Summary
The release ofPersona 3 Reloadis right around the corner, with fans already pre-ordering the game ahead of February 2024. The trailers and recently uploaded gameplay footage show how Atlus breathed new life into the decade-old game by giving it modern graphics and exploration that rival the franchise’s latest game,Persona 5. Therefore, fans also call for a remake of the 2008 sequelPersona 4. However, if this were to happen, it shouldn’t make a crucial mistake thatP3Ris about to commit.
Like the other games in the franchise,Persona 4follows a protagonist who recently transferred to a new school away from home. However, this time, he and his friends go on a supernatural journey triggered by mysterious serial killings in the area. Despite its darker tone,Persona 4was a hit among fans, with itsGoldenedition receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam. LikeP3, it continues to be played by players old and new despite its age. As such, it only makes sense for Atlus to remake this classic as well.
ThePersonafranchise is a big fan of creating expansive definitive editions that add a ton of story and gameplay content, likePersona 5 Royal,Persona 3 Portable, andPersona 3 FES.
Persona 3 Reloadwill only remake the base game, which meansit won’t featureP3 Portable’s option to play a female protagonistorThe Answercontent. This fumble shouldn’t be repeated ifP4gets remade. After all, its definitive version,Persona 4 Golden,also adds some significant changes to the game as well, like new characters, social links, locations, and even a sinister ending.
Persona 4 Golden Adds an Important New Character
Perhaps the biggest story change inPersona 4 Goldenand its base game is the addition ofMarie, one of Igor’s assistants in the Velvet Room. Players can boost their Aeon Arcana and summon the new Persona Kaguya when they improve their social link with Marie. She also unlocks an extra dungeon, which adds an entirely new storyline to the game. This can only be accessed if the player maxes out her Social Link before defeating one of the final bosses.
Persona 4 Golden Lets Players Choose a Sinister Ending
Although players can finishMarie’s dungeon inPersona 4 Goldento get the true ending and a new epilogue, there’s further ending options. Here, they also find out who the killer is, but they can choose not to reveal their identity. They can even help the culprit in covering up their tracks to ensure that the investigators never find out who’s behind the murders.
Persona 4 Golden Features a Winter Slice of Life Story
ThePersona 4story skips towards the end of the school year in March after the players finish the game in December (based on the game’s calendar). However,Persona 4 Golden’s additional winter months allow fans to explore the events in between these months. During this time, they can improve their social links further and even go into dungeons they haven’t finished before. Perhaps the most important part is the skiing trip storyline, which features a lot of funnyslice-of-life animemoments, which is a wonderful respite from the game’s dark main story.
ThePersonagames’ definitive editions offer the best story and gameplay experience. As such, it only makes sense to use them for a remake instead of the base game. WhileP3 Reloadis still exciting, fans will miss the option to play as a different protagonist andThe Answer’s storyline. If aPersona 4remake is in the works, Atlus should addGolden’s great gameplay and story expansions.
