Why Persona 4 Golden is Better Than Persona 5

“I recently completed Persona 5 — while I do think it’s a fantastic role-playing game that builds upon Persona 4 in just about every way possible, it’s missing an element of its predecessor that I loved, murder mystery.“ — PlayStation Enthusiast

[AspiringProGenji]

Murder and Mystery were P4’s theme. P5 is about Freedom, Rebellion. P5 is not missing anything

[TheGamez100]

They both handled different themes. I personally enjoyed p4g better just because I preferred that games theme more.

[Wrex369]

*and you could take it on the go with the Vita :P

[PhoenixUp]

I do admire how every game in the series handles its themes in contrasting ways, which is best exemplified by how the Velvet Room is presented in each game

https://waypoint.vice.com/e...

[Antnee534]

Sorry opinions can be wrong and this is a wrong opinion persona 5 was the best persona to date. Now we will have to see once 6 comes out

[michellelynn0976]

No opinions are not wrong. They are allowed to have em.

[Razzer]

I didn't think P4 was a good as P3 personally. But P5.....no doubt the best yet.

[PhantomS42]

For me P3 still has the best story, P5 the best gameplay but P3,4,&5 are all amazing games

[Razzer]

Exactly.

[ecchiless]

I hope im not the only one that played the first 2(actually 3) persona games in the PS(psone), cause those games were amazing too, im personally hoping for a remake of those games(eternal and sin are my favourites.

[PhantomS42]

@ecchiless

I've also played the first two, really enjoyed them and I agree they are also amazing but certainly different compared to P3-5

[PurpHerbison]

P3 still has the best music by a LONG shot.

[farhsa2008]

Dickhead. Just spoiled Persona 4 ending! Use spoilers next time!!

[Razzer]

He did.

"Full Persona 4 Spoilers & Minor Persona 5 Spoilers"

At the top, in red.

[goldwyncq]

I agree. Although Persona 5 has by far the best dungeon gameplay, P4G wins in pretty much everything else.

[Teflon02]

Story in 5 was definitely better. But characters and atmosphere was better in 4. 5 made the whole game feel like 1 big mission while 4 made it feel like people who really wanted to just enjoy life but got forced into this murder situation. So it's appeal is better for me. Alot more entertaining characters

[_-EDMIX-_]

This article simply needs to be about why the author personally likes one better than the other

[Strafe]

That's why it's an opinion piece I'm guessing. Just a crazy thought.

[DarXyde]

Persona 4 was grand. The whole mystery came together beautifully. I think the story was handled better than 5 in some ways, but 5 is, in my opinion, a better game. The untouchable soundtrack is also a huge plus.

It definitely takes a deeper-than-cursory understanding of Jungian psychology, cognitive psychology, and social cognition to fully appreciate how 5 was synthesized, and the theme of rebellion, thieves, politics, and ethics really made for a stellar game. Atlus knocked it out of the park with both games, but 5 gets the nod from me.

Regardless, you owe it to yourself to play both.

[bluefox755]

I enjoyed loved them both. P5 definitely improved on the formula though, making social link bonuses actually matter/more relevant. Also, the dungeons P5 are FAR better than P4, which were basically just hallways. Whether you preferred the story of P4 over P5, there's no denying they improved the game mechanically with 5.

[Mr Marvel]

Both are fantastic games, but P4G is my favourite of the two and my 2nd favourite Vita game behind Dragon's Crown.
I would definitely re-buy the game on PS4 if they ever re-release/remaster it.

That P4G intro song... EPIC!

[BlaqMagiq1]

P5 is definitely better than P4G followed by P3F. But all three are classics.

[inxine]

those are both very different games. hell all them persona games are very different from eachother. you cant really compare any of them

[Protagonist]

It is not IMO though. P5 is near perfection as a game can get as I see it. But I do get that you like the story of P4G better since it was your first Persona game, but that is also the cliche.

[Mista2018]

Just an opinion:

I loved Persona 3 FES and P4 Golden. P5 was great too, but I was a little dissapointed by the school trips/functions always being thwarted. Plus some characters like Ryuji, Ann, and Yosuke were especially flat and a bit underdeveloped (even in their social link scenes). Morgana was not that interesting either. Makoto and Futaba, plus many comrads/social links were actually quite memorable though. P5 was not my favorite, but certainly leagues ahead most other JRPG games outside of the SMT/Persona franchise.

As for the article: Murder mystery was a theme for P4, not the overral franchise. In 5 persona games, it only occured as a theme once. Why does he think it is a staple?

[jznrpg]

Both great games, P4s story was more to my liking but P5 was made better in every area.

[TheColbertinator]

I prefer the music of P4G

[knickstr]

I personally liked 4 better. The murder mystery aspect and feel of the game just made it a slightly better game to me.

[Evaproject]

3 for story , 5 for gameplay, 4 is super good in both but don't top either in their respective strength IMO. 3rd one with P5 engine remake would be godly and you can kind of see how good it would look from the dancing moon night trailer. Great serie

[Tross]

Persona 4 is missing shooting yourself in the head with a gun-like apparatus and "stealing the hearts" of adversaries. It's called having a theme and sticking to it. All three modern mainline Persona games are excellent in that regard, and no I don't think a given entry should have to adopt the themes of its predecessors. If Persona 5 adopted themes from previous games it probably would have been unfocused. As it stands it managed to work its theme brilliantly into its narrative and game mechanics, not that I'd expect anything less from a Persona game. Persona 4 has its own theme that works...for Persona 4. Maybe it's best not to complain that your orange juice doesn't taste like apple juice or insinuate that apples should have been added in, and instead appreciate a good cup of oj for what it is or just have apple juice.

[Teflon02]

So my thing is, I think Persona 5 is a better game hands down.
But
Here is what makes it hard for me to choose it over persona 4 in a list of my fav titles.
Persona 4 had much better characters and more likable ones. They really seemed like innocent people forced into these situations. In persona 5, it was so dark 95% of the time, so when you had moments with characters and had fun doing whatever you choose. It felt less like I'm getting to know these characters etc. Only character that really game me a persona 4 level of feel and entertainment was Futaba. She was energetic, fun and created moments for everyone.
SPOILER
In persona 4 where you really get a highlight of how strong the characters feels were was when you bring nanako into the mix or even look at Chie and Yukiko ironically looking down on themselves while wishing they're the other. While nanako is a little girl who's innocent but has to be mature with certain things because of her father's job. Biggie able to take care of Yu if he needed. When she passes at first late in the game I actually got pissed off like "you got to be kidding me, after I'm done this game I'm never playing this shh again" lol. Luckily I was literally able to guess the way to the good ending in my first try and I didn't hate the game as a result. But otherwise I'd never know. I had a friend get that ending and I was like wtf it really could end at that point. Crazy. Point is, p4 characters are just more entertaining and the lighthearted aspect is one of the best aspects of the title while everything is told to be apart of the grand operation at all times in 5 so your more preparing all the time than taking time to learn who everyone is

[PurpHerbison]

P3 is still the best.