy yesterday, 120+ hours spent. This is the first time I've played Persona franchise and I found it impressive. You are free to take actions almost every day in the game and there are so many things you can do and may want to do. To be honest, exploring dungeons in this game is extremely tedious for me and I don't like the story at early stages which just simply repeats a similar pattern. However, these two "weak points" failed to stop me from completing the game because I had enough fun outside of them.… Expand
  80. Mucki
    Mar 26, 2014
    2
    To sum up, P4G is 90% book and 10% gameplay. The writing and characterization is really good, I won't argue that, but as a GAME it is pretty bad. The gameplay consists are very generic and shallow turn based battles with no unique features. That is literally all the gameplay this game contains. Like I said, if all you want is a 100 hour visual novel to simulate the popular high schoolTo sum up, P4G is 90% book and 10% gameplay. The writing and characterization is really good, I won't argue that, but as a GAME it is pretty bad. The gameplay consists are very generic and shallow turn based battles with no unique features. That is literally all the gameplay this game contains. Like I said, if all you want is a 100 hour visual novel to simulate the popular high school experience and go out on dates with virtual girls, go ahead and get this game, but if you want an actual GAME, stay far away. Everything is there to serve the (EXTREMELY predictable plot, I guessed the ending after 10 hours), and honestly, the game is boring. I like books as much as the next guy, but this game is literally a book with some bad combat thrown in.… Expand
  81. Ikenda
    Mar 20, 2014
    10
    I never had the chance to play P4 on PS2. I first picked up Persona 2 for PSP on Vita and really liked it so i decided to give a go on the others too. So i bought P4G and a new era of JRPG loving started for me. This game is so deep both on a gameplay and a storytelling level that it made me wanna finish it 100% and do everything, a thing that i didn't usually do with JRPGs. It is aI never had the chance to play P4 on PS2. I first picked up Persona 2 for PSP on Vita and really liked it so i decided to give a go on the others too. So i bought P4G and a new era of JRPG loving started for me. This game is so deep both on a gameplay and a storytelling level that it made me wanna finish it 100% and do everything, a thing that i didn't usually do with JRPGs. It is a unique masterpiece among its kind that will be in the top ten games for years to come. Its a must for JRPG and anime fans, so don't hesitate. I cant wait for Persona 5!!!! I hope is as good or better but P4 has set the bar to high.… Expand
  82. EclipseEx
    Mar 12, 2014
    10
    Quite possibly the greatest game I've ever played. Story, characters, music, gameplay are all top notch. The characters are without a doubt the games strongest point. It would be impossible not to get attached. Must own for any PS Vita system.
  83. Trunks252
    Mar 3, 2014
    9
    I just want to start off by saying that I really wanted to give this game a 10/10.

    Persona 4 Golden (or the original) is a wondrous magical amazing game that every RPG enthusiast should play. There are many perfect aspects about the game, like the endlessly interesting story, the fun combat, the pokemon-like creature collection, the incredible social link system, the gorgeous menus, and    I just want to start off by saying that I really wanted to give this game a 10/10.

    Persona 4 Golden (or the original) is a wondrous magical amazing game that every RPG enthusiast should play. There are many perfect aspects about the game, like the endlessly interesting story, the fun combat, the pokemon-like creature collection, the incredible social link system, the gorgeous menus, and the (mostly) beautiful music. I thoroughly enjoyed the themes of searching for truth, and many times I believed the game to be over when a surprising twist to the plot kept me playing for 80+ hours. However, due to a few minor shortcomings and one huge flaw, I could not give this game the score it deserves.

    The major problem with this game was the dungeon crawling. The randomly generated, multi-leveled dungeons just aren't fun. Each one has the same design, which involves navigating hallways to find chests and the stairwell to the next level. Unfortunately, after the first dungeon, it just became very repetitive and generic. It felt like a chore more than a pleasure. During the long sessions of the real world, I would actually dread having to go back to the grind. This outdated gameplay should have been redesigned during the initial stages of development.

