Post by Morgesm on Mar 7, 2013 17:45:04 GMT -5
Persona 4 Arena
Classic RPG mixed with precise fighting mechanics.
[/b][/u]Classic RPG mixed with precise fighting mechanics.
This title is definitely a sleeping gem in the realm of gaming. It takes a cult classic JRPG and mixes it with precise fighting controls similar to that of Guilty Gears. Spending some time with this title I instantly fell in love with the unforgiving timing, very complex combo system and the graphics of the game.
Story: 8 out of 10[/u]
This title picks up where the original RPG left off. The main character returns to Inaba for school vacation. As he is on the train he takes a nap and wakes up in the Velvet Room. There he is warned that things in Inaba might begin to get shaky and this might be the most difficult journey he will face. When the protagonist arrives at the train station he is greeted by Nanako who has grown up in the course of the few months he was away. They arrive to the Dojima residence where he rests and prepares to meet up with all his friends the following day. Around midnight, the Midnight Channel kicks on showing him and all his friends, in a fighting tournament against each other. He decides to go back to sleep and speak to his friends the next day.
After arriving to their “Secret Headquarters” AKA Junes Food Court , Him and his friends decide it is time to pay the TV world a visit again. Unsure what they will encounter they dive head first into the TV in June's Electronics Department.
This is just the intro story of the game, each character has their own story line which at first is limited to 4 characters, but as the player completes the stories more will unlock, to unfold the whole story in the end.
Gameplay: 9 out of 10[/u]
As fighters go, this might be as tight of controls as they come. The default control scheme is well laid out and easy to learn. I found myself feeling comfortable with the controls in about 10 minutes of picking this title up. There is also a Control Config. Option which is important for any fighter. Not only does it let you map the buttons the way you want, but it gives you the option to save the configuration so you can load it if you are trying new things. This will also be extremely convenient if you decide to go with a 3rd party controller like the fight pad.
For those of you who are familiar with BlazBlue you will feel at home with the in game mechanics. A very unforgiving combo system makes timing paramount. To master this game you will really have to dedicate yourself to learning all the combos to destroy your opponents. Every move in the game has a counter or a way to block it.
After spending a few hours online, I noticed that there are so many ways to play each character that each battle, even against the same character all felt different. The online features are fantastic, whether you are into getting your rank up, or just wanting to play in a lobby with your friends, the interface was extremely easy to use. The connection requirements seemed low, even when facing players with low connections, there was hardly any lag.
Audio: 9 out of 10[/u]
The soundtrack for this game includes all the songs from Persona 4 Golden, along with remixes. Players who have played Persona 4 will feel at home with the way the music sounds. The voice overs were fantastic as well, also giving the option to switch from English to Japanese for a more authentic sound. My only qualm with the voice acting was that Chie's voice actress is not the same from the game. Besides that the sound of the game was great.
Graphics: 8 out of 10[/u]
The visuals in this game are wonderful, although at times the animations seem to skip. The character designs are remastered 2D images of characters from Persona 4 and Persona 3. All the time I spent with the title I did not witness any visual slowdown or any problem with the frame rate. All cut scenes appear to be stand still anime-style dialects, but the drawing of the characters are the same style they were in Persona 4. The graphics may be cutting edge, but they certainly run smooth with minimal error.
Replay Value: High[/u]
With the online features of this title, the insane amount of unlockables, the many challenge mode missions, and long story line players will find that there is plenty to do. The ranking system online will surely be enough to keep players entertained for many hours. There are tons of trophies to acquire, all which will take plenty of time to get. I have put about 55 hours into the game and still find myself longing for me.
Final Verdict: 8.5 out of 10[/u]
Persona 4 Arena is a wonderful title, but not steered to all audiences. Most RPG fans will notice that there isn't the slightest hint of RPG elements in this game. For those who are more geared toward fighting games on the other hand, will fall in love with this title as soon as they fight their first match. With an excellent soundtrack, decent voice acting, and smooth graphics this title is easy on the eyes and ears. For those looking for a good story that takes place in the realm of Persona you will get your dose with this title. Minus a few skippy animations, a change to voice staff, and the high playing difficulty of this game, I would recommend it mainly to the Fighting Game fans, and perhaps the die hard Persona fans. If you are looking for a new game to try out, do not pick up this title. You will not understand the back story and it will probably take you a long time to get comfortable with the controls.
A look at the character selection.
In the heat of battle
Gameplay footage of a match between myself and a friend