Persona 4 Arena Review: The Ultimate Fighting Game In Mayonaka Arena
Every once in a while in the realm of video games, there comes a moment that makes you say, “…Huh?”. For me, that moment was when I heard that my favorite RPG, Persona 4, was going to be made into a 2D fighter. How in the hell was ATLUS planning on translating a deep RPG all about social interaction and monster collecting/breeding into a one-on-one fighter? However, when I saw that Arc System Works, the developer behind Guilty Gear and BlazBlue, would be working on the title, my worries were immediately quelled. The result of their team-up has brought us Persona 4 Arena, a 2D fighter that shares DNA with both Arc System Works games and the Persona series, while also giving us quite possibly the best fighter of 2012.
Persona 4 Arena is a complete package, containing 13 unique characters, several game modes, and hours upon hours of content.
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.
Video Game Music of the Week: Persona 3
When it comes to RPGs, Persona 3 has one of the craziest, most diverse soundtracks around.
Game: Persona 3 (PS2-2006 [JP])
Persona 3 is arguably the greatest JRPG about highschool students simulating suicide in order to summon monsters. In my opinion, the Shin Megami Tensei series as a whole has surpassed the Final Fantasy games in terms of gameplay, story, and music. The music for most of the SMT games has been composed by Shoji Meguro, who has also taken over as director for several titles. However, this week we are simply focusing on the soundtrack for Persona 3. Take a listen to the game’s opening track “Burn My Dread”:
More music after the jump! Continue reading
Persona 4 Arena Confirmed For Summer 2012
Following up on last week’s news regarding a cryptic e-mail from ATLUS, it has been revealed that Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena will be released outside of Japan. The gorgeous 2D fighter from ATLUS and Arc System Works will be renamed to the much simpler Persona 4 Arena and will release on the Xbox360 and Playstation 3. The story takes place two years after the original game and involves the heroes (as well as characters from Persona 3) investigating a fighting tournament taking place inside the T.V world. Can’t wait to hear more details about the title, but for now here are a few screenshots to whet your appetite.
ATLUS Is Teasing Something
In an e-mail sent to members of the ATLUS Faithful newsletter, recipients received a blank message and a completely black image. After saving the image and adjusting brightness levels, the words “Stay Tuned” appear in front of what looks like broken glass.
Creepy? Yes. Awesome? Double Yes.
The rumor behind the cryptic message is that we will be hearing about Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena getting localized. For those who aren’t in the know, the game is a 2D fighter developed by Arc System Works (Guilty Gear, BlazBlue) that hasn’t yet been confirmed for a release outside of Japan. Being a fan of both Arc System Works and an even bigger fan of Persona 4, I’m extremely excited with this news. We’ll keep you posted when the mystery behind the message is revealed. Now if they would only start hinting towards the next Shin Megami Tensei game…
Trine 2 Review
Physics based puzzle games can get to be tough. Physics based puzzle games that have you playing as three different characters can be even tougher. Such is the case with Trine 2, the sequel to the original Trine. This latest entry in the series follows the same characters from the first game as they are again forced to work together on a brand new adventure. But is this game a fun, fantasy adventure, or is Trine 2 trying on one’s patience? Read on to find out.
