released. The PS3 version was delisted by Sony at Zen United's request when digital publishing rights were returned to Atlus. The European version was eventually re-released by Atlus on PSN. Reception Japanese magazine Famitsu enjoyed the story mode, praising its volume and structure. Game Informers Jason Oestreicher said that the story would be a "treat" for fans of Persona 3 and Persona 4, Eurogamers Matt Edwards favourably compared the writing to the mainline Persona games despite noting its slow pace, and Edge positively noted the story mode's use of the thirteen-character roster and its alternate interweaving paths. Maxwell McGee of GameSpot said the narrative's presentation style "will quickly bore all but the most enthusiastic". GamesRadars Lucas Sullivan enjoyed the extensive narrative, but noted that those who had not played Persona 4 would be spoiled on story events by the narrative of Arena. Vince Ingenito of IGN said that the narrative was "aimed squarely at fans of the series", and Joystiqs Jordan Mallory praised the game's treatment of its characters and evolution of its narrative after a clichéd opening. Phillip Kollar, writing for Polygon, felt that the story mode was enjoyable but that it dragged on with story segments up to half an hour long between fights. The artwork and sprites were praised by Famitsu, who noted the smooth animations and anime cutscenes. Edwards praised the combination of 2D and 3D graphical elements, which he felt continued Arc System Works' legacy in game graphic design. Oestreicher echoed Edward's sentiments, calling the sprite graphics "a fresh take on an already slick style". McGee was highly positive about the sprite animations and art design, though found the visual novel segments dragged down the narrative despite their strong visual presentation. Sullivan called the sprite graphics "a feast for the eyes". Ingenito positively cited the graphics, and praised the soundtrack for combining elements from both Persona and previous Arc System Works games. Famitsu praised the gameplay for its depth, incorporating of elements from the Persona series, and ease of use for newcomers. One reviewer found it overly similar to Arc System Works' other fighting games. Edwards praised the controls as being easier to use than earlier Arc System Works titles while retaining their distinctive style, while Edge summed up the battle system as "thoughtfully designed". Oestreicher, while finding the gameplay and modes enjoyable, felt that newcomers would struggle with the system. McGee generally enjoyed the