Over the years, the Persona franchise (formerly Shin Megami Tensei Persona, yes, I’m old) has grown to become Atlus’ biggest IP ever, especially with the recently-released Persona 3 Reload becoming the developer’s fastest-selling game of all time (surpassing one million sold worldwide in less than a week and that’s with the game being available on Xbox Game Pass for no extra cost). This achievement shows that the Persona franchise is more popular than ever, even after the breakout success of Persona 5 which helped thrust it into the mainstream spotlight.

I’m sure many players are still taking their time with Persona 3 Reload since (at the time of writing) it’s only been a week since the launch of the game. I’m probably generalizing here but a majority of the players who are playing Persona 3 Reload are most likely either replaying it after having played any previous versions of Persona 3 in the past, or newcomers playing it for the first time after only having discovered the franchise with Persona 5 after 2017.

This article is for the latter category of people, especially those who have never given any other pre-Persona 5 games a chance after only playing Persona 5 and/or Persona 3 Reload. For many longtime fans of the franchise, Persona 4 is the best game in the series since it was originally released in 2008. I’m not just saying this, as there are even many articles online and videos on YouTube ranking Persona 4 as their all-time favourite to this day. There are many good reasons for that, which I’ll be discussing in this article.

Persona 4 Golden is now practically available on every platform (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC), so it’s the perfect time to try it out. Why? Check out the reasons below:

1. Great (And Arguably The Best) Music

By now, almost everyone who has ever played a Persona game knows how phenomenal the music and soundtracks are (thanks to composer Shoji Meguro). The music and soundtracks in the Persona franchise are what further distinguish it from other JRPG franchises and also in crafting its own unique identity, which also applies to each individual Persona game. For instance, Persona 5 is now known for having a lot of jazz influences while Persona 3 uses a lot of hip hop and rap.

What about Persona 4? The music in Persona 4 might not seem to be the catchiest at first but overall, it excels in other ways that will leave marks in your soul. A lot of the tracks in Persona 4 are generally more soothing and relaxing to fit the themes of the game’s setting (more on this in the second entry). I would even call some of the music melancholy and haunting, as well as evoking a sense of nostalgic yearning.

No other Persona song can make me as equally happy and sad as Never More as I remember all the good times and memories I had in the game.

Also, Heaven is perhaps one of the best JRPG dungeon music I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to, and if you know the context of the dungeon’s significance in the narrative of the game, it hits even harder and makes it even more powerful. Also, this has some jazz influences too, so it feels like a precursor to what would later be the songs in Persona 5.

And I’ll never get tired of the Reach Out To The Truth battle music (I know the battle music is different in Persona 4 Golden)…

Music preference is usually subjective, and each person can have wildly different personal tastes. That being said, I’m sure many Persona fans would agree that the music in Persona 4 is simply one of the game’s best aspects.

The music in Persona 4 just generally makes you feel really good and warm inside.

2. A Unique Small Town Countryside Setting That Distinguishes It From The Modern Cities In Persona 3 And Persona 5

Both Persona 3 and Persona 5 feature modern cities as their settings, with malls, easily accessible public transportation and a city life that many people would identify with. However, Persona 4 features something both games don’t have, making it a unique experience you can’t get in either game. Persona 4 takes place in the small, sleepy and idyllic town of Inaba, with an entirely different vibe and atmosphere to the busy, bustling and crowded cities of Tatsumi Port Island and Tokyo.

This gives a certain charm to the setting in Persona 4. While the loading screens in Persona 5 tell players to “take your time”, it’s Persona 4 that perfectly encapsulates that idea. In Inaba, time does indeed make the pacing feel slower, and that allows you to enjoy the smaller and more mundane things in life you would otherwise take for granted. That’s a big reason why the interactions and events in Persona 4 feel more significant; it’s not just another location you can find in most cities, but a countryside that feels rife with mysteries and possibilities. The town of Inaba is its own character in Persona 4 and that ties into how well the music also fits the theme of the setting. The setting is also perfect for the narrative, and that’s why many of the best mystery stories take place in towns like Inaba (Twin Peaks, True Detective and others).

Sure, not much happens in Inaba, but when things do happen (see next entry)…

3. An Amazing Cast Of Characters And More Intimate/Personal Themes

It’s not only the music and the small-town setting that make Persona 4 worth playing, but those same elements also make the cast of characters, and their connections with us, in Persona 4 feel more intimate and personal as a result. Relationships form a massive part of Persona games, considering that half of the game involves building Social Links or Confidants, and the ones in Persona 4 are arguably the best.

Unlike the teenagers fighting against corrupt adults and societal issues in Persona 5, or teaching us why life is precious and fighting against the existential crisis of mortality/death/oblivion itself, Persona 4 (again) is more intimate and personal. The reason why I feel closer with my cast of characters and friends in Persona 4 is because one of the main themes in Persona 4 is how one has to look within themselves to face their ‘true’ self and accept the things they can’t change / bad parts of themselves instead of keep them suppressed and festering inside.

It’s a struggle that everyone can identify with because everyone struggles with themselves both emotionally and mentally (as well as when it comes to self-identity, self-reflection and self-worth), and it’s one that I think is more universal compared to the themes in Persona 3 or Persona 5. Obviously, I’m not here to dissect every single detail or theme in Persona 4 but that’s about the gist of it all. Last but not least, there are perhaps more slice-of-life moments and events in Persona 4 than in any other Persona game. I won’t waste time listing every single character but this game made me care about every single one of them in ways that Persona 5 never did.

4. An Unforgettable Hundred-Hour-Or-So Experience You’ll Cherish All Your Life

Of course, Persona 4 offers an overall similar experience to Persona 3 and Persona 5. To put it simply, my point is that if you ever wanted more content like Persona 3 and Persona 5, Persona 4 is right there for you to play right away. This is especially so since we’ve heard almost zero details about any possible Persona 6 coming soon or in the near feature, so Persona 4 is essentially a brand new Persona game to sink a hundred hours into for newcomers who have only ever played Persona 3 and Persona 5.

The games industry is many decades old at this point, and nowadays, half the fun for new gamers is to go back and replay older games in a long-running franchise. Sure, a lot of the time, older games don’t age well but they always offer something to appreciate and to have fun with, like I did with the original Final Fantasy VII (I was too young when it first came out). Also, Persona 4 Golden is nowhere near as old or outdated as Final Fantasy VII (I’m only saying this for purely comparison purposes and not to attack Final Fantasy VII in any way).

So, yeah, my point is, play Persona 4 Golden if you haven’t, and if you crave for more Persona.

5. Cheaper Than Persona 3 Reload And Persona 5

Last but not least, Persona 4 Golden is pretty cheap; a lot cheaper than Persona 5 and Persona 3 Reload. At full price, Persona 4 Golden is only RM79 (around US$19.99) on the PlayStation Store and Steam, but it’s frequently on sale too, so you can potentially get the game at an even cheaper price. That’s a bargain for a game that offers as meaningful content as Persona 4 Golden. It’s easily as long as Persona 3 Reload and Persona 5 Royal.

There you have it, folks. These are all the reasons why you should play Persona 4 Golden after finishing Persona 3 Reload. It’s no coincidence that Persona 4 remains a beloved JRPG even almost two decades after its original release.

In the meantime, head on over here for my in-depth review of the game, or check out what to expect from a Persona 3 Reload New Game Plus.