Persona 4 Arena Questions

[Terramax]

Hey peeps, I'm looking to get the first Persona 4 Arena for either the PS3 or 360. Likely the latter, as I plan on getting (another) arcade stick for it for my shmups, and the d-pad is better for the console.

That being said, the sequel happens to be around the corner, and I'm wondering if maybe I should pay the extra price (over 3X the amount, in fact) for this sequel. I've questions:

1.) What are people's thoughts on this / these games (for those who've played them)? I'm assuming there's likely to be some fighter fans on these forums.

2.) Do you think it's worth missing out on the first game? Worth nothing, I'm currently playing through Persona 4 for the first time now, not completed it, and I've heard the sequel pretty much answers some of the plot points (I've not ever played the 3rd Persona either).

Many thanks in advance guys

[cave hermit]

I played through Persona 4, and I preordered Arena Ultimax despite never playing the first (mainly for the preorder stuff actually). From a quick skim of Wikipedia, it would seem that you wouldn't be too out of the loop if you just play the sequel. It should be noted that since the arena games take place directly after the main game, all of the characterization for existing characters will have already been set up, which might spoil you slightly depending on how far into Persona 4 you are, and the identity of the killer from Persona 4 is pretty much out in the open to the point that he/she has a side story in the game.

[ryu]

I'd assume that the online for both games is pretty much dead on the 360.

Generally with the new game you can expect a livelier online and more characters to choose from. If you only buy the second arena game you can buy a DLC for the story mode of the first arena game (since the new one is a direct continuation of it).

I've heard the sequel pretty much answers some of the plot points

The arena games don't add anything to the plot points of P3 and P4, but are built upon them. The first arena game explained most things from P3&4 iirc, but I wouldn't recommend playing the arena games before the RPGs if you're into the genre.

1.) What are people's thoughts on this / these games (for those who've played them)? I'm assuming there's likely to be some fighter fans on these forums.

Gameplay's good, so if you've played the RPGs and are into fighters you're likely to get something out of these games. The only problem is that the writing is worse than in the RPGs, and some characters have pretty much been turned into caricatures of their former selves. I know people who felt offended by P4A.

[Terramax]

and some characters have pretty much been turned into caricatures of their former selves.

That's almost a direct quote from what a review of it said, I think.

Many thanks for the feedback. TBH, the writing and voice acting of the game itself isn't shining to begin with (and I've been slowly pushing through the game over the best part of 10 months because, at times, it becomes a little too much to bare), so not sure whether it'll annoy men more if the dialogue here is worse, of if I'll be able to brush it off more easily. As, I've never expected a fighting game to have good dialogue or voice acting. It's one of those genres which is destined to have 'bad' written all over any attempts at story - even when based off of a popular franchise.

As for the online - tbh, my experiences with online are that I'm always being put up against people who're always much better than I am. Therefore, it's more than likely I'll be sticking to a single player experience. Especially if I do get the 360 version, as I don't have Xbox Live.
Although, I'm more likely to get the PS3 version now, as it seems the PAL 360 I ordered from Amazon is out of stock, and may not be available for quite a while *sigh*

[ACSeraph]

I've played P4A pretty seriously since the first game came out in arcades here, and I've already finished story mode in Ultimax, so I can give you some impressions

First off, as a single player experience I think it depends on what exactly you are looking for. I think the games are probably hard to appreciate if you haven't played Persona 3 and 4 since they build directly on them. I actually think the writing isn't much weaker than P4 was, just that it's all a bit over the top and there isn't nearly as much time for character development. That said I found, the story mode for the first game to be really excellent. It's really just about one character, Labrys, but her story is well told and you will come to really appreciate her as a character by the end, instead of thinking of her as a random new character thrown in for the fighter.

Ultimax story mode is decidedly weaker, though as mentioned the first game story mode is available as DLC (it was actually included with the LE). I'd say if you love the characters, you will love both games, but if you don't already love them the fighting games won't do anything to change your mind. Just keep in mind that the games are intentionally over the top, sort of playing off how ridiculous fighting games are in general.

