A Persona fighting game may seem like an odd idea at first. After all, the series is debatably more well-known for its iconic characters and social simulation elements than its combat mechanics. But Persona 4 Arena demonstrated that such a concept can work—and rather spectacularly at that.
Through magnifying the games’ larger-than-life characters with new combat as they’ve never seen it before, the fighting game spinoff ended up striking a chord with hardcore Persona franchise fans and fighting game enthusiasts alike. It would be a pleasure to see several other game series receive similar levels of praise by following in Persona 4 Arena’s footsteps.
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The cast of the Metal Gear series would certainly make for one eccentric, varied roster. From the fisticuffs of Big Boss to the swordplay of Raiden, and even the thunder-slinging antics of Colonel Volgin, there would undoubtedly be a lot to differentiate these characters in both functionality and personality. Imagine a pre-fight exchange between Volgin and Senator Armstrong; that’s more than reason enough why a Metal Gear 1v1 fighting game has great potential.
Furthermore, stages like the bridge from MGS3’s intro or the top of Metal Gear REX from MGS1 would likely make for exciting venues to engage foes in some good, old-fashioned CQC.
This one makes a little toomuch sense given No More Heroes' unique characters. They're quite memorable, boasting iconic designs, and it would be a treat to see a fighting game starring every single one of the stylish assassins featured in the series thus far. Characters like Badman from Travis Strikes Again or some of the superheroes featured in the upcoming No More Heroes 3 would likely make worthwhile additions as well.
Dante and Vergil already have a fair amount of fighting game experience, having both been featured in the Marvel vs. Capcom series. But there are several other characters who would definitely be fun to take control of in a fighter: Lady, Nero, and V to name a few.
The series’ “Devil Trigger” mechanic—which allows players to inflict heavy amounts of damage in the Devil May Cry games—could also be a pretty neat substitute for the super meters that are typically a staple of fighting games.
This may sound odd, but then again, so does Persona 4 Arena’s concept, and many characters from Capcom’s survival-horror series have already starred in 2D fighters before. Like Devil May Cry’s characters, Jill Valentine, Albert Wesker, Chris Redfield, and Nemesis have all been featured throughout the Marvel vs. Capcom games.
That’s barely scratching the surface of viable candidates for a Resident Evil fighting game. The knife-wielding Jack Krauser, stylish Leon S. Kennedy, or terrifying Mr. X would surely make for great characters with diverse movesets. Of course, it’s easy to imagine the towering Lady Dimitrescu being a highly requested fighter, too.
Kratos was featured as an exclusive character in the PS3 and Vita versions of Mortal Kombat 9, and his inclusion showcased why a God of War fighting game would likely make for one entertaining product. A game starring the series’ cast of Gods with a gory, violent aesthetic inspired by the Mortal Kombat series sounds like a match made in heaven, as it would match the energy of the gruesome God of War series a little too well.
Persona 4 Arena is available now for PS3 and Xbox 360.
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