Persona 4 Arena by Herschel Blue​
Arc System Works and Atlus have teamed up to bring a new fighter to the Fighting Game Scene, Persona 4 Arena. At first glance, P4A comes off as a fan service to the fans of the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona fans, but I know like many other gamers, no fighter is EXACTLY the same. If you're familiar with other Arc Sys fighters, you'll be very familiar with the BURST functions as well as the cancel systems such as Rapid Cancel (Called One More in P4A). At the start, you'll have a slight familiarization to P4A's battle system.
Playing to the style of P4A didn't take that long to get used to honestly. In fact, the play style of the game pulls quite well from its RPG counterpart. Having the "1More" system to cancel actions during combos, the "All-Out Attacks" to get a maximum of 16 hits with a launch, and the representation and actions of each character's personas definitely brings out the "homage" factor to the game. Online rooms with "Practice While You Wait" are a big thing with fighters now and P4A doesn't disappoint when it comes to sticking with the times.
One aspect which is good yet bad to me is the story mode of the game. The visual novel setting works well with the setting of the game as it is the counterpart to an RPG, but it takes away from the speed of the game. Visual novel style is fine, of course coming from a RPG turned fighter, but I need a little less explanation and a little more interactivity to satisfy. Having a little coach on your side when fighting against other players is fine and dandy, but annoying so definite props to Arc Sys for having the option to turn that off! (Nanako is fine though.)
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Overall, gameplay is simple, but for this game solid. Fighting in P4A is different than most fighters for their Auto-combo system. When pressing A or light attack more than twice in succession, your character goes into a unique auto-combo. Given that you have enough special meter, this combo will end in a special if completed. Great for newcomers, but a little hectic to deal with; five year olds just got good folks. Not that big of a cast, but this isn't Guilty Gear. You can't expect much from a niche fighter, it's all take it or leave it.
The trial mode set for learning the character as well as the lesson mode to learn the basics of the game is a big plus. Completing the trials for a character up to #29 would make any beginner understand their favorite character and give them confidence to play. As far as taking from the RPGs of both Persona 3 and 4, Arc Sys did a very good job, so props to them for understanding and pulling out every bit they could to mold into a solid fighter. Score Attack is also back as another feature seen from other Arc Sys and still as interesting as the one found in BlazBlue.
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The biggest downside to the game is the playable cast, but considering what the game takes from, it can't be seen as a real complaint, especially because this isn't a crossover between Persona 3 and 4, but a continuation of the story for both games.
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Blac Tape TV gives this game a good 7.5 out of 10. Good game, but it's not the best. Has potential but coming out the gate, it's still just a homage to the increasingly popular Persona 4 RPG. A keeper for collectors and fans alike. In the end, it's a HIT OR MISS.
