Persona 4 Golden

Persona 4 Golden game image

Overwhelmingly Positive

Total: 42.3 ThousandPositive: 41.2 ThousandNegative: 1.07 Thousand
97%
3%
Steam review score: 9

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AI Review

Persona 4 Golden is a critically acclaimed RPG that blends a gripping coming-of-age story with deep, engaging gameplay. Set in the quiet town of Inaba, the game follows a group of friends unraveling a chain of mysterious serial murders while exploring themes of self-discovery and friendship. With an AI Community Rating of 89.07%, players praise its unforgettable characters, emotional storytelling, and stellar soundtrack. However, some note repetitive dungeon designs and occasional technical issues, like crashes on AMD systems. The game offers Full HD visuals, Steam Achievements, and dual audio options, making it a must-play for RPG fans. While its pacing can feel slow early on, the rich narrative and meaningful bonds formed with characters make it a standout experience. If you love story-driven RPGs with a mix of mystery and heart, Persona 4 Golden is a journey worth taking.

What the community wishes

Dungeon design feels repetitive
The dungeons are described as feeling like a chore, with repetitive design and lack of variety. Improving dungeon layouts, mechanics, and visual diversity could enhance the gameplay experience.
AMD system crash bug unresolved
A game-breaking bug on AMD systems causes crashes after the 4th boss, with no save point before the crash. This issue has persisted for years and needs immediate attention to ensure compatibility and stability.
Accessibility for blind players lacking
The game's dungeon-crawling mechanics are inaccessible to blind players due to reliance on visual cues. Adding accessibility features or modding support could make the game more inclusive.
Outdated graphics compared to modern titles
The game's graphics feel dated, especially when compared to newer entries like Persona 3 Reload. A graphical overhaul or remaster could modernize the experience.
Dungeon camera controls are awkward
The dungeon camera is described as awkward and difficult to control, particularly on keyboard. Improving camera responsiveness and controls would enhance the dungeon-crawling experience.
Save points are too limited
The game only allows saving at specific save points, which can be frustrating. Adding more save points or a quick-save feature would improve convenience.
MP management is overly restrictive
MP usage heavily restricts skill use, making early-game combat frustrating. Adjusting MP costs or providing more recovery options could balance gameplay.
True ending requires external guides
Achieving the true ending requires extremely specific actions and dialogue choices with no in-game guidance. Adding clearer hints or reducing the complexity of requirements would improve accessibility.
Early-game pacing is slow
The game's pacing is slow at the start, with limited freedom and excessive grinding. Streamlining the early-game experience could make it more engaging for new players.
Underage characters sexualized uncomfortably
The game includes uncomfortable jokes and scenes sexualizing underage characters. Removing or revising these elements would improve the game's tone and respect for its cast.
Localization decisions are rough
The game's localization has some awkward or inconsistent translations. Improving localization quality would enhance dialogue and storytelling.
Combat lacks modern QoL features
The combat system lacks quality-of-life features present in newer Persona games. Adding features like skill inheritance previews or streamlined menus would modernize gameplay.
Plot twists feel overcomplicated
The story's numerous plot twists can feel excessive and convoluted. Simplifying or better pacing the narrative twists could improve the story's impact.
Item/skill tooltips are unclear
Item and skill tooltips do not persist, making it hard to understand their effects. Adding persistent tooltips or detailed descriptions would improve usability.
Missable content requires external guides
Many events and stat points are missable without external guides. Adding in-game hints or reducing missable content would enhance the experience for blind players.
PC port has controller dependency
The PC port is difficult to play without a controller, especially during dungeon crawling. Improving keyboard controls would make the game more accessible to PC players.
Startup time is too long
The game has a long startup time before players can freely explore. Reducing this delay would improve the initial player experience.
Dungeon grinding feels excessive
Early-game dungeon grinding is described as excessive and luck-dependent. Reducing grinding requirements or improving early-game balance would make the experience smoother.
Character models are low resolution
Character models are low-resolution and outdated. Upgrading character models would enhance the visual appeal of the game.
Music loops become repetitive
While the music is praised, some tracks loop excessively and become repetitive. Adding more variety or dynamic music changes could improve the auditory experience.

