I always start my day with a nice bowl of Wheaties and at least one hour of the game du jour. Today that game was Persona 4. Persona is one of those games that can end up being more of a lifestyle than your typical RPG largely because of its daily calender of events and relationship SIM. I started this game in October but got easily sidetracked with a back log of games this unusually bountiful Christmas. I spend a lot of time quantifying my actions in games I play so when I have time to actually develop a relationship "digitally" I am exceptionally curious. Persona's dating simulation works well when the writing and plot is strong. I have had some truly moving experiences with some of the social links (Helping a dying boy come to grips with his own mortality was skillfully delivered in Persona 3) and the connection to the tarot, something I have a great affinity for, solidifies the experience both artistically and spiritually. It is here Atlus fuses gameplay with culture (Japanese) an especially subtle mix of brilliant, stylized animation and suburb voice acting presenting a slow building drama that sparkles with dark undertones. I like very much :-)

While P4 shares much of these attributes with it's predecessor things have most defiantly been coated candy-confection this time around. In P3 I was blasting my skull out with my soul ripping "Evoker" gun to summon my persona, here I simply call it's name. P3 weaved a tale with intrigue so dark I welcomed the moments of comic relief and random trips to a tropical island resort ala "Saved by the Bell goes to Hawaii". In P4 while the narrative is still dark I get annoyed when need to spend an hour of game time watching these kids bicker and "almost get drunk" in one of the most ludicrous cut scenes I have ever endured. P3 met with rave reviews and a huge cult following stateside to the point where Atlus released a "directors cut" edition rife with fan service' new social links, extended gameplay and weapons systems with a new epilogue chapter. I wonder if Atlus thought that it would profit by packaging themes more for a younger audience? I can see this game appealing to the tween crowd earnestly. Unfortunately if it weren't for the balanced mechanics (largely improved from the first game) you would not have found me slogging through Inaba's Cross Dressing Cultural Pageant this morning. The thing is: even with the improved battle system and social link wiggle room the writing is mediocre and the main cast an insult to adult fans of P3. Come on Atlus! For Persona 5 I want my Evoker back!