    Other problems with the game range anywhere from many of the vocal-heavy soundtrack music (although this is mostly preference), to the overly-difficult to manage ability system. The latter makes Persona creation less than ideal for creating Personas with preferred abilities.

    Some things really aren't very clear either, such as the best ways to utilize the social links, and how to completely advance the story. A little more help would have been nice. Maybe I wouldn't have wasted several dozen days doing useless tasks. Also, I still have no idea how to catch bugs or fish.

    Regardless, the game is phenomenal and is currently the best game on Vita by far. 9/10    … Expand
  84. Lionite
    Mar 2, 2014
    10
    This is THE best game I have ever played. The formula of short days with meaningful activities makes it very addictive. The combat is excellent and spices up the formula of turn based battles with chances to take extra turns when hitting a weak spot of an enemy or dealing critical damage. Excellent presentation and style sells the world. The characters and the various voice actors behindThis is THE best game I have ever played. The formula of short days with meaningful activities makes it very addictive. The combat is excellent and spices up the formula of turn based battles with chances to take extra turns when hitting a weak spot of an enemy or dealing critical damage. Excellent presentation and style sells the world. The characters and the various voice actors behind the voices are excellent with realistic dialogue. They are not just JRPG stereotypes but really do act like kids that age. They can be insensitive and awkward but loveable and kind all at the same time. Dungeons are as quick and as deep as you make them. Over powered and want to skip to the boss. Just keep running as enemies rarely catch up to you. I played it in normal mode and got the true ending plus epilogue and I have to say playing it on a second playthrough was worth it. Love the anime cut scenes and lastly the music, its hard to understand but the tunes are catchy and never get old. I really want a follow up story for these guys. Be it anime or a whole new game or even a manga I will snatch it up. My favourite game ever made.

    Buy it!

