It's becoming ever more apparent that the PS2's days are numbered, but just like they did last year, Atlus has delivered once again. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 continues what Persona 3 (and Persona 3 FES) started in completely re-inventing the RPG series, and while it doesn't leave quite as large an impact upon the gamer as the last game, Persona 4 is a brilliant game in it's own right. After meeting up with your group, strange killings begin to happen, leading you into being able to travel into the mysterious Midnight Channel, where you are able to unleash personae and navigate randomly generated dungeons. While the dungeon floors aren't nearly as deep as the last time around, the game is all the more fresher because of it, and once again you're entrusted in keeping up relationships and personal growth in order to succeed during combat. The characters and story are deeply developed, the combat is fun, and the multiple themed dungeons are inventive, varied, and beg to be explored. If there's any drawbacks to the game, it's some occasional camera issues, and the fact that presentation wise, virtually nothing has changed since the last game. That aside, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 is an engaging, addictive, and brilliant RPG that offers so much to keep you occupied, and may very well be the last, great game we'll see on the PS2. If indeed it is, what a way to go out.

My real reason for playing this game is both simple and embarassing. I bought it used for my PS2 only to discover it had trouble plaing on my old model. It then sat gathering dust until I bought my PS3. So after an uncertain futre, it has become the first test of the PS3's interplatform compatability.

Heaven knows what I expected when I cranked up the game - certainly the lavish explosion of graphics and action that appeared. It's easy to see, once you start playing, why this game quickly became a favorite of platform and action advention players alike. And even I, someone who prefers the RPG genre, was quickly drawn into the experience. the people who put this game together knew how to get the most out of a PS2.

You find yourself in a mythical version of Greek mythology as Kratos, a Apartan warrion who, in a moment of rashness, promised his soul to Aries if the god would save his life. Aries comes through, but abuses Kratos' trust, tricking him into the destruction of his own family. Kratos desperately seeks to forget the horrors of his misdeeds, and, when offered an opportunity to seek out and destroy Aries, snaps up the opportunity.

This is going to drag you through an unending supply of Greek scenery - hacking, maiming, and generally slaughtering everything you meet. You will get new weapons and magic, power them up, and generally run a bloodbath for the 40 hours or so it takes to play through. This kind of exhuberant athleticism accompanied by flying parts is sheer fun. Lots of puzzles must also be solved and some incredible bosses. You're going to die a lot in the process, but the game generally puts you back someplace reasonably convenient.

I don't think you can go wrong with God of War, and I can testifiy that it survives the trip to the PS3 without a hiccup.