Persona 4 Arena Ultimax

I often bemoan barebone re-releases as quick cash-ins from publishers trying to revitalize their IP with minimal effort, and while Persona 4 Arena Ultimax does fit that criteria (as the DLC and Japanese audio were already technically available), in all honesty, it was already an excellent 2D fighting package that didn’t need improving. And with rollback netcode on the horizon to give the game more of a modern relevancy, there’s never been a better opportunity to jump in.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a great anime fighting game with plenty of depth for competitive players while remaining accessible for newcomers; all brought forward to modern platforms. More competitive players may want to wait until the eventual rollback update, but this new release easily revives this series for a few more rounds.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax on PS4 offers immense value with so much DLC included in its budget asking price. Years later, the game has aged brilliantly, and while I would've liked some of the assets to be improved for higher resolution displays, there's no denying the sheer quality of the newest release of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. Hopefully the wait for the rollback netcode update isn't too long.

Still the game we played in 2014, and still a great game. There aren’t a lot of additions, but when rollback is implemented online matches should improve noticeably.

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 is no doubt a great fighting game. It offers a decent story mode and a few extra bells and whistles. On top of that, a top notch netcode and this is a solid fighting game experience. Is it beginner friendly? I’m not so sure. Is it a must purchase for Persona fans? Possibly, but keep in mind, this is a complex fighting game that will require hours of devotion to get into completely.

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).

There’s some old clunk, no cross-platform play, and a lack of rollback based netcode for online play (it’ll be added for free in summer), which reveals the game’s age. But otherwise everything is here, from DLC to previously arcade-only tweaks. And all at a higher resolution, natch. It’s so much fun that you can’t help but yearn for a grander series comeback (imagine how Persona 5’s cast could fit in). But for now, this is one more chance for Persona adventures, and a great fighter to boot. [Issue#14, p.83]

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.

Still a great anime fighter, with a brilliant combat system (made better by the latest "arcade" balancing patch). It's a pity it's launching with a delay based netcode, but we don't have to wait much for rollback, and this is a game that definitely deserves a revival.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax offers a fun celebration for Persona 3 and 4 that’ll appeal to series and fighting fans alike, proving why Arc System Works maintains such a strong following. I do have to question Atlus’ decision to re-release Ultimax first, given how Persona 3 and Persona 4 aren't available on PS4 or Nintendo Switch, but it’s still a welcome sight. While poor pacing and repetition issues sadly hold back this story, it’s still serviceable and I genuinely enjoyed seeing these characters once again. 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 brings to modern gaming platforms all the content and updates wisely crafted by Arc System Works for Atlus' best fighting game yet. Unfortunately no new relevant features are included with this porting but at least the game has been freed from the shackles of old gen consoles.

Anyone looking for a chance to duke it out with their favorite characters, some great fan service for Persona 3 and 4 lovers, or just a great fighting game, is going to enjoy what’s on offer here.

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.

Considering it arrived during the transition of the previous console generation, it’s good to see Persona 4 Arena Ultimax available for a wider audience. Series fans will love the aesthetics and storytelling while fighting game fans will find as much depth in the mechanics as any other accomplished anime fighter from Arc System Works. Yet when there’s more demand for the mainline RPGs to make their way to modern platforms, especially during the series’ 25th anniversary, it’s hard not to feel like this was the wrong remaster for Sega/Atlus to have prioritised, with Switch owners in particular getting the short straw.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is another example of the incredible work the people at Arc System Works can do. It perfectly captures the spirit of both Persona 3 and 4, all without pandering or feeling unnecessary. It’s incredibly robust. It looks and plays well on the PS4. It is considerate of people coming to it who aren’t well-versed with fighting games, yet also ready to challenge people who know what they’re doing. The only thing that might deter some people from getting invested is how heavily it relies on the source property. It really does mean knowing and loving Persona 4, at the very least. But even if you don’t and just appreciate a solid fighter, it is worth someone’s time.

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.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a somewhat lazy adaptation, but luckily the original was already a great game. That's why this re-release is highly recommended for fighting game fanatics who missed it in 2013, but veterans should know that they won't find enough new content to justify a new purchase, at least until Rollback is implemented.

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 is still a very good fighting game, but this new version is not even a remaster. It’s a simple port that further exposes weaknesses of the original game’s aged graphics (forget about a dedicated PS5 version, by the way). Putting a heavy emphasis on the story is not a problem per se, but the way P4AU tells it doesn’t fit the genre and will confuse those not acquainted with the main Persona series.