… but I really like Naoto’s pink outfit in P4 Arena.  Even the gun is pink.  This is weird, you guys, because I don’t even like the color pink that much.  But I really like this outfit!  

I get to review it anyway, but there’s quick thoughts I have.  Essentially, before this game came out in the U.S., there were a lot of people who had been playing it already who said, “If you’re a Persona fan, get this game, seriously, it’s important to the story.  Don’t be turned off because it’s a fighting game, if you like the franchise and Persona 4 and all that, play it.”

Well, they’re right.

Now, if you’re one of those gamers who doesn’t do fighters, don’t let the killer combo videos on youtube dissuade you.  There’s a reason why Atlus has posted tutorial videos, why there’s lesson mode, and training, and all that.  They want to include you in this game.  They know that Persona is an rpg and its fans might not be quick to hook up a fight stick or know how to knock people around, cancel out a combo, start a new combo and just wreck shit up.  There’s actually easy combos you can pull off in the game (I’m talking one button Smash Brothers style, keep tapping one button and watch magic happen).  As for the experts, well, there’s complicated moves and tricks for you to pull off, too (I’m looking at you final Naoto challenge mode where you have to pull off a combo that does 10,000 damage).

And I’m going to be honest with you.  The game itself is sort of divided for each type of gamer.  If you’re an rpg fan who spent 100+ hours with Persona 4 and doesn’t know the first thing about fighting, do storymode.  Storymode is like 90% story, 10% fighting.  There’s choices to make that lead to new paths and everything.  When you get to a fight, it’s one match you have to win, that’s it.  Then the story continues.  Now, if you’re getting this game for Guilty Gear and BlazBlue feelings and don’t know the first thing about Persona 4, then arcade mode is for you.  Arcade is like an abridged version of storymode, but that’s where you can max up the difficulty and let loose (or keep it on normal, or turn it down, whatever).  And who knows, the hints of story in arcade mode might make you interested in the story as a whole.

If you haven’t played any of the Persona games, story mode isn’t that daunting.  There ARE nice little flashbacks, and the characters tell you who they are, “My name is Naoto Shirogane.  I’m a detective,” and all that stuff.  You get explanations of what persona and shadows are, what the team went through to get them, the murders, the T.V. world, and all that jazz.  It’s also a nice refresher if you haven’t been with the series since it’s release in 2008 (though since I watched the anime and stalk tumblr, lol…)

And the game is just great, anyway.  All the wonderful things with the team I felt in the rpg are in this new entry into the game.  I think what I like most is that it really does feel like a worthy entry into the Persona 4 story.  It doesn’t feel like some random sidestory that has no business in the Persona 4 universe (like Guilty Gear: Overture did -_-), it’s just another part of the overall plot.  I also really like that old issues resurface which, normally, I don’t.  Normally I’m like, “This is solved, we don’t need to do this again,” but the situations in P4 were so personal that, you know, even if you think you’re over something so personal it’ll still sting if it comes up again (ie Kanji’s story).  I mean yeah, sure, you spent a year with your friends helping them, but think about it.  In real life, if you’re over a situation and someone brings it up again, are you always like, “Nope, doesn’t bother me anymore,” or are you more like, “Why are you bringing that up again?!”  It depends on the situation, of course, but if it’s something you’ve struggled with for a while, it’ll still effect you.

So, these are my quick thoughts on the game before I expand them into something longer.  Did you pick it up?  What do you think so far?

Kanji Tatsumi is precious and a perfect being.  That is all.  *pats his head*  Yes sweetie, a beefcake is a cake made of ground beef, yes it is  *keeps petting*

Admittedly, I didn’t get too far with Elizabeth in P3.  I suck at doing certain fusions and all that, nor did I do New Game + or anything.  As I play P4 Arena I wonder… is she this amusing and awesome in P3?  The things she says, and just… she’s just the best thing ever!  If she’s like this in P3, clearly, I need to boot that game back up!

Flute?  Flu?

So here’s my PSN in case if anyone wants to play against me online.  Fair warning, I’ll be spamming storymode for a while, so it might be a bit before I try out the online (but feel free to message me your thoughts on the game, or something  ^^)

PSN:  lmnmatt

Happy Arena-ing!

Manager:  So… did you request Wednesday and Thursday off to play Persona?

Me:  PFFT!  W-what?!  N-no, of course not!

Manager:  …

Me:  …

Manager:  …

Me:  … well technically I have to write a review for it for a website so that’s like requesting time off to work a second job right?

Manager:  …

Me:  … 

Manager:  … 

So needless to say I have my day(s) planned for Arena.  It’s full of short work shifts, possible cosplay for said shift, pizza, and fight sticks.  How’s everyone else spending Arena day?

When I’m at work, trying to tell someone about P4 Arena and why they should reserve it, and they don’t.

Like, it’s always a regular customer who likes Atlus games, or rare games, or kinda weird games, and I absolutely KNOW they’re going to come in day one, looking for the game, wanting the free soundtrack.  And I try to stress that, you know, as a company, GameStop isn’t really thinking about games like P4 Arena.  Sure, we have cover art for it, but it’s a small section of the front counter.  And I mean, yeah, it’ll make money as a whole, but not nearly as much as something like Call of Duty, which we’ve been reserving since forever, and have goo-gobs of bonuses with.  Or the giant Resident Evil 6 shrine, or Assassin’s Creed, or Borderlands (nothing wrong with these games, I’m excited too)  

I try to stress that, you know, as far as extra copies go?  Yeah… probably not very many, or we’ll get copies without the soundtrack that you KNOW is going to be GOOD because its Atlus.  

But for some reason I get the, “Eh, I can wait,” when you know, Atlus fan customer, you can’t!  Same thing happened with Persona 4, when we had artbooks.  Guy didn’t reserve, didn’t get an artbook, game was suddenly hard to find.  And then I get that look, you know, the, “How could you sell out of copies,” look when WE JUST HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE THE GAME CAME OUT!  

*sigh*

A day in the life of me  ^^;;;  I just have to get ready to deal with the, “You guys got that new Persona fighting game,” on launch day where I’ll probably be like, “Uh… no, sold out, we didn’t get that many copies,” and then the, “Oh really?”  Yeah… really.  Didn’t we talk about this?

Persona 4 Arena comes out next week… and you’re going to be the only one at work (GameStop) excited for it, so you’re going to end up clinging to the like seven people who reserved it  ;__;

O.K.  Maybe eight people?

Another article up  :)

populationgo:

Atlus announced that there will be a manga based on the upcoming Persona 4: The Ultimate In Mayonaka Arena illustrated by AIYAH-BALL (Live On Cardliver Kakeru, Code Age). There isn’t a release date for the manga, but it is said that it will differ from the fighting game, and the story will focus on the characters’ emotions. Meanwhile, Arena is set for a July 26 release date for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles in Japan, and August 7 here in the U.S.

[Anime News Network]

Holy bananas!  Is this going to come out in the U.S.?  Maybe they will also license the Persona 4 manga itself?  Excitement!