However, his relative plainness amplifies the charm and effervescence of his circle of friends. Named Yu by default, he functions mostly as a blank slate, defined by the countless dialogue choices present throughout the adventure. The silent protagonist, who is named by the player at the outset, serves as a magnificent foil to the mostly voiced cast. Do you choose to spend time in dungeons fighting enemies for experience and money, or do you visit your classmates and help with their problems? It turns out that both paths are viable. Taking time to cultivate relationships unlocks more plot points but also makes your characters and minions stronger. Persona 4 really does feel like a perfect mix of simulation, story, and strategy, and each of those elements harmonizes elegantly with the other two. I wouldn't play either version when they launched, but I did eventually pick up a second-hand Vita off Craigslist for the sole purpose of finally hopping not just into Persona 4 Golden, but Persona 3 and other RPGs I hadn't played in some time. The PlayStation Vita remake that added "Golden" to the title, in addition to major content and gameplay changes, really put the game on my radar.
Timeless, though? I had known since the original PlayStation 2 release of Persona 4 that it was a highly-regarded title.
But it's the cast and residents of Inaba, the game's setting, that truly make it Golden. The combat, story, music, and gameplay are all excellent in their own right. For some, that may have been their typical experience in high school, but it's uncanny how well Persona 4 simulates the life of a 16 or 17-year-old student. None, however, have reached the heights of popularity like their Persona series, games featuring a protagonist who transfers to a new school, befriends a bunch of his or her classmates, and eventually enters a demon-filled netherworld.
Atlus has been nothing short of prolific in their development of RPGs, especially those of the turn-based variety.