Why does everyone I introduce this game to love it, regardless of how much or little they like JRPGs?
First some context for why I'm starting this thread let me start at the beginning. I introduced 3 of my friends to Vita, and by extension Persona 4 golden. Now, one of them is an avid JRPG fan, one of them is a bit ADHD when it comes to slow games(with a wife, child and job to boot), the other pretty much considers gameplay=graphics>story. They all like RPGs to some extent, so I was only slightly surprised that all of them liked P4G. The person who loved it that caused me to write this thread, however, blew my fucking mind.
I play a large variety of games, including shooters. Now one of my friends who I play shooters with a lot and who constantly complains about Japanese games whenever they're brought up(Which is funny because his experience with Japanese games extends to Chromehounds(Which is one of his favorite games), Armored core, and a couple JRPGs a friend of his played while he was watching). He ended up buying a vita for remote play, suffice to say I told him not to get Persona 4, because it is a very japanese game with everything he complained about in it. He sees it for $20 can't resist, I expect him to give up in the first hour and talk about how trash the game is.
Two days later he's played 28 hours. Keep in mind, this guy has a wife, two kids, and a job. Guy loves it. I can't even begin to understand how one of the biggest hater of Japanese games I know loves Persona 4 golden which exemplifies most of the tropes and stereo-types applied to the genre.
When I've asked him why he liked the game, he basically said the story was interesting and different, and funny. He felt the way the persona system is handled with social links was also new and interesting.
As he's explaining what he likes about the game to me, I'm sitting here gobsmacked that no matter who I introduce this game to, they like it.
The point of this thread is, why does this game, which by all rights is built to be niche, appeal to so many different types of people? I'd also like to hear from someone who hated the game, there's got to be -someone- who dislikes P4G. Also, what are your experiences with this game appealing to people who otherwise don't like JRPGs?
First some context for why I'm starting this thread let me start at the beginning. I introduced 3 of my friends to Vita, and by extension Persona 4 golden. Now, one of them is an avid JRPG fan, one of them is a bit ADHD when it comes to slow games(with a wife, child and job to boot), the other pretty much considers gameplay=graphics>story. They all like RPGs to some extent, so I was only slightly surprised that all of them liked P4G. The person who loved it that caused me to write this thread, however, blew my fucking mind.
I play a large variety of games, including shooters. Now one of my friends who I play shooters with a lot and who constantly complains about Japanese games whenever they're brought up(Which is funny because his experience with Japanese games extends to Chromehounds(Which is one of his favorite games), Armored core, and a couple JRPGs a friend of his played while he was watching). He ended up buying a vita for remote play, suffice to say I told him not to get Persona 4, because it is a very japanese game with everything he complained about in it. He sees it for $20 can't resist, I expect him to give up in the first hour and talk about how trash the game is.
Two days later he's played 28 hours. Keep in mind, this guy has a wife, two kids, and a job. Guy loves it. I can't even begin to understand how one of the biggest hater of Japanese games I know loves Persona 4 golden which exemplifies most of the tropes and stereo-types applied to the genre.
When I've asked him why he liked the game, he basically said the story was interesting and different, and funny. He felt the way the persona system is handled with social links was also new and interesting.
As he's explaining what he likes about the game to me, I'm sitting here gobsmacked that no matter who I introduce this game to, they like it.
The point of this thread is, why does this game, which by all rights is built to be niche, appeal to so many different types of people? I'd also like to hear from someone who hated the game, there's got to be -someone- who dislikes P4G. Also, what are your experiences with this game appealing to people who otherwise don't like JRPGs?
