History VideoGame / Persona4ArenaUltimax

''Persona 4: Arena Ultimax'', or ''Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold'' in Japan, is the sequel to ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena''. It was released as a [[NoExportForYou Japanese arcade location test]] in August 2013. A console port for UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 and UsefulNotes/XBox360 was released in Japan on August 28, 2014, with an international release soon afterward. UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, and {{UsefulNotes/Steam}} ports were announced at The Game Awards 2021 and released on March 17th, 2022. The re-released version will be based upon the final revision of the Japanese arcade version, version 2.50, which was never released outside of the arcade or Japan, and include all previous DLC, allowing players worldwide to finally experience the "complete" version of the game.

In ''Persona 4 Arena Ultimax'', the characters from ''Persona 4'' and ''Persona 3'' once again find themselves teaming up to face off in the P-1 Climax, a series of battles which must be won before the world ends. The original cast of characters from ''Persona 3'' and ''4'' are back to discover the mastermind behind the whole tournament, while a few new faces join the fight, including Junpei Iori, Yukari Takeba, Rise Kujikawa, and more. But standing in their way is the dual katana-wielding Sho Minazuki, a huge threat to everyone involved in the P-1 Climax. Worse yet, there's a Sho lookalike who can wield a Persona...

This page contains spoilers from both ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}''. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned!

''Persona 4: Arena Ultimax'', or ''Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold'' in Japan, is the sequel to ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena''. It was released as a [[NoExportForYou Japanese arcade location test]] in August 2013. A console port for UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 and UsefulNotes/XBox360 was released in Japan on August 28, 2014, with an international release soon afterward. UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, and {{UsefulNotes/Steam}} ports were announced at The Game Awards 2021 for a March 17th, 2022 release date. The re-released version will be based upon the final revision of the Japanese arcade version, version 2.50, which was never released outside of the arcade or Japan, and include all previous DLC, allowing players worldwide to finally experience the "complete" version of the game.

''Persona 4: Arena Ultimax'', or ''Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold'' in Japan, is the sequel to ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena''. It was released as a [[NoExportForYou Japanese arcade location test]] in August 2013. A console port for UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 and UsefulNotes/XBox360 was released in Japan on August 28, 2014, with an international release soon afterward. UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, and {{UsefulNotes/Steam}} ports were announced at The Game Awards 2021 for a March 17th, 2022 release date. The re-released version will be based upon the final revision of the Japanese arcade version, version 2.50, which was never released outside of Japan, and include all previous DLC, allowing players worldwide to finally experience the "complete" version of the game.

''Persona 4: Arena Ultimax'', or ''Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold'' in Japan, is the sequel to ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena''. It was released as a [[NoExportForYou Japanese arcade location test]] in August 2013. A console port for UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 and UsefulNotes/XBox360 was released in Japan on August 28, 2014, with an international release soon afterward. UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, and {{UsefulNotes/Steam}} ports were announced at The Game Awards 2021 for a March 17th, 2022 release date.

''Persona 4: Arena Ultimax'', or ''Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold'' in Japan, is the sequel to ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena''. It was released as a [[NoExportForYou Japanese arcade location test]] in August 2013. A console port for UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 and UsefulNotes/XBox360 was released in Japan on August 28, 2014, with an international release soon afterward.

* StandardStatusEffects: Certain attacks can inflict [[DamageOverTime Poison]], [[InterfaceScrew Confusion]], Silence[[note]]prevents use of Persona attacks[[/note]], [[ManaDrain Charm]], Fear, [[AttackAttackAttack Rage]], Paralysis[[note]]prevents normal movement[[/note]], or Freezing[[note]]prevents all action except for rapid joystick wiggling[[/note]]. Yukiko also has the [[UnblockableAttack Fire Break]] spell. Elizabeth can inflict [[DamageIncreasingDebuff Negative Penalty]] (normally only inflicted through running away for too long) on her opponents.

* YellowLightningBlueLightning: Every character with electric attacks has a unique color associated with their electricity, affecting even the [[StandardStatusEffects paralyzation sparks]]. Yu has blue, Kanji has yellow, Akihiko has indigo, Ken has green, Elizabeth has purple/pink, and Adachi has blood-red.

