Persona 4 Arena Is Coming To America

[Earnest Cavalli]

Persona 4 Arena Is Coming To America

At long last we finally have confirmation that Atlus' Persona-based 2D fighter will be headed to The States.

Ever since Persona 4: The Ultimate In Mayonaka Arena was first announced, I've been following the game's progress with the sort of fervor usually associated with religious zealots or teenaged fans of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight books. You may have read my hyperbolic excitement here [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/113250-Persona-Fighter-Spawns-An-Offensive-Trailer].

Sadly, despite my borderline-romantic affection for the as-yet-unreleased fighter, nowhere in that sizable swath of content was I able to offer solid confirmation that the game would eventually reach store shelves here in America. At least, not until now.

Two days ago I received an email from Atlus' PR team that included the following joyous news:

ATLUS today announced plans to bring Persona 4 Arena, the highly anticipated fighting spinoff of the award-winning Persona series of roleplaying games, to North America this summer for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system.

Developed in partnership with genre master Arc System Works, Persona 4 Arena uses gorgeous, hand-drawn, high definition 2D anime-style fighters and colorful, over-the-top special effects to bring to life characters from the acclaimed, highly popular Persona 3 and Persona 4. Backed up by an original, hardcore fighting engine from one of the most respected 2D fighting game developers in the industry, Persona 4 Arena represents the biggest, most noteworthy expansion of the esteemed series to date.

While "summer 2012" is still a somewhat nebulous release window, the very existence of an upcoming, English-localized iteration of the game is the best news I've heard all week. Likewise awesome is word that the title's official North American name is simply "Persona 4 Arena," as opposed to the decidedly unwieldy "Persona 4: The Ultimate In Mayonaka Arena."

On behalf of everyone who earns a living writing about videogames, I really appreciate that sort of thing. Thanks a ton Atlus. You dudes and dudettes are the best.

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[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Yeah, I'm definitely kicking ass and taking names with Naoto.

 

[OniaPL]

Gimme Persona 5. And this time, make the grindfest before the ending a bit more bearable.

 

[Dragoon]

Any news on a European release? I expect we'll get it eventually.

 

[antipunt]

Give Akihiko his vest BACK D:

 

[Riobux]

It will take a year after the American release for it to be released in Europe. I'm calling it now.

 

[AbstractStream]

Akihiko !
I'm not surprised it's coming out here but having it confirmed makes me extremely happy!

 

[Antonio Torrente]

This is one of the reasons why Atlus is a better company in terms of making quality games(well depends on how you see it) and customer interaction than Capcom. I mean come on how many of you thought that Catherine will get an English release and assumed it will be a Japan only title, and yet they made it.

Kudos to you Atlus I hope Capcom can somehow learn from this.

 

[Fappy]

My girlfriend is going to be so excited about this news. This is my chance to finally get her to play fighters! >

 

[neonsword13-ops]

Want... nooooow...

This will probably be the very first fighter I buy a stick for.

 

[Et3rnalLegend64]

I'm torn. I love P4. I love fighting games (or BlazBlue at least). I don't know if I want to put time into another fighter. BlazBlue itself takes away from all the time I can be putting into single player stories and I know it, but I want to get better with Lambda (and learn Relius).

I still actually have to finish P4 (at the Culture Festival), start P3 and a lot more MegaTen, start Tales of Vesperia, continue Agarest War, get and play Mass Effect 3, get good with Relius Clover, improve Lambda 11, and finish Oblivion (and maybe pick up Skyrim).

Time: I need more of it.

 

[Aiddon_v1legacy]

Atlus and ASW, two companies who say "SUCK IT!" to dipshits who think Japan is over the hill (usually people who use the term "weaboo" without irony). Though now that they'll be done with this hopefully ASW can make the next installment in Blazblue that isn't an expansion.

 

[Stick Antolini]

Its good they are finally localizing it but I live in Ireland and I can only hope they bring it here, I'll buy it in a heartbeat.

Good news but I can't be excited yet until it's localized for Xbox360 (and PS3 for other people) In PAL format.

Actually PS3 is region-free so we can get it as soon as it is released in English or if you can speak Japanese, a lot earlier.

Upon reading what I just wrote, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but I hope it's followable (is that even a word, man, it's way too late...).

 

[ckam]

I'm actually looking to work with these guys, it would definitely be interesting to work in California.