History Awesome / Persona4Arena

* Rise's arc, which sees her go from doubting her usefulness to the Investigation Team after the events of ''Arena'', to throwing her lot in as a frontline fighter with the rest of the Investigation Team. After spending the last game as an OutOfFocus DamselInDistress, Rise more than makes up for it by taking several levels in badass. Her first fight is against [[BonusBoss Elizabeth]] of all people.

* Labrys' escape from the Kirijo Group's research facility. After being forced to fight against and destroy her sister units one by one, including Unit #024 -- her closest friend -- the researcher's threat to erase the memories that she inherited from her sisters is the final straw; she snaps and rebels, willing to fight in order to hold onto them and the promise that she made to #024. She breaks through restraints rated for over twice the force her mechanical body is capable of producing through ''sheer force of will,'' then effortlessly evades an entire squad of armed security forces. Finally, when faced with an insurmountable gate, she summons her Persona for the first time and breaks it down with a single blow. Ultimately, she is stopped and recaptured upon her discovery that she is trapped on a faraway island, but the damage that she caused to the laboratory was so extensive that the researchers were unable to erase her memories anyway!]]

* When taking his whole arc into consideration, Yosuke’s story mode is a complete, prolonged moment of awesome for him. Here’s this guy who’s always felt insecure and, as he admits in the previous game, secretly felt envious of his leader/best friend even though he loyally followed him to the end in order to finally find the truth and the murderer of his crush. Come this new adventure, and his story puts him on a role on which he finds himself with a pretty girl whose life not only depends on him, but ONLY on him, since the way the story presents the circumstances, as he wins fight after fight, he realizes he can’t be just TheLancer anymore, he can’t just be the second one after Yu or anyone else. This time, he HAS to be the hero, or else this girl whom he’s rapidly falling for might presumably die the same way his former crush did. And not only he’s confronted with this pressure, or the fact that he ends up having to face opponents that he can’t help considering to be stronger than him, but also the conspiracy of the Malevolent Entity that ends up making him believe that all that’s happening is just his fault, staged for the sake of his wishes of wanting to be special, and though he almost fell for a moment, he pulls through thanks to the power of friendship, overcomes all remaining obstacles, and truly saves the day. He’s truly become the hero he always wanted to be, and yet, when he’s there, he truly doesn’t care about it anymore. All he cares is that he managed to help Labrys and everyone is safe. It’s really no wonder the Manga adaptation follows his storyline the most.
** Hell, even his match-ups are awesome. Because in his story, Yosuke the ButtMonkey defeats [[spoiler: Yu AND Aigis, two Wild Card users, as well as both Labryses, two incredibly powerful androids.]]
* Mitsuru has had enough of [[spoiler:the Malevolent Entity masquerading as her]] and draws her sword. Cue ThemeMusicPowerUp as "Burn My Dread" begins to play and both Aigis ''and'' Akihiko step back to let her settle it one-on-one.
* Yu figures out the trick that [[spoiler: his friends aren't saying the things that he's hearing, and that the Teddie and Rise doing the announcements are impostors,]] after his very first fight. He then taunts General Teddie about this and tells him that the trick doesn't work on him, which causes a small VillainousBreakdown, [[spoiler: to the point where the illusions (save Nanako's) actually break down and he hears Labrys' true thoughts.]]

** There's also another one that doesn't overlap, but still awesome. Kanji is confronted by his Shadow [[spoiler:actually the Malevolent Entity]], who tries to rip his resolve. Unlike Yosuke, Chie and Yukiko (see [[Heartwarming/Persona4Arena the heartwarming sections]] for them)… Kanji instead fixes his resolve on his own by punching himself in the face, admitting his fault, then proceeds to renovate the Shadow's ass himself.
* Naoto ''instantly'' seeing through [[spoiler: the Malevolent Entity's attempt to masquerade as her Shadow, verbally bitchslapping it for the utter failure of its plans and mocking it for attempting to fool her in such an obvious way. All the more impressive because it actually ''acknowledges'' her flawless analysis and applauds her for seeing through it so quickly and easily. When the Eldritch Horror is complimenting your detective skills, you've got a lot to be proud of. To top it off, before fighting it, she expressed disappointment that she didn't get to fight anyone's Shadows... and would like to feel how it's like, by kicking the Entity's ass.]]
** Yu's Arcade mode had a similar moment. [[spoiler: When the entity tries to masquerade as his shadow, Yu immediately realizes that something fishy is going on since his persona (which he still has) and his shadow can't coexist; he then beats the crap out of it.]]
* Labrys' [[spoiler:escape from the Kirijo Group's research facility. After being forced to fight against and destroy her sister units one by one, including Unit #024 -- her closest friend -- the researcher's threat to erase the memories that she inherited from her sisters is the final straw; she snaps and rebels, willing to fight in order to hold onto them and the promise that she made to #024. She breaks through restraints rated for over twice the force her mechanical body is capable of producing through ''sheer force of will,'' then effortlessly evades an entire squad of armed security forces. Finally, when faced with an insurmountable gate, she summons her Persona for the first time and breaks it down with a single blow. Ultimately, she is stopped and recaptured upon her discovery that she is trapped on a faraway island, but the damage that she caused to the laboratory was so extensive that the researchers were unable to erase her memories anyway!]]
** [[spoiler: And then, seemingly beaten, she still somehow manages to preserve her final wish unto the next two generations of android, ensuring among other things that the events of Persona 3 take place. In summation, Labrys saved the entire human race IN HER SLEEP.]]
* At the end of Elizabeth's story mode, Yu, despite having ''just'' lost to her, demands a rematch because he refuses to just give up when his friends are there. He then, with ThePowerOfFriendship, starts to radiate a power that thoroughly intimidates Elizabeth, who, with the possible exception of [[spoiler: the Malevolent Entity]], is otherwise the most powerful character in the game by far. ''That'' is the true power of the Wild Card.