* NooneElseIsThatDumb: When Kanji and Shadow Kanji each pretend to be the real deal, Yukiko holds an impromptu quiz show with questions about Inaba to determine which is the fake. Her last question is a math problem; when the Shadow gets it right, she proclaims he's the fake since the real Kanji would never be able to do the math so easily.

Characters from ''Persona 4: Arena Ultimax'' are featured in the MassiveMultiplayerCrossover ''VideoGame/BlazBlueCrossTagBattle''. All characters that appeared in ''Arena'' are in the game, including Tohru Adachi, who was first included in ''Ultimax''.

* NotSoFakePropWeapon: Mitsuru's maid Kikuno has a bow made for Yukari based on the "Ultimate Arrow" prop she uses on the [[ShowWithinAShow TV show]] ''Featherman Victory''. However, this one is equipped with an actual EnergyBow.
** As Yukari points out "This means it is likely the best bow ever created."

* PsychoticSmirk[=/=]SlasherSmile: Almost all the Shadow versions of the characters have either one of these expressions on their faces. The exceptions are Shadow Naoto, who just has a look of disdain, Shadow Kanji, who is [[CampGay just fabulous]], and Shadow Teddie, who looks pissed. Sho frequently breaks out into one as well.

* YellowLightningBlueLightning: Every character with electric attacks has a unique color associated with their electricity, affecting even the [[StandardStatusEffects paralyzation sparks]]. Yu has blue, Kanji has yellow, Akihiko has indigo, Elizabeth has purple/pink, and Adachi has blood-red.

*** Junpei: [[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Kliff Undersn]], [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Kagura Mutsuki]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona}} Hidehiko Uesugi + Nemhain, Masao Inaba/Susano-o]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona4}} Kanji Tatsumi]]

*** Minazuki: [[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Zappa]], [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Azrael]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona}} Reiji Kido + Bres]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona4}} Chie Satonaka]]

* ThePowerOfFriendship: Mocked by adachi in one of his victory quotes:

** It also spoils [[spoiler:Shinjiro and the P3MC's deaths, as they're conspicuously absent]].

Characters from ''Persona 4: Arena Ultimax'' are featured in the MassiveMultiplayerCrossover ''VideoGame/BlazBlueCrossTagBattle''. All characters that appeared in ''Arena'' are in the game, including Tohru Adachi, who was included in ''Ultimax''.

* UnexpectedCharacter: Very few people expected they'd CONFIRM [[spoiler:Marie]] is in!

* GratuitousEnglish: The announcer tries to say things in English with...fairly middling results, since he has trouble with even Japanese names. Particularly painful examples are Shadow Labrys[[note]]Shaa-doe Rab-ris[[/note]], Marie[[note]]Either Mary or ''Larry''[[/note]] and Negative Penalty[[note]]Ne-gah-tive Pen-aal-tee[[/note]]. There's also an occasionnal glitch with Ken's name (or he just gave up), since he's called ''Margaret'' by him.

* LetsGetDangerous: The returning cast show a lot less hesitation this time around since they know that they're fighting evil knock-offes instead of their friends. [[spoiler: Unfortunately, that's what the BigBad wants them to do.]]

* GratuitousEnglish: The announcer tries to say things in English with...fairly middling results, since he has trouble with even Japanese names. Particularly painful examples are Shadow Labrys[[note]]Shaa-doe Rab-ris[[/note]], Marie[[note]]Either Mary or ''Larry''[[/note]] and Negative Penalty[[note]]Ne-gah-tive Pen-aal-tee[[/note]]. There's also a glitch with Ken's name (or he just gave up), since he's called ''Margaret'' by him.

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Sho tries to shut off Labrys mind to take control of her. Instead, this just makes her Shadow's personality, the second strongest "self" inside her, come out and try to kill him.

** Yukari points out that none of the other Shadow Operatives are in a position to criticise her for wearing her Feather Pink costume, with her narration even describing Mitsuru's outfit as something similar to what a villain on the show would wear.

