Mini-Review: Persona 4

Now, after having played a good chunk of Persona 4, here's a few things I thought about the game - some are new features, some are tried and true.

Pros:

• Believable characters and setting
• Less imposing dungeons
• The ability to manually control all the characters in your party
• More social link options
• Great, energetic soundtrack
• Engaging story that always keeps you guessing

Cons:

• Sometimes the voice acting is just too melodramatic
• Too much hand-holding
• Persona fusion is still way too confusing with unpredictable results
• Can we get a PS3 Persona title next? Pretty please with a cherry on top?

A little note about the hand-holding that goes on here. I really don't remember it being this overbearing in Persona 3. I'm reminded every day, multiple times per day that "the next fog will come after an extended period of rain". This "fog" is usually when the person you're trying to rescue in the TV world will be killed and it will be "game over" if you don't save them. I understand the importance of doing that, especially if you aren't following a strategy guide, but it is very annoying. Also, they give you multiple confirmations for way too many things, mostly when you choose to spend a block of time doing something or especially when you go into the TV world. Three confirmations? No thanks. Asking me once is enough.

Overall though, my cons above are very minor details in an otherwise awesome game. This game is so much better than most of the drivel that was on current-gen systems last year its not even funny. Its too bad it didn't get recognized on many end-of-the-year lists because its on a "last gen" system.