Atlus’ critically acclaimed Persona 4 Golden launches on Thursday for Nintendo Switch and other current platforms including Xbox Game Pass. The reviews are in for the remastered port of the classic PlayStation Vita RPG, and the Nintendo Switch version of the game is currently on sale. excellent 92 Metascore on Metacritic based on 14 critical reviews (09.20am UK time). Here are examples of some reviews published by various publications along with their ratings.
“If you missed Persona 4 Golden on PlayStation Vita or Steam, it feels right at home on Nintendo Switch (the version I tried myself). The visuals are sharp in both handheld and docked modes, there are plenty of quality-of-life tweaks around weight and save file options, and it runs at 60fps most of the time, except for scenes involving fog.”
“However, despite all the flaws in its script, Persona 4 Golden manages to dig up honest stories from other veins. Persona 5 Royal is a real amusement park with side activities that can sometimes be overwhelming. At Inaba, however, fewer distractions allow you to better focus on your relationships. It will take some time to adjust to being away from the city, especially without a smartphone constantly buzzing to let you know where everyone is at all times. But there is no need for one. You’re bound to meet a friendly face on your way to the riverbank.”
“The combat system is easy to analyze, gradually increasing in complexity as more elements and enemy types are introduced. Furthermore, the ‘Another 1’ system that gives extra moves when a weakness occurs is at the core of most encounters here, and applies to both enemy and ally. In a sense, everyone can be considered an equal player, which increases the tension in challenging battles. If you’re a general fan of turn-based RPGs, you’ll be right at home here, and newcomers will feel welcome as the difficulty presented, even on Hard mode, is nowhere near the level of, say, a Shin Megami Tensei title. The on-the-fly weight adjustment also opens up the title to a larger crowd.”
“In terms of story, Persona 4 Golden is the best game, providing a satisfying mystery to solve that remains interesting throughout its relevance. Every step forward is significant, it multiplies the feeling of catharsis when a solution is found. And the cast is the heart of this title, with several events where they simply hang out and bond. A delicate but noticeable balance is established where the story and character relationships are effective. No aspect is compromised for the sake of the other.”
“Persona 4 Golden is an excellent JRPG in its entirety. Featuring a must-experience story, exciting strategic combat, addictive customization, tons of optional content, and a likable cast; everything you could want from the genre. Furthermore, its flaws, such as mediocre dungeon design and an unnecessarily long start, are relatively minor and do not drastically affect the quality of the experience. Regardless of your history with Persona or JRPGs in general, Persona 4 Golden is worth your time if you stick with it, as it is close to the heights of its contemporaries.”
“Persona 4 Golden has always been one of the best games ever, and now more people can experience it thanks to this Switch edition that has everything from the original with the addition of new languages and a new quick save or pause save option that unlocks after playing for a bit by doing this a much better version of the game. Although this was originally a PS Vita game, I was hoping the Switch release would aim for 60fps and have crisp visuals. The PC version was a much nicer experience than the PS Vita original. This Switch version does aim for 60fps (with minor issues including some related to framerate) and looks amazing when played handheld. When playing on the dock, it has a few rough edges thanks to the lack of good anti-aliasing. When it comes to visuals and performance on Switch, this new port of Persona 4 Golden delivers despite the minor issues.”
“I’m all for more of the PS Vita library coming to modern platforms, and Persona 4 Golden remains the best PS Vita game that many more people will now be able to play. I’d even recommend the Nintendo Switch version over the PS4 version thanks to the fact that that version doesn’t have any PS5 enhancements and lacks PS Vita cross-save, while the Switch version benefits from the hybrid nature of the system.”
“Persona 4 Golden is perfect for the Nintendo Switch and an easy recommendation with a low asking price. With Fire Emblem Engage and Persona 4 Golden, the Nintendo Switch is starting 2023 with a bang. If you played Persona 4 Golden on the original PS Vita years ago, it’s worth revisiting on the Nintendo Switch right now, and it feels like a dream come true on the OLED screen.”