    From a 22 year old gamer ;)    … Expand
  85. LJHayes
    Feb 25, 2014
    9
    This is RPG brilliance. Fantastic gameplay complimented by an intriguing story and characters put together in a beautiful-to-look-at anime style make this easily the the best game available on the Vita to date. It should come with a warning label due to how addictive it can be.
  86. xpaultheman
    Feb 24, 2014
    10
    **This review is purely from a casual RPG player's point of view**
    Persona 4 Golden is one of the best games I've played so far. Before playing P4G, I wasn't aware of this series and/or did not care to know more about them. The reason I bought persona 4 golden was that the game had many good reviews. I bought this game not knowing that I'll get completely sucked into the series of Shin    **This review is purely from a casual RPG player's point of view**
    Persona 4 Golden is one of the best games I've played so far. Before playing P4G, I wasn't aware of this series and/or did not care to know more about them. The reason I bought persona 4 golden was that the game had many good reviews. I bought this game not knowing that I'll get completely sucked into the series of Shin Megami Tensei universe. If I knew about this game earlier, I'd have bought a vita to play it long time ago. Since I don't dare spoil the wonderful story behind this wonderful game, all I can say is that if you are a big fan of RPG like myself, you're in for a delicious treat. Just be careful with your choices in the game, cause your choices dangerously matters here.    … Expand
  87. stako
    Feb 23, 2014
    9
    How does one even begin to talk about a game so overhyped? That is one of the main words I'd use to describe P4G. So many times I've heard "This is the best Vita game!" that I expected so much of it, it couldn't possibly have held up. Further more, Persona 3 is my favorite game, so Persona 4 would have to try real hard to impress me. Never the less I went in very optimistic about thisHow does one even begin to talk about a game so overhyped? That is one of the main words I'd use to describe P4G. So many times I've heard "This is the best Vita game!" that I expected so much of it, it couldn't possibly have held up. Further more, Persona 3 is my favorite game, so Persona 4 would have to try real hard to impress me. Never the less I went in very optimistic about this game, understanding that it's something different. To sum it all up: too different, at least for me. But on an important note, I want you to know that I haven't let my feelings about Persona 3 get in the way of my honest review about Persona 4 Golden - what follows are my thoughts about the game as a single experience. Comparissons are just mandatory at some points, but bring nothing to my final score, as you will see in my conclusion
    Also, another side note, I can't have people talking about that this is the best Vita game - this is a port of a PS2 game, that got a bit ruined over the porting process. Think about it.
    On a graphical note, the game holds up. Nothing spectacular, but it doesn't need to be. Some of the new designs they went with look stupid, I found myself laughing out loud at them on a couple ocassions, which to me isn't a good sign. Overall on the polish standpoint it stands proudly alongside other entries in the SMT series - extremely polished and nicely stylised. I think the style they chose doesn't fit much, but I'll talk about that later on.
    This game sounds good too. I don't find the OST to be particularly strong, but it's fitting. However it does not manage to escape some stereotypes, though it tries to. But when it uses a stereotypes- it succeeds brilliantly. I have to mention that it has awesome voice work, featuring some of the best actors in the branch. There are some moments of awkward silence in this game that I did not get or like.
    The story of Persona 4 is a weird one in execution, not in content. I have to admit that after the amazing story of Persona 3, I expected this to be strong as or stronger than Persona 3. Persona 4 offers a mix of stereotypical characters (with a few exclusions, to my surprise) with bland origin stories, in favor of offering a more complex, dark and brooding plot. However, it's not as good as it sounds. The plot of the game isn't bad, it is simply badly directed - the game overall favors gameplay over story, which may be your thing - keep in mind that it's not mine. The plot seems nice and complex, but it misses a lot of opportunities to become stronger. The story has it's better moments, though - I got some solid laughs and even some soggy eyes at certain points. But in the end it's still a very slow moving story, that tries to end out with a bang, but ends out feeling rushed. To sum the story up: I found myself pressing the "Skip" button way more often that I thought I was capable of in a game of this caliber.
    To my surprise, however, this game shines on the gameplay standpoint. It offers a lot of activities to do, most of which are very fun and addicting. The main gameplay is very spiced up and not-boring as per usual with JRPGs (in my opinion). There are two major things I didn't like about the gameplay, which for the sake of spoilers, I will sum up into one, spoiler-free sentance: This game gives you NO hints for things it expects you to know and do, and proceeds to punish you for not doing them. To a gamer like me, who likes freedom of choice and rewarding story-driven gameplay, I found the gameplay boxing. A lot of times I said to myself "Immersion broken", because this game often reminded me that it's a game - something I don't want to think about while trying to be a part of the experience. Also, the overall bright presentation of the game ruins it at times too, being unfitting for the plot it tries to sell.
    In conclusion, I think the only reason people are overhyping this game is because it's the only Persona game they've played. Don't let that fool you. But I have something else to say too: I'd rate an 8/10 as a sequel to Persona 3, because as we see in the bigger picture, the two are connected. I'ts not a good sequel. But it's a heck of a standalone 9/10 game. You owe it to yourself to play this game, because even going beyond the statement that it's worse than Persona 3, which I am going off here, I cannot deny the fact that it's a really awesome game that you should not miss. I still say it's not the best Vita game, because it's a PS2 game. I do recommend playing the Vita version, because long games are made for portables, but if you chose to do so - google things carefully, because overhype leads to overexposure, and spoilers are everywhere! Further more, be prepared to spoil some things for yourself intentionally if you want to get the most out of this game (talking about the thing the game expects you to know). Conclusion: Play Persona 3 first, reasons can be found in my Persona 3 review, also P4 is a sequel to P3 none the less.    … Expand
  88. Xellos14
    Feb 16, 2014
    10
    A great addition to the series, the Persona spin-offs are fast becoming more noteworthy than the core SMT titles they are attached to. Golden is a remake of the PS2 classic of the same name, Persona 4. Any newcomers to the series will find 4 a much more forgiving entry to Persona games than 3. With a lighthearted story to contrast well with the darker portions of the plot as well asA great addition to the series, the Persona spin-offs are fast becoming more noteworthy than the core SMT titles they are attached to. Golden is a remake of the PS2 classic of the same name, Persona 4. Any newcomers to the series will find 4 a much more forgiving entry to Persona games than 3. With a lighthearted story to contrast well with the darker portions of the plot as well as gameplay you can feel like you have more control over, Persona 4 and the VITA port P4: Golden makes heavy effort to draw in new players in the series and does it well.

