Reading the review pushed me to to buy it on Amazon just now. That's a first.

Im not too big on animu fighters. I'll save my money for TTT2.

Can you skip repeat scenes if you've already seen them with another character?

Had it pre-ordered (love me the hell outta fighting games and SMT is my favorite franchise across all genres) so I am understandably irritated that my copy did not arrive before I had to leave my house today. Sadly looks like I must wait a day to play. *sniffles*

P4A TNT?

Sold! Pre-ordering for UK release now.

This review just warms my heart to read; it's clear that Persona 4 had a huge impact on Jeff, and I bet he's glad he did the endurance run with Vinny.

Still on the fence on this title, since I'm really not that big of a fighting game fan, but I'll probably pick it up one day when my budget is better. Maybe that eventful day when Persona 5 is (finally) announced, and I just have to get prepared for the big day. But since that day is probably years away, who knows if I'll be able to hold out until then.

Now for the wait here in Europe...

I never really minded the visual novel style in BB, other than that the story got confusing and almost incomprihensible fast, found the gag reels hilarious though. I think I'll really like this game, seen alot of streams of it and the fastpaced agile way of the fightingmechanics is right up my alley. :)

I may get this after a price drop since I'm interested in the story mode and that actually sounds workable... I've learned the hard way time and again that fighting games aren't for me.

@damswedon: Ah, you're right. I forgot about those PS2/Xbox MKs to be honest. They weren't bad, though. Guilty Gear X had a story mode very similar to their other games and that came out in 2000, but I don't remember it getting as in depth as it was when XX came out, which I think was the same time around MK.

Who is this Yu guy?

Its either Charlie or nothing man, make it canonical!

@Winsord said:

I enjoyed Guilty Gear X2, but haven't played any of the BlazBlue games. I'd really like to get this game, but I feel like I need a fighting stick first; my experiences with using the 360 controller for SFIV and MVC3 was less than satisfactory, and even though this is going to play a bit differently, I think I'll probably hold off. I'm probably mostly looking to get this for the story stuff though, and less so the actual fighting game.

Is it the dpad or buttons messing you up? If it's the former, the MadCatz Fighting Pads do the trick without having to put down hundreds of dollars. While I took the plunge and finally bought a stick at my first PAX because I have no self control, I keep one of these around for friends or to bring to people's houses.

Thanks for reviewing the game Jeff. I think I will pick this game up sometime soon, P4 was such a damn good game, I just need to catch up with the characters from it.

Great, i was just waiting for word about the netcode to see if i should pick this up.

@Rmack said:

@Winsord said:

I enjoyed Guilty Gear X2, but haven't played any of the BlazBlue games. I'd really like to get this game, but I feel like I need a fighting stick first; my experiences with using the 360 controller for SFIV and MVC3 was less than satisfactory, and even though this is going to play a bit differently, I think I'll probably hold off. I'm probably mostly looking to get this for the story stuff though, and less so the actual fighting game.

Is it the dpad or buttons messing you up? If it's the former, the MadCatz Fighting Pads do the trick without having to put down hundreds of dollars. While I took the plunge and finally bought a stick at my first PAX because I have no self control, I keep one of these around for friends or to bring to people's houses.

The D-Pad is definitely a big part of it, but not the sole reason. I've used one of the fight pads and they're pretty good, but I still prefer the weight and general feel of an eight-way gate on a stick, along side the snappiness of the buttons.

Fantastic read. Seems pretty neat from what I've played so far.

He'll always be Charlie to me!

This is definately going on the wish list...

THE ONLY MAIN CHARACTER I KNOW OF IS CHARLIE TUNOKU

Good thing I love Persona 4 and think Arc makes some of the best fighters out there. It sounds like this game is made for me!

I'm all about DAT P4A.

Man, this just makes me want to play P4 again. Or watch the ER for the umpth time. Must. resist. temptation.

This is my first exposure to an Arc system game, and I have to admit I'm having a real tough time pulling off quarter circle combos. But as Jeff says, the P4 and P3 hook is great. I've had a huge ear to ear grin seeing these characters again and hearing that awesome persona music. I really suck at fighting games, but I think I'm gonna stick with it.

I find it really weird that the Story mode has little actual fighting or gameplay in it. I thought this was supposed to be a collaboration between arc and atlus? Why make it a fighting game at all, if your story mode is going to be nothing but a straight visual novel? I don't mind lots of text, but it seems like they missed an opportunity to do something cool with their new fighter format.

