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Pardon the dust! This page includes some jargon that hasn't been added to the site's glossary yet. I'll be around to fix this later, but sorry for the inconvenience in the meantime. |
Review: Persona 4 Golden
At a Glance
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How to Save and Pause:Since this was originally a console game, there is no autosave. Players must save manually at checkpoints (such as blue butterflies or the calendar at Dojima's house), though these are well-spaced out and easily located. As for pausing the game, the simplest method is to just put the controller down. The game doesn't advance without your input. Time needed per session:Expect to play for longer sessions (ie, 45 minutes or more), especially if you're thinking about tackling a dungeon.
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Does this game pose issues for Christian players?
 | Some players may have concerns There are two major issues with this game. The first, and more notable, is its Tarot-themed magic system, which allows the player to summon a number of gods and demons to help them in battle. The other major issue is that nearly everyone the player meets is dealing with some serious personal issues, such as abandonment, alcoholism, trauma, and even dysphoria. You're strongly encouraged to spend time helping them resolve their problems, as Yu's relationships are the key to saving the world! |
Screenshots
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/persona_4_golden_0.jpg)
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/persona_4_golden_1.jpg)
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/persona_4_golden_2.jpg)
Game Overview
Back in 2008, Persona 4 was released on the PlayStation 2, where it became an overnight sensation. Persona 4: Golden is an updated rerelease featuring new people to meet, a new ending to discover, and even another dungeon for players to explore. But, before we go any further, there's something I need to stress about this game: it's almost impossible to talk about it without spoiling some parts of the game's story. I'll try to avoid giving too much of the plot away, but consider yourself warned as there will be some unmarked spoilers in this review.
Persona 4's story begins in the spring of 2011, with the protagonist Yu Narukami leaving to spend the next year with his relatives in Inaba. This otherwise normal situation takes a turn during the Yu's train ride, as he suddenly finds himself in a strange blue room along with a creepy old man and his assistant. The man introduces himself as Igor, and explains that this is the Velvet Room, a magical place that helps those who have entered into a supernatural contract. The fact that Yu has been drawn here is proof that he will soon be entering into such a contract, and when the time comes, the residents of the Velvet Room will be ready to aid him in his quest.
After some further discussion, Yu is returned to his seat on the train as it pulls into the station. From here, the player takes control of Yu, and you'll be spending the next few days settling into your new life in Inaba. This section also doubles as the game's tutorial, as you'll be taught the basic controls while you're going about your business. But, like any other tutorial, this peaceful part of the game doesn't last very long, as it'll soon be time to kick off the plot.
One morning during class, police sirens are heard and the tone of the game changes drastically. A news reporter has been found dead, hanging from a utility pole in an unnatural position. Police are certain that foul play was involved, ruling this a murder. Unsurprisingly, this results in a lot of gossiping among the students, including some stories about a bizarre tv station called the Midnight Channel that can only be viewed under specific ( and almost ritualistic ) circumstances.
Naturally, both Yu and several of his classmates try viewing this channel later that evening. When Yu attempts to view it, the ritual actually works, and his tv shows an unidentified student being interviewed about the murder. Not long after, a student from Yu's high school is found dead, just like the reporter. This leads Yu and his friends to speculate about the nature of the Midnight Channel, and soon they discover that it's not only a real place, but that it's somehow connected to the murders.
And so Yu has entered into the "contract" Igor promised - as the leader of an "investigation team" made up of misfit students, it's up to him and his friends to explore the Midnight Channel and stop the killer!
Except, it's not going to be quite as simple as that. You see, in this game, the bonds formed between people have a powerful influence on the supernatural forces around them. Thus, Yu needs to balance his social life with saving the world, and time is limited. Each time the killer kidnaps a victim, the player must locate and rescue them within a fixed time frame, or they'll die and the game ends. As if this isn't enough pressure, the best endings can only be reached by creating "unbreakable" social bonds with a lot of people.
