Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4/Gameplay

Persona 4 takes place in a small, rural Japanese countryside town called Inaba. The game begins with the Protagonist moving in with his uncle, Ryotaro Dojima, who is a police detective. Strangely enough, many murders begin to occur once the protagonist moves into Inaba. The murders do not particularly affect the Protagonist until the second murder is committed... the victim was a fellow high schooler. This is when the story really takes off with the Protagonist and his newfound friends start to take interest and try to figure out the truth behind the murders and the rumor about the MIDNIGHT CHANNEL. While the premise seems simple enough, like all students you must still keep up grades, build relationships with people in Inaba, and keep your uncle from figuring out your role in the murder cases.

Beginning of the game
In the very beginning of the game there are three different difficulty levels to choose from. The difficulty level does not affect events, cut scenes, or endings. The difficulty setting is just to change the difficulty of battles.


 * Beginner: This setting is for default game play.
 * Normal: Provides 10 Moon Tsukubame items which allow you to avoid a Game Over once the Protagonist has fainted. Another interesting thing about the Moon Tsukubame is that once activated, they bring back all the characters with full HP and SP bars. The AI in the game seems to be a lot nicer, though enemy stats remain the same.
 * Expert: This is for more advanced players. It provides for more aggressive AI and therefore more difficult battles.

Stats
There are five important status in Persona 4:
 * 1) Understanding
 * 2) Knowledge
 * 3) Courage
 * 4) Expression
 * 5) Diligence

Out of these five statuses, only four of them need to be maxed out. Knowledge, Courage, Expression and Understanding are crucial for day-to-day activity opportunities. Diligence is important, but it does not necessarily need to be maxed out.

Courage

 * 1) Working part time at the hospital.
 * 2) Eating the special ramen from Aiya's on rainy days.
 * 3) Reading The Man series on your sofa.
 * 4) Eating rotten food from the fridge.
 * 5) Defeating the bonus bosses at dungeons.

Knowledge

 * 1) Studying at your desk at night.
 * 2) Studying at the Library after school.
 * 3) Paying attention during lessons at school.
 * 4) Giving the right answer to questions in class.
 * 5) Reading Bug Encyclopedia and Number series on your sofa.
 * 6) Eating special ramen at Aiya's on rainy days

Expression

 * 1) Working as a tutor.
 * 2) Reading the Application series on your sofa.
 * 3) Working as a translator.
 * 4) Going to culture club after school.
 * 5) Giving the right answers in class.

Understanding

 * 1) Reading the Mister series on your sofa.
 * 2) Working part-time at folding origami.
 * 3) Eating special ramen at Aiya's on rainy days.
 * 4) Working at the daycare after school.

Diligence

 * 1) Eating special ramen at Aiya's on rainy days.
 * 2) Working part time at folding envelopes.
 * 3) Going to the sports club.

Courage

 * 1) It helps establish the Moon Arcana S.Link.
 * 2) Naoto's S.Link can only begin after you max out Courage.
 * 3) Ability to make bolder answers to other characters.

Knowledge

 * 1) Get high or top marks on exams.
 * 2) Begin Margaret's S.Link.
 * 3) Naoto's S.Link can only begin after you max out Knowledge.

Expression

 * 1) Leveling up in the Hierophant and Justice S.Link.

Understanding

 * 1) It helps establish the Hang-Man S.Link.

Diligence

 * 1) Ability to fish more times per day.
 * 2) Apply to work for the janitor job.
 * 3) Apply to work folding cranes.