I guess we need to post this again.
Some of those quotes are out of context. The "poor paper cut-outs" was something Jeremy Parish said in
his review, but it was a reference to JRPGs in general transitioning to portable platforms in general. And then there's this one:
"And yet, SMT IV lacks many of the elements that made Persona 3 so engrossing; it offers no social links with which to build relationships, no real-time calendar to propel the plot beyond your demon-capturing exploits underground. SMT IV looks great in action, and it grows more and more satisfying to play as you unlock additional features for your Gauntlet (the device that enables you to team up with the demons you encounter), but the minimal presentation and style still leave you with the impression that the series has at last fallen foul of the attrition that's sapped away the vibrance of so many other Japanese RPGs.
And then you get to Tokyo, and everything changes. "