*This review is spoiler-free*
Persona 4 is a JRPG that shares many of the same concepts that Persona 3 has, but it perfects them in such a way that makes the experience deeper and ultimately more entertaining.
Persona 4's compelling story revolves around a group of contemporary Japanese high school teens that tries to solve the mystery behind a series of bizarre murders in a rural, Japanese town known as Inaba. These murders are linked to a mysterious TV program known as "The Midnight Channel" that appears when the TV is off at midnight when it's raining. The story starts off fairly simple, but it takes some really shocking twists and turns.
Persona 4's mesmerizing atmosphere is made even more interesting by its stylish presentation. The tone is more light-hearted this time around, but it's still dark enough to be taken seriously. Persona 4's graphics are simply outstanding for the PS2, and there are a lot of stylish touch-ups that make up for its limitations.
The soundtrack is just as stylish as the game's graphics. It consists of a lot of J-music, but the lyrics are mostly done in English, which gives the music the similar unique flare that Persona 3 had, though Persona 4's soundtrack focuses on different genres of music. Some of the songs seem a bit odd at first, but they grow on you.
Persona 4's engrossing storyline is told mostly through written and spoken dialogue, but there are occasional anime cutscenes that emphasize the most dramatic events, which, for the most part, look decent. The story sequences can be rather lengthy, but you get used to it. The voice acting is nothing short of outstanding, and all the dialogue is well-written.
Persona 4's interesting cast of characters is another outstanding aspect. The characters are people whom you can really bond with, and they almost feel like friends after a while. Some of the characters raise skepticism at first, but they, too, grow on you.
Persona 4's battle system is simply outstanding. It may be turn-based, but its strategic nature keeps it interesting for the entire duration of the game. Personas play a huge part in combat, and that's where a lot of the game's challenge comes from. This is a very challenging game, and using the right Personas and combination of attacks greatly influence whether or not you can claim a victory. You also have full control of your allies, and it really helps with making a sufficient strategy.
The dungeons are a vast improvement over the tedious floors of Tartarus. Each dungeon goes through a drastic change in scenery and music, and it really helps keep them fresh and interesting. The dungeons aren't nearly as tedious as Tartarus, and you never stay in one dungeon for an overly long period of time.
The social links retain the same concept as Persona 3, but there are some slight improvements. You still use social links to gain experience points when fusing Personas, but you can also develop social links with the main characters. Doing so will help your allies perform better in combat, and they also help you bond even closer with the characters because of how well you get to know them.
Persona 4 may have a lighter tone than Persona 3, but that doesn't mean it's less mature. Persona 4 contains a lot of mature content. There is a common theme of accepting your true self, and it reveals a lot of disturbing information about the characters. There is also some coarse language and suggestive themes and images, so the M rating is not to be taken lightly on this one. I definitely wouldn't recommend it for anyone who is under 16.
The only problem that I really had with Persona 4 was its odd difficulty curve. It starts out with an intense difficulty, but it slowly softens as it goes on. If you've never played a Shin Megami Tensei game before, then I strongly suggest you pick the beginner difficulty.
Overall, Persona 4 is an amazing game. Its superb battle system, social links, and compelling storyline keep you coming back for more, and it's a lengthy adventure that takes a long time to complete. Pick it up soon before it gets too expensive.