[REVIEW] Persona 4 Arena

Damian Turner
(PlayStation 3 [REVIEWED], Xbox 360)

As a lover of fighting games, I strive to play as many as I can. It takes me back to the days where I was putting my hard-earned money into arcade cabinets just to become better with a specific character. The competition between opponents is something you do not get in any other genre. So, when I heard that Atlus was coming out with Persona 4 Arena, my excitement was through the roof. However, I knew next to nothing about the Persona series besides getting my feet wet in the third instalment. Persona being an RPG game, I was intrigued to see how they would incorporate RPG-elements, like a huge story, into a fighting game, while keeping their Persona fan base happy. Now, let’s see if Persona 4 Arena is a game with longevity, being pooled with the greats like Street Fighter, Tekken, and Mortal Kombat, or just a slap in the face to Persona and fighting game fans.

The story takes place a couple months after the events of Persona 4. Yu Narukami (Persona 4‘s main character) comes back to town to meet up with his friends, but unfortunately, The Midnight Channel is back, and you and your friends are forced to go back into the TV to investigate this P-1 Grand Prix. Madness ensues, and your favourite Persona 4 characters, along with some Persona 3 characters, are forced to fight in a tournament. If you are not a Persona fan, some of this info is very confusing, and a lot to take in. What you get is a very lengthy story mode that is similar to a graphic novel. If you are a Persona fan, you will feel right at home, as you will already be used to this custom, but to others it might feel a little tedious.

I fell in love with the story mode; it was not there to just rush you into the action, rather it really gets you attached to the characters and makes you care about them. The story mode made me a Persona fan, and want to pick up the previous instalments. My one problem with it was it was very easy to complete and no fight gave me a challenge, but I do understand why that is;  it’s made for the Persona fans who just want to see these characters, and may not be familiar with fighting games.

For people who just want to fight, and get the gist of the story, there is Arcade mode. You will get a bit of story for each character, and the challenge is there, which is very appealing. This mode is meant for the fighting game fans, and will cater to you very well. The non-stop fights will make you feel right at home.

This is where I fell in love with this game, as it appeals to both Persona fans and fighting game fans. It is very easy to get into, but very challenging to master all the combos and getting your persona into the attacks as well. There’s also an easy combo that new players to the fighting community can get used to, and feel like a genuine badass. Don’t fret, seasoned veterans of fighting games, this combo does not do as much damage as the other combos, and if you know what you are doing, you can get out of it pretty easily.

Also, the challenge mode is where you learn new moves with any character of your choice. It has a tutorial video on what each combo should look like, and is a really good helping hand to new and old fighting game fans; everybody has had that moment where they are trying to perform a move, yet it just isn’t working. This shows players exactly what to do, and is a great addition that every fighting game should use. Yes, I mean you, Capcom!

The game has a very colourful and vibrant aesthetic. It has this very unique yellow tone that no game really has (ed. – don’t forget Deus Ex: Human Revolution!). The 2D character models are all very crisp, looking top notch, and the animations are really fluid. The style of this game is to look like an anime, and it fits it very well. It brings you back to the day of the old school fighting games, and that’s fantastic. Anime is not my cup of tea, but I think it fits perfectly with this fighting game — with crazy special moves and Personas.

This game also has RPG-elements incorporated into the combat. In the heat of the battle, status aliments like becoming silenced or paralyzed come up. This unique concept makes every battle different, and has you worried about what each character can do besides their combat abilities. The little things that Arc System Works does to is what made this series. What fans love while making new ones is a great experience that everybody will appreciate.

The online mode is one of the best I have seen in a fighting game. In ranked matches, you pick one of your characters prior to matchmaking, and when you battle opponents online you level-up just like in an RPG. It makes you want to focus on your favourite character to see what kind of level you can take them to, trying to be the best you can be. Also, even with a low ping bar the matches seemed to run smoothly (unless you have a Leighton who is downloading non-stop). It makes for a great online experience that will keep you coming back for more.

