Persona 4 Arena Ultimax

"Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a highly enjoyable 2D fighting game that will appeal to fans of any skill level. If you are a fan of the Blazblue series, you will love this game even more as both games are very similar in looks and gameplay."

86%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

optimization, stability

86% User Score Based on 2,808 reviews

Critic Score 86%Based on 9 reviews

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About

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a single player and multiplayer arcade fighting game. It was developed by Arc System Works and was released on March 16, 2022. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a fighting game that follows the events of Persona 3 and Persona 4. It features a variety of characters from the Persona series, each with their own unique abilities and Personas. The game includes a story mode that continues the investigation of the Midnight Channel, as well as multiplayer modes for online and local play.

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,808 reviews

story98 positive mentions

optimization9 negative mentions

Engaging story mode that continues the narratives of Persona 3 and 4, filled with character interactions and fan service.
Fun and accessible fighting mechanics, allowing both newcomers and experienced players to enjoy the game.
Great visuals and soundtrack, maintaining the aesthetic and musical quality of the Persona series.

Poorly optimized PC port with frequent crashes, audio issues, and lack of proper resolution scaling.
Online multiplayer is nearly dead, with connection issues and no lobby system, making it hard to find matches.
Repetitive story mode that can feel tedious, requiring players to play through similar events from different character perspectives.

