The arena expands even further

Persona 4 Arena fans just got a long-awaited update. Atlus announced today, during Evo 2022, that the rollback netcode update for Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is rolling out today to PlayStation 4 and Steam.

Atlus and developer Arc System Works had announced earlier this year that the Persona 4 Arena Ultimax re-release would be getting rollback. However, it wouldn't be in at launch, but arriving as part?? of a post-launch update.

The date, as it so happens, is today. Evo 2022 just kicked off, and Atlus announced that th??e update is live for both PS4 and Steam. No mention of Nintendo Switch roll??back, however.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpOQ9dJ6Lfg

PlayStation owners should only need to update their consoles. Steam users, meanwhile, will need to opt into the rollback netcode beta branch. Details have been laid out on Persona 4 Arena Ultimax's Steam feed, and it's fairly easy to do.

Sky's the limit

It's really exciting to see this, as someone who dove deep back into the Persona arena when it got a re-release. Not only is it still a fantastic fighting game, filled with really enjoyable characters to learn and fight against, but it's got an incredible style too. As more and more fighting games turn to 3D, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax feels like a relic of classic 2D art and design.

And now, those beautiful bouts should be much more playable online. If you're unfamiliar with rollback netcode, Hold Back to Block has an excellent explainer on the topic. But the short of it is that rollback netcode makes it easier to play fighting games like Persona 4 Arena Ultimax with fewer apparent connection issues. Smoother fighting means a better experience, and a higher li??kelihood that I'll keep hitting the rematch option in the menu.

The Persona 4 Arena Ultimax rollback netcode update rolls out today for PlayStation and Steam players. Meanwhile, if you're still in a fighting mood, you can tune into Evo 2022 this weekend for even more action.

The post Person??a 4 Arena Ultimax gets rollba??ck netcode today for PS4 and PC appeared first on Destructoid.

P4AU is still an excellent game, even if it could use some modern touch-ups

The nice thing about the new re-release Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is that it's just how you remember Persona 4 Arena in the first place. It is still the RPG-infused fighter that has the stellar cast of characters from Personas 3 and 4. It's still fast and fun, with a lot of depth and a good variety of playstyles. If any of? that's your chief concern, then? don't be too worried.

Where Persona 4 Arena Ultimax earns an asterisk on its recommendation is how it is, still, a game from 2013 and 2014. The re-release of Ultimax occasionally feels out-of-time in less-than-desirable ways, like lacking explanation on certain m?echanics and netcode that will eventually be rollback, but isn't at launch.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBbtdKZoqlA

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (PS4 [played], Switch, PC)
Developer: Arc System Works, Atlus
Publisher: Sega
Release: March 17, 2022
MSRP: $29.99

For those who never took the plunge in the first place, I'm mostly there with you. I played a handful of Persona 4 Arena matches in college, but most of my experience with these characters was with their guest appearances in BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle. It's exciting to finally play as the Persona crew?? in their own fighting game, and in the systems made specifically for them.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a one-on-one fighting game, with the anime fighter aspects of air-dashing and potentially long combos. The big distinction is the Persona system; every fighter can strike with their own weapons or use their Persona, their spirit companion, to attack the enemy. Personas can do some pretty big attacks with some devastating effects, but they're limited both by the number of cards available and can be stuffed—hit by the opponent—to b??e temporarily taken out of the action.

With an SP meter and, for most characters, a number of individual meters to watch alongside the universal ones, this is a knowledge-heavy game. Pl??aying Aigis means keeping an eye on my Persona usage, SP, number of bullets, and Orgia meter alongside my health. Others like Yuki??ko or Akihiko just have simple counters, but still have a resource to consider and adapt to.

I don't think this required knowledge is a fault; I actually like that each character has their own sub-system that they make decisions around, and it's interesting seeing how those decisions interact with the actual fight on-screen. When I fight Junpei, I'm not just considering my own game plan, but his efforts to score runners on a miniature baseball game playing out on the bottom of the screen. It?'s fun and rewarding to master, and it really encourages newcomers to get familiar with one fighter at a time. Not a bad habit to reinforce.