** ''Burning Inferno'' for the Malevolent Entity.

* LetsGetDangerous: The returning cast show a lot less hesitation this time around since they know that they're fighting Evil knock-off's instead of their friends. [[spoiler: Unfortunately, that's what the BigBad wants them to do.]]

* MoralDissonance: PlayedForLaughs. Yukiko, who is normally about accepting yourself and others, for some reason assumes all people with beards are perverts.

** In Golden Arena Mode, fighting a Shadow of the character you're playing as or vice versa will result in I'll Face Myself playing if you're using a Persona 4 character. For the Persona 3 crew, the game will play the Answer remix of Mass Destruction.

* NotMyDriver: Played with. The BadassInDistress is caused by Mitsuru's driver being mind-controlled, and the reveal is treated like a NotMyDriver moment.

** Marie, a supporting character and secret boss of ''4'', becomes a DLC character.

** Elizabeth continues her quest to find a way to save the P3 Protagonist from his fate of becoming the Great Seal.

* EnemyWithin: Shadow Labrys still exists as personality inside Labrys after ''Arena'' due to Labrys already being a MindHive, and tries to take control of Labrys body partway through the ''Persona 3'' route. [[spoiler:She gives back control soon after, as she was just trying to protect Labrys in her own way.]]

* TheArtifact: Even though none of the other Shadows really act like they did in Persona 4, Shadow Kanji still plays up the CampGay of Kanji's Shadow, thanks to RuleOfFunny.

* LetsGetDangerous: The returning cast show a lot less hesitation this time around since they know that they're fighting Evil knock-off's instead of their friends. [[spoiler: Unfortunately, That's what the BigBad want's them to do.]]

* AllThereInTheManual: Narukami's secret super is a challenge mode combo in Ultimax. The inputs for it are also literally in the manual (in his skill list of course).
* AnIcePerson: Ultimax bumps the number of Ice-Persona users to two, as Chie gains a new ice-themed move.
* AnotherSideAnotherStory: The events of the P-1 Climax are different depending on if you play story mode from the Investigation Team's perspective (Episode P4), The Shadow Operatives' perspective (Episode P3) or Adachi's perspective (Episode Adachi), [[spoiler: though once you beat the first two you unlock a "True Ending" on the Investigation Team's side.]]

* TheArtifact: Even though none of the other shadows really act like they did in Persona 4, Shadow Kanji still plays up the CampGay of Kanji's Shadow, thanks to RuleOfFunny.

** Also being a CallForward due to the game being set before Ultimax, but after in development, Teddie's nicknames for the rest of the Shadow Operatives are the same ones he gives the party in VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth.

** Shadow Yukiko makes one particular call back in ''Ultimax'':

* CanonDiscontinuity: The fact that Marie is a character in Ultimax means that the [=PS2=] version of VideoGame/{{Persona 4}} has been completely replaced by [[UpdatedRerelease Persona 4: Golden]].

* ComebackMechanic: In Ultimax, only Normal-type characters can enter Awakening.

* DamnYouMuscleMemory: Some returning characters had their inputs completely overhauled in Ultimax. Those who spent the time mastering Yosuke's [[DifficultButAwesome gliding technique]] now must learn the new sequence. And his kunai? Those migrated to different buttons.

* LateArrivalSpoiler: Aside from the story, the addons will spoil several characters if you haven't played Persona 3 or 4.

** ''"Mr. Easy-Going"'' for Junpei Iori.

** ''Fool or Clown?'' for Tohru Adachi.

** Sho is "[[TheSociopath The Rule-Smashing]] [[PungeonMaster Pun Machine]]" when he ''is not'' using a Persona, and "[[SplitPersonality The Scar-Faced]] DarkMessiah" when he ''is'' using a Persona.

* YellowLightningBlueLightning: Every character with electric attacks has unique color associated with their electricity, affecting even the [[StandardStatusEffects paralyzation sparks]]. Yu has blue, Kanji has yellow, Akihiko has indigo, Elizabeth has purple/pink, and Adachi has blood-red.