Now that we've summarized Persona 4's story and setting, let's move on to the gameplay itself. Persona 4's gameplay can be broken into two parts: the "real world" and the Midnight Channel. Most of your time will be spent in "reality", so I'll focus on this first. As you're probably expecting, Yu will spend most of his time attending school. During this period of the game, he may be asked to answer trivia questions or take exams. You don't need to get the answers correct, but you'll get some bonuses if you do.
After class, you're free to do whatever you want. Options include partaking in club activities, working a part time job, reading some good books, fishing, or just spending time with friends. The latter is usually the best option, as this is the main way you'll improve your social links and thus improve the bonuses and abilities you'll need for dealing with the Midnight Channel section of the game. Hanging out with people can also trigger important in game events, as every major character has their own story to tell. During these special events, you'll be given the opportunity to help each person overcome whatever problems they are facing, which is remarkably cathartic.
Finally, let's turn our attention to the Midnight Channel. It largely consists of your standard JRPG dungeons; mazes where you can find treasure chests, battle enemies, and rescue the killer's victims. The unique twist to these dungeons is that they are generated by the personalities of the people trapped inside them. The boss of each dungeon is also important from a story standpoint, as they are dark reflections of the victim themselves. These "Shadows" represent someone's unspoken and repressed feelings, or, as they prefer to phrase it, "I am a Shadow. The TRUE self".
When someone confronts their own Shadow in the Midnight Channel, they typically respond in horror and deny that the Shadow is really theirs. This only serves to enrage the already angry Shadow, which will then transform itself into a symbolic representation of the victim's anger and resentments before it attacks. As an example, one of the first people you'll rescue feels like their choices don't matter; they are stuck in a role other people have chosen for them. When their Shadow transforms, it takes on the form of a firebird struggling to escape from a gilded cage.
This is also the part of the game where the titular Personas come into play. While a person's Shadow is the personification of their anger and internal conflicts, Personas are best described as the manifestation of our idealized selves. During the battles in the Midnight Channel, Yu and his friends can use their Personas as proxies through which they can perform special techniques or magical spells. In a bit of a twist, Yu is the only character able to switch Personas at will, allowing you to customize his special abilities on the fly. Unfortunately, this ability comes with a price: if Yu is defeated in battle, the game instantly ends, even if your other allies are still capable of fighting. It's a pain in the Shadow, if you know what I mean.
One last thing about the Shadow vs Persona conflict: most of the time, having people confront their own Shadow results in them learning to accept the negative parts of themselves, as if they'd just undergone a brutal therapy session. Accepting their Shadow also has the affect of turning it into a fledging Persona, showing that even our darker sides, when given an appropriate outlet, can be a good thing.
All in all, this is a wonderful game with a mind-blowing amount of replay value, and I'm grateful that I looked into it. However, as amazing as this game is, it does contain some things that may not sit well with Christian gamers or parents.
The most blatant issue lies with the magic system: it's based around the Tarot. Every main character, Shadow, and Persona is linked to a specific Arcana, and Tarot cards are dealt to determine some of the after battle rewards. Another major issue is that many extremely heavy topics, like homosexuality, child exploitation, transgenderism, death, parental abandonment, and alcoholism are discussed in some depth. Lastly, there are some sexual situations at points, though they tend to end poorly for those involved - some specifics about this are down below in the Concerns and Issues section.
If you're mature enough to engage with these topics openly and honestly, then it's likely that you'll fall in love with this game and its iconic cast.
Persona 4's story begins in the spring of 2011, with the protagonist Yu Narukami leaving to spend the next year with his relatives in Inaba. This otherwise normal situation takes a turn during the Yu's train ride, as he suddenly finds himself in a strange blue room along with a creepy old man and his assistant. The man introduces himself as Igor, and explains that this is the Velvet Room, a magical place that helps those who have entered into a supernatural contract. The fact that Yu has been drawn here is proof that he will soon be entering into such a contract, and when the time comes, the residents of the Velvet Room will be ready to aid him in his quest.
