Atlus finally revealed Persona 4 Revival, the remake to this classic PS2 RPG in the same vein as Persona 3 Reload. Much like Reload’s road to being revealed, Revival was leaked early on, with copyright registrations and an angry Yuri Lowenthal confirming its existence. Fans have been pretty mixed about this remake, with some finding it unnecessary.
However, if we’re being honest, this remake isn’t necessarily for long-time fans of the game.
When remaking a game or movie, the modern consensus is always considered, since these companies want newer fans to check their products out. It’s the main reason why Persona 4 Revival was made in the first place; so fans who can’t stomach Golden can play the game.
It hurts that some fans can’t appreciate the simplistic art style from the PS2 era JRPG. Even though it doesn’t look as good as other modern titles, the original Persona 4 and its Golden re-release still have a distinct visual identity. However, that’s not always enough for modern gamers, as not everyone can appreciate retro visuals from a different time.
The original Resident Evil 4 is a perfect game already, but some fans just can’t get into those older GameCube-era visuals and tank controls. That’s why the remake was made, so fans who were too young to appreciate Capcom’s original masterpiece can enjoy it in a different way.
Thanks to Persona 3 Reload, fans sort of know what to expect from Persona 4 Revival. Dark and Holy Skills will probably copy Persona 5, becoming standard elemental attacks instead of random one-hit kills. Prettier visuals that are more in line with P5 and P3R. More modernized writing that can fix the older game’s more problematic elements. We’re sure this remake will be great for new audiences.
Older fans might complain about how this was a product of its time, and they have a point. The Golden re-release does a good enough job of giving fans an excellent JRPG, while also not shying away from its faults from the past. Realistically, that version of the game should be enough from an artistic standpoint.
But like older movies, this old title isn’t always enough for modern gamers. The simple PS2 visuals are great for retro fans, but younger players want something sleeker. It’s a sad truth, but one many artists and fans have to accept with the current generation.
Atlus will do an excellent job with Persona 4 Revival, that’s pretty much a given. Their work on Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance and Persona 3 Reload shows how good they are with these re-releases. We just hope that the success of Revival will make fans go back to Golden, which is still an excellent game.
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