>> |
No. 179863
File 137822222993.jpg - (334.35KB , 1920x1200 , 2471638-p4-persona-characters.jpg )
Unlike or moreso than it's predecessor, Persona 4 was a game very much focused on people. While the SEES had to traverse the same dismal tower in lieu of advancing the story and all heading towards some vague goal of stopping the Dark Hour, the bizarre and oftentimes embarassing dungeons the Investigation Team explores are infinitely more personal as they were spawned out of a single character's mind, replete with desires and insecurities which were explored for the simple (well compared to P3's epic journey) act of saving another person's life and stop a maniac from hurting others ala Persona 2, though it evolves into something much, much bigger.
You were never really required or altogether enticed by the plight of the SEES, as you couldn't form (except as P3P's fem protag) social links with all of them (you look elsewhere for the Emperor, Magician etc.), leaving their problems to ultimately come out during the plot (Akihiko's brotherly concern for Shinjiro, Junpei's budding romance with Chidori, Ken's quest for vengeance). If you were intrigued by them from the start, then you were golden; If not, well, bad luck. The Investigation Team's problems form a bond with you outright as you are given a brief taste of who they are, get to fight their dark sides, and help them accept them. One is encouraged to get to know these people even further, not because they are consistent enigmas, but because there must be more to them. As they have bared it all to each other from the get-go, they are much more at ease with one another and don't have to put up facades of normalcy or what they believe to be more appropriate guises. (Yukiko reveals her inner hyena, Kanji's compassion never overstates his easily provoked temper, Rise can indulge in perky mannerisms she is comfortable with, etc.) These various flavors clash, bump into each other, oftentimes accuse one another of something or the other, but ultimately accept it all, and are better for it.
|