Fans are expectingPersona 4 Revivalto feature visual upgrades and some quality-of-life changes. But the success ofPersona 3 Reloadalso opened the door for the remake ofPersona 4to have deeper narrative additions. One ofReload’s smartest design choices was the inclusion of Linked Episodes, which allowed for meaningful character development outside the standard Social Link system.
That approach could work especially well inPersona 4 Revival, a game where Inaba is filled with recurring but underutilized characters. Without forcing new full-length Social Links into the game’s already crowded calendar, Atlus could use Link-style episodes to expand on the people that players pass every day.
InPersona 3, characters likeAkihiko and Shinjirohad no traditional Social Links. Rather than rewrite the calendar or relationships entirely forReload, Atlus introduced short, emotionally focused episodes. These occurred naturally as the story progressed and gave players deeper insight without affecting daily planning.
Persona 4 Revivalcould take a similar approach. Minor NPCs, like Master Daidara the blacksmith or Ms. Kashiwagi, could benefit from small character moments that show who they are beyond their stock dialogue. For example, Daidara could tell a brief story about his connection to the Midnight Channel artifacts. Kashiwagi, whose behavior is often played for laughs, could have a scene where she drops the act and speaks frankly about the pressure of being a teacher in a small town.
These Link-style episodes do not need to be long. Even one or two per character could give more weight to the world. They would not replaceSocial Links or relationships with the Investigation Team, but they would enhance immersion and provide something fresh for longtime fans.
InPersona 3 Reload, Linked Episodes never occupied a calendar slot. They were triggered by story progress, which kept the game’s pacing intact and avoided player burnout.
Persona 4 Revival Should Tackle Social Link Issues
Some Social Links inPersona 4 Goldenhave aged poorly.Kanji’s arcremains an important part of the game, but several of the protagonist’s dialogue options either play his confusion for laughs or respond with blunt disbelief. It is a missed opportunity to affirm his struggle without undermining the message.
Ai Ebihara’s Link also punishes emotional honesty. When players choose to support her instead of rejecting her, the results often feel harsh or unrewarding. In a modern remake, these interactions could be revised to reward empathy rather than shut it down.
Naoto’s arc inPersona 4would also benefit from some clarity. Her struggle with gender roles and expectations could be treated with more directness. The original game left too much to implication and failed to offer satisfying dialogue paths for players who wanted to support her identity without ambiguity.
InPersona 5 Royal, Atlus altered several scenes to remove harmful jokes and implications. The same effort would go a long way inPersona 4 Revival.
The everyday, cozy lifestructure ofPersona 4already encourages players to explore the town and speak with its residents. Adding Link-style episodes would not feel out of place. These moments could be optional and unintrusive, simply unfolding when side quests are completed or after key events.
Some of the most emotionally resonant characters inPersona 4are the ones who appear briefly yet leave a lasting impression. The unnamed man at the Samegawa Flood Plain, who struggles with his fear of cats and regrets how it affected his relationship, quietly reveals emotional depth during theHermit questline. Likewise, Kanji’s mother, the owner of Tatsumi Textiles, shows deep concern for her son during his disappearance, offering rare moments of quiet grief and maternal worry. Giving characters like these a dedicated scene or Link-style episode would make Inaba feel even more lived-in and emotionally grounded.
These scenes would not need rewards. Their purpose would be connection. They could be used to balance the more intense story arcs and give longtime fans something new without rewriting core mechanics.
