I mainly just love how Persona makes these villains with relatable goals, who ARE bad guys but you can still see why they're doing what they're doing, it makes them feel human
@@Ramsey276one yeah, both have their appeal, smt feels grander all round imo, like, you aren’t saving the world, most times you’re rebuilding it from scratch. I do appreciate the relatability of most persona villains (except Shido let’s be honest he was bad for the sake of being bad)
Yu and Adachi also have one other thing that connects them. They are both voiced by Johnny Yong Bosch. I believe that was done on purpose to further drive home how Adachi is Yu if he had no bonds.
@Haven Let's appreciate the fact he has not succumbed to the Power Rangers Curse. You know, how so many cast members have been dropping dead over the years. We lost the green/white ranger a while back.
I turn 30 this year and I gotta say I can relate to feeling lost in the non linear function of adulthood its tough sometimes. But Adachi is the symbol of quitting
M-Izanagi also has an unused melee attack animation which is actually used in P5R. It involves him lunging forward and stabbing downwards into the ground multiple times.
Heaven is the best, from the fact that it is what you perceived it to be, to a child, heaven is a place that looks peaceful and like a sanctuary where you lay down for eternal rest and wake up to eternal life. However, the only way this dungeon could exist is for Nanako to want to see heaven, so therefore... Nanako wants to die, she isn't suicidal but wants to see her mother again. While so many other dungeons are the same idea, this is different because uts coming from a 6 year old with an already depressing life
I feel like Adachi could have changed if he accepted his faults like the Investigation Team did. Yosuke and Yukiko were also people who didn't like the positions they were in at the start of the game, with Yosuke being forced to come out to Inaba due to his father despite wanting to be back in the city and Yukiko feeling like she was forced to inherit the Amagi Inn. But around the end of their SLs, they grow to appreciate the town due to the friends they made there, the experiences they had there, and their own efforts to have a better experience there. Yosuke also evolves throughout the story; at first, he wanted to leave, but around the 7th Dungeon, he begs the Investigation Team to perform at a concert at June's so his father doesn't lose his job, forcing him to leave Inaba. But the thing that makes Adachi different is that he had no one he could call a real friend to support him through this. Dojima treated him like a gopher, and every scene they were in together was usually Dojima talking down to him like an insult punching bag, while Nanako treated him nicely, but she does that to everyone, so it's not special, and she probably wouldn't be able to relate to what he was going through. The only person who seemed to care about him was an old woman who thought he was her grandson, so you can't consider that support. And the only person who cared about him Narukami was met with a fake Adachi that he thought was his friend even to a point where when Narukami tries to go see Adachi alone just for a talk where he is nearly killed by his former "friend". I think Yukiko described his entire character perfectly: "A brat who is just upset that he didn't get what he expected so instead of trying to make things better for himself, he just lashes out at the world" because everyone on the Investigation Team, with the exception of Naoto, isn't talented and yet they were still able to make the most of their time together in Inaba. *Yosuke Hanamura* is just a student who gets average grades, works an average job, gets no woman during his entire school year, and constantly gets made fun of by his friends and classmates, but yet manages to grow a love for the town and grows to like the job he hated before. He didn't like how people treated him as a complaint department at June's since he saw it as people taking advantage of him, but after reflecting he began seeing it as people relying on him. *Chie Satonaka* is a girl who does poorly in school, is disliked by many boys, and feels like she is in her father's shadow, but by the end she realizes Martial Arts isn't just for beating people up, but for defending those you love, and she decides to become a cop to not only protect her friends, but everyone in Inaba, because she despises people who treat others poorly. *Yukiko Amagi* is a girl who gets good grades, has a family inn to run, and is popular at school, yet she feels like she is trapped since all her decisions in life prior to Narukami rescuing her in the Midnight channel were made for her. So Narukami speaks to her and has her discover she was never forced to do anything; she could always decide what she wanted to do with her future, whether it be to run the inn or leave it and pursue something else. *Kanji Tatsumi* is a student who struggles in school, is viewed as a delinquent who causes nothing but trouble, and whenever he expresses an interest, he is mocked. Until he meets Narukami, who encourages his interests like knitting, helps him understand what his father meant by being strong, and even stands up for him when the cops question if he has been doing anything illegal, which makes Kanji not feel ashamed of his girly interests, even opening a knitting class that teaches people how to make stuffed animals. *Rise Kujikawa* is an idol, sure, but whenever she isn't being one, no one really pays attention to her since she is just an average student who performs decently, and like she admits, if she isn't acting the fake life the studio made for her, no one is interested in her. Narukami teaches her that there are no two Rises; there is only one, and they are both her, which inspires her to return to being an idol after a year's break and be herself in front of her audience. *Teddie* is a shadow who the Investigation Team has found in the Midnight Channel, and for a lot of the game, people go around wondering what he is. When he finds the answer, it saddens him greatly since the revelation is that he is just a shadow. He isn't anyone special like he thought he was, and he was heartbroken when he found out. However, the investigation team manages to cheer him up by saying that they don't care because he is still Teddie, their friend with whom they made a promise, which brings him peace and makes him want to explore the human world to see if he could be someone there. P.S. I don't know why they didn't point this out, but Teddie, you are a shadow that can use a persona that's special to me. What are you on about?. *Naomi Shirogane* While she is a outlier due to being a junior detective who was able to solve a lot of the case on her own, I feel like she should still be on here because she also had a trait that made her life difficult, and that was her being embarrassed about her gender since she didn't want another reason for people to look down on her besides her age, and it didn't fit the image of a detective she wanted to be. Which is why when Narukami helps her find out her love for being a detective again by helping her with a scavenger hunt that her grandpa set up, it makes her rediscover why she became a detective to begin with, and that was for the fun of the mystery and to help people; it was never to be viewed a certain way or praised for it. So she grows to appreciate her gender instead of resenting it. I think this is why Adachi resents the Investigation Team not just because they are the only ones who could stop him but because they are living proof that his world view is wrong he can change yet he chooses not to because it's easier to blame the world rather than himself at the end of the day.
I don't think Adachi would change by accepting his faults. Accepting your faults is ultimately what gives you your Persona, and while Izanami is responsible for giving him his power, I don't think that negates the necessity of the acceptance requirement. I think Adachi DOES accept his faults, but he doesn't care enough to try and fix them. He has no reason to. The only time he shows signs of change is after the IT defeat him, and even then that doesn't actually lead to him fixing anything. He STILL hates the entire world in Ultimax. That part of him hasn't changed, and I don't think it ever will, because I don't think it CAN. Adachi is an adult. He's more or less set in his ways by the time we meet him in the story. That's why the IT can't simply talk him down and need to beat the crap out of him. I don't remember who it was, but someone that was working on the games said that the teenage years are the perfect time to introduce demons and magic into the characters world. It's a time of changes and strife within a person's life before stumbling into some semblance of stability in their adult years. It's the ideal moment to force them into these predicaments that will force them to learn about and see more about the world than they thought possible, and to teach them these valuable lessons through pushing them through this dangerous new side to this world they've been thrown headfirst into. Adachi never went through that development, never learned those lessons, and as a result of that combined with his borderline self destructive isolationism he became an adult that was rooted into his ideals before we even meet him. Never having been challenged on his views most of his life before the Investigation Team arrived to challenge them, and they're KIDS. For all intents and purposes under usual circumstances, Adachi is right to be pissed at them for trying to lecture him. They're kids, most of which probably haven't even hit puberty just yet, and yet they have the gall to lecture him, who has lived longer, and seen what some of the worst of the worst are capable of as a detective? The only one in the group with even a semblance of viability behind their words would probably be Naoto in his eyes. I'd be pissed too if I didn't understand exactly how the TV world works. Which, as I've said, Adachi doesn't. Therefore, he's set in his ways, and the only way to reason with him is to beat him into submission. As a cautionary tale, he IS the best antagonist in the series in my mind. I just like Akechi more because he feels more personal an antagonist to the Phantom Thieves because he has that key development within the Metaverse that Adachi lacks. He's a sociable and charismatic teenager, as well. They're inverses of each other's lives. Adachi is an adult with no experience with the TV World prior to the events of the game, and is an isolationist. Akechi is a teen with more experience with the Metaverse than arguably any other characters in the SERIES at the time their games take place, and he's a celebrity with many fans and "friends". Adachi is completely opposed to the position of the IT, and therefore he can't be reasoned with, and while in Ultimax he does end up helping the IT, he's never really part of the team. Akechi is scarily similar to the PT, and thus ends up joining forces with the team after coming to his senses... And maybe-maybe-not fuckin dying.
@@colt1903 Well I don't think him being a adult is necessarily going to stop him from changing because in Inaba you meet plenty of adults who you change for the better whether it be Dojima, Eri, Sayoko & Hisano all of them are struggling in some way & they manage to change through you but it was because they were willing to change with Adachi I simply think it's easier for him to just accept the way things are for him & instead of investing any energy in trying to make his life better or change his circumstances he is just going to spend the time hating everyone. Which I can understand since it kinda reminds me of Kung Fu Panda with Tai Lung where he spent most of his life training to become the Dragon Warrior & when the day came where he was to reap the fruit of his labor he was denied the Dragon Scroll & became bitter because of it I would imagine being told you were destined for greatness & worked as hard as you could for years to achieve it only to be denied would break you. But what I was confused about is why did Adachi just decide to just be lazy after he got transferred to Inaba? I know he stated he messed up during a entrance exam & that's what got him sent to Inaba, so wouldn't it be better for him to show how much better he got since than so he could get a better job somewhere else? or was that just a excuse as well because he told the Investigation Team he only became a cop so he could use a gun legally. As for Akechi I agree he works for P5 well & while they are both similar I don't think it's really accurate to say Akechi is just Adachi but if he were younger, more popular & made bigger slip ups to the player because Akechi imo has a better reason to hate the world & the Phantom Thieves he was someone who was a accident & was told by his father he was a mistake having to grow up with no father or mother figure he worked very hard to prove to the world he wasn't a failure he had some worth. Than you got Joker who was a Highschool student who lived a normal life up until he got into a altercation that let got him a Criminal Record & sent away to a city he has never been to before yet in the span of a year he was able to overcome all those odds everyone who wanted nothing to do with him grew to care for him & he made many friends who would die for him which rubbed Akechi the wrong way since how could someone who was viewed like Scum have turned his life around in 1 year? he had to work very hard for years to achieve everything he has done & yet he has no real friends to support him besides the Royal Maruki ending but that's Maruki manipulating reality & forcing the team to like him so it doesn't count & it's unknown if in the 3rd Semester he was been honest with Joker considering his true Persona is Loki someone who is known throughout Norse Mythology to lie & deceive others in order to progress his own goals. But I do have to give Akechi credit considering he turned himself in willingly & was going to spend time in jail to pay for his crimes if Maruki didn't let him out. He even acts like a crazy maniac when he is fighting with the Phantom Thieves which I think is intentional in a way so the group views him as a monster so they can't forgive him which is what I think he wants he doesn't think he should be forgiven for what he did considering he killed Futaba's mom & Haru's dad so while they can Sympathise with his up bringing & hardships that doesn't excuse what he did to them & Society. Meanwhile Adachi doesn't care if the Investigation Team or Society forgives him or not since he is so egotistical shown by his Dungeon where the final floor is him being above all of Inaba & when he rambles on about suppose to be one of the very best.