After some further discussion, Yu is returned to his seat on the train as it pulls into the station. From here, the player takes control of Yu, and you'll be spending the next few days settling into your new life in Inaba. This section also doubles as the game's tutorial, as you'll be taught the basic controls while you're going about your business. But, like any other tutorial, this peaceful part of the game doesn't last very long, as it'll soon be time to kick off the plot.
One morning during class, police sirens are heard and the tone of the game changes drastically. A news reporter has been found dead, hanging from a utility pole in an unnatural position. Police are certain that foul play was involved, ruling this a murder. Unsurprisingly, this results in a lot of gossiping among the students, including some stories about a bizarre tv station called the Midnight Channel that can only be viewed under specific ( and almost ritualistic ) circumstances.
Naturally, both Yu and several of his classmates try viewing this channel later that evening. When Yu attempts to view it, the ritual actually works, and his tv shows an unidentified student being interviewed about the murder. Not long after, a student from Yu's high school is found dead, just like the reporter. This leads Yu and his friends to speculate about the nature of the Midnight Channel, and soon they discover that it's not only a real place, but that it's somehow connected to the murders.
And so Yu has entered into the "contract" Igor promised - as the leader of an "investigation team" made up of misfit students, it's up to him and his friends to explore the Midnight Channel and stop the killer!
Except, it's not going to be quite as simple as that. You see, in this game, the bonds formed between people have a powerful influence on the supernatural forces around them. Thus, Yu needs to balance his social life with saving the world, and time is limited. Each time the killer kidnaps a victim, the player must locate and rescue them within a fixed time frame, or they'll die and the game ends. As if this isn't enough pressure, the best endings can only be reached by creating "unbreakable" social bonds with a lot of people.
Now that we've summarized Persona 4's story and setting, let's move on to the gameplay itself. Persona 4's gameplay can be broken into two parts: the "real world" and the Midnight Channel. Most of your time will be spent in "reality", so I'll focus on this first. As you're probably expecting, Yu will spend most of his time attending school. During this period of the game, he may be asked to answer trivia questions or take exams. You don't need to get the answers correct, but you'll get some bonuses if you do.
After class, you're free to do whatever you want. Options include partaking in club activities, working a part time job, reading some good books, fishing, or just spending time with friends. The latter is usually the best option, as this is the main way you'll improve your social links and thus improve the bonuses and abilities you'll need for dealing with the Midnight Channel section of the game. Hanging out with people can also trigger important in game events, as every major character has their own story to tell. During these special events, you'll be given the opportunity to help each person overcome whatever problems they are facing, which is remarkably cathartic.
Finally, let's turn our attention to the Midnight Channel. It largely consists of your standard JRPG dungeons; mazes where you can find treasure chests, battle enemies, and rescue the killer's victims. The unique twist to these dungeons is that they are generated by the personalities of the people trapped inside them. The boss of each dungeon is also important from a story standpoint, as they are dark reflections of the victim themselves. These "Shadows" represent someone's unspoken and repressed feelings, or, as they prefer to phrase it, "I am a Shadow. The TRUE self".
When someone confronts their own Shadow in the Midnight Channel, they typically respond in horror and deny that the Shadow is really theirs. This only serves to enrage the already angry Shadow, which will then transform itself into a symbolic representation of the victim's anger and resentments before it attacks. As an example, one of the first people you'll rescue feels like their choices don't matter; they are stuck in a role other people have chosen for them. When their Shadow transforms, it takes on the form of a firebird struggling to escape from a gilded cage.
This is also the part of the game where the titular Personas come into play. While a person's Shadow is the personification of their anger and internal conflicts, Personas are best described as the manifestation of our idealized selves. During the battles in the Midnight Channel, Yu and his friends can use their Personas as proxies through which they can perform special techniques or magical spells. In a bit of a twist, Yu is the only character able to switch Personas at will, allowing you to customize his special abilities on the fly. Unfortunately, this ability comes with a price: if Yu is defeated in battle, the game instantly ends, even if your other allies are still capable of fighting. It's a pain in the Shadow, if you know what I mean.
