Unforgettable characters, powerful plot, strikingly bold: Persona 4 is fun and introspective--passionate and moving.
Characters are the focal point of the game, and not only can you explore their future development as side quests, you are actually rewarded for doing so. Most of the characters are typical Japanese stereotypes who are coping with the feeling of strangulation that their labels in life hold on them (e.g. the tomboy, the mild-mannered girl, the tough guy, etc.). These labels often lead to the discussion of very sensitive issues such as gender roles, sexuality, and generational strife. The only issue is that while the characters may be well developed, their relationship with the main character is not. He is often the fixer of all of their problems, but they never offer him any help and often display greater affection and concern for his little cousin than him.
The plot is surprisingly well structured. The game often plays on your sense of complacency and impatience while rewarding you for being perceptive. Unfortunately, this means that in order to even get to the true final boss, the protagonist is not allowed a single opportunity for weakness and must stay 100% calm--making him more of a crime solving robot than an actual human. At least you are allowed a few sassy (and hilarious) choices that aren't necessarily bad ones. Also frustrating is how the social links don't change plot related dialogue, so sometimes characters will display insecurities that you've already helped them overcome.
The combat is sadly boring. It employs the most generic of JRPG turn based battles and sometimes forces the player to grind. Also present is the convention of only allowing 3 other party members at a time, which makes even less sense when the characters are physically there for the cut-scenes. The dungeons, while great metaphors overall, lack detail (i.e. all floors and rooms are the same cookie cutter design except for recolors). This is perhaps because the games graphics are unimpressive (especially given the year this game was released), which results in a myriad of missed opportunities for some great thematic nuances. The game isn't rewarding on higher modes as it mostly tests your patience for grinding over strategy/reflexes. Persona fusing can be fun, but it can also be overwhelming and time-consuming.
Regardless, the game is very well-polished, rewarding, and addictive. The cast is vibrant, diverse, complex, and humorous. Persona 4 is a definite must-play regardless of your genre preferences.