Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Reviews
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a par for the course port of a surprisingly deep and well-realized fighter that, despite being a spin-off title, knocks out the competition, even nearly a decade later.
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.
Matt: Meanwhile as a fan of both Persona and fighting games, I can say pretty surely I am the target audience, and Ultimax is just as good now as it was a decade ago. This is the game that solidified my faith in Arc System Works as a developer, and they've only proven themselves more and more in the years since. Admittedly part of me would've preferred a sequel that also included the cast of Persona 5, but I'm not complaining about getting a chance to revisit one of the finest fighting games I've ever played.
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax may be eight years old but it’s still one of the most polished, stylish, and approachable fighting games around. The game has a huge roster of fighters that you can build up with the RPG mechanics and the visual novel story mode is pretty enjoyable if not a little too text heavy. There isn’t a ton here to make it a must-play recommendation to prior players but if you’ve yet to experience it and you’re a Persona fan then I can’t recommend it enough.
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is still a champion among fighting games, though the story holds it back from overwhelming victory.
Persona 4 Ultimax is an excellent title and quite unique in the fighting genre with its dynamics of controlling the characters and their Personas. It is, therefore, a game that is certainly worth checking out by fans of the genre and the series. The only question left is when to dedicate yourself to the game: now, at its relaunch, or when the future rollback update happens (and the competitive scenario of the title rises).
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is among the best fighting games this year so far. It can attract you by its deep story, approachable and satisfying combat, and a lot of content.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Within Persona 4 Arena Ultimax players will find a more-than-decent fighter, that those experienced with Arc System Works games will like quite a lot. Persona fans will enjoy seeing their favourite characters once more, but be warned that the story hasn't been handled as well as one would expect.
So, does Persona 4 Arena Ultimax hold up in the eight years since its debut? Absolutely. Arc System Works and Atlus' slugfest of a spin-off is just as satisfying now as it was the day it was first released. The game's easy to pick up yet challenging to master gameplay is suitable for fighting game novices and pros alike. And the excellent Story Modes that further flesh out the narrative are must-play experiences for fans of the franchise. Of course, if you already own the game and all of the DLC, there's little reason to plunk down the cash for this version. But if you've yet to see what Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is all about, there's never been a better time to step into the ring.
The new Persona 4 Arena Ultimax port is a resounding success. It allows a fan-favorite fighting game to be easily played on current consoles and PC, while also offering up the definitive package.
So while some of the older game vibe hurts it some, there’s also a lot to this game that simply isn’t in other ArcSys or anime fighters. That helps this game retain its identity and stand as a must-play for Persona fans. Once rollback kicks in, there’s a good argument to be made for keeping Ultimax going for years to come.
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a game for fans of the series who want an epilogue or a new way of interacting with these characters. Their return is welcome, providing a short but entertaining experience.
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax absolutely feels like a definitive experience, and one which PS4-owning fans of the series and Arc System Works will appreciate.
Gripes aside, I loved Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. I commend Atlus for releasing a fighting game as the sequel to what I consider to be its best Persona game ever, with tight controls, neat visuals, and most importantly, a fantastic story that will please each and every single Persona fan out there, be them fighting game fans or others. Even if the main game isn’t available on the Switch (and at this point, I don’t even know if it ever will), having this fighting banger on-the-go is worth the investment.
Ultimax still packs a mean punch eight years later and even if you aren’t a hardcore Persona fan, it gets my recommendation.
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a fantastic fighting game. It has lots of included content, great combat mechanics, and a fun little story for Persona fans. I wish it had rollback netcode now, or at all on the Switch version, but otherwise, you can’t go wrong with Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is still one of Persona’s oddest endeavors into territories outside the role-playing genre it continually elevates. In a way, Arena Ultimax is a brilliant two-way door into the strengths of its creative partners.
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a great overall package for fans of the originals as well as fighting games and has aged wonderfully. You get a lot of content through the many included DLC, the complete story and wonderfully elaborated gameplay. Sure, the graphics could have been turned up a bit more and the missing rollback netcode will anger some veterans. Nevertheless, for the price, you can do little wrong here and can buy without hesitation.
Review in German | Read full review
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a good fighting but does suffer from a few drawbacks. It's a good port for the PS4 and is definitely a must-buy for Persona fans. Arc System Works manages to accurately nail what a Persona fighting game should be.