Hollow Forest



Hollow Forest (虚ろの森) is a dungeon exclusive to Persona 4 Golden, only available after completing the Aeon Social Link.

Profile

 * Background Music: 記憶 (lit. "Memories")
 * Available: February 13
 * Deadline: February 13
 * Victim: N/A
 * Floors:  10

The Hollow Forest is Marie's reality within the Midnight Channel, created when she enters the TV world after regaining her memories. The Investigation Team is first taken to the Hollow Forest by Margaret, who explains that she has formed a unique path between the TV in the cottage storage shed and this world, after finally locating Marie's whereabouts. Margaret informs them that Marie has sealed herself into this dungeon for reasons unknown, and also explains that this world is currently on the verge of collapsing. Therefore, if the team does not save Marie quickly, she will disappear along with the Hollow Forest, and all memories of her will disappear from eveyone's minds.

Hollow Forest takes an appearance similar to Yomotsu Hirasaka, as a world apparantly shrouded in fog. However, there are bits and pieces of the real world seen throughout this dungeon, such as Junes signs and benches, along with ancient japanese art works. This represents Marie's origin, as a spirit from ancient Japanese times, as well as her hidden desire to stay in the real world.

Unlike the other dungeons in the game, the Hollow Forest features several special restrictments while traversing the dungeon. First of all, the player is only allowed to use items that were found within the Hollow Forest. Secondly, only specific equipment may be used and most importantly, the party's SP will be halved after each fight. There is, however, special equipment that can be found within the dungeon in order to restore SP and to gain other beneficial effects.

It may also be noted that on some floors, you might encounter shadows like normal, encounter them when breaking the "seals" to continue, or both. Also, there are two "mini-bosses" that you must face prior to the final boss, instead of the usual one.

Just like with Yomotsu Hirasaka, the player is unable to leave the dungeon until Kusumi-no-Okami is defeated. After Marie is rescued, the dungeon begins to disappear as it no longer needs to fulfill its purpose. When the party escapes through the TV connecting to the dungeon it breaks.

Shadows

 * Rare shadow

Bosses

 * The battle with Marie ends roughly 3 turns after getting her down to roughly half health.
 * The battle with Kusumi-no-Okami follows right after Marie, once entering the battle with Kusumi-no-Okami, the party's health is not restored.

Trivia

 * The Hollow Forest's specific gameplay was designed by the team that was responsible for the battles in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey.