Persona 4 Arena Looks Like The BEARY Best Fighting Game Of 2012
I’m normally not one to play fighting games. Sure, I’d like to get into them the way most pro players do, but it always seemed like the learning curve for fast-paced, 2D-fighters has been too steep. However, I don’t want to feel as though I’m playing a “dumbed down version” of a fighter. Luckily, it looks like the upcoming Persona 4 Arena is going to change that, offering an experience that both pros and newbies can enjoy together.
Persona 4 Arena, developed by Arc System Works (Guilty Gear series, BlazBlue series) and published by ATLUS, pits characters from the hit RPG Persona 4 in a tournament to see who is the greatest persona user (someone who summons cool monsters) of all time. It honestly doesn’t seem like you need to know what happened in Persona 4 to get what’s going on, but it would no doubt help if you plan on playing the game’s story mode. So far, it looks as though there are 12 playable characters in the game, with 3 of them coming from the Persona 3, each with their own unique playstyles.
Persona 4 Arena looks as though it will let novice players play (almost) like vets.
For fighting game novices like myself the combat is simple enough to initially get a grasp of, yet full mastery of the game’s mechanics will take some time. Simple combos can be executed by rapidly tapping a single button, and will finish with a special move if your character’s special meter is full enough. Two buttons are reserved for your character’s attacks while two other buttons will call out your persona to do attacks, similar to how assist characters are called out in Marvel vs Capcom. However, your summoned personas can be damaged while they attack and can be temporarily disabled should they take too much damage. Other ways to beat down your opponent include countering attacks, using BURST to repel your enemy, and All-Out Attack, where you rapidly tap buttons to inflict damage, ending it by launching your opponent in the air. You can check out all of the game’s basics in the video below:
Which bring me to the next thing about this game: It looks freaking gorgeous. Persona 4 Arena looks just a beautiful as the Guilty Gear and BlazBlue games that came before it, sporting slick, hand drawn characters that you rarely see in games nowadays. On top of that, the game’s soundtrack, composed by longtime Shin Megami Tensei composer/director Shoji Meguro, mixes tunes from the original Persona 4 game with new compositions for this game to make for an experience that please both visually and aurally. Hell, as with most ATLUS games, pre-orders will secure you a CD featuring music from the game.
Even though I’m not a fan of most fighting games, I have a love for those developed by Arc System Works, as you’re guaranteed a crazy, deep experience that stands above the rest. For me, the fact that this game is part of one of my favorite RPGs of all time is just icing on the cake. I can’t wait to get my hands on the game when it releases July 26th for the PS3 and Xbox 360. Even if you aren’t a fighting game fan, give Persona 4 Arena a try and you may be surprised.
Check out the videos below, which showcase the special moves of the playable characters, and check out more at ATLUS’ official Youtube page. Who are you planning on playing as? Let us know in the comments!