As you can tell, I am infatuated with Persona 4: Arena. This title has so much content to offer, and will really keep you interested.  The lengthy story mode that you don’t see in other fighter games is a great addition. And although some will love it, others might feel it’s a little much. But this was definitely one of the best online experiences I’ve had. The art style is breath taking and very unique. This game is a must-buy for any Persona, or fighting game fan. I went into this game as a fighting game fan and I came out a Persona fan, as well.

The GameSparked Podcast Aug-14-2012

The GameSparked Team

Things get a little dirty in this week’s episode of The GameSparked Podcast. We apologize. This week, Leighton is really “exciting,” Jordan speaks his final thoughts on Kingdom Hearts 3D, Mat thinks Sound Shapes and Darksiders II are both really awesome, and Damian is enamoured with Persona 4 Arena. They also get into some interesting… stuff. All that, and much more, in this week’s episode of The GameSparked Podcast! Also, where’s Myles? He’s back from Mexico, but nowhere to be found…

The GameSparked Podcast contains naughty words, and inappropriate content. Viewer discretion is advised.

Original Intro/Outro by Cody DeBoer
The DubSparked Remix by Kevin Madden

Download Link (Right Click, Save As)

[NEWS] Persona 4 Arena Developer Addresses Region-Lock

Mat Paget

People have been in an uproar over Persona 4 Arena being the first PlayStation 3 title to feature a region-lock. What this means is players would only be able to play the game if they bought it in the same region as their PS3 was bought in; Japanese PlayStation 3 consoles would not be able to play a North American copy of the title.

Well, those cries must have been loud, because Atlus issued a statement today regarding the recent concerns. The studio wanted to make it clear that it was in no way making this a policy for all future games, but due to the large difference between prices in Japan and North America, and the uncommonly close release dates, the company wanted to make sure the game sold well in both markets.

It would also be smart to keep in mind that even though there is a region-lock, it won’t affect the multiplayer modes, as players from all over the world will still be able to fight each other. Of course, I mean in the actual game; don’t go fighting people over the region-lock.

I’m sure this won’t change some people’s minds, but hopefully, some will understand the challenges faced when releasing games in multiple territories. Thankfully, it’s no Mortal Kombat when it comes to violence, so Australia should be able to play with the rest of the world.

Persona 4 Arena will be out in North America on August 7, 2012 for the PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.

[NEWS] Atlus Drops Prices of Digital PSP Titles

Mat Paget

Atlus did the unthinkable, and actually dropped the prices of games on the PlayStation Network. It’s a truly momentous occasion whenever a game gets a price drop on the PlayStation Store, because when was the last time that ever happened?

Here is a list of all the price drops that were made:

• Class of Heroes

 — now $14.99 (was $39.99)  

• Crimson Gem Saga

 — now $14.99 (was $29.99)

• Hexyz Force

 — now $14.99 (was $29.99)  

• Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble

 — now $14.99 (was $39.99)

• Knights in the Nightmare

 — now $14.99 (was $29.99)

• Riviera: The Promised Land

 — now $9.99 (was $14.99)

• Shin Megami Tensei: Persona

 — now $19.99 (was $39.99)

• Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2: Innocent Sin

 — now $29.99 (was $39.99)  

• Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable

 — now $19.99 (was $39.99)

• Yggdra Union

 — now $9.99 (was $14.99)

It makes me extremely happy to see the Persona titles drop in price, as I’ve been wanting to play them for a ridiculously long time. Now that they’re more affordable, I think I’ll jump into that crazy world I’ve heard so much about.

There is no word on whether these drops in prices are permanent, but since it is being called, “The Re-Vita-Lized PlayStation Network Price Drop Event,” I am going to guess that these titles will only be available at a discount for a limited time. Either way, if you have a PlayStation Vita and no games, or are still plugging away on the PlayStation Portable, this seems like an opportunity worth taking.