Reviews

Toxicity trend

N-Grams

best game everhooked from startleft an impressionsacrifice everything justperfect masterpiece thesuperb the charactersfavorite full ofdefinitely worth itirreplaceable i couldbeautiful blend ofchanged my lifefeel like friendsamazing soundtrack awesomegreat game throughheartfelt funny andwonderful i can'tgoated game whenbest story outfacing myself andbroke my soul

Keywords

What the community loves
story
13
characters
13
music
9
love
8
best
8
fun
7
good
7
great
7
recommend
6
soundtrack
6
friends
6
favorite
5
combat
4
amazing
4
funny
3
Where the community is undecided
story
10
characters
7
gameplay
7
graphics
6
mystery
6
hours
6
dungeon
5
AMD
5
RPG
4
play
4
save
4
anime
3
remake
3
playing
3
ending
3
What the community dislikes
crashes
7
boring
5
recommend
5
crashing
5
outdated
4
worst
4
bad
4
annoying
4
long
3
time
3
hate
3
frustrating
3
repetitive
3
grind
3
chore
2

In-depth analysis of most impactful community reviews

Positive

My experience of this game is a bit unique as I am totally blind, and thus depend on the voiec acting and sound design more than most. Both of these are superb. The characters and mystery plot come to life, and the feel of living in a little town and going to school is wonderful. I can't speak much to the dungeon delving because it's the part of the game I've least experience with, though it promises to be fun in a very different way. I hope that accessibility modding will eventually make that easier.

  • Sentiments

    • I find the voice acting and sound design to be superb, which is especially important to me as a totally blind player.
    • The characters and mystery plot come to life, making the game feel immersive and engaging.
    • The feel of living in a little town and going to school is wonderful, creating a charming and enjoyable atmosphere.
    • I have limited experience with the dungeon delving part of the game, but it promises to be fun in a very different way.
    • I hope that accessibility modding will eventually make the dungeon delving part easier for players like me.

Positive

Persona 4 Golden is my first Persona game and it changed my life. The story dives into real struggles and growth, and the characters feel like friends by the end. The mix of life simulation and RPG is unlike anything I’ve played, and it had me hooked from start to finish. This game showed me the value of facing myself and supporting others, and that’s a lesson I’ll carry with me. I recommend playing this game if you’re interested in mysteries or anime.

  • Sentiments

    • This game changed my life, as it was my first Persona game and left a profound impact on me.
    • The story dives into real struggles and growth, making it deeply relatable and meaningful.
    • The characters feel like friends by the end, creating a strong emotional connection.
    • The mix of life simulation and RPG is unique and unlike anything I’ve played before.
    • The game had me hooked from start to finish, keeping me fully engaged throughout.
    • It showed me the value of facing myself and supporting others, which is a lesson I’ll carry with me.
    • I recommend this game to anyone interested in mysteries or anime, as it caters to those interests.

Positive

Chad simulator 2012. Goated game when playing it fully blind, would sacrifice everything just to experience this game again for the first time so probably gonna NG+ in a couple months. Definitely worth it at any price

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that this game is a 'Chad simulator 2012,' which gives it a unique and memorable identity, evoking a sense of nostalgia and admiration.
    • I believe the game is 'goated' when played fully blind, indicating that it is exceptional and highly enjoyable when experienced without prior knowledge.
    • I would sacrifice everything just to experience this game again for the first time, showing an intense emotional connection and longing for that initial experience.
    • I am planning to play New Game+ (NG+) in a couple of months, which reflects my strong desire to revisit and relive the game's experience.
    • I think the game is definitely worth it at any price, emphasizing its high value and the belief that it is worth every penny.

Positive

The best game I've ever played, and it's only $20. You can ruin your life for only $20. Don't pass up just because it looks outdated, or because it's turn-based, or even because you think the fans are weird (some of which are pretty weird). Please, just give it a try.

  • Sentiments

    • I think the game has the potential to ruin your life, which is a humorous but slightly negative sentiment about its addictive nature.
    • I believe this is the best game I've ever played, which is a very strong positive sentiment about the game's quality.
    • I find it amazing that the game is only $20, which feels like a great value for the experience it offers.
    • I feel that people shouldn't pass up the game just because it looks outdated, which is a neutral sentiment about its graphics.
    • I believe that the turn-based gameplay shouldn't deter players, which is a neutral sentiment about its mechanics.
    • I acknowledge that some fans of the game are weird, which is a slightly negative sentiment about the community.
    • I strongly recommend giving the game a try, which is a positive sentiment encouraging others to experience it.

