Your thoughts on the Persona 4 phenomenon

[Edwardo Sosa]

this might sound wierd too say but dose anyone else feel like persona 4 just by it self has become one of gamings most powerful cult classics, I mean with the original, the concerts JUST for this games music, the golden remake, the fighting game, the anime, the manga, except for the link to persona 3 and the fact that it's a sequiel in the line of the first 3 persona games, P4 has spawned one of the biggest followings for just ONE game in the past four years of it's release back in 2008, usally that only happends for a series that have multiple games in its line, but P4 just blew up with ONE game, now that is legendary. so I wanted to get the mass publics opinon since most people have at least heard of the persona franchise.

 

[MammothBlade]

I don't know about mass public opinion, what's that?

I would usually cynically attribute a lot of this multi-media merchandising to milking the fanbase, but I'm caught up in it too. I think games such as P4 deserve the whole media franchise treatment, within moderation. It's almost outdone Final Fantasy VII's franchise in a short period of time. I don't recall FF7 getting an arena treatment, an anime, and an updated remake. Yet ATLUS should stop after that and focus on the sequel.

 

[Razentsu]

I loved Persona 4. I liked what I've seen from the anime, and I'm super hyped for Persona 4 Arena, but I'm a little worried if they franchised it further past the recently announced Persona 4 Arena manga.

I just hope this stuff isn't affecting the development of Persona 5. I don't want ATLUS to lose focus with the next entry in the series.

 

[MammothBlade]

I loved Persona 4. I liked what I've seen from the anime, and I'm super hyped for Persona 4 Arena, but I'm a little worried if they franchised it further past the recently announced Persona 4 Arena manga.

I just hope this stuff isn't affecting the development of Persona 5. I don't want ATLUS to lose focus with the next entry in the series.

This is my main fear. It shouldn't interfere with Persona 5. I will be resentful if this means I have to wait till 2014 for a next full installment.

 

[hazabaza1]

It deserves all the attention it gets, but I too am worried about the impact it has on Persona 5.

 

[Terratina.]

I just think that ATLUS should just focus on the next installment of Persona. I don;t what to see a Final Fantasy VII-like situation, with spin-offs and movies coming out the wazoo. Catherine showed us what they were capable of outside of the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series, so they clearly haven't lost their touch and are just milking the Persona 4 franchise just because they've afraid of not pushing the bar upward with Persona 5. If money from the Persona 4 spin-offs is being spent on the development of the next game, then fair enough.

 

[Halo Fanboy]

It isn't a "cult" classic.

 

[OrpheusTelos]

I still need to play that game. 0_0 I just got into MegaTen, playing P3 for the first time and loving it.

 

[Zhukov]

First thought: I didn't know it was a phenomenon.

Second though: I'd like to try it, but I strongly suspect I will be disappointed.

 

[Strain42]

P4 is actually my least favorite installment in the Persona series, but I still greatly enjoyed it. I think that some of the stuff it's getting seems odd, but I don't really question it.

Like many of the others here, I am REALLY hoping that they let P5 stand on its own rather than trying to let it coast by on the earlier installments.

Right now I'm currently trying to avoid spoilers for Arena, and I really look forward to playing that one.

 

[FalloutJack]

this might sound wierd too say but dose anyone else feel like persona 4 just by it self has become one of gamings most powerful cult classics, I mean with the original, the concerts JUST for this games music, the golden remake, the fighting game, the anime, the manga, except for the link to persona 3 and the fact that it's a sequiel in the line of the first 3 persona games, P4 has spawned one of the biggest followings for just ONE game in the past four years of it's release back in 2008, usally that only happends for a series that have multiple games in its line, but P4 just blew up with ONE game, now that is legendary. so I wanted to get the mass publics opinon since most people have at least heard of the persona franchise.

*David Warner voice*

It doesn't just travel alone. The phenomenon is part of a whole that began in the 1990s and gathered speed. Gradually, this obscure-but-unique spinoff of the SMT series grew stronger - though they dropped the ball bigtime by keeping Innocent Sin in Japan until recently - and strengthened the how-to-do-things quotient. Finally, they achieve approximately the formula they need with Persona 3 and sell not just it, but also an extended cut and a PSP version with an alternate protagonist.

It was a process that led up to Persona 4 to find out what works best. Now, Persona 4 has the show, the games, the manga, and the following of nearly all Persona fans who ever sung the praises of Atlus Software. It was not merely the one. Because without them, it might have only done well. With them...it's another story entirely.

