!This page will have [[Administrivia/SpoilersOff unmarked spoilers]] from ''VideoGame/Persona3'', ''VideoGame/Persona4'', and ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena''. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned!
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/p4u2_1722.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''[[ThematicThemeTune Break out of the shell.]]'']]

->''"Hahahahaha! The P-1 Climax... It's the end of the world, one-on-one death match that's worthy of the name 'climax'! And best of all, if you don't win the one-on-one tournament to the finish within the hour, the world will end! No punches pulled this time!"''
-->-- '''General Teddie'''

''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 Platform/PlayStation3 and Platform/XBox360 was released in Japan on August 28, 2014, with an international release soon afterward. Platform/PlayStation4, Platform/NintendoSwitch, and {{Platform/Steam}} ports were announced at The Game Awards 2021 and released on March 17th, 2022. The re-released version is based upon the final revision of the Japanese arcade version, version 2.50, which was never released outside of [[NoPortForYou the arcade]] or [[NoExportForYou Japan]], and includes all previous DLC, allowing players worldwide to finally experience the "complete" version of the game. A update for the [=PS4=] and Steam versions in early August that year added in rollback netcode, similar to what was done for ''VideoGame/BlazBlueCentralFiction'' and ''VideoGame/BlazBlueCrossTagBattle''.

In ''Persona 4 Arena Ultimax'', the characters from ''VideoGame/Persona3'' and ''VideoGame/Persona4'' 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...

New playable characters include:

* From ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'': [[BatterUp Junpei Iori]], [[TheStraightAndArrowPath Yukari Takeba]], Ken Amada and [[CutlassBetweenTheTeeth Koromaru]]
* From ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'': [[InstrumentOfMurder Rise Kujikawa]], [[PistolWhipping Tohru Adachi]], [[HandbagOfHurt Marie]], [[DeathDealer Margaret]]
* OriginalGeneration: [[DualWielding Sho Minazuki]] ([[SplitPersonality with]] and [[EmpoweredBadassNormal without]] Persona)

The sequel also introduces "[[EnemyWithout Shadow]]" versions of most of the cast, such as [[IJustWantToHaveFriends Shadow Yu]] (who previously [[CanonImmigrant only appeared]] in ''Anime/Persona4TheAnimation''), a Shadow Labrys who uses Ariadne instead of Asterius, and [[AmbiguouslyGay Shadow]] [[RefugeInAudacity Kanji]]. These versions have tweaked stats and use a new mechanic called "[[SuperMode Shadow Frenzy]]" in place of the ability to [[ComboBreaker Burst]]. Furthermore, new stages such as [[TheMall Junes]] and [[EvilTowerOfOminousness Tartarus]] have been added.