    Combat is done turn-based style, with the twist from previous P3 entry in that you can control your allies' attacks and techniques if you so choose. This simple addition makes P4 a much more forgiving title to new players.

    The story is engaging, with a strong focus on bonding with characters to help drive your investment in the world. Though it is a direct numerical sequel to the Persona spin-offs and makes a few references to older games, P4 still keeps the story open and accessible to new players.

    One of the largest draws to me is since it is a port of a ps2 game, and a long one at that, the game feels sufficiently worth the money to get on the VITA. The biggest gripe I've had in a long time for hand held games lately has been the low playtime. P4 can take a very long time to complete if you allow yourself to get lost in it's depth, particularly with the leveling and social system.

    If you have a VITA and wish to play a solid JRPG, then it is difficult for me to see how you can go wrong with P4: Golden.    … Expand
  89. jonnie
    Feb 1, 2014
    10
    With the brilliant soundtrack, especially ' the almighty ' likeable characters and addicting gameplay persona 4 golden is not only the best game on the Vita its the greatest JRPG ever made IMO.
  90. StaticSpine
    Feb 1, 2014
    10
    This game is a real systemseller, I truly believe there is no such other game on PS Vita. It's really massive, it has A LOT of top notch made content, there is no point to explain all the advantages of the game, I just say that all Vita owners should buy this game at any cost and all the others should buy PS Vita to play this fantastic game.
  91. ERB
    Jan 23, 2014
    10
    This is the King Of PlayStation Vita games.The game play is fun the story is great and interesting.Persona 4 lives up to the hype we were all expecting and importantly it surpasses the hype.Buy this game now and play it.This game is the number 1 reason to buy a PlayStation Vita.
  92. Bubbazoom
    Jan 20, 2014
    6
    I tried very, very hard to like this game but I just couldn't. Japenese RPGs are my go to genre and this disappointed me, especially with all the fantastic reviews I saw.

    It's different than your usual RPG, which is good, but there is too much going on and I never knew how to spend my time "correctly". I wasn't sure when to level for the next dungeon, and if I was under levelled I had    I tried very, very hard to like this game but I just couldn't. Japenese RPGs are my go to genre and this disappointed me, especially with all the fantastic reviews I saw.

    It's different than your usual RPG, which is good, but there is too much going on and I never knew how to spend my time "correctly". I wasn't sure when to level for the next dungeon, and if I was under levelled I had to go back in time a week after my game ended.

    The battle system was classic and solid but I hated not being able to leave a dungeon to heal. If you do it skips ahead a day which makes it so you can't do other daily things like raising your social links and such.

    The story and characters gripped me however. The story and characters you meet are deep and interesting, for the most part.