*in Golden, at least. Dojima always cared about Adachi, he brought him into his home, and made sure to keep an eye on him. He could be irritable, but only when Adachi was either slacking or wouldn't shut the fuck up (both of which were most likely intentional, mind). The old woman COULD'VE been if Adachi had reached out in turn, but he considered her a nuisance (although he has to act like a big stupid tsundere about it, since it's clear that her generosity did make an impact on him. Also, again, Golden). Yosuke getting no bitches ranks significantly lower on things that are "faults" about him, especially considering he's ostensibly gay in the realm of cut content anyway. Completely agree on Kanji, but the game itself shows that knitting itself isn't a girly hobby (common sense also dictates), it's that way in the perception (a common thread in Megaten in general) of one's immediate world or society. Naoto doesn't solve shit on her own, she only keeps pursuing the case after it gets ostensibly closed, gets her ass kidnapped, and then only repeats the exact same information the player already knows from then on.
@@colt1903 Adachi always shifts blame. He blames the force for shipping out to Inaba for "one mistake", he blames present society for his lack of "success" with women, he blames the world and the way of life for the reason his life is so unfulfilled. Indeed, but let it be known that any adult could easily manifest a Persona, depending on the game. The concepts are similar or the same in each Persona game, and in fact they also crib off themes that have always been in Megaten, but each Persona game has different applications. Despite all happening across (two, somewhat) timelines, you really can't try to apply one game's framework to another. Each game in the series is designed to be standalone. Everybody in the team has hit puberty, they're teenagers. Fuck the bear, I don't give a shit about him. Not knowing how the TV World works doesn't bother Adachi at all. In fact, he's supremely comfortable in there. So much so, he sees it as a preferable alternative to the world he comes from. Akechi knowing about the Metaverse (which is P5 exclusive), doesn't mean shir when he's not the most knowledgeable character on it in the game, and in fact, he's such a loser that he gets somehow duped by the guy he's been literally working his way to get into his good graces so he can destroy his accomplishments.
@@ricniks4619 He never stated it was due to an entrance exam in the game, he never specifies what it was that got him booted. Knowing Adachi, it was probably misconduct, but of course he would never take responsibility for that. Akechi is also such a loser that he gets somehow duped by dear old daddy despite the fact that he was only working his way up there to destroy Shido's accomplishments when he thinks he's won completely. I don't think Goro is acting or pretending to be a psycho. His goofy black mask clown outfit is meant to show who he truly is. He's a legitimate vitriolic psychopath.
The Ameno-sagiri fight is my favorite in all of gaming. The town and world you're trying to protect below you, the words of the god before you, the music, everything about it is great
It may sound really dumb and child-like but I was like adachi, I kept pushing everyone away and putting up walls without any reason, it's not that I'm proud of it And in that sense, playing Persona 4 literally changed my life, it gave me that push to not be like that, to have friends that you can trust I may not have any of them right now, but i see a light End of my rant
Why you dont have any friends still? I was pretty lonely when I started playing Persona 3 fes and that kinda changed me too. I could help you out if you could give me some info on your case
@@720pchannel I believe the main reason is cuz I don't have common likings, if that makes sense, and you may think well that's impossible, and it is, but it's rare, at least where I live, a third world country where people just don't speak English and have a lot of trouble understanding it The other thing is that i don't really know how to start a conversation, i can talk fine (i think) if someone comes and starts to talk to me, but it always comes to a stale, when I don't know how to keep it going I don't mean to be rude but people my age just seem too dumb, it's not that i think I'm smarter but i see them doing stuff and thinking, is that what you guys find funny? Or something like that It may just be that I'm an awful person Anyway, it is what it is
@@angwelio if you are under 16, yeah, humor that age nowadays is really tough. What I would advise you is being a good listener. Even if you have a hard time continuing conversations, listening to what people say and asking about stuff about what they are talking about is a good way to go. Also, sometimes you are not interested in X subject, but once you get to know someone that likes it, if you listen to the reasons why they like it and try it you might like it as well. Dont waste time on superficial people though, but also try to get to know them a bit before making that judgement. Some people only seem superficial but they really arent. Good luck on your journey man! As someone who dealt with a year of bullying and had no friends, its just a matter of time for you.
As someone who’s struggling to get my foot in the door with my dream field (filmmaking) there are times I relate to Adachi. At the same time, I’m grateful i haven’t ended up like him, nor will I ever.
I feel like despite having had messed up Adachi's AI, the developers unknowingly made the meaning of the fight far greater. Adachi has a powerful and efficient moveset, meaning is definitely highly skilled and capable, having a bright potential before him. However, due to him not accepting himself fully, he is unable to access these powerful abilities. It makes more sense this way, because it further drives the point home that Adachi knows who he is, what he can do and where he is supposed to be in life - and just how the fight with him was a major let down, so are his feelings. He gave up. He never had any meaningful goal or aim in life. Because he never really accepted who he really is, so his Shadow consumed him and replaced him entirely.
Tbh the Adachi AI is actually pretty good but they BROKE it in the code. Mods have fixed it so he can actually use his full move set but its so wild that this happened at all. Also yin-yang from P4A is such a good song I wish it was his theme in game (but we have mods for that too!)
I wonder if it was broken on purpose, since I don't think they ever actually fixed it. Like, he has access to all these skills, all these skills and tools to help himself, but he doesn't even realize they're there.
If I may interject, I think that not having Adachi as the final boss of this dungeon actually makes a lot of sense, not just for the story itself but for his own story. It goes along the lines that you pointed out earlier regarding his belief that he has no control over his own life. See, with this power, he believes that he actually has the freedom to do whatever he wants, but what he doesn't realize until after he's defeated is that he never had that freedom to begin with. I actually believe that's why he gave up in the first place. Between the investigation team being the mirror by which he sees the foolishness of his viewpoint, and Ameno-Sagiri taking control of him and his Persona to be the conduit by which the TV world merges with the real world, shows him that he was never anything but a slave to begin with. It also explains why he couldn't use his full skill-set - he was never meant to be anything other than Yu's foil and the conduit, which is why Ameno-Sagiri shows up on Adachi's inevitable failure, so he can personally test Yu and the IT.
Not just Ameno-Sagiri taking control over him, there's a second layer to it once you realize that Izanami has been pulling the strings all this time. Very cathartic and in character to have Adachi call her a bitch.
Good vid but i think it would be more accurate to say Yu is Adachi's "shadow" since he rejects Yu's positive ideals of the situation they both been thrown in (forced into the boonies)
another thing about Adachi vs Yu i don't see many people talk about is that Yu is the fool where as Adachi is the jester, essentially two words for the same thing
Kanji’s dungeon resonates with me the most, mostly due to his personal struggles tying so close to my own. Aesthetically, though, Adachi’s dungeon is still the best.
@@TatsuHaven i literally just realized yesterday that the final fight took place above Inaba! Took about four playthroughs to notice, but hey, better late than never.
my favorite part of the dungeon's appearance is how the character shadows look. the shifting red and black has always stuck in my brain i just think its neat :)
Adachi definitely has my favorite cut-in, even including P3 & 5. It just looks so... done with everything. It's just a resentful, empty stare. Also the fight is funny to me because it's just "My Izanagi is better than your Izanagi", specifically because I made sure to finish with Izanagi.
A new world fool is one of my favorite use of changing time signatures in music tbh. Love the inital stilted feeling of 6/4, the breakdown being in 3/4 and giving off a waltzy feel, and the solo going to 4/4, providing a reprive to the stilted feel of the song.
Your 津 interpretation is very close. 津々浦々 and 興味津々 would be the two closest meanings to what 津 represents in persona 4 and more specifically in Magatsu Inaba. Ah, and the terms mean "all throughout the land" and "budding curiosity/immense curiosity" respectively. Source: I'm a bilingual translator. But I think you have it right where this is essentially an endless wave of calamity in Inaba, or, if you will, calamity throughout the land of Inaba which makes sense. As you pointed out, the world is full of distorted rules and warnings which is something Adachi feels forced to suffer with despite this being brought upon himself. Adachi views this as his eternal hell or calamity with the buildings aka salvation or freedom always being out of reach and the warning tape being what blocks him from escaping back to the big city.
I've always had a soft spot for Void Quest. I could go into details of how Mitsuo was handled, as well as his shadow, but to make it short, the way that they handled him being so utterly twisted and empty that his shadow literally can't be the shadow of anything anymore is genius, and it's terrifying. (Don't like the boss fight in terms of gameplay but it has a nice symbolism) I never really paid attention to Magatsu Inaba though, and damn, your video was really precise !
‘preciate it! Although I really do want some more variety, so my next two vids probably won’t be about Persona 4. But trust me, it’s easily the game I have the most footage of and I could make more vids on it any day 👍🏾
Thank you for this video. I was watching a playthrough of P4G and honestly started to skip the dungeons by the midway point, I'd try and skim for any dialogue and the end bosses but I'd just miss out on the whole dungeon! I'm glad for this analysis and it's true it gets overlooked by Heaven. It's a shame Adachi's boss fight is so easy!
The tsu in magatsu does a specific meaning - it usually means port, but in this case is used as a genitive marker. As you mentioned it’s derived from the name of the gods Magatsuhi no kami, and if we break down the name, the name’s meaning is maga (disaster) tsu (of) hi (spirit) no (of) kami (gods) - the gods of the spirit of disaster
M-izanagi is at the end of the day, a fool persona It means adachi had the potential to fuse and swap personas but never decided to grow himself. Being stuck with M-izanagi even at the end game
Oh, random question but have you heard the song from the Persona 4 Golden anime that plays during the fight between Yu & Adachi? I believe it's called Ying Yang & I think it totally fits in what you said about Adachi being Yu's shadow. Also the song is just a straight bop.
@@bronzeoliniisnotfunny7885 I've heard some say that the only good thing about the Golden anime is what they do with Adachi. Considering I don't care for Marie... I have to agree. I'll stick with the original anime. XD
Magatsu would be 1st on my favourite list if I had been able to figure out how to get from inaba to mandala. Was 18 when I first play it and had to look up the wiki to progress.
great video! Always love hearing about this guy. On the subject of the boss fight, I genuinely think It was left in an unpolished state. I've noticed he usually tries the fear insta-kill stuff when his health's in the middle but before his stance changes. However, it's really easy to skip this because of how much damage the player is able to do to him at that point. (his health-bar also does that thing where to make the stakes feel higher, the game lies about how much damage you're actually doing to him depending on how much health he's got left. ) I would not be surprised if the devs looked at how broken this fight was and said "wait, let's leave it like this- it's symbolic for how much of a mess he is." since these ARE the same people who brought us "you can't control your party because it's realistic". I got SUPER stuck an Amano Sagiri so I had to play the Adachi fight a lot and there were a few times where his AI suddenly worked and he completely caught me off guard with an actually challenging fight. then again, maybe I was just really tired. I wonder if anyone else has noticed this or if it's all in my head lol.
