Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Hands-On Impressions – What’s New?

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax returns to the PlayStation 4 with new ports. The Switch and PC will get them next week. The game has been in my hands since the late night, as I battled in the Midnight Channel.

So what is Ultimax’s port and how does it differ from its previous release on Xbox 360 or PS3? To put it simply, this is Persona 4 Arena Ultimax with everything that was ever released for the game on consoles with something a little extra on top. The package contains all of the DLC, which includes every character, color scheme and voice-over pack. What makes this release special is the addition of the balance changes made to the arcade version that was never implemented on consoles, including making the roster of Shadow characters more competitively viable. While those who aren’t interested in the P4A story won’t notice much, fighting game enthusiasts will appreciate this rebalanced roster.

If you’re a Persona fan coming to Arena for the narrative for the first time, this package is the best way to experience it. Not only is the full Ultimax story included, which plays out with voiced Persona 4-esque dialog scenes broken up with matches against the CPU, but the entire original Persona 4 Arena’s story is here as well. The game includes some helpful features for newcomers to fighting games such as flashy auto combos that can be performed by mashing one button. There are also special moves that can be unleashed by holding an attack button, charging a meter to the desired point, and releasing it to perform the move. This attack is only for CPU opponents, but it will help you get through story mode battles.

Ultimax has yet to see another major change. It won’t for several months. This summer will see a major overhaul of the online netcode. It will be upgraded to a rollback solution, which typically offers a more smooth experience than the delayed-based code included with the game. The game’s online experience is still not the best I can recall. 

This Ultimax version is just as you would expect. The four-button fighter is still there, but it has a Persona twist. This makes the game more accessible for casual gamers and offers more depth to those who are serious about their games. This game also serves as the dual sequel of two Persona games. It brings together fan favorite characters Persona 3 (and Persona 4), to help solve the mystery that has beset the Midnight Channel and Inaba. Kim Wallace’s Ultimax review is a great resource for Persona 4 Arena new players. I believe it still holds true to the current version. For those who are looking to get back into P4 Arena, this version that will release on March 17 for PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC will be a great reason to give it a shot once again.