    I will try playing again one day, but be prepared for something very different. Great ideas, but just not for me.    … Expand
  93. Halosoulfire
    Jan 18, 2014
    10
    Persona 4 Golden is a wonderfully made game that is an actual improvement on the PS2 version. Its the extra details that really win one over such as the new levels, and cut scenes. Worth a second play through at least.
  94. Angel060
    Jan 4, 2014
    10
    Let me get this out of the way:
    1. In the first half I will be discussing the game itself
    2.In the second half I will discuss the deiferences in the Vita port. Part 1! Persona 4 (along with it's Golden version) is the best game I have ever played. I NEVER in my life thought that a video game would engross me so much that I would cry simply because I had finished it. Everything from the    Let me get this out of the way:
    1. In the first half I will be discussing the game itself
    2.In the second half I will discuss the deiferences in the Vita port.
    Part 1!
    Persona 4 (along with it's Golden version) is the best game I have ever played. I NEVER in my life thought that a video game would engross me so much that I would cry simply because I had finished it. Everything from the controls to the combat system that makes grinding FUN to the art style and the best cast of character ever produced by video games is absolutely, unquestionably, perfect. Persona has a incredibly large cast of characters but still manages to make them all interesting. Even my least favorite character in the game, Rise Kujikawa, is STILL so interesting that she gives Elizabeth and the 2013 Lara Croft a run for their money.The combat system is like a combination of Pokemons monster capturing and weakness exploiting, mixed with Final Fantasies controlling a diverse team aspect. And if you're looking for engaging content, this game has you covered in abundance. From the multiple social links and endings, to dialogue options to questing and dungeon crawling for extras is done absolutely masterfully. Persona 4/Golden is a game that shows us what the medium of gaming has the potential to offer in terms of story telling, because unlike The Last of Us or Beyond Two Souls, it focuses on story and gameplay equally to make something so unimaginably good that it makes even Nintendo's best offerings shiver in fear. If you have a Playstation 2 or Vita and haven't played Persona 4 or Golden, you're missing out on so much it's actually sad.
    Part 2, Golden extras!
    1. Another character you can S.Link by the name of Marie
    2.An extra dungeon
    3. A epilogue taking place three months after you leave
    4.New Game Plus allowing you to play the game again with all stats fro your first playthrough.
    Conclusion
    Persona 4 is a that will probably never be surpassed. So do yourself a favor and spend the best 30 dollars of your life!Rating: 10//10 "Perfect"    … Expand
  95. GrizzlyKuma
    Jan 3, 2014
    9
    Persona 4 Golden was my first Persona game and boy was it a good way to start. Persona offers an interesting story with characters that you will bond with and won't forget. Exploring dungeons, can admittedly get a little old, but it still doesn't draw you away from the experience. Persona 4 Golden is a must have if you own a Vita. (Or you can get Persona 4 for the PS2.)
  96. Sergiogio
    Dec 31, 2013
    9
    Is wort buy a vita just to play this legendary game,an immense amount of activities and a great dungeon crawler that take you like a hundred hours to finish,is amazing if you like jrpg or else you can hate this masterpiece
  97. rubini98
    Dec 27, 2013
    10
    Persona 4 is one of the greatest games I have every played and now, Atlus releases the same game, enhanced, and with 30+ hours of content. I recommend anyone with a interest in RPG and story to buy this game.
  98. Patrick94
    Dec 21, 2013
    10
    I rarely give anything a perfect score. But Persona 4 Golden is as close as it gets. The story is fantastic, the characters are brilliantly portrayed and you feel a real connection to them, the voice-acting is pretty much the best I've seen in a videogame, the gameplay is superb, and for a PS2 port the graphics are good. This isn't only something that will appeal to JRPG fans, but to ANYI rarely give anything a perfect score. But Persona 4 Golden is as close as it gets. The story is fantastic, the characters are brilliantly portrayed and you feel a real connection to them, the voice-acting is pretty much the best I've seen in a videogame, the gameplay is superb, and for a PS2 port the graphics are good. This isn't only something that will appeal to JRPG fans, but to ANY gamer out there looking for an amazing experience.… Expand
  99. Kermie
    Dec 14, 2013
    10
    Persona 4 Golden is a phenomenal game.

    The characters are incredible, memorable and amazingly written and voiced. The story carries throughout the 75+ adventure, with some amazing twists and exciting developments. Combat is strategic and challenging... I could rattle on and on about P4G, but I won't. You can see, along with tons of other customers and fans, that P4G is a    Persona 4 Golden is a phenomenal game.

    The characters are incredible, memorable and amazingly written and voiced. The story carries throughout the 75+ adventure, with some amazing twists and exciting developments. Combat is strategic and challenging...

    I could rattle on and on about P4G, but I won't. You can see, along with tons of other customers and fans, that P4G is a masterpiece.