 

[VanTesla]

I loved the game and it became one of my all time favorites! I do think it is getting a bit carried away with the Persona franchise focusing so much on it right now though... I wish it sold more when it first came out and hope the PSP Vita enhanced version sells well, but sadly I dont have a Vita nor do I tend to get one just for Persona 4 Golden . I hope someday Persona 4 Golden comes to PC or PS console so that I may enjoy it all over again with the extra goodies.

Also my one problem with the New Person 4 Golden that I know of right now is the change in voices for Chie and Teddy for the English version . I rather have the Japanese with english subtitles if I can't have all the original cast that made me love it so much. Also if they did have a japanese translation version included, then it better not have the characters saying things in subtitles that are not what they are actually saying in japanese... I hate that. So if they have japanese version, then the Junes theme will have to be just like it says and not "every days great at you junes", but "everyday young life junes".

 

[jebara]

Persona 4 is what I consider my favorite game of all time, it is the game I loved so much that it killed my interest in everything else.
Both versions of Persona 4 are pretty much the only games I'm excited for this year, but having said that I can't help but feel that they may not be enough hold the urge for a P5.
I also want to see something new from Atlus since Cathrine had me wanting more.

 

[Launcelot111]

My favorite game ever. I bought it on a whim with little background knowledge, and the uniqueness and charm of the setting and the characters won the day. I'm glad to see that Atlus is happy to do spinoff things, as it shows that the game is less of a niche title than you might expect and that maybe they'll have the resources to go bigger and better with Persona 5. In the end though, I'd rather have Persona 5 than 20 Persona 4 spinoffs.


Captcha: which is hottest: cabbage, lettuce, or fire? *chooses fire* Captcha error!

 

[Aeonknight]

I don't know about mass public opinion, what's that?

I would usually cynically attribute a lot of this multi-media merchandising to milking the fanbase, but I'm caught up in it too. I think games such as P4 deserve the whole media franchise treatment, within moderation. It's almost outdone Final Fantasy VII's franchise in a short period of time. I don't recall FF7 getting an arena treatment, an anime, and an updated remake. Yet ATLUS should stop after that and focus on the sequel.

Actually in regards to FF7, for "arena treatment" you have the dissidia games (it involves the rest of the FF series but it counts), for anime there was a short 30 min video based on crisis core called The Last Order. no remake of the game itself, but it did get 2 additional games and a movie (which was remade.)

Whether or not it's all warranted is up to personal opinion, just filling in a few blanks.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

I love it. The moar Persona 4 the better. Although, a manga for Arena is pushing it a bit too far.

It's not all focused around P4 though. P3 is getting a movie adaptation. So that's great.

---

Perfect time to link user-group:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Shin-Megami-Tensei-Persona

EDIT: Nice Sex Bob-omb avatar. :3

 

[deserteagleeye]

Persona 4 definitely deserves all the attention that it's getting but it definitely doesn't need to push the franchise with any more additions to the P$ story. Persona 4 is easily my most favorite game and I was satisfied with the ending I was given in the original. I'm not saying I don't like the spinoff fighter, extended version, and anime. In fact, they all looked great. I just want to see what else Atlus can create in sequels. Persona 4 is just okay from an objective view but all I see is potential for the next game. Atlus will no doubt have enough resources to make the changes along with the new story in Persona 5 than making a SUPER Persona 4 ULTIMATE Golden.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Normally I bemoan franchises being whored out, but Persona 4 is my favorite game of all time. SoI'm just enjoying the ride. I really enjoy the card sleeves. FNMs are more fun with Persona.

 

[RaikuFA]

I don't know about mass public opinion, what's that?

I would usually cynically attribute a lot of this multi-media merchandising to milking the fanbase, but I'm caught up in it too. I think games such as P4 deserve the whole media franchise treatment, within moderation. It's almost outdone Final Fantasy VII's franchise in a short period of time. I don't recall FF7 getting an arena treatment, an anime, and an updated remake. Yet ATLUS should stop after that and focus on the sequel.

After P4 its Soul Hackers then SMT4 for the 3DS.

And I'd like more focus on Devil Summoner.

 

[Tanis]

I still kind of prefer P3 for story, at least side stories and P1/2 for atmosphere (they're a bit darker which is cool).

I'm actually GLAD Atlus has found so much success with the recent Persona games.
The more money they make, ideally, the more money they can sink into other games as either developer and/or publisher.