From my research Magatsu can be alternately spelt 曲つ which individually means crooked (physically or mentally) and a suffix indicating affirmation. 津 generally means port/harbor and I believe is just being used for pronunciation. (I'm not through the video so hopefully my research was for something)
I find it fitting that Magatsu-Inaba comes after Heaven. Sure, it narratively wouldn’t make sense if their placements were swapped, but I find it a subtle story in between the dungeons. Adachi’s dungeon is his view of Inaba, he views it as Hell right? There’s a saying that goes along like this: “Twice the pride, double the fall.” Any of you GOATs know where this saying’s from, you’re a real one 😎👉
Although Hallow Forest will be my favorite dungeon in terms of gameplay gimmicks, the aesthetics and theme will always be for this dungeon. Hell I didn't even know that the word Mandala relates to how many times I get lost in circles just to find a portal to the next one (or I'm just bad at pathfinding lmao). Btw I like that u paid attention to how Adachi summons Magatsu Izanagi...idk if he's just psychotic or really in pain whenever his persona do something
Failing this dungeon results in the cutscene where Naoto calls Yu and dies over the phone because of the shadows entering the real world isn't it? (Edit: I hadn't fully watched the video when I commented this, and I didn't realize the creator explains it, my b)
First off, you're my goat. Second, comment for the algorithm. Third, favorite palace is probably either this one, the pyramid, or Heaven. Keep up the banger content homie
Amazing video, that was a fantastic dissection of Adachi's Dungeon and Boss Fight, and the mental state that formed it. I do want to point correct one thing though, and that's how you described the two Izanagis. You're right in that Magatsu Izanagi is meant to be him during/immediately after his journey to the underworld, while his body was covered in sin, however you stated that Yu's Izanagi is meant to be him post-cleansing ritual. This actually isn't the case. Yu's Izanagi is actually meant to be Izanagi from before he went to the underworld, during the time when Izanami was still alive. Izanagi-No-Okami is actually what's meant to be Izanagi post-cleansing ritual, aka the culmination of his journey to the underworld and back, after he accepts that Izanami is gone and chooses to move forwards in his life. Fitting, because it represents Yu's Journey, and how he's come to accept that his year in Inaba is at it's end, and how he accepts that he has to move on from the mystery, accepting that people will all find their own different Truths to believe in.
Thank you! Feels a little silly I misinterpreted it cuz when writing this all I always had the Narukami ultimax/bbtag quote of “thousands may die but tens of thousands will be born in their place” which Izanagi says to Izanami after his escape, but forgot that when Narukami says it he’s summoning Izanami no Okami for his instakill lol.
Spolier alert: I love this game, but what made it better? The vanilla anime version. (I haven't had a chance to watch golden version) seriously, his monologue, their fight against him and the reaper, and finally him and the final boss. It ending with his friends saving him, by awakening to their ultimate prrsonas, the song that plays as they cheer him on, as he Fuses Satan to deal the final blow? Holy fuck, what a fight
I absolutely love the ending of the P4 Animation. It easily makes me tear up whenever I watch it, I love the creative liberties they took with the adaptation. Bit of forewarning though, the Golden animation will not deliver those same highs. Fights are extremely scarce as it is almost entirely focused on Marie and Marie alone.
Wow, talk about some great content! I appreciate you taking the time to analyze the dungeon's level and thematic design. I feel like I don't see too much of that for Megaten related content. Also, your deep dive definitely brought me a new appreciation for these aspects that I kinda overlooked when playing the game back in the day! Thanks and keep up the great work!
Thank you for the highlight of long way, it’s my favorite p4 song and one of my favorite songs ever but it’s SUPER underrated so i appreciate the love you showed it Also wow. That ending of “Confronting the Culprit” and beginning mythos of New World Fool” were VERY well done! It’s nice to find new and interesting thoughts about this game even so long after it’s release so thank you for keeping things fresh! Very great video, you did a wonderful job!
Honestly, I think you're skipping over the Ame-no-Sagiri is set up as the (pen)ultimate villain, puppeteering Adachi's body. It shows that for all the control over his life he desired, even with his murdering power to use as a form of authority, he was never in control of his own choices or life. He was only ever being used by (the Personification of) the Society he hated.
I was thinking about this sometime.... For Persona 6 (idk if its a good idea or not) to have a 2nd or 3rd awakening for your teammates, the dungeons from party members should return, but like small ones with diffcult/gimmicky bosses
I love the battle theme in the persona 4 golden anime. Ying yang is such a good song and wonks in the concept of the game because it is basically yu and adachi trying to say to each other that there own views
I missed this dungeon the first playthrough 🤣 normally when playing games with a branching path I'm good at sticking to the one you're meant to be on, but after playing through heaven and all the buildup I was leading the charge down bad decision avenue. Glad I got to play through this dungeon and working on his social link in ng+ now
You were talking about how the mc helped so many people grow during their stay in inaba and had such a cool line. But no who's there for the beat drop? Tripping
What a great vid, I was so happy to see this in my recommended- Its been a bit since I've played/thought about P4, or Adachi himself, but this brought back all my passion for the game, and his plotline! -- Maybe one day, if I go back to play it/analyze it myself- since there have always been some strange details in his character arc/dungeon/battle that the game leaves... unspoken(?) in a strange way that makes him weirdly compelling in a way I find impossible to properly describe.. (I won't ramble about that theory here since Its been too long since I've looked over the details for it and it would just be a confusing/jumbled mess at the moment) But yea! Nice vid- Also it activated that crazed theory crafting side again, so thanks, lol
@@TatsuHaven Ooough now I can't NOT at least give a short(er) version- (I'll try to minimize rambling as much as I can, but it is still kinda long, lol) -- *Beginning note- A lot of games in the same series all handle Shadow Shenanigans™ differently, so I'm only sticking to how it seems to work w/in P4 specifically The first thing that's always bothered me about his dungeon/boss fight is the suspicious... lack of clear distinction between him and his shadow- Not only does the party call out at least that the first version of him that they find isn't -exactly- him, the boss fight against him is weird vs every other boss for the reasons you mainly stated (Heck, I didn't even know about his missing moves, which only makes me more curious, honestly)- Even his persona summoning, as stated, is unusual and looks weirdly painful- Its always bugged me, and between the fight, and the IMMEDIATE possession he goes under after the fight makes me wonder when that actually started- How much of his actions -were- entirely his, and how long have at least some of his actions been influenced by Ameno-Sagiri? Going even further, typically the shadows in these games are considered people's Dark Impulses, and his strange lack of separation from his- it always made me wonder if he was somehow minorly influenced/possessed by it as well. (Of course, shadows are still part of the person, yes, but even in the cutscenes showing the things he actually did, the changes to his personality look extremely dramatic vs his normal everyday actions) - I'm sure if I went through all the cutscenes again, I'd find more pieces, but the one that always stood out to me while replaying, is that his initial reaction to seeing Mayumi's death seemed really weird when combined with the replay knowledge of "Oh yea, this guy was the one who did it." Of course, it's hard to tell when -exactly- this change may have happened, since it was clearly off-screen/probably before Narukami even arrived, though I've always found it weird that when the party goes into his shadow room even the first time, they mention that creepy shadow noose exactly once, NEVER mention it again- You end up getting the whole monologue from Ameno-Sagiri about Humans only seeing what they want to see- the party brushes it off as "Eh well it looked like it was partially his intention anyway" and never go back to it- And yet other P4 related titles occasionally drift by its existence for seemingly no reason- ex. Persona Q just has the dang thing in the opening (doesn't look like the way you'd find one of the telephone pole bodies) and even Adachi's Bonus Dance in P4D has creepy interpretive dance about it- which almost immediately shifts into puppet strings- Which only disappear at the point where Narukami enters the dance- Which is,,, interesting- I'll stop here since I'd have to look harder for some of the old evidence I had (Again, this theory has been sitting untouched in my brain for awhile before now, so I'm rusty on a few details) and I don't want to keep rambling w/out a clear conclusion, but yea! All the things I find weird about his specific situation that the plot weirdly never seems to touch, and I kinda wonder about every so often!
@@CatofStarlight I think about the noose in the eerie bedroom all the time man. I wish we got more clarity on that. The gang does talk a bit about how much of this was Adachi vs how much it was Ameno-sagiri’s possession, and I agree with Naoto that at least part of it was from Adachi. He was just given the powers to accomplish his goals, reminds me of more mainline SMT in a sense. Adachi in dancing/his boss fight in P4 def looks wild and like he’s not in control, the only game where he seems like he has a grasp on himself for the most part is Ultimax, which is also very fitting. There’s so much to the character and it kind of makes me sad he’s mostly a meme or people think he’s as shallow as he says he is like “i did it cuz it was fun”. :( reminds me of how people think animation narukami is just Chad Yu when he’s so much more!
@@TatsuHaven Omg I'm SO glad I'm not the only one who thinks about that dang thing- But Yea!! And though I appreciated that Naoto -does- have that one line, it just in general feels like there's this weird empty(?) space where more characterization could have happened, since instead of touching on it further, Naoto has the one line and then the plot kinda goes "Eh, we've covered that- lets move on" when it was probably at least a little more complicated than that- Sometimes it makes me wonder how the plot could have gone if other shadows went unchecked- At least all the party members had the stability of at least Yu there to awaken to them in the normal way- And same about Yu too! aaand about MOST of this cast honestly, but between things like cut content/memes/weird interpretations, I feel like a lot of the characters in the game didn't get the kind of attention to their arcs as they probably deserved ;~;
@@CatofStarlight Yea there’s so much more that could be explored in P4, so much more that could’ve been different, but I think enough was shown. And well, if other shadows went unchecked I mean we see what happens when a shadow goes rabid, the user gets knocked down/ weakened and would probs get killed lol (Mayumi/Saki). Adachi was probs and exception cuz he embodied the worst aspects of himself as all that he is. And truthfully I think they gave most chars enough focus, the dungeon shadows are one part, and the social links are the other. They faced their darker halves and now they can move forward to improve it. The darker halves could be further explored but we saw all we needed to see. Also im not going super indepth cuz tbh im at work rn but i really like this convo LOL
In the end Adachi was right. He is brilliant and he did deserves to be one of the best detectives. He caused all this mess himself and almost caused the end of the world. Imagine if he was one of the good guys. He would probably be the first thief of hearts.
I just like how the three antagonists you go against through the game before the big bad are all different types of antagonists in general. Kubo, who is evil and is doing horrible things for a horrible reasoning; Namatame, who is unknowingly doing bad thinking he's doing what's right; and Adachi, who is doing bad to get back at a world he deems as unjust.