    Absolutely a masterpiece.    … Expand
  100. domflo
    Nov 21, 2013
    9
    Persona 4 Golden is often touted as the greatest (J-)RPG of all time. Is it worthy of that title? Well, that's up to yourself to decide, but I'll try to help making that decision.
    Concerning characters and story, it's a masterpiece. The characters are funny, likeable, and interesting. When you start off and get to know them, one of the biggest reasons to play the game will be to find out    Persona 4 Golden is often touted as the greatest (J-)RPG of all time. Is it worthy of that title? Well, that's up to yourself to decide, but I'll try to help making that decision.
    Concerning characters and story, it's a masterpiece. The characters are funny, likeable, and interesting. When you start off and get to know them, one of the biggest reasons to play the game will be to find out more about the people you meet. And thanks to P4's social link system (which is comparable to Fire Emblem's excellent support conversations), you will be able to find out more about their backstories while, at the same time, improving your abilities in combat. For the most part, you will be working towards achieving these social links and building up your "soft skills" through interaction with the people in the town of Inaba. As the game progresses, you get the chance to buy books, visit a city to buy clothes and other stuff by driving on a scooter, write exams in school. All these things, if you choose to do them, will improve your combat abilities or your abilities to fuse Personas, which is an interesting mechanic and adds a lot of depth to the battle system. In a way, one half of Persona 4 plays almost like a life simulator, and this part is the one that will most likely lead you to love this game.
    Talking about the story, it's most comparable to a crime movie mixed with fantasy elements. The murder cases will give you all sorts of leads on who the culprit might be, and you will probably be dieing to find out (that is, if you are anything like me). The story got me extremely hooked while doing my first playthrough.
    Regarding the fighting system: You have the option to control all players in battle, or you can choose to let your friends be controlled by the game while only choosing actions for the main protagonist. Thanks to the Persona system (which is kind of comparable to how Pokémon plays), you have a wide variety of Persona-Attack combinations to fiddle with, adding a lot of depth. This only goes for the main character though, your friends have fixed Personas that gain fixed attacks through leveling up the Persona or the social link. The attacks consist of different types that have different effects on certain monsters (again, think Pokémon). This also means that you will have to figure out a monsters weaknesses and strengths in order to win.
    This all sounds pretty great, and up to this point I would easily give this game the title of "greatest RPG of all", but there is one fatal flaw: the levels themselves. The levels that you traverse are rather bland, and most of them are randomly generated. You will find out that most of these randomly generated "floors" will be very similar to each other, and the only thing reminding you that you are in a different level than before are the textures for the floor and wall.
    All that said, Persona 4 is a great JRPG, and probably one of the best Dating Sims out there. I, for one, rather traverse through Inaba, talking to the people and building social links with my friends than going through the levels, and thanks to the "very easy" difficulty, I can do basically that (you level up extremely fast, meaning no grinding and thus less time to spend in the dungeons). The replayability value of the game is extremely high and you have to play the game at least 3 times to see all it has to offer, but considering the addicting nature of it's life simulation/sim dating part, this will not be a problem, but rather a joy.
    I would give this game a 9.3 if it were possible, but since I can only give natural numbers from 0-10, I'll have to settle for the 9. It is a really good game though, and definitely the best game the Vita has to offer so far. If you own one, go buy this game.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best PS Vita Game of 2012
1
#1 Most Discussed PS Vita Game of 2012
1
#1 Most Shared PS Vita Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 61 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 61
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 61
  3. Negative: 0 out of 61
  1. Gamer.no
    Apr 18, 2013
    90
    Persona 4 Golden is part detective novel, part teenage simulation and part asian RPG – all being important pieces which combine to create some of the most memorable and entertaining moments I’ve ever had with a JRPG.
    Read full review
  2. Pelit (Finland)
    Apr 15, 2013
    92
    Persona 4 Golden manages to make a classic JRPG even better. A definite buy for any Vita owners, and actually a good enough reason to justify the purchase of Sony's struggling handheld. [Apr 2013]
  3. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Apr 4, 2013
    80
    Persona 4 Golden is a Tardis of a game. Initially, it seems cute and friendly and it hooks you with its murder mystery and time management focus. Once you get inside, it opens up exponentially, awing you with its scope. [March 2013, p76]
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