* Hey, can't forget Elizabeth's prologue too. Like how about [[spoiler: ''[[CurbStompBattle curb stomping]]'' the final boss of The Answer on a yearly basis!?]]
** [[spoiler: ''Curbstomping'' doesn't even cover it; she ''one-hits the damn thing''. And if the dialogue is anything to go by, it's usually with ''HER BARE HANDS.'']]

* Aigis gets one right at the start of her story, by disarming and non-lethally subduing a group of airplane hijackers nearly on her own in a series of increasingly awesome moves, culminating in grabbing a button from one of the hijacker's coats and [[ImprobableWeaponUser flicking it at another and hitting him in the forehead]] to distract him and take them both down.

* Fuuka proves beyond any possible doubt that she's a BadassPacifist by [[spoiler: breaking the Malevolent Entity's control over Labrys]] despite A) the fact that the Malevolent Entity is something even more powerful than a Shadow (and by extension, more powerful than a Persona) and B) the fact that Fuuka had to extend her power into ''another world'' to do so. (And a world with which she had absolutely no familiarity, to boot). Mitsuru knew what she was doing when she asked Fuuka for help.

** [[spoiler: Minazuki]] summons a never ending stream of shadows that would make [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Terumi]] proud, finally ending the poor sap when [[spoiler: Tsukiyomi]] [[CessationOfExistence obliterates what's left]] with a SinisterScythe [[TechnicolorFire made out of black flames.]]

** [[spoiler: Adachi]] sends their opponent to an underworld full of Shadows. [[spoiler: Then Magatsu-Izanagi cuts them down.]]
** Marie [[spoiler: turns into Kusumi-no-Okami]] and summons a [[ShockAndAwe thunderstorm]] to zap her opponent.

* [[spoiler:"Boy, you lot sure don't change. You're as naïve as ever."]]

** [[spoiler: And to top that up. She faces Elizabeth and wins after knowing her persona's true potential power.]]
* Naoto once again shows her deductive skills. After just one fight, she pretty much figures out the culprit's entire plan. [[spoiler: Namely that the fights are a distraction, the reaction of a persona vs persona clash is what he's after, that he's trying to use the Tartarus Tower to summon something. It's no wonder that MINAZUKI wastes absolutely no time in trying to take her out.]]

* [[spoiler:Adachi]] is more or less a juggernaut in all the game's scenarios as he and [[spoiler:Magatsu Izanagi]] deftly fight their way through hordes of shadows (offhandedly rescuing some of the heroes along the way) to ascend the Inaba Tartarus, solve its mysteries, and defeat the mastermind atop it out of spite.

* Yu and [[spoiler:Adachi]] combining their power and [[spoiler:Personas]] to defeat [[spoiler:Hi-No Kagatsuchi]] at the end of the Persona 4 route in Ultimax.
** Similarly Labrys [[spoiler: single-handedly beating Hi-No Kagatsuchi in battle]] despite the above.
* There's something OH SO SATISFYING about seeing [[spoiler:Adachi of all people]] giving [[spoiler:[[BigBad Sho]]]] a well deserved {{Shut Up Hannibal}} especially considering that said {{Shut Up Hannibal}} was the exact same one [[spoiler:Naoto gave him]]. Doubly so because it clearly shows that [[spoiler:[[TheAtoner he's reforming]] and took everyone's words to heart.]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Adachi''']]: You think the whole world hates you just because someone didn't treat you right… [[IronicEcho You're nothing but a little kid throwing a tantrum]].

* [[spoiler:Shadow Labrys decides to remind you exactly why she was the final boss of the last game, by taking over a body-controlled (by Sho) Labrys, basically telling him to piss off and die, and kicks his unholy ass. So when the Investigation Team tries to stop her by getting in the way, she naturally warns them she will kill them if they don't move, which they don't. Instead, they give her a spiel on how they're friends and won't let her do this. Does she decide that they're right and she's better than this? Nope! She basically says "ScrewThisImOuttaHere" and swaps back with Labrys.]]