Persona 4 is starting to pop up on my FYP because I've been getting my friends into the anime (since the game would take too long/would have to emulate and I'd never make them play golden *yuck*) and its really cool rewatching the show around a decade later as a 'full' adult, vs just a barely passable one. The issues each character has is really relatable, and helps you feel more connected to the characters in a really cool way. I think honestly, which the online perfectionism thats been going rampant for the past few years, its important to see media like Persona 4, which at its core is facing the dark parts of you that DO exist. Realizing that everyone has bad thoughts, selfish goals, or in general have moments where they are very self-centered is important because we are the main characters of our own lives. Of course we're going to see ourselves in a different light. And just like human nature, shadows tend to over exaggerate what these feelings are. Using Yosuke as the example, yes he was tired of where he lived and wanted excitement. Maybe there was a part of him who was afraid he only got a crush on Saki because he wanted something to do. But those are the inner fears of our own voice, the belief that we're more evil and more terrible as a person than we really are. And the Shadows show that all, forcing those thoughts to the forefront. Its also really cool that for the most part, most of the characters only respond so negatively is because there are people around. They don't want to be JUDGED by strangers, because they fear those people don't fully understand their psyche. Yosuke, once again, DID like Saki. But there was a part of him that worried it was only for fun, and that he was using her. Or Kanji, who was so scared to be depicted as Gay, refused to show that he did enjoy cute homecraft stuff, because he felt like the only thing he had in life was his tough persona (pun intended) that kept people at bay. Adachi is a really cool character too, because he's so unimpressive. I enjoy fantasy games with really cool looking bosses, but the whole point of Adachi was that he WASN'T exceptional. Great grades or not, hes still not that good at his job, and feels like mediocrity should be rewarded...just because its him. He also nails the 'nice guy front' perfectly, because he really doesn't seem like a threat at all but when playing again, gave all the signs of being a creep. Its always up to people's interpretation, and judging a book by its cover. Even when I was younger, I didn't have a great feeling about Adachi, but since the whole point of the game was to not just judge someone on their outside, I felt hypocritical. It shows us to not ignore our red flags or gut feelings, but to still give people a chance to remove a stimga from a safe distance. And because each of them (Narukami excluded minus for the anime) went through this same thing, having their issues brought up to people they didn't want to know, they're able to bond over that and accept what happened. They can finally have a space where they feel safe to fully be themselves, good and bad. My closest friend, and the one I am showing Persona to right now, has this issue. She feels like everyone around her will judge her for how she is, and told me that she finally feels like she can be herself somewhere without judgement, and its made her feel better about herself. Because its easy to fight problems when you know the people you treasure will continue to treasure you and help you through it. Ok, ramble over.
Wow, as a person who've played the game for a long time, i never really expected Adachi's circumstances is the most complex than all of the other social link. Cause either way, other characters have some special relation with Narukami to help them overcome the weakness and circumstances within their lives, and therefore making " Genuine and powerful " bond with them. For Adachi, he doesnt really have anyone that he can clings into for help. After arriving in Inaba and meeting with Narukami however, he started to show bit of his personality that he prove that he is not a maniac, but just someone who has been mistreated badly. But in the end, he decided to discard it, because he does not believe in human bonds or anything, He believes in himself, and therefore bring him to his downfall. Can Adachi bring himself to change a better self even after being given life once more? I guess that is for Adachi to decide it alone, whether society likes it or not, he will do so because it's not for them, but for him only.
Adachi felt more human than all of the other members of the investigation team except like Kanji and Naoto. All of the other members have great personalities and are written well, don't take me wrong, but they feel just too... how to put it, pure and good? But I guess it makes sense as it is anime and not a russian 19th century realism literature hah
"The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth" is Adachi in a nutshell. Doesn't matter who's truly at fault; in his eyes, the world made him this way, so it's the world that'll feel his wrath. Even if you reach out to him, it doesn't change much if, at the end of the day, this world is shit as always.
It's not an accident that Adachi doesn't have Stagnant Air, nor is it an accident that he has an archetypical Sissy Boss Fight. Note that when you can use Magatsu Izanagi as a Persona, it has a comically low Luck stat. Adachi would have access to a deadly strategy...were he not so unlucky. Thematically, the player would essentially be Adachi were they not so lucky to be controlling the Protagonist. As such, Adachi isn't the Protagonist's shadow, he is the player's.
This is pretty late but when you brought a new world fool into it I was like, I know it's from the anime but what are your thoughts on the imo iconic and definite theme for adachi that should have been in the game: Yin-Yang
I think it's a good song and very fitting for Adachi(I mean, it *was* specifically made for him and him alone after all lol). It's very direct with it's lyrics, but it's not my cup of tea in a purely subjective sense. I only mentioned A Fool or a Clown from Ultimax because it's very popular even outside of Persona.
Yeah for me the lyrics being so direct and just how fire in my personal opinion it was is what makes it special for me, either way to me all 3 are bangers even without my adachi bias (which I have)
Amazing video!! I also feel like magatsu inaba is relatively underrated, what do you think of Rise’s dungeon Marukyu's Striptease? I get the feeling you’d really like it!
I appreciate you pointing out the similarities between Yu and Adachi and how their approaches to being stuck in the boonies differed. They both received power from Izanami, but what they did with it was vastly different, and changed with their world view. It's shown in the anime, but Yu is very closed off to others. It isn't until he gets his power and realizes there's something he can do that he opens up more. This is literally shown by his mannerisms and appearance, as he doesn't open his blazer until he gets his Persona. The fact that Yu was willing to give his new acquaintances a chance shows a clear difference in their approach. Anyway, I'm rambling. Great video!
Good ear spotting the similarity to the Eternal Punishment final dungeon theme It's actually a super heavy remix of the Mona Mandala theme, it's very hard to hear but it's there
Adachi by having m-izanagi could also mean his persona in this game at least is the fool but since he didnt try to open up to others he actually is reverse its pretty cool ^^
Some thing occurred to me while fighting this boss for the first time. His persona is Izangi. The persona you start the game with, and one of the weakest ones to boot. However through your experience and your bonds you have grown and changed. Gaining new personas to help your struggle. Adachi has not grown. This he still has his starter.
I think what made adachi originally put mayumi in was the midnight channel rumor, originally the rumor said that the channel will show your soulmate so when adachi saw mayumi on it he believed her to be his soulmate, so when he found out about the affair and tried to ask her it's not true he got frustrated because in his mind Mayumi was his soulmate and therefore belonged to him so he got mad when she didn't deny the affair
You should also talk about blaze blue cross tag, because what they did to Adachi and that specific game really solidifies his personality and kind of gives a little bit more insight on him. Especially when he’s fighting alongside with some more “morally bankrupt characters”
I kinda want to see a hypothetical P5 Arena giving Adachi some interactions with the Phantoms. I think it would be interesting to see how he plays off them, given that they are far more guilty of the hypocrisy and arrogance he accuses the Investigation Squad of. I just think it would be funny to see him tear into them.
In a weird way, Akechi’s true counterpart on the I team isn’t Yu, it’s Yusuke. Yusuke’s shadow says it himself, he only jumped into the TV to play hero and find anything of interest in Inaba. Every other member has a more just reason to join the team or get involved in the plot. Chie wanted to save her friend, Kanji and the red girl (who’s name I am forgetting) have joined for revenge, Teddy does it because the TV world is his home and Naoto wants to prove that she is smarter than everyone and that the real culprit is still on the loose. But Yusuke explicitly joins because he is bored
Also Yosuke doesn't join JUST because he is bored. Thats just his broad feelings about being stuck in the boonies but the reason he goes in is because Saki died. Despite the words Shadow Yosuke says (that he doesn't really care about her death and only seeking thrill), Yosuke's social link moving forward proves blatantly that he is VERY hung up about her death and only comes to fully terms with it by the end. Adachi is someone what Yosuke could have become if left alone to become bitter, that much I can agree. But even at their basic core, they are different characters fundamentally
@@sammydray5919 At least you agree that Yosuke is a better reflection of Adachi than Yu. And if Yosuke didn’t join the squad it would have been likely that he eventually would adapt a very similar worldview as Adachi
@@frankwest5388 Its a possibility yes but only because he would have been left alone and allowed to become bitter over his circumstances. And honestly you can make a case for any person to turn out like that under certain circumstances though out of the investigation team, Yosuke does seem to be most likely without his development. My main point of disagreement was mainly that his reason to join wasn't boredom and thrill seeking but the fact that the girl he liked died in such a bizarre manner and the TV world might have some answers. Saying that he joined solely because he was bored completely ignores the genuine heartache he went through at Saki's death which I think is a disservice to his character thats all
Persona 4 Golden the Animation episode 6 and 7, Adachi became my favorite antagonist in the Persona franchise. And one of my favorite video antagonist in the game.
I mainly just love how Persona makes these villains with relatable goals, who ARE bad guys but you can still see why they're doing what they're doing, it makes them feel human
Because in SMT Persona, THEY ARE
Not gods with great designs or demons seeing others as tools or prey
Humans. Just like you.
@@Ramsey276one in the Persona sub series yeah, in mainline SMT it’s literally vs Gods most of the game
@@tizurl yep
AND IT SHOWS
Q_q
@@Ramsey276one yeah, both have their appeal, smt feels grander all round imo, like, you aren’t saving the world, most times you’re rebuilding it from scratch. I do appreciate the relatability of most persona villains (except Shido let’s be honest he was bad for the sake of being bad)
@@tizurl thats what he said, its Shin Megami Tensei: Persona
Yu and Adachi also have one other thing that connects them. They are both voiced by Johnny Yong Bosch.
I believe that was done on purpose to further drive home how Adachi is Yu if he had no bonds.
That's a detail I really like as well! Also generally I'm just a fan of Johnny Yong Bosch's voice work too.
@Haven Let's appreciate the fact he has not succumbed to the Power Rangers Curse.
You know, how so many cast members have been dropping dead over the years.
We lost the green/white ranger a while back.
They only share a VA in English though, no?
If I remember Johnny Yong Bosch was first casted as Adachi and then was given the the role of Yu since he had few lines to do.
casted isn't a word @@Talessaga2 😛
An Adachi video on Adachi's birthday. That's some great timing.
Oh damn it’s Adachi Day? Cool.
DAMN IT I MISSED ADACHI BIRTHDAY
Love your pfp btw
I hate your pfp
I turn 30 this year and I gotta say I can relate to feeling lost in the non linear function of adulthood its tough sometimes. But Adachi is the symbol of quitting
Well said
@@TatsuHaven fantastic video btw
@@OgreDLink ‘preciate it :]
M-Izanagi also has an unused melee attack animation which is actually used in P5R. It involves him lunging forward and stabbing downwards into the ground multiple times.
I think that’s also in arena
@@flameyboy4184
You might be right about that
?
He used that multiple times depending on the physical when i played Golden
@@NarumiButterflyYeah, if you give him Mind Slice let’s say, he’ll do that animation.
@@Anonymous529actually can do it with
Kill Rush
Tempest Slash
And all Multi target attacks
Heaven is the best, from the fact that it is what you perceived it to be, to a child, heaven is a place that looks peaceful and like a sanctuary where you lay down for eternal rest and wake up to eternal life. However, the only way this dungeon could exist is for Nanako to want to see heaven, so therefore... Nanako wants to die, she isn't suicidal but wants to see her mother again.
While so many other dungeons are the same idea, this is different because uts coming from a 6 year old with an already depressing life
I also love its duality with Namatame's savior complex which ironically is the reason there were shadows there in the first place
I feel like Adachi could have changed if he accepted his faults like the Investigation Team did. Yosuke and Yukiko were also people who didn't like the positions they were in at the start of the game, with Yosuke being forced to come out to Inaba due to his father despite wanting to be back in the city and Yukiko feeling like she was forced to inherit the Amagi Inn.
But around the end of their SLs, they grow to appreciate the town due to the friends they made there, the experiences they had there, and their own efforts to have a better experience there. Yosuke also evolves throughout the story; at first, he wanted to leave, but around the 7th Dungeon, he begs the Investigation Team to perform at a concert at June's so his father doesn't lose his job, forcing him to leave Inaba.
