Whereas the OSTs of the Atlus franchise games are available on Spotifythe Japanese studio brings out Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. A 2D fighting game jointly developed by Arc System Works and Atlus. Initially released in 2013 on Arcade, then the following year on PS3 and Xbox 360, this opus is an improved version of Arena, like what Arc System Works had done on the episodes Guilty Gear Xrd : Revelator and Xrd Rev 2. However, more than a rebalancing, the software offers a different scenario since it follows the events narrated in the original game. It is still possible to rediscover the history of Arena since DLCs will be included in the PC, PS4, and Switch versions.
We will therefore find the investigators of person 4but also the SEES of person 3 In Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, the heroes are still searching for answers to past events, and the Midnight Chain reappears in the city of Inaba. Except that now, the program broadcasts in the real world, and our heroes will have to confront the mysterious Sho Minazuki who could well be linked to all this.
Without a doubt, we are talking here about a game primarily intended for fans of the franchise, this being, as we will see, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax has enough arguments to convince lovers of versus to try the experiment. With sales estimated at more than 280,000 copies and critical success at the time, the title is making a comeback and hopes to reach a new audience who could have discovered the series late, probably with person 5.
Testing conditions: Game tested on PS4. We easily spent 20 hours on the game, which seems enough to us to go around the title. Knowing that we know the Arena version, and a little Persona 4.
Truman show
The first advantage of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, what is striking is the aesthetic qualities of the title. Whether it’s from the main menu, terribly efficient and stylish, having nothing to envy to that of a Person 5, we are seized and quickly immersed. But it is particularly on the artistic direction that the software flatters the retina. True to the universe of the series, the very special atmosphere is present and the sets are just as convincing. Like with Dragon Ball FighterZ, Arc System Works masters its subject and honors the adapted universe. Fans will recognize a few places and will be happy to see that all the personality of the license is also found in this fighting game.
The 21 courses available are varied and magnificent. If some are less effective, others are simply striking. The backgrounds are lively, detailed and the colorimetry is well managed. This visual richness rubs off on the HUD which, certainly clutters the screen a little, but gives character to the atmosphere. The pyrotechnic effects and character animations are also of high quality. If, sometimes, the fights can become a little messy because of the deluge of elements, it remains a treat to bathe in this anthology of visual effects which gives scale to the clashes of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.
However, we can deplore some slightly pixelated textures on the fighters, reminding us that the game is already a few years old. Especially in comparison to the latest productions from Arc System Works. However, it shows an obvious charm, a little old school side which has its effect and maintains a graphic coherence with the opuses concerned. The game has also aged well. Let us mention the few animations on the movements, very stylish, and especially the animated sequences, during the story mode in particular, which are still very beautiful today.
death live
And if there’s one thing that still goes perfectly in 2022, it’s the gameplay of Persona 4 Ultimate Arena. It was the case at the time, it’s still true, the game has an exhilarating and very dynamic, even nervous combat system. Leaving little room for reflection, you will have to stay focused to get by. The advantage is that the handling is relatively simple and it doesn’t take long to come up with impressive combinations. We also have a classic four-button system. Two for your character and two more dedicated to your persona. Indeed, small particularity, here you fight using a persona, like a stand in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. In this way, it is completely possible to attack simultaneously with it and use it during combos.
A certain added value which gives singularity to the title and offers fights of great nervousness. Be careful though, your persona is vulnerable and may find itself unusable for a period of time if it suffers too much damage. In addition to the usual special attacks and other counter and aerial games, the game also brings a mechanic taken from RPGs Person, the All-Out Attack. By pressing two buttons you can trigger an automatic combo drowned in a cloud of cartoonish onomatopoeia. This kind of mechanics, coupled with auto-combos, logically contributes to key stuffing. The clashes are less complex to understand, but it takes away a little magic from the whole, in addition to not pushing the exploration of the depth of gameplay that is indeed present.
That said, the most experienced will have quite a few weapons to defend themselves and have fun with, the game offering some very good combos. Person 4 Arena Ultimax is well done, it really allows all types of players to have fun and find what they are looking for. Provided you are not resistant to the nag aspect of soft. Other subtleties such as Burst, dodging or shadow versions of characters are all elements that bring richness. Especially since it is also possible to inflict temporary status changes (freeze, paralysis and others). We leave the pleasure of discovery to you, but the gameplay is really complete.
Side roster, counted 22 fighters which is a correct average. Afterwards, for those who know the game or its original version Arena, it can be a shame not to have newcomers. Anyway, as often with Arc Systems Works the roster is rather balanced, but above all diversified. If the manipulations are the same for everyone, each will be played in a more or less unique way, forcing you to relearn how to play each time you change characters. In fact it’s a little less true, in the sense that there are really only a handful that fundamentally change the way you approach a fight. But we quibble, the proposal of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax stay solid.
Hands down on the television
Before listing the content of the game, a few words about the story mode. The latter is very impregnated with the Atlus touch. Unfolding like a visual novel, the teams did not skimp on the writing. Of quality and benefiting from very good dubbing, the scenario will be very talkative. If the fans will undoubtedly appreciate, the uninitiated could very quickly find it heavy. And that’s understandable. It is not necessarily easy to anchor oneself properly in the history of the characters without knowledge of the license. Of course, it is still possible to enjoy the story, but there is a fairly glaring imbalance between narration and combat phase, which can be off-putting.
Especially since you will have a good handful of hours to see the end of it. A fairly complete story mode, which takes the time to dwell on a lot of characters. Not to mention that you benefit from the story modes of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax and its predecessor Person 4 Sand. Classic in its themes and its narrative structure, the plot is nonetheless fun to follow and offers some really gripping moments. Then, the cinematics distilled everywhere consolidate the immersion and are worth the detour.
For the rest of the content, nothing really new. We find the usual Versus, Score and Arcade modes, the latter bringing some snippets of the scenario, and a survival mode which is here hidden behind the name of Golden Arena. The small peculiarity of this mode is that you have to climb floors (100 in number for the first way), each floor being a fight. Except that as the fighting progresses, our character will gain experience, like in an RPG, then be able to level up and improve attack statistics, life points, etc. What’s more, some Level levels allow you to unlock useful skills in combat. It can be constant life regeneration, inability to use guard, and many other things.
Videodrome
With several routes, representing a difficulty, there is plenty to do in the Golden Arena mode. And the challenge is there. The other big piece of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, this is his section dedicated to training. Beyond the free session, which offers several AI settings, it is the Tutorials and Challenge modes that stand out. The first is basic but does the job. The directions are clear and you will get to know the game mechanics effectively. On the other hand, the Challenge mode will require a little mastery. Here, you will learn how to use and understand each of the fighters by learning to discover their special attacks and some combos.
If the timings are permissive and the inputs respond well, some combinations will require a bit of relentlessness. Nevertheless, the absence of complex manipulations makes the exercise more affordable than in other licenses. Finally, we have some goodies to unlock, but unfortunately nothing really interesting. Let’s not forget the Online features with a very nice lobby system, in addition to being consistent with the atmosphere and tone of the universe of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.
Otherwise you have a general classification of players, as well as classified and unclassified clashes. The necessary panoply for a fighting game. It is important to note that the netcode rollback is not part of the game, however it will be added this summer on PS4 and PC. It will therefore be necessary to wait a little in order to take full advantage of online battles, particularly against opponents playing on another continent.