What still feels lacking is lessons on how this all works. Some techniques, like Aigis' Orgia mode, get explained in special tutorials. Others, like Junpei's baseball gameplay, get a little learn-by-playing moment in challenges, but not many la??id-out explanations. I found out a few quirks and mechanics just from having a Wiki page open while practicing different characters, and that really seems like the way to learn this stuff.

I don't hold this against Persona 4 Arena Ultimax too much, as it's really just trying to bring forward a game from 2013 to modern systems. But if you're a newcomer used to the more in-depth tutorials and missions in games like Mortal Kombat 11 or Guilty Gear Strive, you might want to have a second monitor handy.

The absent modern convenience that's a little more annoying, and the actual concern for checking out Ultimax at launch, is the netcode. Atlus has said that rollback netcode is coming to Persona 4 Arena Ultimax not at launch, but later on down the line, targeting this summer.

When I was playing the pre-release version on PS5, with friends on wired connections, all on the same continent, we only had a few hiccups and stutters. But once wireless connections got introduced, lobbies grew, and distances widened, we started to notice a lot more hitching and errors. Considering netplay against friends is a big selling point for a re-release like Ultimax, it's worth knowing that it's not using?? rol??lback right out of the gate.

Even if it's a bit daunting at times for fresh players, I've been really enjoying my time with Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. Its style hasn't faded at all in the years since its first release. The sprite art really brings these characters to life, and I love seeing the updated versions of Persona 3 characters in particular.

Every fighter has their own approach, as well as a Shadow version to mess around with, so there's a lot of variety in the roster. And despite how intimidating so many meters and mechanics to notice might seem, actually playing a match of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is fast and breezy in a good way. Auto-combos can help with early bu?ilding blocks into personalized mix-ups, and it only took a few matches with each character to? get a feel for how they should handle.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax makes a solid case for why this deserved a re-release. And if you're a solo fighting game player or even just a Persona fan, there's a huge wealth of single-player content to dive into here. Ultimax has a ton of single-player options, which is nice for those who aren't looking to just try an??d clim??b the ladder.

Even more than that, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a strong argument for why a Persona 5 Arena would be absolutely phenomenal. Heck yes, I want to see Joker and the Phantom Thieves duke it out with the casts of previous Personas. It might be a dream right n??ow, but let me have it, okay?

If you've been eager for an easier way to play Persona 4 Arena in the year 2022, the good news is that Ultimax delivers exactly that. Nitpicking of some of the external features aside, the gameplay is still good, and I haven't missed an opportunity yet to boot P4AU up and run a couple matches with others. It might sound a little odd to gleefully declare that Ultimax clears the bar of simply being Persona 4 Arena Ultimax on mo?dern systems, but when it's a fighting game like this one, that's a good bar to clear.

_{[These impressions are based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Persona 4 Arena Ultimax stands the test of time appeared first on Destructoid.

Update lagging a few frames, and months

Good news for those eagerly anticipating Atlus' re-release of intense anime fighter Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, as developer Arc System Works has officially confirmed that the new edition of the 2013 fighter will indeed support the much-vaunted rollback ??netcode... Or at least it will in a few months' time.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GDZye4798o

Speaking in a video statement, producer Kazuhisa Wada announced that an update will be headed to the title this coming summer, which will see rollback netcode implemented for the fighter's online modes. This will come as something of a major relief to the Persona 4 Arena community, given that ArcSys and Atlus had previously seemed trepidatious about taking the rollback netcode tech-step, despite its successful implementation into titles such as SNK's The King of Fighters XV. It appears that the rollback tech is only confirmed for the PS4 a??nd PC editions of the fighter.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, which is currently in development for PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch, is an incredibly flashy and fast-paced fighter, that sees a who's who roster of characters from Persona 3 and Persona 4 come together in knock-down, drag-out action. Built upon a typically engaging ArcSys fight engine, P4U won over a dedicated community wi?th its incredible slick visual style, cool soundtrack, and deep combat mechanics. Whether a newcomer or long-time veteran, the re-release will?? give this impressive fighter a new lease of life, powered by modern gaming technology.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax launches M??arch 17 on PS4, PC (Steam), and Nintendo Swit??ch.