* Ken's encounter with Shadow Ken in the P3 story is even more awesome. At this point, he isn't aware that the Shadows are actually fakes and Kanji, who happens to be watching, doesn't know either. For all they knew, this was Ken's ''actual'' EnemyWithout, and Ken manages to muster the resolve to face it alone, with Kanji remarking that this is something he has to do. Not only that, but Ken fights to protect Kanji and Naoto because he doesn't want a repeat of three years ago (i.e. [[spoiler: someone dying for him]]) to ever happen again. Really shows how much Ken has [[CharacterDevelopment developed]] since Persona 3.

* Overlaps with CrowningMomentOfFunny: Kanji "winning" the P-1 Grand Prix in his joke ending by defeating Shadow Labrys all while thinking this is AllJustADream, and later subsequently being bitched at by the other Investigation Team members, save for Naoto.

** [[spoiler: MINAZUKI]] summons a never ending stream of shadows that would make [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Terumi]] proud, finally ending the poor sap when [[spoiler: Tsukiyomi]] [[CessationOfExistence obliterates what's left]] with a SinisterScythe [[TechnicolorFire made out of black flames.]]

** Kanji's is quite simply the most hilariously epic finisher in the game — He BROFISTS his Persona. Which causes an EXPLOSION.

* When taking his whole arc into consideration, Yosuke’s story mode is a complete, prolonged moment of awesome for him. Here’s this guy who’s always felt insecure and, as he admits in the previous game, secretly felt jealous of his leader even though he loyally followed him to the end in order to finally find the truth and the murderer of his crush. Come this new adventure, and his story puts him on a role on which he finds himself with a pretty girl whose life not only depends on him, but ONLY on him, since the way the story presents the circumstances, as he wins fight after fight, he realizes he can’t be just TheLancer anymore, he can’t just be the second one after Yu or anyone else. This time, he HAS to be the hero, or else this girl whom he’s rapidly falling for might presumably die the same way his former crush did. And not only he’s confronted with this pressure, or the fact that he ends up having to face opponents that he can’t help considering to be stronger than him, but also the conspiracy of the Malevolent Entity that ends up making him believe that all that’s happening is just his fault, staged for the sake of his wishes of wanting to be special, and though he almost fell for a moment, he pulls through thanks to the power of friendship, overcomes all remaining obstacles, and truly saves the day. He’s truly become the hero he always wanted to be, and yet, when he’s there, he truly doesn’t care about it anymore. All he cares is that he managed to help Labrys and everyone is safe. It’s really no wonder the Manga adaptation follows his storyline the most.

* Rise's arc, which sees her go from doubting her usefulness to the Investigation Team after the events of ''Arena'', to throwing her lot in as a frontline fighter with the rest of the Investigation Team. After spending the last game as an OutOfFocus DamselInDistress, Rise more than makes up for it by taking several levels in badass.

** Labrys traps her opponent in Ariadne's web and hacks at them rapidly with her axe with the help of her chain arm before bearing down on them with one final blow. Note that, while it may seem different due to the camera angles, it's almost and EXACT homage to [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Ragna's]] Black Onslaught.

** Labrys traps her opponent in Ariadne's web and hacks at them rapidly with her axe with the help of her chain arm before bearing down on them with one final blow.

** [[spoiler: ''Curbstomping'' doesn't even covers it; she ''one-hits the damn thing''. And if the dialogue is anything to go by, it's usually with ''HER BARE HANDS.'']]
* When Elizabeth loses a match, she does not pass out like the others. Instead she reclines on her book, watching her opponent with a mysterious smile. That's right you, "won", but she's not hurt and she doesn't really care.
* Aigis gets one right at the start of her story, by disarming and non-lethally subduing a group of airplane hijackers nearly on her own in a series of increasingly awesome moves, culminating in grabbing a button from one of the hijacker's coats and [[ImprobableWeaponUser flicking it at another and hit him in the forehead]] to distract him and take them both down.

* From a gameplay standpoint: Yu's new super, Raijin Enbu/Thunder God Dance. This DeathOrGlory [[VideoGame/FatalFury Deadly Rave]]/[[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Dragon Install]]-esque DesperationAttack can only be performed while Yu is Awakened (Shadow Yu cannot perform this, probably because he's too weak and pathetic to do so anyway) and has 150 SP lying around. Landing it may be difficult, but a successful chain can result in tearing through half of the opponent's health.

* From a gameplay standpoint: Yu's new super, Raijin Enbu/Thunder God Dance. This DeathOrGlory [[VideoGame/FatalFury Deadly Rave]]/[[GuiltyGear Dragon Install]]-esque DesperationAttack can only be performed while Yu is Awakened (Shadow Yu cannot perform this, probably because he's too weak and pathetic to do so anyway) and has 150 SP lying around. Landing it may be difficult, but a successful chain can result in tearing through half of the opponent's health.