One last thing about the Shadow vs Persona conflict: most of the time, having people confront their own Shadow results in them learning to accept the negative parts of themselves, as if they'd just undergone a brutal therapy session. Accepting their Shadow also has the affect of turning it into a fledging Persona, showing that even our darker sides, when given an appropriate outlet, can be a good thing.
All in all, this is a wonderful game with a mind-blowing amount of replay value, and I'm grateful that I looked into it. However, as amazing as this game is, it does contain some things that may not sit well with Christian gamers or parents.
The most blatant issue lies with the magic system: it's based around the Tarot. Every main character, Shadow, and Persona is linked to a specific Arcana, and Tarot cards are dealt to determine some of the after battle rewards. Another major issue is that many extremely heavy topics, like homosexuality, child exploitation, transgenderism, death, parental abandonment, and alcoholism are discussed in some depth. Lastly, there are some sexual situations at points, though they tend to end poorly for those involved - some specifics about this are down below in the Concerns and Issues section.
If you're mature enough to engage with these topics openly and honestly, then it's likely that you'll fall in love with this game and its iconic cast.
Points of Interest
Everyone has a story
Almost everyone you'll meet in Inaba and the Midnight Channel is a fully fleshed out character, with their own backstory, hopes, and fears. If a character is tied to a Social Link, then there's an entire storyline about them just waiting to unfold. While you could just barge through the game focusing on the murder mystery, that's the boring way to play and you'll miss out on the majority of the game's content.
Help from the Internet
If you choose to enable the internet features, you can learn what other players have done on the current day. This is a handy way to check if you can hang out with someone specific, or if there are other options available that you haven't considered. During the Midnight Channel segments, you can also call upon other players for help by issuing an SOS message. Personally, I found the SOS feature annoying and disabled it.
Note that if you enable this feature, your own choices will be added to the list. Don't worry about it though - it's completely anonymous and there are no real wrong answers.
Note that if you enable this feature, your own choices will be added to the list. Don't worry about it though - it's completely anonymous and there are no real wrong answers.
Optional Collect-a-thon
Yu's ability to carry multiple Personas and switch between them doesn't just exist as a battle mechanic. You can also treat Personas like collectibles and attempt to gather the entire set. Igor and the residents of the Velvet Room specialize in helping you manage the Personas you've collected, including offering the ability to "fuse" Personas together or purchase copies of Personas you've already collected. Many of the most powerful Personas can only be obtained through fusion, so experiment a lot.
Of course, there are also a few extremely rare and incredibly powerful Personas that can only be obtained under very specific conditions - some are even rare enough that you might want to check a guide to learn how to find them.
Of course, there are also a few extremely rare and incredibly powerful Personas that can only be obtained under very specific conditions - some are even rare enough that you might want to check a guide to learn how to find them.
Bonus modes
In addition to the main game, there is a section in the main menu for "TV Channels" you can view. These channels are unlocked through normal gameplay, and contain a bunch of extra content for you to enjoy. One goofy example is the Quiz Show, where Yu competes against his friends in a trivia contest about the his adventure.
Multiple endings
There are a total of seven different ways the story can unfold. The key to these generally involves what you choose to do when you've confronted the killer, but your relationships with certain people can also influence which ending you get. It's even possible for you to side with the killer, should you want to do so.
New Game Plus mode
Completing the game with any ending allows you to start the story over while also retaining many of the things you unlocked or earned in the earlier playthrough. Yu's qualities (knowledge, courage etc) will carry over, as will the amount of money you've earned, the list of Personas you've unlocked, and most of the items you've discovered. Fans of this game sometimes recommend that you to spend your first playthrough gathering items and leveling up Yu's qualities, then spend the next game focusing on getting the better endings.
Importantly, these new games can build on each other indefinitely, and most of the achievements can be earned across multiple playthroughs, so there's no need to rush. There is also a secret boss that can only be faced after recovering a unique item and restarting the game.