The post Persona 4 Arena Ultima?x re-release will receive? rollback netcode post-launch appeared first on Destructoid.

And I never got around to my Elizabeth cosplay

Publisher Atlus and developer Arc System Works have released a short trailer for the upcoming PC port of cult anime fighter Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, which sees the stars of beloved RPGs Persona 3 and Persona 4 g??ather for a very colorful,?? very frantic, and very attractive bout of the ol' fisticuffs.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=US1We7B01r4

From Naoto to Aigis, Chie to Junpei, and Mitsuru to Teddy, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax sees our favorite characters from The Velvet Room and beyond battling it out in spectacular 2D fashion, aided and abetted by a variety of special attacks, unique character mechanics, and, of course, persona powers. The return of Ultimax to the modern fighting game circuit will be celebrated by many �although some players are left reeling that ArcSys is only "considering" rollback netcode for the new release.

Stacked with characters and modes, and filled with the lavish artwork and slick jazz sounds that are the Persona trademark, Arena Ultimax is an enjoyable and well-made (if a little complex) fighting game. It will be good to go toe-to-toe with the drama queen fashionistas of the Persona franchise, and here's hoping that it can build itself a brand new com??munity of both veteran and all-new players.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax launches Ma?rch 17 on PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

The post Recall the fast ‘n’ furious action of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax appeared first on Destructoid.

Revamped online a possibility for rerelease

Atlus and Persona Team are currently beavering away at the recently announced rerelease of 2013 fighting title Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. According to recent comments from the developer, however, those expecting rollback netcode for the wild slugger might be in for a little dis?appointment �at l?east at the title's launch.

In a recent interview with Famitsu, Persona Team producer and creative director Kazuhisa Wada spoke of the project to get the acclaimed title back into the fighting game scene, driven by the success of Persona 4 Golden's 2020 Steam port. While the new release is likely to feature a fresh round of balance checks and bug fixes, it seems that adding the much-celebrated rollback netcode technology is not top of the priority list, and is only being considered for implementation down the line. Wada notes that this release should be considered the "definitive" edition of Persona 4 Arena.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=znZJLRW8v4w

A surprisingly complex, but fantastically feature-packed fighter, the return of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax to modern gaming platforms will most certainly be celebrated by both Persona and fighting game fans alike. Given the recent implementation of rollback netcode in 2D anime fighters such as Guilty Gear Strive, DNF Duel, The King of Fighters XV, and even The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match, it's a little odd to see Atlus not imme?diately j??oin the party.

The idea that rollback functionality may be added "down the line" makes one wonder if Atlus is waiting to see whether the rerelease finds success before they look into network options. If so, that's an odd decision, as successful netcode at launch will facilitate both a community and a competitive scene, an??d thus lead to better sales in the long run.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax will ??launch March 17 on PS4, PC, a??nd Nintendo Switch.

??Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Remastered Interview Discusses Original Development [Persona Central]

The post Atlus ‘considering’ post-launch rollback netcode for Persona 4 Arena Ultimax appeared first on Destructoid.

Strange we never got a Persona 5 Arena

I'm not much of a fighting game fan (at least when compared to other writers for this site) and yet, somehow, my Xbox Series S is starting to fill up with them. There were so many from the last generation of consoles I missed that I keep scooping them up every time there's a sale. Case in point: Persona 4 Arena, which I picked up for about $5 just a few weeks after getting my Series S. And wouldn't you know it, it's probably the most played of the six or seven fighting games I've bought over the last year. It's so good, I'm considering double-dipping with Persona 4 Arena Ultimax on Switch, PlayStation 4, or Steam.

