Summary
Something has been bugging me about the relationships in major RPGs, but it took playingPersona 4 Goldento realize what had been missing the whole time. Having previouslyplayedPersona 5 Royal, I had an idea of what to expect fromPersona 4’s Social Link mechanics. What I wasn’t expecting was how much more intimate the relationships in the game would feel compared to major releases likeBaldur’s Gate 3or theMass Effectseries. I was so drawn to the characters that I even played through bothofPersona 4’s spin-offsto spend more time with them.
That isn’t to sayPersona 4’s relationships are perfect. In fact, many of the actions taken by the game’s male leads are downright deplorable. However, despite these flaws,Persona 4’s main cast still has one of the strongest relationshipsin any RPG that I’ve played. This is due in large part to the more authentic feel ofPersona’s relationships.
All Social Link Deadlines In Persona 4 Golden
Each of the 24 arcana needs to be completed before the end of Persona 4 Golden. However, conflicting dates and holidays can make planning hard.
Persona 4’s Relationships Feel More Genuine Than Many Big RPGs’
Persona 4 Makes Players Spend Time Getting To Know Their Party Members
Many major RPGs have followed a similar formula for handling interparty relationships as far back asStar Wars:Knights of the Old Republicin 2003. When not on a mission, the player’s party largely hangs around in a central hub, and the player can talk to each of them individually to progress their relationship. This formula hashardly been improved upon over the years, even in games that are otherwise mechanical marvels likeBaldur’s Gate 3.Persona 4fixes many of the issues with this model.
One major way thePersonaseries makes its relationships feel more authentic is through the main characters’ differing schedules. Instead of being constantly available whenever the player decides they want to have a conversation with them,characters in the mainlinePersonagames have their own schedules. If players want to spend time with a specific character, they need to prioritize doing so when that character is available. This often means missing out on other things that one might want to do that day.
Though this mechanic initially caused me some stress, I quickly came to realize it made progressing the relationships inPersona 4a lot more meaningful than in other RPGs. In theMass Effectgames, there were times that I wouldn’t even speak to a party member for large chunks of time. Then, I would simply run through all the dialogue I had missed with them in one big conversation. There was no difference between me dedicating time to get to know them throughout the quest, and having a single chat right before the end.
In contrast,Persona 4forces players to dedicate entire days to hanging out with their friends. This means skipping out on a chance to level up through combat or improve their character’s social stats. This also means that developing a strong relationship feels rewarding, and not taking the time to do so has consequences.
16 Best Personas In Persona 3 Reload
With over 170 Personas to fuse in Persona 3 Reload, it can be hard to figure out which ones are the best to use in your fight through Tartarus.
Locking Players Out Of Relationships Over Time Makes Persona 4 More Realistic
Players Can Miss Out On Friendships By Not Prioritizing Them
Aside from limiting when players can spend time with their party members,Persona 4also has a hard limit on when players can hit certain milestones. For instance, if players don’t max out their relationship with Marie inPersona 4 Golden, they won’t be able to go on the group ski trip or complete her dungeon. Players may also miss out on a chance to fully connect with each party member if they aren’tprioritizing their friendships over other activities.
The fact that players actually have to spend time with their friends to develop strong relationships is much more realistic than those in other RPGs. I find it jarring that I can speed through an entire relationship with aMass Effectcrew member in a single conversation after largely ignoring them throughout the game. This is even more unrealistic when that crew member declares their love for Shepherd after having one or two chats.
Locking players out of specific relationships if they fail to dedicate the proper time to them is a much more realistic mechanic. Friendships and romantic relationships take time to develop and require maintenance to uphold. For as silly and unrealistic as aspects ofPersona 4can be, its relationships feel far more realistic than other RPGs due to these strict requirements for getting to know party members.
Every Romance Option In Persona 5, Ranked Easiest To Hardest
Joker can gain the affection of ten different women, but some romance arcs in Persona 5 are a bit more difficult to navigate than others.
Persona 4’s Emphasis On Group Dynamics Makes The Whole Party Feel Closer
Persona 4 Dedicates Time To Building A Group Dynamic Not Just Individual Relationships
Another thing that has bugged me about many RPGs’ handling of relationships is the way the NPC party members interact, or more accurately, don’t interact. Sure, theBaldur’s Gate 3crewmay exchange a few words here or there while traversing the overworld, but at camp, they always head straight back to their designated spots and stand still, waiting for the player to talk to them. It often breaks my sense of immersion when a game doesn’t even attempt to hide the fact that I’m the only real person present.
Persona 4gets around this in a few key ways. First, there are plenty ofsocial events that the group attends as a whole. This allows players to see how all their party members interact when not in the middle of a battle. Activities like the group watching fireworks together or going skiing inPersona 4 Goldenaren’t just filler between battles, but they create a true sense of connection between the main cast as a group. This is a nice change of pace from games where it feels like most party members only connect with the player.
It’s a small addition, butPersona 4also does a good job of having party members mention one another in their dialogue. Chie and Yukiko often talk about one another in their one-on-one hangouts with the player, which feels natural since they are best friends. Even Kanji mentions spending time with Rise in one of his scenes, despite the two not always getting along. This helps breathe life into the group dynamic, instead of making it feel like the other characters are just there to interact with the player.
Persona 4’s Handling Of LGBTQ+ Relationships Is Imperfect, But At Least It’s There
Kanji Tatsumi’s Storyline Tackles Major LGBTQ+ Themes
Another issue with many RPGs’ relationships is what some players refer to as “the gay button.” This is essentially the idea that, while LGBTQ+ relationships are possible in games likeMass EffectorBaldur’s Gate 3, they are also fully optional.Though these options are nice for players who want the freedom to romance whomever they wish, they alsodon’t allow the game to tackle any LGBTQ+ themes in a meaningful way.
Now,Persona 4has been scrutinized for its handling of its LGBTQ+ characters, and there are certainly flaws. The framing of Naoto’s shadow self is something that is often pointed to as being particularly problematic. That said, I couldn’t help but find the game’s handling of Kanji Tatsumi to be a refreshing departure from what I’m used to in video games.
Kanji is initially attracted to Naoto when she presents as a man, which is confirmed more explicitly inPersona 4 Arena Ultimax. Much ofKanji’s story involves him struggling with his sexual identityand his difficulty living up to what he perceives as proper manhood. Ultimately, Kanji comes to accept himself, telling the player, “[t]hat other me is me,” about his openly gay shadow self. Though Kanji is confirmed to also be attracted to women, this admission, coupled with his initial attraction to Naoto, makes it clear that he is attracted to people regardless of gender.
Though Kanji’s story is not immune to the occasional problematic element, I still find him to be one of the most relatable characters in any RPG that I’ve played. Sure, maybe Gale flirts relentlessly with my maleBaldur’s Gate 3character, but the game never takes the time to explore what it means to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community.Persona 4’s handling of Kanji, on the other hand, felt very real to my experience of learning to come to terms with who I’m attracted to and how meaningful supportive relationships are in accepting oneself.