Importantly, these new games can build on each other indefinitely, and most of the achievements can be earned across multiple playthroughs, so there's no need to rush. There is also a secret boss that can only be faced after recovering a unique item and restarting the game.
Steam community features
In addition to a set of Steam trading cards, players can earn fifty different achievements as they deal with the problems faced by the citizens of Inaba. Less than half of these are earned by completing the game's story, so you're going to need to work for them if you want to be a completionist. Many are awarded for doing something unusual or doing the same thing a lot of times, but there's one achievement that just about everyone hates.
That's the "Hardcore Risette Fan" achievement. It requires you to have heard her say 250 different things during combat in a single playthrough. The only real way to earn this one is to spend an eternity battling generic shadows while swapping your teammates around regularly, and that isn't much fun.
That's the "Hardcore Risette Fan" achievement. It requires you to have heard her say 250 different things during combat in a single playthrough. The only real way to earn this one is to spend an eternity battling generic shadows while swapping your teammates around regularly, and that isn't much fun.
Concerns and Issues
Violent situations
This game's story is a murder mystery, so some violence is to be expected. There's very little blood, as the victims are killed in a supernatural way, but the player is shown some of the bodies during cutscenes. Several members of the cast also use violence (or threats of violence) against others, including some school yard bullies. On the other hand, the battles in the Midnight Channel are extremely tame, with some generic martial arts filling in for most of the direct attacks and flashy effects showcasing the magical ones.
Body shaming
Hanako Ohtani is a side character who only appears when her unattractiveness, eating habits, or obesity can be used as a punchline. Since she is the only obese character in the entire game, this makes the mockery of her weight problems stand out like a sore thumb.
Swearing
While most of the cast is too nice to say anything more offensive than the occasional "damn", sometimes profanity and insults do come out. Kanji and Mr. Morooka on the other hand, have no filter and curse like the best of 'em. Considering that Mr. Morooka is Yu's homeroom teacher, it's a pretty bad look.
Drinking
Speaking of Kanji, both he and Rise get the group into trouble with alcohol. Kanji mostly either tries to sneak it by the others (getting caught during a shopping trip), while Rise doesn't seem to understand that underage drinking is wrong.
But, while these incidents only happen a few times, Yu's uncle Dojima has a much bigger problem with alcohol. On a few occasions, he ends up so blackout drunk that his partner needs to carry him home. This only serves to make his already strained relationship with his daughter even worse.
But, while these incidents only happen a few times, Yu's uncle Dojima has a much bigger problem with alcohol. On a few occasions, he ends up so blackout drunk that his partner needs to carry him home. This only serves to make his already strained relationship with his daughter even worse.
Disregarding authority
A common theme among the young cast is that they often end up in shenanigans that could get them in trouble with school authorities. While none of these incidents are that serious, the fact that it's a pattern could be an issue. Also, Yu is not supposed to leave the house after dark, but if Dojima isn't home, the player can have him sneak out to hang with friends or visit nearby locations. It's also possible for Yu to take on a night time job - something that will earn him a lecture when his uncle eventually learns about it.
Additionally, during the night, one of the stores in the shopping district shifts from being a general store to a nightclub. Although the proprietor will shoo Yu out early on, it's possible to do some (non-questionable) business there once you've met certain conditions.
Additionally, during the night, one of the stores in the shopping district shifts from being a general store to a nightclub. Although the proprietor will shoo Yu out early on, it's possible to do some (non-questionable) business there once you've met certain conditions.
Crossdressing
One of the characters Yu will meet along his journey is a rather effeminate boy. Like all members of the investigation team, the player can have this person wear different costumes during the Midnight Channel segments. Several of these are rather clearly not meant for men, if you get what I mean. There is also an event during a school festival where Yu and some of his male friends find themselves signed up for a beauty pageant where the contestants perform in drag. Like most other situations, the player can decide how Yu responds to prompts during this segment - though it's worth pointing out that if he's enjoying it too much, he can make people uncomfortable.
