Persona 4



{A}bout the Game:
{P}ersona 4 (also known as P4) is the sixth video game in the Persona console RPG series (counting the two games of Persona 2, "Innocent Sin" and "Eternal Punishment", the former was only released in Japan; and the two games of Persona 3, the "Original" and "FES"; including the "Original" and an optional "The Answer" chapter). The game is being developed by Atlus for the Sony PlayStation 2 console. Rather than the city locales of previous games in the series, Persona 4 will take place in a fictional Japanese countryside. It has been said to feature a weather forecast system with events happening on misty days to replace the moon phase system (with events happening on full moons in Persona 3) implemented in the previous games. Its theme is a suspenseful countryside murder mystery with multiple twists and turns in the plot. Official release date is December 9th 2008


{S}tory
{I}n the rural town Yasoinaba, there have been mysterious murders occurring whenever there was fog after heavy rain.
There were also rumors about a channel on television airing only at midnight called Mayonaka TV, during which it is said that you can see your "other half" when staring at the TV screen.
After hearing about a recent unsolved murder which occurred during the fog, the main characters, yourself, Chie, and Yousuke discuss how each of you had attempted to watch the mysterious TV channel and witnessed the murder victim.
You later realize that during midnight when the channel is on, your body can phase into your television set as a gateway to enter another world infested with shadows.
After discovering this, you all decide to explore.
When first completely entering the world, dazed and confused, you meet Kuma.
Mayonaka TV and the town murders seem to have a connection.
The murder victims may be merely victims of Mayonaka TV.
Everyone decides that they will together try to solve the mysterious murders by exploring the hidden world of Mayonaka TV.




{C}haracters:

__{T}he silent male protagonist of the game who represents the player, following the tradition of the Megami Tensei games. He has dark-gray hair with a shape close to a bowlcut. He attends Yasogami High School with Chie, Yousuke, and Yukiko. As with most protagonists of Megami Tensei games, his entire personality, even his name, is decided and portrayed by the player's in-game actions and decisions. His respective color is olive.
His Persona, Izanagi, appears to wear a long coat reminiscent of Japanese school thugs and wields the Amenonuhoko, which in-game, is a spear with a blade resembling a scout/combat knife.


__{A}n awkward boy with slightly unkempt reddish-brown hair who usually walks around with a music player and red/orange headphones around his neck. He uses dual blades ranging from knives to daggers in battle. He is usually very clumsy and often used as comic relief through physical comedy in situations where he either unintentionally causes himself pain, or is forced to go through Chie's angry beatings when he provokes her. When going from place to place, he is usually on his bike. His respective color is orange.
His Persona is Jiraiya of the Magician Arcana, whose head vaguely resembles a cartoon frog's, and wears a white disco suit and a red scarf. It also has a distinctive ' V ' on its chest. Jiraiya uses wind spells.


__{A}n upbeat girl with short light-brown hair who usually wears a green athletic jacket decorated with buttons. Her weapon is a pair of greaves. She has an obsession with Chinese martial arts, and even uses it in battle, similar to Lisa Silverman of Persona 2. Her obsession goes so far that she even attacks Yousuke over a Jackie Chan DVD. Most of the time, she is friendly, cheerful, and energetic, but she has a short temper, especially with Yousuke. Her respective color is green.
Her Persona is Tomoe Gozen of the Chariot Arcana, a muscular female figure wearing a yellow outfit reminiscent of Bruce Lee's Game of Death costume, wielding a double bladed halberd. Tomoe appears to use water spells, suggesting that the water spells from the previous Persona games will be returning.


__{A} strange stuffed-bear-like creature with blue fur and a red/white jumpsuit who resides in the world of Mayonaka TV. When talking, he usually ends his speeches with "-kuma". He serves as outside support in battle, but is later replaced and becomes a party member during battle. When fighting, he uses knuckles and other hand-worn weapons. He is often used as comic relief. His head is safely removable, as demonstrated when Yousuke forcefully pulled it off, suspecting Kuma's appearance was merely a costume. His respective color is peach.
His Persona is Kintouki Douji, who has the appearance of a bulbous red boiler with stubby limbs, wearing a blue cape, and carries a tomahawk missile (the axe (tomahawk) is Kintoki's trademark) in its arms.


__{A}n elegant girl with long groomed black hair and a red hairband in it who usually wears either a red jacket or a pink kimono, carrying with her either a paper fan, which she also uses in battle, or a red umbrella. She apparently belongs to a very wealthy family and has high standards. Her respective color is red.
Her Persona is Konohana-sakuya, resembling a Tokusatsu heroine and is almost completely pink in color. Like Yukiko, it appears to use its wing-like cape as fans. Konohana-sakuya uses fire spells.


__{A} male delinquent with a bright-blonde/silver, swept-back, crewcut who has a scar above his left eye, many piercings, metal jewelry, and wears a black sweater with a skull-and-crossbones design on it under his school uniform. He uses brute force in combat, using weapons such as steel chairs. He apparently gets into a lot of fights in the streets. He also attends Yasogami High. His respective color is gray.
His Persona is Take Mikazuchi, which, like Kanji, is a large, imposing figure with a skeleton-like design exterior. He uses electricity spells.


__{A} cheery-looking female with bright-red hair tied in two pigtails. She will provide background and enemy information for the frontlines during and outside of battles. She was one of the most popular idols in Japan, but suddenly quit her job and transferred to Yasogami High School as a freshman out of reasons unknown. She is the support character after Kuma. Her respective color is purple.
Her Persona is Himiko, who wears a white gown similar to singers from the 60's, as well as having a satellite dish for a face and holds a object similar to the torch wielded by the actual Himiko.


__{A} young, serious looking male with dark-blue hair who almost always wears a navy-blue officer's hat, and sometimes, a black officer's uniform along with it. His clothes and gestures are reminiscent to those of Raidou Kuzunoha while his face and hair resembles that of the protagonist of Persona 3. He uses a revolver in combat, similar to Takaya of Persona 3. Though he is a famous detective, he still attends Yasogami High. His respective color is blue.
His Persona is Sukona Hikona, a Persona that is unique among the others in that it is smaller than its own user and wears a cape over a blue suit and shorts. It uses an energy sword longer than itself and is capable of using "Megido" and Fire spells as seen in the trailers.


{L}inks & Other Stuff
{O}fficial P4 Website (Jpn):
http://p4.atlusnet.jp/
{O}fficial P4 Website (Eng):
http://www.atlus.com/persona4/