But the thing that makes Adachi different is that he had no one he could call a real friend to support him through this. Dojima treated him like a gopher, and every scene they were in together was usually Dojima talking down to him like an insult punching bag, while Nanako treated him nicely, but she does that to everyone, so it's not special, and she probably wouldn't be able to relate to what he was going through. The only person who seemed to care about him was an old woman who thought he was her grandson, so you can't consider that support. And the only person who cared about him Narukami was met with a fake Adachi that he thought was his friend even to a point where when Narukami tries to go see Adachi alone just for a talk where he is nearly killed by his former "friend".
I think Yukiko described his entire character perfectly: "A brat who is just upset that he didn't get what he expected so instead of trying to make things better for himself, he just lashes out at the world" because everyone on the Investigation Team, with the exception of Naoto, isn't talented and yet they were still able to make the most of their time together in Inaba.
*Yosuke Hanamura* is just a student who gets average grades, works an average job, gets no woman during his entire school year, and constantly gets made fun of by his friends and classmates, but yet manages to grow a love for the town and grows to like the job he hated before. He didn't like how people treated him as a complaint department at June's since he saw it as people taking advantage of him, but after reflecting he began seeing it as people relying on him.
*Chie Satonaka* is a girl who does poorly in school, is disliked by many boys, and feels like she is in her father's shadow, but by the end she realizes Martial Arts isn't just for beating people up, but for defending those you love, and she decides to become a cop to not only protect her friends, but everyone in Inaba, because she despises people who treat others poorly.
*Yukiko Amagi* is a girl who gets good grades, has a family inn to run, and is popular at school, yet she feels like she is trapped since all her decisions in life prior to Narukami rescuing her in the Midnight channel were made for her. So Narukami speaks to her and has her discover she was never forced to do anything; she could always decide what she wanted to do with her future, whether it be to run the inn or leave it and pursue something else.
*Kanji Tatsumi* is a student who struggles in school, is viewed as a delinquent who causes nothing but trouble, and whenever he expresses an interest, he is mocked. Until he meets Narukami, who encourages his interests like knitting, helps him understand what his father meant by being strong, and even stands up for him when the cops question if he has been doing anything illegal, which makes Kanji not feel ashamed of his girly interests, even opening a knitting class that teaches people how to make stuffed animals.
*Rise Kujikawa* is an idol, sure, but whenever she isn't being one, no one really pays attention to her since she is just an average student who performs decently, and like she admits, if she isn't acting the fake life the studio made for her, no one is interested in her. Narukami teaches her that there are no two Rises; there is only one, and they are both her, which inspires her to return to being an idol after a year's break and be herself in front of her audience.
*Teddie* is a shadow who the Investigation Team has found in the Midnight Channel, and for a lot of the game, people go around wondering what he is. When he finds the answer, it saddens him greatly since the revelation is that he is just a shadow. He isn't anyone special like he thought he was, and he was heartbroken when he found out. However, the investigation team manages to cheer him up by saying that they don't care because he is still Teddie, their friend with whom they made a promise, which brings him peace and makes him want to explore the human world to see if he could be someone there. P.S. I don't know why they didn't point this out, but Teddie, you are a shadow that can use a persona that's special to me. What are you on about?.
*Naomi Shirogane* While she is a outlier due to being a junior detective who was able to solve a lot of the case on her own, I feel like she should still be on here because she also had a trait that made her life difficult, and that was her being embarrassed about her gender since she didn't want another reason for people to look down on her besides her age, and it didn't fit the image of a detective she wanted to be. Which is why when Narukami helps her find out her love for being a detective again by helping her with a scavenger hunt that her grandpa set up, it makes her rediscover why she became a detective to begin with, and that was for the fun of the mystery and to help people; it was never to be viewed a certain way or praised for it. So she grows to appreciate her gender instead of resenting it.
I think this is why Adachi resents the Investigation Team not just because they are the only ones who could stop him but because they are living proof that his world view is wrong he can change yet he chooses not to because it's easier to blame the world rather than himself at the end of the day.
I don't think Adachi would change by accepting his faults. Accepting your faults is ultimately what gives you your Persona, and while Izanami is responsible for giving him his power, I don't think that negates the necessity of the acceptance requirement. I think Adachi DOES accept his faults, but he doesn't care enough to try and fix them. He has no reason to. The only time he shows signs of change is after the IT defeat him, and even then that doesn't actually lead to him fixing anything. He STILL hates the entire world in Ultimax. That part of him hasn't changed, and I don't think it ever will, because I don't think it CAN.
Adachi is an adult. He's more or less set in his ways by the time we meet him in the story. That's why the IT can't simply talk him down and need to beat the crap out of him.
I don't remember who it was, but someone that was working on the games said that the teenage years are the perfect time to introduce demons and magic into the characters world. It's a time of changes and strife within a person's life before stumbling into some semblance of stability in their adult years. It's the ideal moment to force them into these predicaments that will force them to learn about and see more about the world than they thought possible, and to teach them these valuable lessons through pushing them through this dangerous new side to this world they've been thrown headfirst into.
Adachi never went through that development, never learned those lessons, and as a result of that combined with his borderline self destructive isolationism he became an adult that was rooted into his ideals before we even meet him. Never having been challenged on his views most of his life before the Investigation Team arrived to challenge them, and they're KIDS.
For all intents and purposes under usual circumstances, Adachi is right to be pissed at them for trying to lecture him. They're kids, most of which probably haven't even hit puberty just yet, and yet they have the gall to lecture him, who has lived longer, and seen what some of the worst of the worst are capable of as a detective? The only one in the group with even a semblance of viability behind their words would probably be Naoto in his eyes.
I'd be pissed too if I didn't understand exactly how the TV world works. Which, as I've said, Adachi doesn't. Therefore, he's set in his ways, and the only way to reason with him is to beat him into submission.
As a cautionary tale, he IS the best antagonist in the series in my mind.
I just like Akechi more because he feels more personal an antagonist to the Phantom Thieves because he has that key development within the Metaverse that Adachi lacks. He's a sociable and charismatic teenager, as well.
They're inverses of each other's lives. Adachi is an adult with no experience with the TV World prior to the events of the game, and is an isolationist. Akechi is a teen with more experience with the Metaverse than arguably any other characters in the SERIES at the time their games take place, and he's a celebrity with many fans and "friends". Adachi is completely opposed to the position of the IT, and therefore he can't be reasoned with, and while in Ultimax he does end up helping the IT, he's never really part of the team. Akechi is scarily similar to the PT, and thus ends up joining forces with the team after coming to his senses... And maybe-maybe-not fuckin dying.
@@colt1903 Well I don't think him being a adult is necessarily going to stop him from changing because in Inaba you meet plenty of adults who you change for the better whether it be Dojima, Eri, Sayoko & Hisano all of them are struggling in some way & they manage to change through you but it was because they were willing to change with Adachi I simply think it's easier for him to just accept the way things are for him & instead of investing any energy in trying to make his life better or change his circumstances he is just going to spend the time hating everyone.
Which I can understand since it kinda reminds me of Kung Fu Panda with Tai Lung where he spent most of his life training to become the Dragon Warrior & when the day came where he was to reap the fruit of his labor he was denied the Dragon Scroll & became bitter because of it I would imagine being told you were destined for greatness & worked as hard as you could for years to achieve it only to be denied would break you. But what I was confused about is why did Adachi just decide to just be lazy after he got transferred to Inaba? I know he stated he messed up during a entrance exam & that's what got him sent to Inaba, so wouldn't it be better for him to show how much better he got since than so he could get a better job somewhere else? or was that just a excuse as well because he told the Investigation Team he only became a cop so he could use a gun legally.
As for Akechi I agree he works for P5 well & while they are both similar I don't think it's really accurate to say Akechi is just Adachi but if he were younger, more popular & made bigger slip ups to the player because Akechi imo has a better reason to hate the world & the Phantom Thieves he was someone who was a accident & was told by his father he was a mistake having to grow up with no father or mother figure he worked very hard to prove to the world he wasn't a failure he had some worth.
Than you got Joker who was a Highschool student who lived a normal life up until he got into a altercation that let got him a Criminal Record & sent away to a city he has never been to before yet in the span of a year he was able to overcome all those odds everyone who wanted nothing to do with him grew to care for him & he made many friends who would die for him which rubbed Akechi the wrong way since how could someone who was viewed like Scum have turned his life around in 1 year? he had to work very hard for years to achieve everything he has done & yet he has no real friends to support him besides the Royal Maruki ending but that's Maruki manipulating reality & forcing the team to like him so it doesn't count & it's unknown if in the 3rd Semester he was been honest with Joker considering his true Persona is Loki someone who is known throughout Norse Mythology to lie & deceive others in order to progress his own goals.
But I do have to give Akechi credit considering he turned himself in willingly & was going to spend time in jail to pay for his crimes if Maruki didn't let him out. He even acts like a crazy maniac when he is fighting with the Phantom Thieves which I think is intentional in a way so the group views him as a monster so they can't forgive him which is what I think he wants he doesn't think he should be forgiven for what he did considering he killed Futaba's mom & Haru's dad so while they can Sympathise with his up bringing & hardships that doesn't excuse what he did to them & Society. Meanwhile Adachi doesn't care if the Investigation Team or Society forgives him or not since he is so egotistical shown by his Dungeon where the final floor is him being above all of Inaba & when he rambles on about suppose to be one of the very best.
*in Golden, at least.
Dojima always cared about Adachi, he brought him into his home, and made sure to keep an eye on him. He could be irritable, but only when Adachi was either slacking or wouldn't shut the fuck up (both of which were most likely intentional, mind). The old woman COULD'VE been if Adachi had reached out in turn, but he considered her a nuisance (although he has to act like a big stupid tsundere about it, since it's clear that her generosity did make an impact on him. Also, again, Golden).
Yosuke getting no bitches ranks significantly lower on things that are "faults" about him, especially considering he's ostensibly gay in the realm of cut content anyway.
Completely agree on Kanji, but the game itself shows that knitting itself isn't a girly hobby (common sense also dictates), it's that way in the perception (a common thread in Megaten in general) of one's immediate world or society.
Naoto doesn't solve shit on her own, she only keeps pursuing the case after it gets ostensibly closed, gets her ass kidnapped, and then only repeats the exact same information the player already knows from then on.
@@colt1903 Adachi always shifts blame. He blames the force for shipping out to Inaba for "one mistake", he blames present society for his lack of "success" with women, he blames the world and the way of life for the reason his life is so unfulfilled. Indeed, but let it be known that any adult could easily manifest a Persona, depending on the game. The concepts are similar or the same in each Persona game, and in fact they also crib off themes that have always been in Megaten, but each Persona game has different applications. Despite all happening across (two, somewhat) timelines, you really can't try to apply one game's framework to another. Each game in the series is designed to be standalone. Everybody in the team has hit puberty, they're teenagers. Fuck the bear, I don't give a shit about him. Not knowing how the TV World works doesn't bother Adachi at all. In fact, he's supremely comfortable in there. So much so, he sees it as a preferable alternative to the world he comes from. Akechi knowing about the Metaverse (which is P5 exclusive), doesn't mean shir when he's not the most knowledgeable character on it in the game, and in fact, he's such a loser that he gets somehow duped by the guy he's been literally working his way to get into his good graces so he can destroy his accomplishments.