Still, I love persona 4 so I'd probably play this game for the same reasons that Jeff did.

Behold! The closest you will get to a Persona 4 review!

@Mdk5631 said:

Listen to the latest podcast they are begging for more ppl to come here

This is not a thing that happened.

@Beforet said:

Behold! The closest you will get to a Persona 4 review!

Other than the 120 video 99 hour review.

I picked it up today, and enjoying the heck outa it.

@aquacadet said:

@Beforet said:

Behold! The closest you will get to a Persona 4 review!

Other than the 120 video 99 hour review.

Doesn't count!

So if it wasn't for the Persona hook, I doubt I'd stick with P4A... but it's a hell of a hook.

Gosh darn it, he's just about summed up exactly how I feel about this game!

If anything, it'll ensure that I have ample opportunity to run up against players of a similar 'quality'.

Charlie will always be the main protagonist to me. Always..Charlie Tuna! Personally I'm not really, beyond the uniqueness of my initial exposure to it, that much into the whole Persona thing. I respect the complexity and the mechanics and the moving parts, but Jeff and Vinny made it the experience that I immensly enjoyed.

So a fighting game, decently done it is judged? Well, right on.

This needs to hurry up and come out in Europe already! Can't wait!

Great review Jeff. As a hopeless Persona addict that's really the only hook I need. The last fighting game I gave a go was SFIV and that didn't hold my interest for very long, but attaching some of my favorite characters in video game fiction should be more than enough to get me through all the story mode and even a couple online fights!

Oh, and this will of course probably lead into my 4th or 5th viewing of the ER. Yes, I have lost count :)

Cool, might buy it in a couple of months.

I hardly ever play fighting games, but I picked this up for the story and it's great so far. I'm actually learning how to play rather than just button mashing like I do in other fighting games.

@Beforet: So what you're really saying is we need a Real Time Strategy version of Red Dead Redemption before that gets a quasi-review? ;D

I think it is quite telling that this review has more pictures of the story sequences than the actual fighting fights.

@MattBodega said:

I think it is quite telling that this review has more pictures of the story sequences than the actual fighting fights.

shhhhhhhhhh

@Brackynews said:

@Beforet: So what you're really saying is we need a Real Time Strategy version of Red Dead Redemption before that gets a quasi-review? ;D

What I'm saying is that Venetian Blinds needs to be rebooted as a cover-based first person shooter before it will get the recognition it deserves on this site!

@aquacadet said:

@Beforet said:

Behold! The closest you will get to a Persona 4 review!

Other than the 120 video 99 hour review.

Not to be "that guy," but 155. Which I actually just got through watching again and which is TOTALLY still great. Especially when they talk about what games they're looking forward to and you realize how long ago 2009 was in videogame years.

@Undeadpool said:

@aquacadet said:

@Beforet said:

Behold! The closest you will get to a Persona 4 review!

Other than the 120 video 99 hour review.

Not to be "that guy," but 155. Which I actually just got through watching again and which is TOTALLY still great. Especially when they talk about what games they're looking forward to and you realize how long ago 2009 was in videogame years.

Those were the heady days of Uncharted 2 and Batman: Arkham Asylum!

Hey, I love P3+P4 and the Guilty Gear series. I think this is for me!

This is literally a match made in heaven. I love Persona 4, and Guilty Gear XX #Reload is one of my most favorite fighting games ever. Hoooooooly crap I need this. And it's so PURDY.

Well, I'm fairly satisfied with both the product and review - as expected. Too bad it's not on the docket for TNT, but surely it'll bubble up sooner or later. At the very least it'll lead to some P4 discussion on the Bombcast, which is always the best thing ever.

Should change TNT to this. SO wanna see more.

Sounds like precisely want I wanted out of the game, Super happy to hear it turned out so well. Can't wait to pick it up.

@Beforet: OMG! In Venetian Blindrage: You ARE The Cover!

"CLOSE IT! CLOSE IT!! We're getting eaten alive here!!"

Damn it, I'm very tempted to buy this game. I enjoyed BBCT enough on a casual level and I was a huge fan of Persona 4 so this seems like it would be a great purchase. Though considering I only have a casual to intermediate interest in fighting games, it probably won't be a great value proposition for me.

I've got my copy. Just need some time to start playing it.