As announced during The Game Awards, Ultimax is making its triumphant return to relevancy early next year. The fighter is a continuation of Persona 4 Golden, which was released to great su?ccess on Steam last year and which I would really like to get on Switch.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=znZJLRW8v4w

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax will release on March 17, 2022. Anybody who owns Persona 4 Golden on Steam can get a 30% discount on Arena Ultimax for a limited time. Additionally, Atlus has confirmed this version of the game will be version 2.50, a version that has neve??r before been released o??n consoles.

The post Persona 4 Arena Ultimax?? land?s on Steam, Switch, and PS4 next year appeared first on Destructoid.

Every fight's great at your Junes

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax launches in Euro?pe on? November 21, Sega announced today.

The fighting game arrived in North America late last month, and was met with near-universal acclaim. With good reason! Atlus and Arc System Works have crafted yet another marvelous experience that should indulge devout Persona fans and fighting game enthusiasts alike.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax dated for Europe [CVG]

The post Persona 4 Ultimax arrives in Europe November 21 appeared first on Destructoid.

It's a knockout!

It's still tough to believe a fighting game based on the Persona series exists, let alone is any good, but Persona 4 Arena certainly came as a pleasant surprise. Atlus? and Arc System Works are two distinctive studios known for creating very different types of experie??nces, but somehow managed to meld their unique strengths into a stellar fusion.

It must have been a difficult task, trying to charm two disparate audiences at once, but the developers proved more than capable of surmounting the challenge. Now they've returned with a followup in Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, hoping to make lightning strike twice.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (PS3 [reviewed], Xbox 360)
Developer: Arc System Works, Atlus
Publisher: Atlus
Released: September 30, 2014
MSRP: $59.99

Ultimax picks up right where P4A left off, taking place almost immediately after the events of the first game in the familiar setting of Inaba. The region suffers a blackout and suddenly is blanketed with a mysterious red fog. It isn't long before shadowy doppelgangers appear and our heroes are thr??ust back into the ring.

Unlike most fighting games, Ultimax honors its RPG lineage by offering a substantial story mode. The narrative plays out much like a visual novel, featuring an abundance of dialo?gue, glossy character art, and vintage tunes from composer Shoji Meg??uro. Oh, and there's a handful of fights tossed in there every so often.

The story is divided across two campaigns, one focusing on the cast of Persona 4, while the other centers around the group from Persona 3. The tale takes place from several vantage points, and struggles with the new structure. You will be forced to witness repetitious events, as one character comes to grips with what's going on, only to see someone else go through a similar scenario. Eventually these threads intertwine an??d the story picks up, but until then it can be a bit of a drag. 

Really though, the conceit is just an excuse to spend more time with characters we know and love. The opportunity to catch up with Yukari Takeba, Junpei Iori, and Ken Amada is a real treat, as the new combatants join the roster and give us a glimpse at what life is like after the events of P3. This isn't the strongest Persona story, but it certainly has its moments.

Maybe you didn't understand anything I just wrote, though. Perhaps you're here for the combat and couldn't care less about Persona. Well,?? Arc System Works still has you covered. This is an exceptional fighting game, irrespective of the source material. It's just one fans of the series will be able to appreciate on a differ??ent level.

Ultimax is the type of exper?ience that takes a day to learn and a lifetime to master. It's simultaneously accessible and incredibly intricate, providing newer players a shallow end of the pool to play in, while veterans are given the tools to go deep sea diving in the Marianas Trench. 

The fighting engine at work here has a myriad of su??b-systems, but is constructed to be incredibly flexible. Hammering on the light attack button will launch the character into a string of impressive-looking combos, which can feel gratifying for the type of person who has trouble pulling off quarter circles consistently.