Positive

After playing and finishing multiple games in the franchise, I gotta say I'm pretty sure this one is my favorite. Full of great content, especially hidden and "true" ending stuff that is off the beaten path. Great game through and through. Can't wait to NG+ it. Also, ATLUS please give this game the "Reload" treatment. PS: This game inspired my close friend Espi to dream of retiring and moving to Inaba to be a daikon radish farmer in the idyllic countryside.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that this game is my favorite in the franchise after playing and finishing multiple games in the series.
    • I appreciate the game for being full of great content, especially the hidden and 'true' ending elements that are off the beaten path.
    • I consider this game to be great through and through, with no significant flaws.
    • I am excited to replay the game in New Game Plus (NG+) mode.
    • I hope ATLUS gives this game the 'Reload' treatment, indicating a desire for a remaster or enhanced version.
    • I find it amusing and endearing that the game inspired my close friend Espi to dream of retiring and becoming a daikon radish farmer in Inaba.
    • I view the game's setting of Inaba as idyllic and inspiring, contributing to its charm.

Negative

This game is great, I love it a lot, but there is a game-ruining bug after the 4th boss where it always crashes if you have an AMD system ("after the boss" as in there's no save point before the crash so you have to keep beating the boss to try and get past the crash). There are posts on Reddit about this problem going back for years and no one has found a solution yet other than downloading the game on another non-AMD computer and beating the boss there, then going back to your main computer after you're able to save. This is completely unacceptable and should have been fixed years ago, so I can't recommend buying this game especially if you have an AMD card or CPU.

  • Sentiments

    • I think the game is great and I love it a lot, which shows a strong positive sentiment towards the overall experience.
    • I find the game-ruining bug after the 4th boss completely unacceptable, as it crashes on AMD systems and ruins the experience.
    • I am frustrated that there is no save point before the crash, forcing me to repeatedly beat the boss to attempt progress.
    • I am disappointed that this issue has been reported on Reddit for years without any solution from the developers.
    • I feel it is unfair that the only workaround is to download the game on a non-AMD computer, which is inconvenient and unreasonable.
    • I cannot recommend buying this game, especially for AMD users, due to the unresolved technical issues.
    • I believe the developers should have fixed this issue years ago, as it significantly impacts the game's playability.

Negative

I can't play the fucking game. I CANNOT PROGRESS. Crashes after defeating the coughing baby (Mitsuo). I've tried every fix other than rolling back my GPU drivers (??? I play other games too and I don't wanna risk getting locked out of them as well.) EDIT: If you play on an AMD processor & GPU then you'd most likely encounter this problem too. The only fix I've found that is working as of October 2024 is to slow down the .exe process by about 50% using Battle Encoder Shirase. Keeping my review negative because fuck this noise

  • Sentiments

    • I am extremely frustrated because I cannot progress in the game due to constant crashes after defeating a specific character (Mitsuo).
    • I feel helpless because I have tried every possible fix except rolling back my GPU drivers, which I am unwilling to do as it might affect other games I play.
    • I am annoyed that this issue seems to be specific to players using AMD processors and GPUs, making it a widespread problem for users with similar setups.
    • I am relieved to have found a temporary fix by slowing down the .exe process using Battle Encoder Shirase, but it is not an ideal solution.
    • I am maintaining my negative review because the issue is unacceptable and has significantly impacted my gaming experience.
    • I feel frustrated that the developers have not addressed this issue, forcing players to rely on third-party tools to make the game playable.
    • I am disappointed that such a critical bug exists in the game, especially one that prevents progression and requires workarounds.
    • I am concerned about the potential risks of rolling back GPU drivers, as it might affect my ability to play other games.
    • I am dissatisfied with the overall experience, as the game's technical issues overshadow any potential enjoyment.
    • I feel that the game is poorly optimized for AMD hardware, which is a significant drawback for players with such setups.