@@ricniks4619 He never stated it was due to an entrance exam in the game, he never specifies what it was that got him booted. Knowing Adachi, it was probably misconduct, but of course he would never take responsibility for that.
Akechi is also such a loser that he gets somehow duped by dear old daddy despite the fact that he was only working his way up there to destroy Shido's accomplishments when he thinks he's won completely.
I don't think Goro is acting or pretending to be a psycho. His goofy black mask clown outfit is meant to show who he truly is. He's a legitimate vitriolic psychopath.
The music on this dungeon is so GOOD, as soon as that piano hits it's an instant classic
That rule in floor 3 is especially infuriating when you spot a golden hand running about.
Amazing work! Always up for a Persona video
Also the chests everywhere that shadows can jump out of.
Its interesting how Adachi acts in Persona 4 Arena Ultimax's story
The Ameno-sagiri fight is my favorite in all of gaming. The town and world you're trying to protect below you, the words of the god before you, the music, everything about it is great
It may sound really dumb and child-like but I was like adachi, I kept pushing everyone away and putting up walls without any reason, it's not that I'm proud of it
And in that sense, playing Persona 4 literally changed my life, it gave me that push to not be like that, to have friends that you can trust
I may not have any of them right now, but i see a light
End of my rant
happy life has been better for ya!
Yeah the work that did that for me were the mushoku tensei novels but it's impressive how media can help people grow
Why you dont have any friends still? I was pretty lonely when I started playing Persona 3 fes and that kinda changed me too. I could help you out if you could give me some info on your case
@@720pchannel I believe the main reason is cuz I don't have common likings, if that makes sense, and you may think well that's impossible, and it is, but it's rare, at least where I live, a third world country where people just don't speak English and have a lot of trouble understanding it
The other thing is that i don't really know how to start a conversation, i can talk fine (i think) if someone comes and starts to talk to me, but it always comes to a stale, when I don't know how to keep it going
I don't mean to be rude but people my age just seem too dumb, it's not that i think I'm smarter but i see them doing stuff and thinking, is that what you guys find funny? Or something like that
It may just be that I'm an awful person
Anyway, it is what it is
@@angwelio if you are under 16, yeah, humor that age nowadays is really tough. What I would advise you is being a good listener. Even if you have a hard time continuing conversations, listening to what people say and asking about stuff about what they are talking about is a good way to go. Also, sometimes you are not interested in X subject, but once you get to know someone that likes it, if you listen to the reasons why they like it and try it you might like it as well. Dont waste time on superficial people though, but also try to get to know them a bit before making that judgement. Some people only seem superficial but they really arent. Good luck on your journey man! As someone who dealt with a year of bullying and had no friends, its just a matter of time for you.
Best part of just finishing up Persona 4 Golden is getting to binge stuff like this. Appreciate this.
As someone who’s struggling to get my foot in the door with my dream field (filmmaking) there are times I relate to Adachi. At the same time, I’m grateful i haven’t ended up like him, nor will I ever.
I feel like despite having had messed up Adachi's AI, the developers unknowingly made the meaning of the fight far greater. Adachi has a powerful and efficient moveset, meaning is definitely highly skilled and capable, having a bright potential before him. However, due to him not accepting himself fully, he is unable to access these powerful abilities. It makes more sense this way, because it further drives the point home that Adachi knows who he is, what he can do and where he is supposed to be in life - and just how the fight with him was a major let down, so are his feelings.
He gave up. He never had any meaningful goal or aim in life. Because he never really accepted who he really is, so his Shadow consumed him and replaced him entirely.
i agree, as strong as magatsu izanagi is, adachi didn’t accept his shadow (Yu) so it didn’t evolve like with Izanagi no Okami
Tbh the Adachi AI is actually pretty good but they BROKE it in the code. Mods have fixed it so he can actually use his full move set but its so wild that this happened at all. Also yin-yang from P4A is such a good song I wish it was his theme in game (but we have mods for that too!)
I wonder if it was broken on purpose, since I don't think they ever actually fixed it.
Like, he has access to all these skills, all these skills and tools to help himself, but he doesn't even realize they're there.
If I may interject, I think that not having Adachi as the final boss of this dungeon actually makes a lot of sense, not just for the story itself but for his own story. It goes along the lines that you pointed out earlier regarding his belief that he has no control over his own life. See, with this power, he believes that he actually has the freedom to do whatever he wants, but what he doesn't realize until after he's defeated is that he never had that freedom to begin with. I actually believe that's why he gave up in the first place. Between the investigation team being the mirror by which he sees the foolishness of his viewpoint, and Ameno-Sagiri taking control of him and his Persona to be the conduit by which the TV world merges with the real world, shows him that he was never anything but a slave to begin with. It also explains why he couldn't use his full skill-set - he was never meant to be anything other than Yu's foil and the conduit, which is why Ameno-Sagiri shows up on Adachi's inevitable failure, so he can personally test Yu and the IT.
Not just Ameno-Sagiri taking control over him, there's a second layer to it once you realize that Izanami has been pulling the strings all this time.
Very cathartic and in character to have Adachi call her a bitch.
I never really put much thought into why Inaba was far below Adachi’s lair, but man does that make for a pretty backdrop for the Ameno-sagiri fight.
I hear that the red and black aesthetic was ultimately what inspired the P5 aesthetic
Good vid but i think it would be more accurate to say Yu is Adachi's "shadow" since he rejects Yu's positive ideals of the situation they both been thrown in (forced into the boonies)
another thing about Adachi vs Yu i don't see many people talk about is that Yu is the fool where as Adachi is the jester, essentially two words for the same thing
Kanji’s dungeon resonates with me the most, mostly due to his personal struggles tying so close to my own. Aesthetically, though, Adachi’s dungeon is still the best.
Same on both ends :]
@@TatsuHaven i literally just realized yesterday that the final fight took place above Inaba! Took about four playthroughs to notice, but hey, better late than never.
@@maglock1857 it happens lol, I had to play through 3-5 and play 5 three times to finally get that Goho-M = go home 😭
@@TatsuHaven that’s understandable 😂 Goho-m sounds like a really bad pokemon name
I love Kanji's dungeon. I just wish people would stop just straight up ignoring the plot with it and going "kanji gay"
my favorite part of the dungeon's appearance is how the character shadows look. the shifting red and black has always stuck in my brain
i just think its neat :)
Adachi definitely has my favorite cut-in, even including P3 & 5. It just looks so... done with everything. It's just a resentful, empty stare.
Also the fight is funny to me because it's just "My Izanagi is better than your Izanagi", specifically because I made sure to finish with Izanagi.
0:02 bro we all know it is Nanako anyways. No need for a spoiler warning.
A new world fool is one of my favorite use of changing time signatures in music tbh. Love the inital stilted feeling of 6/4, the breakdown being in 3/4 and giving off a waltzy feel, and the solo going to 4/4, providing a reprive to the stilted feel of the song.
Your 津 interpretation is very close. 津々浦々 and 興味津々 would be the two closest meanings to what 津 represents in persona 4 and more specifically in Magatsu Inaba. Ah, and the terms mean "all throughout the land" and "budding curiosity/immense curiosity" respectively. Source: I'm a bilingual translator. But I think you have it right where this is essentially an endless wave of calamity in Inaba, or, if you will, calamity throughout the land of Inaba which makes sense. As you pointed out, the world is full of distorted rules and warnings which is something Adachi feels forced to suffer with despite this being brought upon himself. Adachi views this as his eternal hell or calamity with the buildings aka salvation or freedom always being out of reach and the warning tape being what blocks him from escaping back to the big city.
I've always had a soft spot for Void Quest. I could go into details of how Mitsuo was handled, as well as his shadow, but to make it short, the way that they handled him being so utterly twisted and empty that his shadow literally can't be the shadow of anything anymore is genius, and it's terrifying. (Don't like the boss fight in terms of gameplay but it has a nice symbolism)
I never really paid attention to Magatsu Inaba though, and damn, your video was really precise !
I don't mind Haven milking P4, the game has a lot to talk about tbh, great job :)
fr, could talk about it all day ngl
‘preciate it! Although I really do want some more variety, so my next two vids probably won’t be about Persona 4. But trust me, it’s easily the game I have the most footage of and I could make more vids on it any day 👍🏾
Thank you for this video. I was watching a playthrough of P4G and honestly started to skip the dungeons by the midway point, I'd try and skim for any dialogue and the end bosses but I'd just miss out on the whole dungeon! I'm glad for this analysis and it's true it gets overlooked by Heaven. It's a shame Adachi's boss fight is so easy!
The tsu in magatsu does a specific meaning - it usually means port, but in this case is used as a genitive marker. As you mentioned it’s derived from the name of the gods Magatsuhi no kami, and if we break down the name, the name’s meaning is maga (disaster) tsu (of) hi (spirit) no (of) kami (gods) - the gods of the spirit of disaster
This is an amazing video. You covered everything I wanted to hear about. Your editing is spot on as well! Keep up the good work!
M-izanagi is at the end of the day, a fool persona
It means adachi had the potential to fuse and swap personas but never decided to grow himself. Being stuck with M-izanagi even at the end game
The wild card trait does not depend on arcana
I didn't even know Adachi would kick you out if you encountered enemies, I love Adachi so I just wanted to play his game lmao
the only truth adachi believes in is "fuck around and find out"
Very in depth and well said video, good work!
Oh, random question but have you heard the song from the Persona 4 Golden anime that plays during the fight between Yu & Adachi? I believe it's called Ying Yang & I think it totally fits in what you said about Adachi being Yu's shadow. Also the song is just a straight bop.
Yea! It’s a very fitting song for sure. But I won’t lie, I do forget about it p often cuz I wasn’t too big on the P4G anime.
@@TatsuHaven Yeah that's fair. The original P4 anime already exists & is already incredible.
@@bronzeoliniisnotfunny7885 I've heard some say that the only good thing about the Golden anime is what they do with Adachi. Considering I don't care for Marie... I have to agree. I'll stick with the original anime. XD
Magatsu would be 1st on my favourite list if I had been able to figure out how to get from inaba to mandala. Was 18 when I first play it and had to look up the wiki to progress.
great video! Always love hearing about this guy. On the subject of the boss fight, I genuinely think It was left in an unpolished state. I've noticed he usually tries the fear insta-kill stuff when his health's in the middle but before his stance changes. However, it's really easy to skip this because of how much damage the player is able to do to him at that point. (his health-bar also does that thing where to make the stakes feel higher, the game lies about how much damage you're actually doing to him depending on how much health he's got left. ) I would not be surprised if the devs looked at how broken this fight was and said "wait, let's leave it like this- it's symbolic for how much of a mess he is." since these ARE the same people who brought us "you can't control your party because it's realistic". I got SUPER stuck an Amano Sagiri so I had to play the Adachi fight a lot and there were a few times where his AI suddenly worked and he completely caught me off guard with an actually challenging fight.
then again, maybe I was just really tired.
I wonder if anyone else has noticed this or if it's all in my head lol.
This analysis was great!!! Looking forward to seeing what you make of Arena Ultimax one day.