On the other end of the spectrum, there's an incredible amount of nuance to be discovered for those who wade out of the shallows. Much like with Guilty Gear and BlazBlue, Arc System Works has created a fighter with a satisfying sense of weight and momentum. ?It's fast-paced and the animation is amazingly fluid, which is something everyone can appreciate --  whether for focusing on landing those one-frame links or just for the s??pectacle.

Ultimax also helps bridge the gap between players of varying skill levels with its practice modes. The lessons on hand here go at great lengths to communicate the basics, ??and really set beginners on the path to masterin?g the systems at play.

The game's real strength is in its roster, which is sure to please Persona fans and fighting game aficionados alike. There's a wide variety of characters with equally diverse play-styles, ranging from keep-away and rushdown characters to zoning types and grapp??lers. There's something here for everyone.

One of my favorite parts of the experience is how faithful it is to the source material. Little things like new addition Rise Kujikawa swinging around a microphone stand in battle or just seeing Persona Skills and All-Out Attacks recreated so lovingly in a fighting game make the m?oment to moment gameplay such a joy.

Aside from Rise and the trio of new P3 characters, the most notable addition is newcomer Sho Minazuki. Sho is the game's antagonist and comes in two forms, one of which doesn't have a Persona. To make up for that shortcoming, he's incredibly fast and powerful -- maybe a little too fast and powerful. I sup?po??se time will tell if that is the case.

Most of the characters also come equipped with Shadow variants. These are more precarious skill-based fighters that sacrifice normal attack damage, defense, and instant kills?. In exchange, they gain the ability to carry SP across matches and rampage, granting them an infinite amount of SP for a limited time. So loo??k out for that!

Beyond the story and standard modes like arcade and versus are score attack and the Golden Arena, which should be something of a curiosity for anyone lo??oking for a more RPG-like experience. While the main game already incorporates little touches like temporary status ailments for players who fight too defensively, (in an effort to encourage aggressive play) the Golden Arena lets you ?fight through "dungeons." There, you will attempt to survive while leveling up, improving your stats, and learning new skills. It even involves building Social Links with your navigator character.

The netcode seems largely unchanged from P4A, which was just fine. My tests with the online features were lag free and completely functional. One new component is a lobby area that is set up to look like an arcade. It's a nice little addition that allows you to design a Persona-style avatar and sit down at a cabinet with another player to initiate a match. Yep. It's pretty ?adorable.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is pretty much everything a fan could ask for. It's a satisfying, high-octane fighter that's synchronously accessible and fathomless. Atlus and Arc System Works have forged an experience that tops its predecessor, adding new content, characters, and story to the mix; thereby coming as an easy recommendation to both Persona fans and fighting game enthusiasts alike. 

The post Review: Persona 4 Arena Ultimax appeared first on Destructoid.

Also, that initial shock at Margaret's new voice

Marie and Adachi will be free to download for the first week of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax's release. On October 7, they ??revert to paid DLC, at which point the Sadistic Stud-Keeping Secretary of the Velvet Room, Margaret, will release as well. Each character will cost $5. 

The post Margaret, Marie, Adachi will be $5 DLC in Per?sona 4?? Ultimax appeared first on Destructoid.

Yo-Kai Watch 2 dethroned after nearly two months as Japan's best-seller

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax made its debut ??atop the Japanese software charts with 89,000 units sold, according to the latest figures from? sales tracking authority Media Create.

In doing so, the fighting game from Atlus and Arc System Works managed to usurp Yo-Kai Watch 2's position after a seven consecutive week reign as the best-selling game in the land. The Level-5 role-playing game has ??moved more than 2.35 million units since it launc??hed in July.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax arrives in North America starting September 30.

The post Persona 4 Ultimax tops Japanese sales charts appeared first on Destructoid.

Also, Adachi and Marie English trailers

Here it is. Formerly rumored and now in butt kickin' video form, Margaret is making her way to Persona 4 Ultimax Arena's roster.