Negative

There's an uncomfortable about of jokes about the characters being sexy, "scoring" with some of them, and several lingerings shots of the characters in skimpy outfits. These are underage teenagers being told they are "sexy" by some of the other characters and even the occasional random adult npc. The game *is* fun and the combat is enjoyable but I just can't put up with how this games treats its underage cast. Play it if you like good rpg combat and a great ost but be warned. I doubt I'll be finishing this anytime soon if at all.

  • Sentiments

    • I find the game's combat system enjoyable and fun, which makes the gameplay engaging and satisfying.
    • I am uncomfortable with the excessive jokes and comments about the characters being 'sexy,' especially since they are underage teenagers.
    • I dislike the lingering shots of characters in skimpy outfits, which feels inappropriate given their age.
    • I am disturbed by the way the game portrays underage characters as objects of desire, including comments from other characters and NPCs.
    • I appreciate the game's great soundtrack, which adds to the overall experience.
    • I doubt I will finish the game anytime soon, if at all, due to how it treats its underage cast.
    • I recommend the game to those who enjoy good RPG combat and a great soundtrack, but with a warning about its problematic content.

Negative

The game won't stop crashing for no reason. Everytime I complete Mitsuo (the worst gd boss) and skip the endless dialog, it crashes, so I end up having to fight the stupid boss again! It is honestly New Vegas levels of bad when it comes to crashing. At least NV has autosave which this game doesn't! I really wanna like the game but I can't make any progress due to these crashes! Apparently the games does not work well with the steam overlay or if you have discord open. Hey Atlas, if the game does not work with the steam overlay, maybe don't put the game on steam!! And even still if I have nothing running in the background it crashes!!

  • Sentiments

    • I am extremely frustrated with the game constantly crashing, especially after completing the Mitsuo boss fight and skipping the dialogue, forcing me to redo the fight repeatedly.
    • I find the Mitsuo boss fight to be the worst part of the game, adding to my frustration with the crashes.
    • I compare the game's crashing issues to New Vegas, but I feel it is worse because this game lacks autosave functionality.
    • I really want to like the game, but the constant crashes make it impossible for me to make any meaningful progress.
    • I am annoyed that the game does not work well with the Steam overlay or Discord, which feels like a poor design choice.
    • I am frustrated that the game still crashes even when no background applications are running, making the issue seem unavoidable.
    • I feel that releasing the game on Steam despite its incompatibility with the Steam overlay is a poor decision by the developers.
    • I am disappointed that the game lacks autosave, which exacerbates the frustration caused by the crashes.
    • I find the endless dialogue in the game to be tedious, especially when combined with the crashing issues.
    • I feel that the game has potential, but the technical issues are preventing me from enjoying it.

Negative

The game started off great but 30 hours in, I started to feel that the game is getting way too repetitive and the difficulty really ramps up, even on normal. I did some research and apparently I had to grind dungeons for levels. That kind of made me want to quit the game, but there was an option to raise experience gained. So I did that and started leveling up quickly. Still, I found the game to be very difficult. I managed to finish the game (Normal ending) After 83 hours in. Sadly the last 30 hours or so felt like a drag to me, to the point where I just wanted to be done with the game. Dungeons are very boring and the fights will get repetitive really quickly. Story on the other hand is good and I enjoyed the interactions between other characters. Still, I just can't recommend the game, because of it's length and time required to finish it. 5/10

  • Sentiments

    • I felt the game started off great, which gave me a positive initial impression.
    • After 30 hours, I started to feel the game was getting way too repetitive, which negatively impacted my enjoyment.
    • I noticed the difficulty ramped up significantly, even on normal mode, which made the game feel frustrating.
    • I discovered I had to grind dungeons for levels, which made me want to quit the game due to the tediousness.
    • I appreciated the option to raise experience gained, which helped me level up more quickly and improved my experience.
    • Despite leveling up faster, I still found the game to be very difficult, which continued to frustrate me.
    • The last 30 hours of the game felt like a drag, and I just wanted to be done with it, which left a negative impression.
    • I found the dungeons to be very boring, and the fights became repetitive quickly, which detracted from my enjoyment.
    • I enjoyed the story and the interactions between characters, which were highlights of the game for me.
    • Overall, I cannot recommend the game due to its length and the time required to finish it, which left me feeling unsatisfied.

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