Persona 4 with Soundtrack CD

Fast shipping, happy with the product. Just an FYI, the case might seem cheaper than other PS2 case, at first I thought maybe I got a counterfeit copy. But after doing some research I learned that Atlus got a different company to do re-print of this game and that's why they have a different case. The case came with a broken plastic piece inside and the booklet was damaged, but this could have been cause in shipping and will not fault the seller for this. The bonus music CD is great!!!!

Unfortunately, this version does not work on PS2 in Australia. I have investigated and the game is supplied from USA with region code NTCF U/C. Australia region PS2 run games with PAL code. Amazon site did not have description and origin of the game, so I have to return to supplier in USA and pay for return $22 which is 40% of the game price, outrages!

El juego es uno de los mejores JRPGs de la consola. El producto per se llegó en excelente estado y mucho tiempo antes de lo esperado. Excelente compra.

Happy with it

When it comes to gaming, RPG's are my weakness. There is just something about starting a journey through a new world that makes me want more. It's hard to describe really but its one reason I love gaming, but lately I have had a hard time finding a game that can give me that kind of experience. Whether its me or the gaming industry finding an RPG (or any game at that) that can make me want to play all the way through has been hard for me. I can't tell you how many games I have that have been played half way and still to this day remain unfinished due to loosing interest. Thinking I had grown out of gaming I almost hung up my controllers for good but I wanted to press on and find something that could give me that experience again and thankfully I found it. Story Persona 4 tells the story of a modern day Japanese high school student moving to a new town and upon his arrival a string of murders begin to take place. Now this may not sound like a groundbreaking premise but let me tell you that the way that it is presented is truly genius. The game plays out like a good mystery novel with new characters introduced, plot twists, and just enough intrigue to make you want to press on. As you delve deeper into the plot you uncover more mysteries until the final confrontation where all your questions will be answered. What I loved about the story was that the characters actually sat down and discussed what was going on after any breakthroughs in the case. It is a great way to recap what just happened and let the players think about what is really going on in the story. As mentioned the game is set in modern day Japan and thankfully the authenticity of it was left intact. The characters still use the honorifics -san, -chan, and senpai plus many other aspects of Japanese culture is present but not so foreign as to alienate the player. It's a nice touch that really helps immerse the players into the culture and the world of this game. Gameplay The downfall of many RPG's is that many use the tried and true attack/magic/block turn based system and even though it is tried and true it gets old. Well Persona 4 does indeed use this method but adds enough strategy to make it work. Each enemy and character have elemental weaknesses and strengths (Ice, fire, wind, ect.) and just like any other game attacking the weakness does extra damage but unlike other games when doing so actually gives you another turn. So if you attack an enemies weakness your character gets to go again but something to think about is that the enemies have the same advantage as well. This simple addition ads a sense of strategy when battling and makes every battle compelling. It must also be mentioned that this is definitely a story driven game. There will be times in the game (mostly right before and after finishing a dungeon) that you do nothing but watch cutscenes and press the X button, but this is not a complaint. This is the part of the game where you get to know the characters and find out more about the mystery at hand. Also there are many times where you are given a choice of how to respond to questions asked to you so you are still being engaged in what is going on. This was actually one of my favorite parts of the game because these cut scenes are usually hilarious. Characters I had to add this category just so that I can talk about how amazing the characters are. When people hear JRPG they think of whiny androgynous protagonists with spiky hair and a chip on their shoulder but that is not the case in this game. It is obvious that a lot of time was spent on making each character unique and relate-able. You'll laugh and some may even cry as this group of friends try to figure out this case. Graphics For being a PS2 tittle the graphics on this game do very well. The game opens up with a great anime cutscene with a few more added in here and there but overall the game keeps the same graphics in cutscenes and during gameplay. The artwork for the personas is also impressive with each one being given a unique look. The only complaint I could give is the fact that the enemies are recycled in each dungeon just given different weaknesses and color schemes but that is a minor complaint. Sound There is a reason this game comes with a soundtrack and that is because the music is amazing. Mostly J-pop inspired music the tunes are catchy and will get stuck in your head even though you may not understand what the lyrics are. I'm glad they kept the original japanese audio in the songs because it adds to the whole feel of the game. There really isn't anything else to say the music is great and you get the CD! The voice acting the the game is also superbly done. Anime fans will likely recognize many of the voices used and the choice of actors was perfectly done. Each character is given personality and for once I actually let the game speak all the text during cut scenes instead of going on after I read them. Final Thoughts Overall I have to say this is one of the best games I have ever played. There was enough balance between dungeon crawling and story to make me want to press on to see what happens next. If you are a fan of mysteries, anime, rpg's, or gaming in general you have to give this game a try. Just be warned it is a long game and if it hooks you like it did me, say goodby to your free time.