As you all should know, sound design is the least noticed part of a videogame. We often make a big deal about graphics, narrative, and gameplay, but the two most underappreciated parts of videogamedom are control and sound design.

Well, I recently had the pleasure of enjoying the magnificant Persona 4, and having been drinking, I'm a little elated(I don't often make topics). Persona 4 is a masterpiece in sound design.

You simply must enjoy it. The opening ode, at the title screen, is so simple, yet so endearing, and the ambience is paid as much attention too as the actual VA.

Sure, some of the VA is a little cheesy and American, but the actual sound in the game can match up to something like Brawl or GTAIV, which is saying a lot considering the publishers were working with jpop and loops instead of licensed mainstream music.

I'm in love with this game, and the best part isn't the story, or the gameplay. It's the excellent sound design, and the game should be awarded for it.

That's all, thanks for reading.(PS: You like my little blackberry photo, lol? That's my glock .40, my hunter s thompson biography, and my ear protection. This was a photo I took to tease one of my WoW guildmates, but I thought you guys might enjoy it.)

Cheers!

What an interesting photo.. looking at this I can't help but to think of it as a survival kit of sorts... lol.

But yeah, you are right about Persona and SMT games in general... Shoji Meguro (the composer for Persona 4 and various others) makes usually simple melodies... but they are very fitting with the game and don't get on your nerves... they link one into the other extremely well too. More pepole need to pay attention to the sound in games!

Yea!

lol, survival kit. All I need is P4 and a gun.

Anyway, yeah, the most overlooked aspect. Brawl would be a mid-8 game without the sound design. What if David Hater was replaced in the MGS series, or if FF music started to suck. People will never ever realized how important sound is to these games, but it really is just as important as graphics, and even gameplay is most instances.

Truth. Music was always important in FF games, and its most apparent FF IX, where the soundtrack plays an extremely vital role in creating an atmosphere...

Same for Metal Gear. MGS is nothing without the theme. Snake is not really Snake without Hayter...

Don't know about brawl, only played melee =P

But bottom line is: sound is extremely important to games... some more than others, but still.

Sound design is a big part of certain games, especially Japanese developed ones.

I have not played Persona 4 (yet), but seeing as how we're on the subject, I agree that sound design is usually a seriously undervalued aspect of good games.

I was reminded of this again because I started MGS4 this week (yeah, I got it really late, oh well ). With a decent sound system (and it could probably be appreciated without one) - that game's audio ROCKS. From the sounds of battle to the little things like the brushing of clothing against itself, footsteps, waterfalls, a clip hitting the ground, the musical soundtrack itself, etc. - all of it is top notch and really helps get the player into the game.

I wish more gamers placed importance on the audio in games...maybe then we'd have more devs focus on audio and do a good job with it, like with MGS4 and Persona 4.

Oh, and lol @ the pistol in the picture

I don't know, i somehow liked Persona 3 more than Persona 4. But Persona 2 is still my JRPG of the year for 09

You say Persona 2, is that coming to PSN? All the Persona games have had excellent sound design, but belive it or not, P2 and I have never has the pleasure...

I think he mistyped...

P4 music was epic. I still listen to the soundtrack long after finishing the game.