Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Reviews

there is just something about this game that makes me always come back to it.

Such an amazing fighting game! Too bad it has come down to being a Discord fighter

Offline mode Matches run slow and floaty, not sure why.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, developed by Arc System Works in collaboration with Atlus, is a high-octane 2D fighting game that fuses the stylish, character-driven storytelling of the Persona series with the deep, combo-rich mechanics typical of Arc’s pedigree. Initially released in arcades and on consoles in the early 2010s, the game arrived on Steam in 2022, bringing with it a host of visual upgrades, gameplay refinements, and all previously released content, including additional characters and story scenarios. What makes Ultimax special isn’t just its mechanical depth or its narrative ambition, but how successfully it bridges two traditionally separate audiences—JRPG fans and fighting game aficionados—into one cohesive, electric experience. At its core, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a direct sequel to Persona 4 Arena, itself a continuation of the events following Persona 4 and Persona 3. Unlike the turn-based roleplaying structure of the mainline games, Ultimax embraces the fighting genre without sacrificing narrative complexity. Its story mode is robust and fully voiced, offering an intricate, multi-perspective narrative told through visual novel-style cutscenes. It weaves together the casts of P3 and P4 in a story involving shadow selves, a mysterious red fog, and a menacing new antagonist known as Sho Minazuki. For longtime fans, the game offers a rare opportunity to see beloved characters interact across timelines, exploring unresolved threads and emotional arcs with surprising depth for a genre known more for arcade ladders than character development. Mechanically, Ultimax shines as a competitive fighter. Each character, from Yu Narukami’s balanced fundamentals to Aigis’s stance-based zoning or Elizabeth’s unorthodox Persona-reliant playstyle, feels distinct and finely tuned. The Persona mechanic itself—where each fighter can summon a separate Persona to extend combos or apply pressure—adds a unique layer of strategy not found in most traditional fighters. Managing your Persona gauge is essential, as overuse or mistimed attacks can lead to temporary deactivation, forcing players to fight without key tools. This risk-reward dynamic is a brilliant translation of the RPG's summoning system into fighting game terms and plays a critical role in higher-level play. One of the more accessible elements of Ultimax is its combo system, which includes auto-combos that allow newer players to engage with flashy moves and finishers without complex input execution. However, beneath that accessibility lies a deep combo engine full of cancels, bursts, instant kills, and intricate pressure setups. Arc System Works excels at providing mechanical depth that can appeal to tournament players without alienating genre newcomers, and Ultimax is no exception. Players who invest time will find a rewarding training mode, numerous character variations—including “Shadow” versions with altered movesets and resource systems—and a diverse cast capable of expressing a wide range of playstyles. Visually, the game is still a stunner. Its sprite work and character animations are some of the finest examples of 2D fighting aesthetics, enhanced further by crisp UI design, smooth transitions, and dynamic backgrounds that reference familiar Persona locations like Yasogami High and Tartarus. Character intros, win poses, and special attacks all ooze personality, with each fighter’s identity reflected not just in voice and dialogue, but in movement and style. The addition of rollback netcode in post-release updates greatly improves the online experience on Steam, addressing a major weakness from earlier versions. Matches now feel significantly more responsive, making online play viable for both casual and competitive players. The soundtrack, as expected from a Persona spin-off, is another standout feature. Remixes of iconic tracks like “Reach Out to the Truth,” “Mass Destruction,” and “Time to Make History” blend with new, high-energy battle themes that maintain the musical identity of the series while matching the pace of a fighting game. Sound design, from Persona summon effects to super move explosions, is equally polished, providing satisfying feedback for each action. Voice acting is top-tier across the board, with most of the original English cast reprising their roles, delivering both comedic banter and emotionally charged moments with equal effectiveness. In terms of content, Ultimax offers a strong single-player package with multiple story routes, arcade ladders, score attack modes, and character challenges. The RPG-style Golden Arena mode is an interesting twist, allowing players to level up characters and acquire passive skills, which adds progression to what is normally a skill-based genre. For completionists or lore enthusiasts, there’s a treasure trove of dialogue, artwork, and unlockables that further flesh out the world and its characters. While the story can be dense and text-heavy—particularly for those unfamiliar with the mainline games—it’s also one of the most ambitious and well-executed narratives in any fighting game. That said, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is not without its caveats. Its learning curve can still be steep for newcomers despite the inclusion of accessible mechanics, especially when transitioning from casual to competitive play. The story, while rich, relies heavily on prior knowledge of Persona 3 and 4, making it somewhat impenetrable for outsiders. The lack of a true tutorial system at launch was a missed opportunity, though later patches and community guides help bridge the gap. Additionally, the game does little to reinvent the fighting genre formula, sticking to familiar Arc System Works frameworks rather than pushing bold new mechanical frontiers. Ultimately, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a masterclass in spin-off design. It honors the source material with reverence while offering a complete, exciting, and stylish fighting game experience on its own merits. For Persona fans, it’s a narrative-rich continuation of beloved characters and arcs. For fighting game players, it’s a fast-paced, layered system that rewards precision and creativity. Its presence on Steam breathes new life into a once-niche title, bringing with it quality-of-life improvements and a renewed player base. Whether you come for the aesthetics, the combat, or the continuation of a cherished story, Ultimax delivers a standout experience that proves once again that style and substance can go hand in hand. Rating: 9/10

this game is the best 2d fighter. and it's not my first in the genre. that says something.

amazing fighter, never played one as good as this although im not really a fighting game guy. also needs more players as online matches are few and far between

So I went into Persona 4 Arena Ultimax mostly because I’m a big fan of the Persona series—hadn’t played any Arc System Works games before this, so I didn’t know what to expect. Turns out, this game is way better than I thought! The fighting mechanics are super solid. It’s easy to get into thanks to auto-combos, but there’s a lot of depth if you want to go deeper. Even as someone new to ArcSys games, I found it fun to learn and satisfying to pull off combos. The addition of rollback netcode (added in a post-launch update) made online play feel smooth and responsive, which is huge for a fighting game. The story mode is another highlight—yeah, it’s more of a visual novel than anything, but if you're into Persona 3 and 4, it’s cool to see the story continue and how the characters interact post-game. The roster is great too, with a nice mix from both games and some cool originals. It also looks fantastic with that anime art style, and the soundtrack really nails the Persona vibe while keeping things hype during fights. Plus, the game runs well on most PCs and lets you pick English or Japanese voices. Now, it's not all perfect. The story mode can feel like a lot of reading if you're mostly here to fight, and some folks have reported the occasional performance dip. Also, the online community isn’t huge, so finding matches can be hit or miss. Still, I had a great time with it—and if ArcSys ever makes a Persona 5 Arena in the future, I’m 100% there. This game made me a believer. ★★★★☆

I'm so glad this fighting game is canon to the P3 and the P4 story because if it wasn't I wouldn't of played this great game

The most painful thing about this game is that i got the "steam cannon event". Your asking wtf is a "steam cannon event"? Welp its when your buying a game that your friend promised to play with you but you've played 2 hours + and now you cant returned it and the friend wont play it with you. But the game is tuff if you play it with friends and it has a story. Tip: I recommend playing persona 4 or persona 4 Golden and persona 3 first cuz the game have a lot of spoilers in it.

Ignore the game being "unsupported" on Steam Deck. Get ProtonGE to have functional video cutscenes in story mode, everything else works flawlessly. Join [P4AU] Persona Fight Club on Discord to find online matches.