Sexual situations
As Yu and his friends are high school students, they've just reached that special age where girls have stopped being icky. This results in some shenanigans when the boys try to either pick up random women or secretly watch their female classmates. However, every time they try something like this, it backfires on them in a humorous way.
That said, there are times where an adult will make a pass at Yu or his peers. One of these women is a teacher who is introduced late into the game; she clearly thinks she's some sort of sex goddess, and does everything she can to flirt with the students. This includes having the class stay at a love hotel
during a field trip. Everyone involved finds this creepy and repulsive.
Another woman who flirts with Yu is someone he'll meet at one of his optional part time jobs. The player can have Yu flirt back or play along, but it doesn't really matter - as her storyline goes on, it becomes apparent that she's actually just very lonely and trying to make up for it by creating any sort of relationship she can with anybody.
And then there's Rise. While she's still a teenager, she's spent most of her life working as an entertainer / model under the name "Risette". This has caused a lot of problems, including some issues with understanding personal boundaries or what's considered appropriate behavior for someone her age. Thus, she'll often steer the group towards more adult activities, like suggesting they play mature party games. Her Shadow takes this to the next level, as it transforms into a giant, multicolored pole dancer. Nothing beyond the basic female form is shown, but it does spend the battle gyrating around while moaning about how much it wants to be seen by everyone. This is, in my opinion, the most disturbing boss fight in the game, as it comes off as wrong on so many levels.
That said, there are times where an adult will make a pass at Yu or his peers. One of these women is a teacher who is introduced late into the game; she clearly thinks she's some sort of sex goddess, and does everything she can to flirt with the students. This includes having the class stay at a love hotel
during a field trip. Everyone involved finds this creepy and repulsive.Another woman who flirts with Yu is someone he'll meet at one of his optional part time jobs. The player can have Yu flirt back or play along, but it doesn't really matter - as her storyline goes on, it becomes apparent that she's actually just very lonely and trying to make up for it by creating any sort of relationship she can with anybody.
And then there's Rise. While she's still a teenager, she's spent most of her life working as an entertainer / model under the name "Risette". This has caused a lot of problems, including some issues with understanding personal boundaries or what's considered appropriate behavior for someone her age. Thus, she'll often steer the group towards more adult activities, like suggesting they play mature party games. Her Shadow takes this to the next level, as it transforms into a giant, multicolored pole dancer. Nothing beyond the basic female form is shown, but it does spend the battle gyrating around while moaning about how much it wants to be seen by everyone. This is, in my opinion, the most disturbing boss fight in the game, as it comes off as wrong on so many levels.
Heavily Tarot inspired
Tarot cards appear throughout this game and influence it in a lot of ways. The most obvious of these is that every major character and Persona is linked to a specific Arcana. As your relationship with someone grows, you gain bonuses when fusing or creating Personas from their Arcana. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar enough with the Tarot to say whether or not these traits are actual occult symbolism or if it's just a categorization system used by the game.
Another place Tarot cards appear is in the after-battle bonus screen: players are presented with a random assortment of cards, and may choose between them. The bonuses they give out (recovery, increased stats, extra money, and so on) are determined by the suit or face of the card.
On a side note, despite being omnipresent throughout the game, Tarot cards are only used for divination once: Igor uses his Tarot deck to "divine" Yu's future during their first meeting.
Another place Tarot cards appear is in the after-battle bonus screen: players are presented with a random assortment of cards, and may choose between them. The bonuses they give out (recovery, increased stats, extra money, and so on) are determined by the suit or face of the card.
On a side note, despite being omnipresent throughout the game, Tarot cards are only used for divination once: Igor uses his Tarot deck to "divine" Yu's future during their first meeting.
Additional issues with Personas
Many of the available Personas are based on characters from mythology, folklore, or religion. Since there is no distinction between good and evil in the Persona roster, players are capable of choosing both gods and demons to aid them in battle. This includes gods like Ganesha or Kali, along with a selection of Christian figures like Gabriel, Uriel, Legion, Belial, Satan, or (surprisingly enough) Melchizedek and the Whore of Babylon. On the flip side, you could also choose to use less questionable characters, like Mothman or Jack Frost.
