Common Sense Media Review
By Mark Raby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Decent fantasy fighting game, but filled with swearing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Persona 4 Arena
What's It About?
PERSONA 4 ARENA lives up to the Persona franchise's history of long-winded and convoluted storylines. The story starts off simply enough, with a plot about a bunch of characters wanting to compete in an arena-style fighting competition. However, when a few of them end up disappearing, a more nefarious plot is unveiled. Players are called into action, now fighting for their friends' freedom instead of just a friendly sportsmanlike competition. Ambiguity of good versus evil comes into play when the mastermind behind the ordeal ends up controlling other characters' minds, leading to a series of twists and turns in the story where no one can be trusted.
Is It Any Good?
Persona 4 Arena is part of an extremely niche video game series. Anyone not intimately familiar with the previous installments of the role-playing game franchise will likely be overwhelmed by this title. On the flip side, those who are fans of the series will enjoy the vast selection of characters and creatures that are included in this game. While the storyline is intricate and goes down a lot of winding roads (just like other titles in this franchise), it doesn't really pull players in quite as much because the gameplay is focused solely on combat as opposed to exploration and puzzle-solving. Nevertheless, this game is designed to bring the Persona characters into another genre, and it does that very well. This fighting game isn't for everyone, but anyone who is already a fan of this series will be pleased with all that it has to offer.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the fantastical nature of the violence in this game. Do you feel the violent content is inappropriate? Does it have any connection to the real world?
What are your thoughts on the "good guys" in this game? Would you consider them to be role models? Why or why not?
How would you react if someone tried to sabotage your chances of winning a competition?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3 , Xbox 360
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : analyzing evidence , decision-making , Self-Direction : achieving goals , effort
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Atlus
- Release date : August 7, 2012
- Genre : Fighting
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : June 25, 2022
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