From my research Magatsu can be alternately spelt 曲つ which individually means crooked (physically or mentally) and a suffix indicating affirmation. 津 generally means port/harbor and I believe is just being used for pronunciation. (I'm not through the video so hopefully my research was for something)
The research was def for something! Helped me understand more on a subject I will fully admit I’m not an expert with.
The analysis of Adachi being the MC's shadow was so good. Played this game since 2009 but I never thought of that.
Saving this for after I finish persona 4
You’re a real one for this 🙏
I find it fitting that Magatsu-Inaba comes after Heaven. Sure, it narratively wouldn’t make sense if their placements were swapped, but I find it a subtle story in between the dungeons. Adachi’s dungeon is his view of Inaba, he views it as Hell right? There’s a saying that goes along like this: “Twice the pride, double the fall.” Any of you GOATs know where this saying’s from, you’re a real one 😎👉
Although Hallow Forest will be my favorite dungeon in terms of gameplay gimmicks, the aesthetics and theme will always be for this dungeon. Hell I didn't even know that the word Mandala relates to how many times I get lost in circles just to find a portal to the next one (or I'm just bad at pathfinding lmao).
Btw I like that u paid attention to how Adachi summons Magatsu Izanagi...idk if he's just psychotic or really in pain whenever his persona do something
Man, the bad ending for failing for this dungeon is so horrifying
Failing this dungeon results in the cutscene where Naoto calls Yu and dies over the phone because of the shadows entering the real world isn't it? (Edit: I hadn't fully watched the video when I commented this, and I didn't realize the creator explains it, my b)
@@MudkrabLord yup
First off, you're my goat. Second, comment for the algorithm. Third, favorite palace is probably either this one, the pyramid, or Heaven. Keep up the banger content homie
MUCH LOVE GOAT
Amazing video, that was a fantastic dissection of Adachi's Dungeon and Boss Fight, and the mental state that formed it. I do want to point correct one thing though, and that's how you described the two Izanagis. You're right in that Magatsu Izanagi is meant to be him during/immediately after his journey to the underworld, while his body was covered in sin, however you stated that Yu's Izanagi is meant to be him post-cleansing ritual. This actually isn't the case. Yu's Izanagi is actually meant to be Izanagi from before he went to the underworld, during the time when Izanami was still alive. Izanagi-No-Okami is actually what's meant to be Izanagi post-cleansing ritual, aka the culmination of his journey to the underworld and back, after he accepts that Izanami is gone and chooses to move forwards in his life. Fitting, because it represents Yu's Journey, and how he's come to accept that his year in Inaba is at it's end, and how he accepts that he has to move on from the mystery, accepting that people will all find their own different Truths to believe in.
Thank you! Feels a little silly I misinterpreted it cuz when writing this all I always had the Narukami ultimax/bbtag quote of “thousands may die but tens of thousands will be born in their place” which Izanagi says to Izanami after his escape, but forgot that when Narukami says it he’s summoning Izanami no Okami for his instakill lol.
Wow. This isn’t just the best adachi analysis I’ve seen it’s one of the best persona 4 analysis
this vid got in my recommendation mid playthrough and the thumbnail spoiled the shit outta me
7:04 can we just appreciate the clutch
Facts:Persona 5 theme is based of Adachi's dungeon.
For real though, Adachi could've become a pretty good cop if circumstances didnt become this way
I just finished this game for the first time and it's one of my favorites. This video is fantastic thank you for the effort
Spolier alert: I love this game, but what made it better? The vanilla anime version. (I haven't had a chance to watch golden version) seriously, his monologue, their fight against him and the reaper, and finally him and the final boss. It ending with his friends saving him, by awakening to their ultimate prrsonas, the song that plays as they cheer him on, as he Fuses Satan to deal the final blow? Holy fuck, what a fight
I absolutely love the ending of the P4 Animation. It easily makes me tear up whenever I watch it, I love the creative liberties they took with the adaptation.
Bit of forewarning though, the Golden animation will not deliver those same highs. Fights are extremely scarce as it is almost entirely focused on Marie and Marie alone.
@@TatsuHaven ah, gotcha
@@TatsuHaven seriously, I absolutely LOVE how hilarious yu is.
The long way sounds like a noble piano theme surrounded by psycho's ost
Kinda like the Investigation Team being surrounded by Adachi's Magatsu Mandala
Wow, talk about some great content! I appreciate you taking the time to analyze the dungeon's level and thematic design. I feel like I don't see too much of that for Megaten related content. Also, your deep dive definitely brought me a new appreciation for these aspects that I kinda overlooked when playing the game back in the day! Thanks and keep up the great work!
Thank you!
Just found this video and fell in love instantly with your content.
Nah this is a W analysis bro I love this video a lot. Good shit dawg.
ty 🙇
Wake up babe, new Haven vid
All this is saying to me is that Persona 4 would not happen if Adachi got a raise.
Thank you for the highlight of long way, it’s my favorite p4 song and one of my favorite songs ever but it’s SUPER underrated so i appreciate the love you showed it
Also wow. That ending of “Confronting the Culprit” and beginning mythos of New World Fool” were VERY well done! It’s nice to find new and interesting thoughts about this game even so long after it’s release so thank you for keeping things fresh! Very great video, you did a wonderful job!
Honestly, I think you're skipping over the Ame-no-Sagiri is set up as the (pen)ultimate villain, puppeteering Adachi's body. It shows that for all the control over his life he desired, even with his murdering power to use as a form of authority, he was never in control of his own choices or life. He was only ever being used by (the Personification of) the Society he hated.
I was thinking about this sometime.... For Persona 6 (idk if its a good idea or not) to have a 2nd or 3rd awakening for your teammates, the dungeons from party members should return, but like small ones with diffcult/gimmicky bosses
I’d have to see how it’s implemented to see how I’d feel about it. Wouldn’t immediately write it off, but I’d fear it may get repetitive.
Interesting idea
Specially making the 3rd phase part of the main game instead of remake bait...
I love the battle theme in the persona 4 golden anime.
Ying yang is such a good song and wonks in the concept of the game because it is basically yu and adachi trying to say to each other that there own views
I missed this dungeon the first playthrough 🤣 normally when playing games with a branching path I'm good at sticking to the one you're meant to be on, but after playing through heaven and all the buildup I was leading the charge down bad decision avenue. Glad I got to play through this dungeon and working on his social link in ng+ now
Glad I could come back to this video after finishing the game recently, good video and analysis!
I always felt adachi was meant to do what Yu does; but ended up twisted; thus the two different izanagi's: Magatsu Izanagi and Izanagi Ookami
I can’t stop listening to Long Way; it’s such an addictive soundtrack
You were talking about how the mc helped so many people grow during their stay in inaba and had such a cool line. But no who's there for the beat drop? Tripping
What a great vid, I was so happy to see this in my recommended-
Its been a bit since I've played/thought about P4, or Adachi himself, but this brought back all my passion for the game, and his plotline!
--
Maybe one day, if I go back to play it/analyze it myself- since there have always been some strange details in his character arc/dungeon/battle that the game leaves... unspoken(?) in a strange way that makes him weirdly compelling in a way I find impossible to properly describe..
(I won't ramble about that theory here since Its been too long since I've looked over the details for it and it would just be a confusing/jumbled mess at the moment)
But yea! Nice vid- Also it activated that crazed theory crafting side again, so thanks, lol
Np! And ngl I'd read any adachi related theory regardless of length, i love the guy lol
@@TatsuHaven Ooough now I can't NOT at least give a short(er) version-
(I'll try to minimize rambling as much as I can, but it is still kinda long, lol)
--
*Beginning note- A lot of games in the same series all handle Shadow Shenanigans™ differently, so I'm only sticking to how it seems to work w/in P4 specifically
The first thing that's always bothered me about his dungeon/boss fight is the suspicious... lack of clear distinction between him and his shadow- Not only does the party call out at least that the first version of him that they find isn't -exactly- him, the boss fight against him is weird vs every other boss for the reasons you mainly stated (Heck, I didn't even know about his missing moves, which only makes me more curious, honestly)- Even his persona summoning, as stated, is unusual and looks weirdly painful-
Its always bugged me, and between the fight, and the IMMEDIATE possession he goes under after the fight makes me wonder when that actually started-
How much of his actions -were- entirely his, and how long have at least some of his actions been influenced by Ameno-Sagiri?
Going even further, typically the shadows in these games are considered people's Dark Impulses, and his strange lack of separation from his- it always made me wonder if he was somehow minorly influenced/possessed by it as well. (Of course, shadows are still part of the person, yes, but even in the cutscenes showing the things he actually did, the changes to his personality look extremely dramatic vs his normal everyday actions) - I'm sure if I went through all the cutscenes again, I'd find more pieces, but the one that always stood out to me while replaying, is that his initial reaction to seeing Mayumi's death seemed really weird when combined with the replay knowledge of "Oh yea, this guy was the one who did it."
Of course, it's hard to tell when -exactly- this change may have happened, since it was clearly off-screen/probably before Narukami even arrived, though I've always found it weird that when the party goes into his shadow room even the first time, they mention that creepy shadow noose exactly once, NEVER mention it again- You end up getting the whole monologue from Ameno-Sagiri about Humans only seeing what they want to see- the party brushes it off as "Eh well it looked like it was partially his intention anyway" and never go back to it- And yet other P4 related titles occasionally drift by its existence for seemingly no reason- ex. Persona Q just has the dang thing in the opening (doesn't look like the way you'd find one of the telephone pole bodies) and even Adachi's Bonus Dance in P4D has creepy interpretive dance about it- which almost immediately shifts into puppet strings- Which only disappear at the point where Narukami enters the dance- Which is,,, interesting-
I'll stop here since I'd have to look harder for some of the old evidence I had (Again, this theory has been sitting untouched in my brain for awhile before now, so I'm rusty on a few details) and I don't want to keep rambling w/out a clear conclusion, but yea! All the things I find weird about his specific situation that the plot weirdly never seems to touch, and I kinda wonder about every so often!
@@CatofStarlight I think about the noose in the eerie bedroom all the time man. I wish we got more clarity on that.
The gang does talk a bit about how much of this was Adachi vs how much it was Ameno-sagiri’s possession, and I agree with Naoto that at least part of it was from Adachi. He was just given the powers to accomplish his goals, reminds me of more mainline SMT in a sense.
Adachi in dancing/his boss fight in P4 def looks wild and like he’s not in control, the only game where he seems like he has a grasp on himself for the most part is Ultimax, which is also very fitting.
There’s so much to the character and it kind of makes me sad he’s mostly a meme or people think he’s as shallow as he says he is like “i did it cuz it was fun”. :( reminds me of how people think animation narukami is just Chad Yu when he’s so much more!
@@TatsuHaven Omg I'm SO glad I'm not the only one who thinks about that dang thing-
But Yea!! And though I appreciated that Naoto -does- have that one line, it just in general feels like there's this weird empty(?) space where more characterization could have happened, since instead of touching on it further, Naoto has the one line and then the plot kinda goes "Eh, we've covered that- lets move on" when it was probably at least a little more complicated than that- Sometimes it makes me wonder how the plot could have gone if other shadows went unchecked- At least all the party members had the stability of at least Yu there to awaken to them in the normal way-
And same about Yu too! aaand about MOST of this cast honestly, but between things like cut content/memes/weird interpretations, I feel like a lot of the characters in the game didn't get the kind of attention to their arcs as they probably deserved ;~;
@@CatofStarlight Yea there’s so much more that could be explored in P4, so much more that could’ve been different, but I think enough was shown.