For the curious, as I ended up having Yu act as the party's support more often than not, I ended up preferring to have him use Titania, a fairy from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, as his Persona of choice.
For the curious, as I ended up having Yu act as the party's support more often than not, I ended up preferring to have him use Titania, a fairy from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, as his Persona of choice.
Shadows can miss the point
Although they proudly call themselves the "true self", Shadows can and do get things wrong. You can see this very clearly with Kanji and Naoto. Kanji's Shadow presents itself as very, very gay. Ridiculously, flamboyantly, hilariously gay. Naturally this leads people to think that Kanji is a closeted homosexual, but this is not the case. The real issue is that he has some "girlish" interests, and he's afraid that if people knew about them, he'd be seen as weak and vulnerable.
Along those same lines, Naoto's Shadow exclaims that everything wrong with their counterpart could be fixed with a sex change operation. But again, Naoto isn't really transgender - she just wants to be respected by the people she works with.
Because the game's developers handled these issues this way, some people feel like they're implying that things like homosexuality and transgenderism are symptoms of other issues that need fixing, rather than a natural part of who someone is, and this too may be seen as a problem.
Along those same lines, Naoto's Shadow exclaims that everything wrong with their counterpart could be fixed with a sex change operation. But again, Naoto isn't really transgender - she just wants to be respected by the people she works with.
Because the game's developers handled these issues this way, some people feel like they're implying that things like homosexuality and transgenderism are symptoms of other issues that need fixing, rather than a natural part of who someone is, and this too may be seen as a problem.
You can't save everyone
There are a few people who face their own Shadows and don't become better off because of it. One of them is an especially sad case, and you'll know who I'm talking about when you come across him. His situation is reinforced by the fact that his Shadow's boss fight doesn't use the usual battle theme - instead, it's a sad and melancholy remix of the normal song.
Yes, the killer WOULD hurt a child
As mentioned above, Yu's living with his uncle during the events of this game, but they aren't alone - his cousin Nanako, who's about six years old, also lives there. Yu and his uncle help take care of her throughout the story.
The bad news is that Yu's uncle is the detective leading the investigation into the local murders, and the killer is aware of this. Late in the game, they'll retaliate by kidnapping Nanako, and if the player doesn't play their cards right, she will die in the hospital. Since most players have become fond of her by this point in the game, this can hit hard.
The bad news is that Yu's uncle is the detective leading the investigation into the local murders, and the killer is aware of this. Late in the game, they'll retaliate by kidnapping Nanako, and if the player doesn't play their cards right, she will die in the hospital. Since most players have become fond of her by this point in the game, this can hit hard.
Old legends live again
There is an old Japanese myth that ties into Persona 4's story. In fact, you could say this myth is reenacted by the events of the game. It doesn't matter if you're not familiar about Japanese mythology or not though - towards the end of the game, Yu will need to attend a lecture on this specific legend.
In a nutshell, Yu represents one of two gods involved in a conflict, with the game's antagonists representing the other side. Thus, this story is an example of history repeating itself, though none of those involved are aware of this until the climax of the story.
However, if the player is aware of this legend (like say, on a second playthrough), then they might spot a number of hints scattered throughout the game that will foreshadow this reveal. Importantly, if players are on track to reach the game's Best Ending, they'll be in the position to change the outcome of the story by saving the person who was lost.
In a nutshell, Yu represents one of two gods involved in a conflict, with the game's antagonists representing the other side. Thus, this story is an example of history repeating itself, though none of those involved are aware of this until the climax of the story.
However, if the player is aware of this legend (like say, on a second playthrough), then they might spot a number of hints scattered throughout the game that will foreshadow this reveal. Importantly, if players are on track to reach the game's Best Ending, they'll be in the position to change the outcome of the story by saving the person who was lost.