Free-for-the-first-week DLC characters Adachi and Marie also got English trailers, below, ahead of the September 30 release date. Actually, there are quite a few new Persona 4 Ultimax videos on both the American and Japanese Atlus channels&nbs??p;if you want to spoil yourself rotten a month out.

The post Margaret is in ??Persona ??4 Ultimax: Watch her casually kill everyone appeared first on Destructoid.

HNNNNNG!!!!!

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax hits the streets on September 30, Atlus USA confirmed today. So mark your calend??ars and try to be patient. Waiti?ng seven long weeks is going to feel like an eternity.

The post Atlus: Persona 4 Ultimax launches September 30 appeared first on Destructoid.

Hollow Forest Tsundere Poet

Beating on people with your handbag is less cool than beating on people with a folding chair, but it's still pretty cool. Also, throwing presents at them. Very sweet. Marie will be paid DLC for Persona 4 Ultimax.

And can we talk about that music? So fun. 

The post Marie’s persona in Persona 4 Ultimax is so pretty appeared first on Destructoid.

Also, lobby

The waifu wars rage on as Marie joins the cast of the region free Persona 4 Ultimax. She is the second DLC character announced for the game. The first, Adachi, will be free for the first week of launch before reve?rting to paid DLC.

If you can't resist buying Marie, she'll fight using ?;the c?ontents of her bag and the Persona Kaguya. That's all we know for now. 

Persona 4 Ultimax is also adding an online lobby where you can gather, chat, set up battles, and move an avatar around Persona locations, like Junes. 

Marie joins Persona 4 Arena? Ultimax as post-launch DLC [Gematsu]

The post Hollow Forest Tsundere Poet: Mari????e joins Persona 4 Ultimax as DLC appeared first on Destructoid.

Atlus and Mad Catz want all your money

Atlus and Mad Catz are joining forces to create an fightstick for Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, and she's a real looker. Designed in collaboration with members of the Persona develo??pment team, the controller is said to be e??asily customizable and compatible with both PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.

No word on when or where you can pick this beauty up, but Persona 4 Arena Ultimax heading to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this fall. Until then, why not give our E3 preview a quick look-see?

This fighting game is looking beary cool!

MADCATZコラボアーケードコントローラー発売決定！ [Persona Channel]

The post Ch?eck out this rad Persona 4 Arena? Ultimax arcade stick appeared first on Destructoid.

Rise's mini-game super move

Atlus let me touch Persona Q on the first day of E3 during a private meeting. That was a mistake on their part. The main problem is that I didn’t want to stop. The other problem is that they told me I couldn’t write about the version I played -- double tease. But getting my hands on Persona 4 Arena Ultimax for the first ?time? made me feel a bit better about the situation. 

 I’m by no means a skilled fighting game player, but I am a massive Persona series fan, and even as a novice I really enjoyed its predecessor. This new version adds some of the Persona 3 cast, a new character, and shadow versions of all characters to the mix, no?t to mention new story lines (my favorite?? part) to experience.

Just as was the case with its predecessor, P4AU is a sight to behold thanks to the 2D masterminds at Arc System Works. If you’re like me and aren’t that great at fighters, you’ll still get a lot of mileage out of this game by seeing your favorite Persona characters animated in such a spectacular way. I love playing with the alternative color schemes, too. Fighting up against what we were calling Ganguro ?Rise was pretty great. Speaking of, if you haven’t heard, Rise Kujikawa graduates from announcer to playable character in P4AU. 

Being a casual player, most of my time with the game was spent playing around with special moves and enjoying their accompanying animations. I got in? a few good Yukiko vs. Rise matches. Approaching the game in this way, I didn’t mind dying at all, espe??cially given that I got to see Rise’s Awakened super move, which is actually a rhythm mini-game. 

From what I saw, I expect to get the same level of enjoyment from Persona 4 Arena Ultimate as I did its predecessor. I enjoyed playing with all of the characters, trying out their moves, exploring their respective stories, and taking on friends in casual matches. For me, this game is Persona enough to be enjoyable even if it is outside my wheelhouse. Of course, for the well-versed figh??ting game fan, there’s another level of enjoyment offered here on top of that.