Beyond the story though, just generally as a single player fighting game Ultimax is very very good imo. Tons of content, and particularly fun AI. On the highest difficult it will give you endless exciting fights, without ever feeling cheap. This is something Arc Sys has always been good at imo, and Ultimax is probably the best example. The final boss also isnt cheap gimmicky bullshit for once, so you can sit down and have a good fun exciting time without ever wanting to punch a hole through the screen.

As a competetive game, I think it's not really clear yet whether Ultimax is balanced or not. My initial feeling from it is that it is less balanced than the Original game and that the Shadow version characters kind of fuck the game up. Some of them have 100% kill combos if you don't have your burst available, which in my opinion is the mark of a bad competitive game. I'd still take it over BlazBlue, and I still enjoy it quite a bit, but it has it's share of issues.

Anyhow in summary, if you are playing for story, go ahead and beat 4 and 3 first, but if you are just looking for good solid versus AI fighting is probably one of the best around. The competitive value remains to be seen. Also as for Ultimax versus Vanilla, go ahead and stick with Ultimax, because the single player content is better, Vanilla story is available, and Vanilla is competitively dead anyhow.

[Terramax]

*snip*

Many thanks for that dude. I've decided to order the PS3 version. I originally ordered the 360 version, but it seems that the UK console I ordered with it has been delayed, so cancelled that and jumped console.

TBH, I'm not a fan of Arc System's games and that's what's held me back. I liked the first Guilty Gear on the PSX, but the games have gotten progressively worse with ridiculously unfair bosses, and slower and slower action. I last bought Blazblue for the Vita, and I was appauled at just how slow the action was in that game. Got it on the 360 recently (the Japanese one I just sold) for 100yen and I felt ripped off at that price. I couldn't play more than 2 fights.

However, the action in this game seems much faster paced, and having really started getting into P4G on the Vita again, I've finally tipped over the edge to get it.

BTW whereabouts in Japan do you live? I'm currently situated in the edge of Ibaraki.

[mariusrhpsd]

TBH, I'm not a fan of Arc System's games and that's what's held me back. I liked the first Guilty Gear on the PSX, but the games have gotten progressively worse with ridiculously unfair bosses, and slower and slower action.

I'm actually worried about how you play fighting games, or if we are talking about the same franchise here, the guilty gear series did nothing but get better and faster with the time (except for xrd, but it was a necessary downgrade to exist in the modern market)

I last bought Blazblue for the Vita, and I was appauled at just how slow the action was in that game [...] However, the action in this game seems much faster paced

I hope you're talking about cs extend on the vita, which is indeed slower than p4a/au, but coming from bbcp to p4au the game feels sluggish, the balance is laughable and the damage is all over the place, almost mvc levels of ludicrous damage (good for beat em ups, BAD for real fg's)

[ACSeraph]

Hmmm yeah I think GG has become nothing but more refined over the years, though I agree the bosses can be dumb. If you don't like the general style of Arc Sys I'm not sure Persona will change your mind.

coming from bbcp to p4au the game feels sluggish, the balance is laughable and the damage is all over the place, almost mvc levels of ludicrous damage (good for beat em ups, BAD for real fg's)

I find the speed of the two pretty similar personally, and CP has plenty of fucked up points of its own. My friends and I are the opposite here, dropping CP relatively quickly in favor of persona. It's probly a matter of personal taste.

GGXXAC+R fo lyfe!

BTW whereabouts in Japan do you live? I'm currently situated in the edge of Ibaraki.

I'm up in the soon to be snow-covered wastelands of Akita. Must be nice to be so close to Tokyo...

[Doctor Butler]

Skip the first one. No one will be playing it, they'll all be on Ultimax.

[mariusrhpsd]

I find the speed of the two pretty similar personally, and CP has plenty of fucked up points of its own. My friends and I are the opposite here, dropping CP relatively quickly in favor of persona. It's probly a matter of personal taste.

i dunno, because of unblockable antiairs, retarded hitboxs, universal dps, the game feels fairly sluggish and bland, just safe jump over and over again, just confirm for 5~7k and the game is over in 2 combos from almost any confirm, bb on that aspect is more grounded, and the cast feels more "unique", maybe it's just the highschool setting of persona 4 that i can't entirely digest, I just can't bring myself to like any of the characters

[ACSeraph]

Fair enough I think. I often hear complaints about the universal DPs, and I guess in a perfect world they would have actual commands ala Street Fighter, but I'll still take it over the BB system of just not having them at all.