And well, if other shadows went unchecked I mean we see what happens when a shadow goes rabid, the user gets knocked down/ weakened and would probs get killed lol (Mayumi/Saki). Adachi was probs and exception cuz he embodied the worst aspects of himself as all that he is.
And truthfully I think they gave most chars enough focus, the dungeon shadows are one part, and the social links are the other. They faced their darker halves and now they can move forward to improve it. The darker halves could be further explored but we saw all we needed to see.
Also im not going super indepth cuz tbh im at work rn but i really like this convo LOL
23:06 IMO it fool or clown fits better as the theme that plays from Adachi’s perspective while a new world fool plays from Yu’s perspective
In the end Adachi was right. He is brilliant and he did deserves to be one of the best detectives. He caused all this mess himself and almost caused the end of the world. Imagine if he was one of the good guys. He would probably be the first thief of hearts.
I wonder if the Phantom Thieves will still be taking applications once he's finally out of jail.
16:05 that hand smacking is too surreal, it's some thing about it thats uncanny
I just like how the three antagonists you go against through the game before the big bad are all different types of antagonists in general. Kubo, who is evil and is doing horrible things for a horrible reasoning; Namatame, who is unknowingly doing bad thinking he's doing what's right; and Adachi, who is doing bad to get back at a world he deems as unjust.
THE GOAT FUCKIN DROPPED LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOO
Persona 4 is starting to pop up on my FYP because I've been getting my friends into the anime (since the game would take too long/would have to emulate and I'd never make them play golden *yuck*) and its really cool rewatching the show around a decade later as a 'full' adult, vs just a barely passable one. The issues each character has is really relatable, and helps you feel more connected to the characters in a really cool way. I think honestly, which the online perfectionism thats been going rampant for the past few years, its important to see media like Persona 4, which at its core is facing the dark parts of you that DO exist.
Realizing that everyone has bad thoughts, selfish goals, or in general have moments where they are very self-centered is important because we are the main characters of our own lives. Of course we're going to see ourselves in a different light. And just like human nature, shadows tend to over exaggerate what these feelings are. Using Yosuke as the example, yes he was tired of where he lived and wanted excitement. Maybe there was a part of him who was afraid he only got a crush on Saki because he wanted something to do. But those are the inner fears of our own voice, the belief that we're more evil and more terrible as a person than we really are. And the Shadows show that all, forcing those thoughts to the forefront.
Its also really cool that for the most part, most of the characters only respond so negatively is because there are people around. They don't want to be JUDGED by strangers, because they fear those people don't fully understand their psyche. Yosuke, once again, DID like Saki. But there was a part of him that worried it was only for fun, and that he was using her. Or Kanji, who was so scared to be depicted as Gay, refused to show that he did enjoy cute homecraft stuff, because he felt like the only thing he had in life was his tough persona (pun intended) that kept people at bay.
Adachi is a really cool character too, because he's so unimpressive. I enjoy fantasy games with really cool looking bosses, but the whole point of Adachi was that he WASN'T exceptional. Great grades or not, hes still not that good at his job, and feels like mediocrity should be rewarded...just because its him. He also nails the 'nice guy front' perfectly, because he really doesn't seem like a threat at all but when playing again, gave all the signs of being a creep. Its always up to people's interpretation, and judging a book by its cover. Even when I was younger, I didn't have a great feeling about Adachi, but since the whole point of the game was to not just judge someone on their outside, I felt hypocritical. It shows us to not ignore our red flags or gut feelings, but to still give people a chance to remove a stimga from a safe distance. And because each of them (Narukami excluded minus for the anime) went through this same thing, having their issues brought up to people they didn't want to know, they're able to bond over that and accept what happened. They can finally have a space where they feel safe to fully be themselves, good and bad.
My closest friend, and the one I am showing Persona to right now, has this issue. She feels like everyone around her will judge her for how she is, and told me that she finally feels like she can be herself somewhere without judgement, and its made her feel better about herself. Because its easy to fight problems when you know the people you treasure will continue to treasure you and help you through it. Ok, ramble over.
The legend returns 🙌🙌🙌
This is my favorite dungeon as well
Wow, as a person who've played the game for a long time, i never really expected Adachi's circumstances is the most complex than all of the other social link. Cause either way, other characters have some special relation with Narukami to help them overcome the weakness and circumstances within their lives, and therefore making " Genuine and powerful " bond with them.
For Adachi, he doesnt really have anyone that he can clings into for help. After arriving in Inaba and meeting with Narukami however, he started to show bit of his personality that he prove that he is not a maniac, but just someone who has been mistreated badly.
But in the end, he decided to discard it, because he does not believe in human bonds or anything, He believes in himself, and therefore bring him to his downfall.
Can Adachi bring himself to change a better self even after being given life once more? I guess that is for Adachi to decide it alone, whether society likes it or not, he will do so because it's not for them, but for him only.
Reminder that the "one *minor* slip up", as Adachi put it, was shooting someone
Confirmed kill??
Adachi felt more human than all of the other members of the investigation team except like Kanji and Naoto. All of the other members have great personalities and are written well, don't take me wrong, but they feel just too... how to put it, pure and good? But I guess it makes sense as it is anime and not a russian 19th century realism literature hah
not watching for spoilers but I already know its a claaaaassic
"The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth" is Adachi in a nutshell. Doesn't matter who's truly at fault; in his eyes, the world made him this way, so it's the world that'll feel his wrath. Even if you reach out to him, it doesn't change much if, at the end of the day, this world is shit as always.
It's not an accident that Adachi doesn't have Stagnant Air, nor is it an accident that he has an archetypical Sissy Boss Fight. Note that when you can use Magatsu Izanagi as a Persona, it has a comically low Luck stat. Adachi would have access to a deadly strategy...were he not so unlucky. Thematically, the player would essentially be Adachi were they not so lucky to be controlling the Protagonist. As such, Adachi isn't the Protagonist's shadow, he is the player's.
This is pretty late but when you brought a new world fool into it I was like, I know it's from the anime but what are your thoughts on the imo iconic and definite theme for adachi that should have been in the game: Yin-Yang
I think it's a good song and very fitting for Adachi(I mean, it *was* specifically made for him and him alone after all lol). It's very direct with it's lyrics, but it's not my cup of tea in a purely subjective sense. I only mentioned A Fool or a Clown from Ultimax because it's very popular even outside of Persona.
Yeah for me the lyrics being so direct and just how fire in my personal opinion it was is what makes it special for me, either way to me all 3 are bangers even without my adachi bias (which I have)
Amazing video!! I also feel like magatsu inaba is relatively underrated, what do you think of Rise’s dungeon Marukyu's Striptease? I get the feeling you’d really like it!
"The truth is not alway real" from happy chaos theme never hit so hard
I appreciate you pointing out the similarities between Yu and Adachi and how their approaches to being stuck in the boonies differed. They both received power from Izanami, but what they did with it was vastly different, and changed with their world view. It's shown in the anime, but Yu is very closed off to others. It isn't until he gets his power and realizes there's something he can do that he opens up more. This is literally shown by his mannerisms and appearance, as he doesn't open his blazer until he gets his Persona. The fact that Yu was willing to give his new acquaintances a chance shows a clear difference in their approach.
Anyway, I'm rambling. Great video!
Good ear spotting the similarity to the Eternal Punishment final dungeon theme
It's actually a super heavy remix of the Mona Mandala theme, it's very hard to hear but it's there
10:24 i can't wait to get into this dungeon and finish persona 2 EP
Tatsuya Fusion Spell: *LET'S GO!*
really great analysis which i approve 100%
i almost cried at a certain part lol
thanks for the high praise!
Adachi by having m-izanagi could also mean his persona in this game at least is the fool but since he didnt try to open up to others he actually is reverse its pretty cool ^^
Some thing occurred to me while fighting this boss for the first time. His persona is Izangi. The persona you start the game with, and one of the weakest ones to boot. However through your experience and your bonds you have grown and changed. Gaining new personas to help your struggle. Adachi has not grown. This he still has his starter.
I think what made adachi originally put mayumi in was the midnight channel rumor, originally the rumor said that the channel will show your soulmate so when adachi saw mayumi on it he believed her to be his soulmate, so when he found out about the affair and tried to ask her it's not true he got frustrated because in his mind Mayumi was his soulmate and therefore belonged to him so he got mad when she didn't deny the affair
You should also talk about blaze blue cross tag, because what they did to Adachi and that specific game really solidifies his personality and kind of gives a little bit more insight on him. Especially when he’s fighting alongside with some more “morally bankrupt characters”
I kinda want to see a hypothetical P5 Arena giving Adachi some interactions with the Phantoms. I think it would be interesting to see how he plays off them, given that they are far more guilty of the hypocrisy and arrogance he accuses the Investigation Squad of.
I just think it would be funny to see him tear into them.
The hollow forest is my favorite dungeon.
In a weird way, Akechi’s true counterpart on the I team isn’t Yu, it’s Yusuke.
Yusuke’s shadow says it himself, he only jumped into the TV to play hero and find anything of interest in Inaba.
Every other member has a more just reason to join the team or get involved in the plot.
Chie wanted to save her friend, Kanji and the red girl (who’s name I am forgetting) have joined for revenge, Teddy does it because the TV world is his home and Naoto wants to prove that she is smarter than everyone and that the real culprit is still on the loose.
But Yusuke explicitly joins because he is bored
You mean Yosuke. Yusuke is the artist kid from P5
Also Yosuke doesn't join JUST because he is bored. Thats just his broad feelings about being stuck in the boonies but the reason he goes in is because Saki died. Despite the words Shadow Yosuke says (that he doesn't really care about her death and only seeking thrill), Yosuke's social link moving forward proves blatantly that he is VERY hung up about her death and only comes to fully terms with it by the end.
Adachi is someone what Yosuke could have become if left alone to become bitter, that much I can agree. But even at their basic core, they are different characters fundamentally
@@sammydray5919
My bad wrote the wrong name
@@sammydray5919
At least you agree that Yosuke is a better reflection of Adachi than Yu. And if Yosuke didn’t join the squad it would have been likely that he eventually would adapt a very similar worldview as Adachi
@@frankwest5388 Its a possibility yes but only because he would have been left alone and allowed to become bitter over his circumstances. And honestly you can make a case for any person to turn out like that under certain circumstances though out of the investigation team, Yosuke does seem to be most likely without his development.
My main point of disagreement was mainly that his reason to join wasn't boredom and thrill seeking but the fact that the girl he liked died in such a bizarre manner and the TV world might have some answers.
Saying that he joined solely because he was bored completely ignores the genuine heartache he went through at Saki's death which I think is a disservice to his character thats all
Persona 4 Golden the Animation episode 6 and 7, Adachi became my favorite antagonist in the Persona franchise. And one of my favorite video antagonist in the game.
“I want to discuss a dungeon I think gets overlooked.”
The Game: There must be something that’s been overlooked.