I expect that fans of both types will be pleased this fall when Persona 4 Arena Ultimax releases for PS3 and Xbox 360 this fall.

The post Persona 4 Arena Ultimax first hands-on at E3 2014 appeared first on Destructoid.

Teddie punching bag comes with Persona 4 Arena Ultimax pre-orders

Atlus always seems to pack in awesome bonus items with its games. Shin Megami Tensei IV had that huge strategy guide, Dragon's Crown an art book, and virtually everything else Atlus publishes at least get??s a complimentary soundtrack disc. The studio definitely knows how to make its hardcore fans feel appreciated.

The icing atop the cake that is Persona 4 Arena Ultimax will be extra special, though. It is the stuff of dreams. An inflatable punching bag shaped like Teddie. Soon I'll be able to do something I've wanted to do since playing Persona 4 for the very first t?ime -??- smack that annoying bear upside the head.

The forthcoming fighting game will also come with a set of tarot cards for Arcanas 0-X, which make a complete set with those included with Persona Q. To get your hands on all this great stuff you need only pre-order the game or pick up a copy of the first printing at launch. Don't miss out. You don't to lose your chance?? at punching Teddie!

The post Want to punch Persona 4’s Teddie in the face? Here’s how you can do just that appeared first on Destructoid.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Premium Newcomer Package

Japan is going to get both Persona 4 Arena and Persona 4 Arena Ultimax in one package when it's released on August 28. The Premium Newcomer Package as it's being called will include the story mode from the original game, all the glasses set, 12 additional BGMs, and additional navigators Teddie and Mitsuru. All ?of this is downloadable content, with the only physical bonus being an illustration from Shigenori Soejima.

The package will run for 8,315 yen for the PlayStation 3. Ultimax by itself will run for 6,980 yen.

??Japanese Persona 4 Arena Ultimax ‘Premium Newcomer Package’ includ?es full story mode from original game [Gematsu]

The post ??Japan getting both Persona 4 Arena games in one package appeared first on Destructoid.

Premium Newcomer Package

What a great idea. If you missed Persona 4 Arena and are planning to start out with its upcoming sequel, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, you m??ay be pleased to hear that Arc System Works has prepared a s??pecial Premium Newcomer Package DLC that will contain the story of the first game. 

Siliconera reports that other included goodies were revealed in the latest Famitsu piece on the game. A glasses set for all characters, an additional 12-song music track set, and a Navigator tryout set (Teddie and Mitsuru) are also? to be included. The date and price have not been set, and we're assuming that this is a Japan-only thing for now. 

The post Persona 4 Arena Ultimax DLC contains first game’s story appeared first on Destructoid.

Adachi, baby.

Atlus updated their YouTube feed this morning with new trailers for Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, all full of  awesome moves, quick transitions, and lots of yelling by the Japanese announcer. It's almost too m?uch to take this early in the morning. 

First off, Rise. Rise. Rise! This was exactly what I was hoping to see in a new trailer.

In the first one below, you'll see Yukari in action? in h??er pink stretchy suit, Stupei being stupid (kidding -- he looks awesome), and Sho Minazuki being all intrudery and villainy. 

The one after that is packed with voice wo?rk examples, and what looks like a tease for... Adachi? Baby!

The post YES: A bunch of new ??Persona 4 Arena Ultimax videos appeared first on Destructoid.

Coming Fall 2014

Arc System Works are bringing the sequel to Persona 4 Arena to PS3 and Xbox 360 this year. The P-1 Climax tournament is back, this time with familiar faces like Yukari Takega and Junpei Iori joining up, as well as new kid Sho Minaz??uki. They'v??e also added new 1-hit special attacks to the mix. 

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax will launch this fall. 

The post Persona 4 Arena Ultimax confirmed for Nort??h America appeared first on Destructoid.