story
553 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
77%
5%
The story in "Persona 4 Arena Ultimax" serves as a continuation of the narratives from both "Persona 3" and "Persona 4," featuring a mix of character interactions and plot developments that fans of the series may appreciate. However, many reviewers criticize the execution, noting that the storytelling can be repetitive and drawn out, with multiple character perspectives often retelling the same events, leading to a tedious experience. While the game offers a robust visual novel-style narrative, it is recommended primarily for those already familiar with the Persona series, as newcomers may find it confusing and less engaging.
- “The game delivers an accessible yet deep fighting experience, fantastic visuals, and an engaging story, all with the charm and personality that persona fans have come to expect.”
- “The story mode is another highlight; 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 story itself is filled with character interactions, stories, and fan service which you will love if you played Persona 3 and 4.”
- “In regards to the story mode, while conceptually the idea of the Persona 3 and Persona 4 cast interacting is very interesting, in terms of presentation it is fairly weak.”
- “While some of the stories are somewhat unique, it will get very slogging and boring quickly having to read through the same story over and over again just so you get the full picture.”
- “Don't play this for the story; the story modes drag on, repeating story points unnecessarily, and most of what you're doing is reading text with the rare fight in between.”
gameplay
217 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
54%
3%
The gameplay of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is praised for its depth and accessibility, blending traditional fighting mechanics with unique elements from the Persona series, such as the persona system and character-specific abilities. While the game offers a fun and engaging experience for both newcomers and veterans, some players note issues with online play and a steep learning curve for mastering advanced techniques. Overall, it successfully combines fast-paced combat with a rich character roster, making it appealing to both fighting game enthusiasts and Persona fans.
- “The gameplay is killer with great and unique characters who feel amazing to control, and the story ain't half bad.”
- “The gameplay feels solid and deep, making it accessible for newcomers while providing depth for experienced players to explore advanced strategies.”
- “Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a worthy successor with enough gameplay differences to justify a purchase for those who have the original.”
- “The fighting is pretty lackluster, and the mechanics are not well explained nor are they really fun to take advantage of.”
- “Gameplay issues: the gameplay, when you can actually play the game (only 4 fights in 2 hours of Yu's story in P4A's story mode), is very hectic.”
- “The game has terrible delay-based netcode, so I need to play people with decent connections in order to have any semblance of actual gameplay.”
music
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
54%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised, featuring a mix of remixed tracks from Persona 3 and 4 alongside original compositions that maintain the series' signature style. Reviewers highlight the energetic and engaging soundtrack, which enhances the gameplay experience, particularly during battles. While some note the absence of certain DLC tracks, the overall consensus is that the music is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “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.”
- “The music is incredibly good, the graphics look stunning at times.”
- “Bought, checked the songs and to my surprise the DLC songs I was looking for aren't in the game. Really sad to know that this isn't a true complete version of the game; I guess I will keep playing on console.”
- “A slight nitpick: battles are so short you can't really enjoy the songs at times.”
- “There's audio issues when changing them; it doesn't make a difference in volume for some odd reason. The movies are 2x louder than the game, and some sound effects are loud, for example, Yosuke's special knife sound effects.”
graphics
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
63%
7%
The graphics of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax are widely praised for their vibrant 2D art style, expressive character animations, and dynamic backgrounds that enhance the overall aesthetic experience. While many appreciate the game's visual charm and attention to detail, some users have noted issues with graphical optimization and upscaling, particularly in the ported version. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal for both fighting game enthusiasts and Persona fans alike.
- “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.”
- “Combined with the striking visuals and stylish animations that Arc System Works is renowned for, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a visual feast that captivates players from start to finish.”
- “P4AU itself is an incredible game, very fun to play with excellent characters and very colorful, flashy, and vibrant visuals.”
- “Unlockable artwork and renders of the characters are worthless by themselves, with the quality worse than what I can find on the Megami Tensei wiki.”
- “The developers didn't even bother to upscale the game's graphical assets from 720p to a higher resolution.”
- “Sprite and graphics - whatever Atlus did to this port, it looks like Photoshop the game; everywhere around the backgrounds and portraits of the characters are crusty, I can literally see the pixels on the edge of the characters and backgrounds, and it looks like it was cropped out in 5 minutes.”
humor
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding various characters, such as Adachi and the "funny cabbage man," to be particularly entertaining. Many reviews highlight the game's comedic moments and quirky dialogue, which add a lighthearted touch to the overall experience, despite some criticism regarding the balance between humor and the story's dramatic elements. Overall, the humor is a significant draw for players, contributing to the game's fun and engaging atmosphere.
- “While the writing and characterization of the story is still great, and there are genuinely hilarious bits, the dramatic weight of the story is somewhat cut into, despite the more epic tone of it all.”
- “Story is funny and worth going through for laughs alone.”
- “You'll feel right at home with the combo mechanics and its humor among the characters as you play.”
optimization
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including random crashes, freezing, and audio inconsistencies. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay after recent patches, others continue to struggle with poor performance, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, the consensus is that the game requires further optimization to enhance stability and performance across various setups.
- “Since they patched it as of April 13th, I've had no sound or performance issues.”
- “Patch 1.02 pretty much fixed all the inherent problems with the game, improving performance and fixing the volume.”
- “Super smooth performance, though I would have liked to have seen far more upscaling on the textures.”
- “The game has major performance issues where it can randomly freeze during story mode when playing in fullscreen, or just flat out crash.”
- “Horrible optimization on laptops unfortunately because this game kicks ass in every other way, but I do think one of the reasons it runs poorly on certain setups is probably due to the DRM by Denuvo.”
- “Incredibly bad and unoptimized port, absolutely littered with bugs.”
stability
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
95%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, performance issues, and frequent crashes, particularly when using features like alt-tabbing or online play. Many players have experienced audio inconsistencies and graphical limitations, leading to a compromised gaming experience. While some improvements have been noted, the overall consensus is that the port remains unstable and unpolished, making it difficult to recommend in its current state.
- “The game runs smoothly without any major crashes or glitches, making for a stable experience.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; I haven't encountered any significant issues.”
- “Overall, the stability of the game enhances my enjoyment, allowing me to focus on the fun aspects.”
- “Aside from that, the game does not currently function well as a PC game because if you alt+tab, it freezes the game for both players, and this can disconnect you from matches.”
- “Borderless mode doesn't work, no real 2k resolution support, buggy fullscreen, constant audio issues, and crashes frequently.”
- “I can't play in a player match without the game crashing 100% of the time regardless of if it's fullscreen or not, the ranked connection has been lost in 3 of the 4 games I've played which I can't tell if it's people rage quitting or this buggy port crashing.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deep character backstories, particularly Labrys's tragic narrative, and the opportunity for longtime fans to witness beloved characters interact across timelines, enriching unresolved emotional arcs. The voice acting enhances these moments, balancing humor with poignant scenes, while the plot maintains the series' signature emotional weight despite being a fighting game. Overall, the game successfully blends nostalgia and emotional storytelling, leaving a lasting impact on players.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “The game’s plot is surprisingly deep for a fighting game, bringing in familiar faces and new challengers while keeping the quirky charm and emotional weight of the Persona series intact.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game is praised for its high replayability, particularly due to its engaging fighting mechanics and extensive single-player content, especially for fans of the Persona series. While some users noted issues with bugs in the port, the overall consensus is that the diverse character roster and nostalgic appeal contribute to an experience that players can return to repeatedly.
- “This game checks the boxes if you love any of the Persona 3 or 4 cast because 9/10 they are playable.”
- “✅ Infinitely replayable.”
- “Edit: amazing and vastly replayable game ruined partly by being a buggy port.”
- “That being said, this is a very good fighter and a love letter to the persona series with a stupid amount of single-player replay value.”
- “Probably the smoothest and most replayable fighting game I've ever played.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to lengthy story segments and internal monologues. However, many appreciate the engaging voice acting and character development, which can help mitigate the monotony for fans of the series. Overall, while grinding can feel like a chore, the enjoyable elements of the game provide some value.
- “Super boring and tedious.”
- “The dialogue is all voiced but there's a lot of internal monologuing that can become tedious to get through.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game excels in character development by allowing longtime fans to witness beloved characters interact across timelines, delving into unresolved emotional arcs with unexpected depth. Additionally, the character designs are praised for their anime-inspired aesthetics, with particular commendation for Adachi's development.
- “Also, Adachi's character development is impressive!”
- “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.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as a blatant cash grab, particularly in its single-player mode, which feels underdeveloped. Additionally, players report frequent online crashes and issues with rollback netcode, suggesting that the focus on profit may have compromised the overall quality and stability of the game.
- “But story/single-player wise, it's a shameless cash grab, honestly.”
- “I knew this port was going to just be a quick cash grab, but I didn't listen to my gut.”
- “Online frequently crashes when you try to even breathe the servers, while having rollback netcode buzzword being the next big hit fighting game advertisement to bait clicks and buys.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere is characterized by flashy, well-designed special moves and richly detailed backgrounds, creating an immersive experience typical of a Persona game.
- “The special moves are flashy and well-designed, and the backgrounds are rich with the kind of atmosphere you’d expect from a Persona game.”
- “The game immerses you in a beautifully crafted world, where every detail contributes to a captivating atmosphere.”
- “The haunting soundtrack and stunning visuals create an atmosphere that draws you in and keeps you engaged.”

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86%Critics’ scoreBased on 9 critic reviews

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7h Median play time

26h Average play time

2-50h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a arcade fighting game.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 26 hours playing Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax was released on March 16, 2022.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax was developed by Arc System Works.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax has received positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle, Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes, Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign, BlazBlue Centralfiction, Dragon Ball FighterZ and others.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax

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