Persona 4: Golden – our opinion on the Nintendo Switch version
First launched in Europe on March 13, 2009 on the PlayStation 2, the console was replaced by its younger sibling more than two years ago. Personality 4 In February 2013, it returned in a subtitled version on the PS Vita Gold. Very well received by French-language critics, who blamed it solely on the lack of an English translation, the title was a minor success even outside of Japan, and perhaps owed much to its rallying support. . The license it comes from, Shin Megami Tensei, still remains very niche here. At least until it arrives personalities 5 A true phenomenon in 2017 that shines a lot of light on Atlus and its productions.
Seven long years after its release on the late PS Vita, Persona 4 Gold suggested the Steam version. Fans’ hopes of finally seeing an official French translation were quickly dashed after discovering that it was, unfortunately, a literal port. Then a small community took their courage and vocabulary into their own hands. The result is a free, informal update of a quality rarely achieved for such productions. And that’s pretty good, because it’s available at launch for the PS5, Xbox Series, and Switch versions of the game. available for download from this Thursday, January 19, and is on display for less than twenty euros.
Although all console editions are a priori the same, today we will focus on the Nintendo Switch version. Mainly an opportunity to report on this long-awaited translation, but also on the quality of this new port. No reviews per se, but if that’s what you’re looking for, we obviously refer you to our very comprehensive Steam version review. For others, there’s another article extolling the merits of a fourteen-year-old game that continues to be talked about and close to its indecent quality. Follow the guide!
Test conditions: We spent about fifty hours on the Nintendo Switch version, mostly in manual mode on the Lite model. This test is guaranteed spoiler-free, valid for various screenshots taken during the first part of the game (less than ten hours per hour).
Return to Inaba page
In Personality 4, you play as a high school student whose gender can neither be chosen nor his appearance determined. An important point because, as you’ve probably noticed, this relatively patient character is present on the cover of the game. Set responses and gestures regularly, focus on his imagination.
Because by embodying this half-mute character, you will encounter many surprising, supernatural, miraculous, and sometimes catastrophic events. Sent to the small town of Inaba and staying with his uncle, a rather brave policeman, this young hero will soon face a harsh reality. The killer is visibly rampaging through the area, first attacking a young woman who is found hanging in the middle of the street in plain sight.
The first thing that surprises you when you start the game for the first time is because its colorful visuals and eye-catching character design do not intend to tell us such a dark story. However, we will have to get used to it. Behind his apparent sentimentality, The Atlus title actually hides a cleverly written, engrossing plot, touching on stories of sexuality, murder, and all manner of evil. Epic Shin Megami Tensei known for his writing maturity and Personality 4 not an exception.
Chances are the French translation is IM-PE-CCABLE. And take my words! Those who have touched the game in the English version will surely remember the quality of this localization, which very rarely, due to silly cultural differences, is difficult to transcribe in a language other than Japanese. However, this French version has been revised and corrected because such a small problem does not point to the nose.
That’s great to know Persona 4 Gold a very dense but also particularly conversational J-RPG (often described as a visual novel) may seem impenetrable to the layman of life. Count between sixty and eighty hours to see the end in a straight line. So it’s nice to note that the various puns that are not at all easy to understand in Shakespeare’s language for any normal French speaker are beautifully translated here and make perfect sense.
But at the same time, all the dialogue seems to benefit from a flawless treatment, even the appearance of slang makes sense and is never a source of discomfort for the player. On the contrary, it helps sink in and appreciate the various protagonists, who are hard not to bond with. Because in addition to being well written, Personality 4 deconstructs several character archetypes, plays on their bad sides and facade personalities, goes deeper than expected.
Persona 4 is like good wine, minus the drunkenness
Of course, even if one could hardly do worse Persona 3 Portable at this level (we refer you to our existing test), it can still be a bit complicated to run Persona 4 Gold after returning Persona 5 Royale in all directions. The two games have a lot in common, starting with their love of rich dialogue, but the eight long years between their respective releases (in Japan) clearly gave the new game some advantages.
In that case, it must be acknowledged Persona 4 Gold It still works very well in 2023. Once you explore its very small, lifeless city and random dungeons that are sometimes difficult to see, there remains a certain charm inherent to this work. Any fan of old-school J-RPGs will quickly find their feet in its simple yet surprisingly rich gameplay mechanics. And for others the game does everything to make the learning curve very smoothwith a simple glance at the set menu for an effective reminder if necessary.
Persona 4 Gold Never been so accessible, the translation provides a great convenience compared to previous versions of the game. This is even more true when we see the return of the “wifi” function, which allows you to ask for help in dungeons or from other players. view of different difficulty modes from easy to hard. A rich idea that seems hard to distort the experience, the normal mode is similar to what the original title suggests in terms of challenge (ie, something fairly durable, admittedly).
The latest innovation to enter the track, quick savings are equally important in evaluating the comfort of this vintage 2023. It should be noted that if the first hours of the game are against small resistance, you will need to arm yourself quickly and effectively. and think strategically about every battle that takes a lot of time.
But dungeons are increasingly long and winding, requiring exponentially more thoughtful organization. A short break before finishing the day (which wastes time in the game) is not refused. Especially since the weather-based timer gives each appearance of the new dungeon certain days until the end of the game.
In addition, Persona 4 Gold Contains contributions from the 2020 Steam version, meaning slightly improved visuals (as well as 4K functionality on compatible machines) and the ability to choose between Japanese or English dubs. The latter is the only version available in the PS2 edition available in Europe, as well as the PS Vita cartridge. An injustice which it is good to see dispelled at the same time as the long-awaited French translation appears. As for the soundtrack, it’s still exceptional, period!
Finally, remember that we tested the game on Nintendo Switch, which contributed to the positive feelings left by this second discovery. It should be recognized because carrying this version immediately gives you a huge advantage over your friends. let’s remember that Persona 4 Gold is very long and the standby function of the Big N console thus allows you to start and stop the game at any time without worrying about saving, at least as long as the battery does not run out. What better way to explore such an intense J-RPG?
At the end
It’s hard to say otherwise, though passes by Persona 4 Gold In 2023, if you appreciate the minimum Japanese role, it will be a crime. It has to be said that this episode has some wrinkles, especially when compared to its obvious successor, but nothing insurmountable. It remains a true classic of the genre, combining witty and intelligently delivered themes, devilishly likable characters, a haunting soundtrack, and incredible depth with mind-boggling longevity.
If these arguments still fail to convince you, stick around excellent French translation and Japanese dubs it will please the purists. Or, of course, as it should be quoted, its very attractive price is less than twenty euros. We can worry all we want about the lack of a physical release, but let’s be honest: this version is a real gift offered to fans of the license and those who want to discover it in the best conditions! You know what you have to do.