My issue with BB is that it doesn't give you enough ways to get people off of you and the combos feel way too long, and hurt the pacing. I feel like you spend more time dialing/watching-the dialing than you actually do playing, so in that sense I prefer Persona's somewhat more SF-ish rock paper scissors system. I do think "safe jump and confirm for the win" is a bit of an oversimplification though, easier said than done.

(Also it doesn't help that my favorite character in CP is Izayoi, kind of skews my perception of the balance a bit)

[Terramax]

TBH, I'm not a fan of Arc System's games and that's what's held me back. I liked the first Guilty Gear on the PSX, but the games have gotten progressively worse with ridiculously unfair bosses, and slower and slower action.

I'm actually worried about how you play fighting games, or if we are talking about the same franchise here, the guilty gear series did nothing but get better and faster with the time (except for xrd, but it was a necessary downgrade to exist in the modern market)

I last bought Blazblue for the Vita, and I was appauled at just how slow the action was in that game [...] However, the action in this game seems much faster paced

I hope you're talking about cs extend on the vita, which is indeed slower than p4a/au, but coming from bbcp to p4au the game feels sluggish, the balance is laughable and the damage is all over the place, almost mvc levels of ludicrous damage (good for beat em ups, BAD for real fg's)

Don't worry about how I play fighting games. I play them to have fun. The way all games should be played.

Well, I owned Blazblue on the Vita and 360. I thought both of them sucked. Just a matter of taste. Good on to anyone who does like those games.

Arc System's fighters are just really, REALLY slow. Their characters move like snails, and they have a vary limited number of moves. They're basically fighting games for hardcore fighting fans. Not everyone out there wants to have to spend 50 hours training on a fighter in order for it to be accessible. The reason the older Street Fighters are still the best is because everyone can enjoy them.

Anyways, I found out the PS3 Persona game was region locked. I thought I read somewhere that a patch was made to make it region free, but I guess not. However, my 360 is on its way, so ordered a 360 copy, which is great, as I prefer the 360 console anyways. Now I just have to decide what to do with this useless PS3 copy. Guess I'll stick it on ebay and get a fraction of the money back.

[ACSeraph]

Thought you were going for Ultimax, which I was under the impression was region free (unlike the original). Is it locked after all?

Arc System's fighters are just really, REALLY slow. Their characters move like snails, and they have a vary limited number of moves..

Hmmm, I really can't understand how you could think this. Maybe if we are talking about SF4... Or are you just playing an intentionally slow character like Potemkin? What is your idea of a fast fighting game? I agree they are definitely hardcore-centric, but slow? Speed is literally Arc System's thing.

[NeoStrayCat]

@ACSeraph
P4A is region locked period, Ultimax isn't.

Anyways P4A/U varies rather differently between the 2, but whatever goes for you, its fun for its fighting, and stuff.

[Squire Grooktook]

I agree they are definitely hardcore-centric, but slow? Speed is literally Arc System's thing.

Guilty Gear is one of the fastest fighters out there, but Blazblue always felt a little chunky to me in comparison. Might be just me though.

[Terramax]

Arc System fighter's movements are snails in comparison to the old 2D Street Fighter games, IMO. Even when characters are running in Guilty Gear, they seem to take forever in a day. BlazBlue even worse. I've played as all characters. Their games are just feel slow, period.

[ACSeraph]

Sure the old SF's running turbo (standard speeds are definitely slow) are faster, but no way would I consider any of the arc sys stuff slow. They are faster than basically anything from SNK, any 3D game, and most (but not all) of Capcom's newer stuff. If you're looking for a game as fast as SSFIIT you aren't going to find it from any modern offerings.

[KAI]

Even when characters are running in Guilty Gear, they seem to take forever in a day.

Wut? Most of the SF players I know can't get into GG cause they think the game is fast and frenetic as hell.

[Squire Grooktook]

Guilty Gear's walk speed is slower than Sf, but their dash speed is way, way, way faster.