Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Reviews

“Ultimax is practically a fandom fortress. It could be savory or bitter; that depends on the player's palette.”

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax’s modern port is the definitive version of the game as it provides a good amount of quality content Die-hard Persona fans and fighting game fans will undoubtedly enjoy.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is still a champion among fighting games, though the story holds it back from overwhelming victory.

The story mode will be interesting to fans of Persona 3 and Persona 4, since it acts as a sequel to both stories and gives updates on the lives of the cast members. The problem is that the story isn't as welcoming to newcomers, and it actively spoils many of the story elements of Persona 3 and Persona 4. This is especially annoying on Nintendo Switch and PS4, as there's no way to play these games on that system, while only Persona 4 Golden is on PC. The story of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is aimed squarely at Persona fans, whereas the other entries in the series are turn-based RPGs, so there's also a lack of appeal in continuing the story in a fighting game. Luckily, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax has easy difficulty modes and even an Auto-Battle option, so people who are mostly here for the story can breeze through the tougher fights. There is also the Golden Arena mode, where the player can level up between bouts and learn skills, which is closer to the original Persona experience but doesn't have any story content.

We tell you, it’s a good game! It’s not average! It might have some problems here and there, but you have to admit it is a “Good” game.

As you likely expected, the soundtrack and voice acting are excellent all-around. Both the carried-over tracks from the original games and the new tracks and remixes are absolutely certified head-bangers. Par for the course, I know, but still worth pointing out. The same quality extends to the English voice acting, which is quite impressive. Sure, Labrys’s accent is kind of weird, but I’ve gotten used to it since the game’s initial release.

You have to admire Atlus’ audacity with their handling of the Persona series at times. Sure, all Persona games start off as really good JRPGs, followed by an enhanced edition with more overall content, but you just have to respect the maniacal decision of canonically following up their games with music, Musou, or fighting titles. Such is the case with Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, a sequel to Persona 4 Arena, a fighting game, which was developed as the canonical and official sequel to the phenom...

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax may not be the Persona game everyone’s been clamoring for on the Switch, but we’re certainly not complaining. P4AU offers up an approachable, yet incredibly deep 2D fighting combat system, a neat RPG-lite mode that guarantees solo players will have lots to do, and all this is presented in Arc System Works’ signature and striking hand-drawn art style. While the story mode is a complete bore and there’s no rollback netcode in this version, we think P4AU on Switch is still absolutely worth your time, although if you're going to be playing online, you'll likely want to investigate the game on other platforms first. For portable fans, however, we’d give it a recommendation whether you’re a fighting game enthusiast or you’re just looking to give the genre a shot; this is definitely one of the better fighting games on the Switch.

Until we get an actual Persona 5 Arena, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax on PS4, Steam, and Switch is the definitive Persona fighting game experience, and a damn well appealing product on its own merits, even stripped away of its Persona trappings.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is one of those re-releases that's accessible to everyone. It has challenge, accessibility, a fun story, and Persona flair. Not everything ages well in terms of visuals, but nothing gets in the way of this game succeeding a decade after its initial launch.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax has remained an arcade staple for good reason - it’s got a perfect learning curve, fantastic sprite work, and oodles of fanservice. However, this lackluster port job is a disservice to the title. If you’ve never checked out the Midnight Channel, it’s a must play; however, those who have years of experience might feel like this is a rerun.

For better or worse, mostly better, the re-release of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is just that: a re-release. This isn't a superior version that has seen huge amounts of love and care. Instead, it's a competently-ported game with a resolution upgrade and the latest balancing. Fans who missed out on the game before but love the characters in Persona 3 and 4 should snag this one. Returning players who have had their fill of Ultimax, however, will have a harder time justifying a purchase. This is not the fault of the publisher or developer, though, as this is sold and marketed as just the game, not an attempt to double-dip. Because of this, treating the game on its own merits, the re-release of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax comes highly recommended. It has fun characters embarking on a fresh adventure in a new genre. The story can be padded, but it still scratches that itch. The most fantastic part is that this old game has systems and gameplay that still holds up favorably to modern fighting releases. There are few fighters that can boast that.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a decent fighting game and a decent Persona spin-off, but not a great combination

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax on PC is a port with some questionable drawbacks, like the lack of a lobby mode and no rollback netcode on launch. But it's still the same great fighting game beloved by many.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is an excellent sequel and one that manages to outdo its predecessor in every way imaginable. Arc System Works and Atlus have teamed up to create a game that plays as well as it looks. There are enough modes and enough depth to the game to keep players playing for hours on end. Not only is Persona 4 Arena Ultimax a must play for Persona fans, we'd go as far to say that it's a must play for fighting game fans as well.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a stellar follow up to Arc System Works’ 2012 offering. Not just a shameless cash-in, Ultimax continues Arena’s story with a lengthy conclusion, delivered in classic Persona style with some dazzling cutscenes. On top of that, there’s new characters, new moves, a RPG-inspired Golden Arena mode and much more. It’s the perfect piece of fan service for Persona fans and a pretty great fighting game at the same time.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a highly enjoyable 2D fighting game that will appeal to fans of any skill level. If you are a fan of the Blazblue series, you will love this game even more as both games are very similar in looks and gameplay.

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Oh my, has it ever been great time for North American Persona fans this year! With the announcement of North American releases of Persona 4: Dancing All Night, Persona 5, the soon to be released Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, and of course the recently released Persona Arena 4 Ultimax, Persona fans can rejoice. For now let us bask in the glory of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (P4AU), the sequel to the also “beariffic” 2012 title – Persona 4 Arena.  Mind you, it is a definite sequel and not some “ultra” or “super” revamp of Persona 4 Arena (you can probably guess where I got these from). This means the story of Persona 4 and Persona 4 Arena are spoiled in bits here and there, but we’ll get to that in a bit. Time to scavenge through what Persona 4 Arena Ultimax has in store for fans.

There are plenty of good things to say about Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. It looks and plays great, it’s easy to dive into for beginners, and rewarding to learn for veterans. It’s irresistible sense of style speaks for itself, but given how much I love its predecessor, the biggest compliment I can pay it is that it’s 100% the sequel that Persona 4 Arena deserved.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is pretty much everything a fan could ask for. It’s a satisfying, high-octane fighter that’s synchronously accessible and fathomless. Atlus and Arc System Works have forged an experience that tops its predecessor, adding new content, characters, and story to the mix; thereby coming as an easy recommendation to both Persona fans and fighting game enthusiasts alike.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax isn't for everyone. Even with some of the controls catered to novices, the game ultimately rewards patience and dedication. The result is one of the deeper fighting games I've come across, bolstered by an engaging presentation. Learning can be time-consuming, but for some of the keen-looking moves you can dish out, it's worth the effort.