Persona 4 Golden Torrent embodies a blend of high-school theatrics and dungeon-exploring excitement. Our main character relocates to the rural Inaba, forges friendships at school, and suddenly, a woman is slain. Throughout the narrative, the protagonist and companions unveil a serial murderer dispatching victims into an alternate dimension via television screens. This group of high schoolers becomes the sole salvation.
Consider this as a chronicle of super-powered, high school-aged investigators. These youths form a contemporary Monster Squad, armed with Personas, akin to spiritual Pokemon. In turn-based battles, they can summon a Persona to unleash attacks, be it icy maneuvers, fiery punches, and more.
While that encapsulates the essence of Persona 4 Golden, the game is intricately vast, both its strength and weakness. With over 150 Personas to amass, acquiring them involves fusing distinct ones. Consult the fusion forecast to ascertain Persona bonuses on specific days during fusion. Additionally, consider Social Links, influencing the number of moves Personas execute, contingent on adeptly managing your post-school hours.
Every in-game action contributes to developing your character and party, ensuring your prowess when entering diverse dungeons associated with kidnapped characters. Engage in turn-based encounters, analyze enemies to discern their weaknesses, and deploy the enhanced Persona tailored to your character. The thrill of grinding to overpower once-challenging foes recurs frequently in Persona 4 Golden, especially given the game’s 60-hour duration and the option for New Game Plus.
Regarding the enhancements introduced in the Vita version of Persona 4, we’ve covered significant aspects such as revamped visuals and additional dialogue. However, Persona 4 Golden incorporates some online features, although they may not be groundbreaking. Periodically, a “voice” icon materializes, allowing you to glimpse how others spend their in-game time. While a nice concept, it amounts to mere word bubbles without substantial information. In dungeons, you can issue an SOS, receiving words of encouragement from online players and a stat boost in the subsequent battle.
Persona 4 Golden Torrent stands out as a remarkable adaptation of an extraordinary game. Nevertheless, a lingering concern tarnishes certain aspects of the series: an apparent struggle to handle LGBTQIA+ themes respectfully. Without delving into spoilers, two party members initially present as gay and non-cis but are ultimately revealed to be straight and cis.
The ensuing ridicule from the remaining cast towards those who made the original assumptions perpetuates gay panic for one character. At the same time, the other is treated less seriously post-revelation of their birth gender. Encountering this amid the game is disheartening, and while it may not deter most players, a yearning for more sensitive handling is undeniable.
Persona 4 Golden Torrent System Requirements
- OS: Windows 7/8/10/11
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTS 450
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 14 GB available space