Characters from ''Persona 4: Arena Ultimax'' are featured in the MassiveMultiplayerCrossover game, ''VideoGame/BlazBlueCrossTagBattle'', including characters first that appeared in ''Arena'' and Tohru Adachi, who was first included in ''Ultimax''.
----
!!P-1 Tropers, are you ready?
* AllThereInTheManual: Yu'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).
* AmbiguousSituation: In the opening of Episode P3, Junpei is shown dreaming about marrying Chidori; as Chidori dies in the original ''VideoGame/Persona3'' but can be saved in ''FES'' and ''Portable'', it's left unclear if he's dreaming about his future with her or what-could-have-been.
* 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.]]
* AntiFrustrationFeatures: Score Attack mode now has selectable difficulty (instead of being locked at NintendoHard), making Achievements and unlockables relating to it easier to get for less experienced players. You also won't face SNKBoss versions of the characters unless you're on Normal or higher. (and on Normal, only half the opponents are "boss" versions)
* AnthropomorphicPersonification: The BigBad of the ''Arena'' games is "the collective will of those who abandon all connections, and strive to live only for themselves."
* 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.
* ArtifactTitle: Despite the fact the game now also contains almost the entire cast of Persona 3, it's still called Persona ''4'' Arena. Though arguably justified as ''Episode P4'' appears to be the canon series of events, with ''Episode P3'' mostly serving to elaborate on certain plot points.
* ArtificialStupidity: Score Attack AI is very laughably bad, to the point where you'd have to question if they based it on first-time players. Considering how absurdly busted most of the characters are and how the few that don't get particularly buffed still get the universal damage buff the AI does, it's almost necessary.
* BagOfSpilling: The rest of the former members of SEES (Junpei, Yukari and Ken) avert this and have their ultimate Personas. Koromaru (a dog) is the only exception, but his never transmogrified in the first place.
* ButtMonkey:
** Surprisingly averted when it comes to Yosuke - other than getting sneezed on by Teddie, he generally avoids suffering any humiliations this time, until the epilogue when [[spoiler:Teddie loudly and repeatedly asks Yosuke if he's looking for more nurse magazines whilst looking for college literature]].
** Junpei, especially in Episode P4. Whilst it's a RunningGag that the other Shadow Operatives keep teasing him over only being in Inaba because he overslept on the train; it seems anytime Junpei is onscreen in Episode P4, he ends up being made to look a fool. It's still present in Episode P3, but vastly toned down.
* CallBack:
** 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''.
** Akihiko continues to call Teddie "Teddie Teddie" just like in his story mode.
** Shadow Yukiko makes one particularly hilarious call-back:
--->'''Shadow Yukiko''': I have my lacey unmentionables on! I hope you're ready~!
* CallForward:
** The Investigation Team's personal endings in the epilogue to "Episode [=P4=]" see them set out on the CharacterDevelopment they've undergone in ''Golden'''s True Ending epilogue.
** As the Dojimas and the rest of the Investigation Team see Yu off at the train station, Yu mentions his plans to come back in the summer, when the True Ending epilogue took place in ''Golden''.
** The costume Rise is wearing at the start of "Episode [=P4=]" is her outfit from ''VideoGame/Persona4DancingAllNight''.
* 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]].
* CharacterCatchphrase: A shared one among the Shadow EvilKnockoff doppelgangers seen in the story mode, where they all shout "Bring on the ring!" which summon a fighting arena around the Shadow and their opponent.
* ColonCancer: The game's full title is technically ''[=P4AU=]: Persona 4: Arena: Ultimax'' in the west and ''[=P4UU=]: Persona 4: The Ultimax: Ultra Suplex Hold'' in Japan.
* ColorMotif: ''Ultimax'' uses blue and yellow, as a crossover of ''Persona 3'' and ''Persona 4''.
* CombatCommentator: By clearing all four routes of Score Attack with respective characters, nearly every playable character can be unlocked as navigators, with the exception of Minazuki, Shadow Labrys (who, together, unlock Fuuka Yamagishi's navigation), Sho (that, along with Rise's completion, unlocks Nanako's navigation), and DLC characters Margaret and Marie. Adachi is the only DLC character of the three that is selectable as a navigator.
* ComebackMechanic: In ''Ultimax'', only Normal-type characters can enter Awakening.
* ContinuityNod:
** In ''Ultimax'', Yukari is Pink Argus of ''[[ShowWithinAShow Phoenix Ranger Featherman Victory]]'', a sequel series to ''Phoenix Ranger Featherman R'', a {{Tokusatsu}} show which appeared in several ''Persona'' games starting with ''VideoGame/{{Persona 2}}: Innocent Sin''.
** Junpei mentions adding a new story to "[[Franchise/RipleysBelieveItOrNot Junpei's Believe It, or Don't]]" after watching Copy Rise melt.
** Kanji protects Ken from his Shadow[[spoiler:/fake the same way Shinjiro protected him]].
* CrisisCrossover: ''Ultimax'' evens out the characters from ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', and combines both the Midnight Channel and Dark Hour.
* CuttingOffTheBranches: Mitsuru's title "The Imperious Queen of Executions" reminds Yukari of something that happened on their school trip, strongly implying that the boys were canonically caught in the Kyoto hot springs.
* 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.
* DualWielding: Sho dual wields [[KatanasAreJustBetter katana]].
* EarnYourHappyEnding: For the ''Persona 3'' and ''4'' game series as a whole. [[spoiler:The group finally defeats Sho, Minazuki, and Kagutsuchi, with the chance that Sho will be redeemed. Adachi returns to jail peacefully and begins to realize he too is capable of forming bonds, the Shadow Operatives and Investigation team have cleaned up all, at least up to now, threats related to their adventures, and Elizabeth is another step closer to her goal.]]
* EnemyWithin: Shadow Labrys still exists as a 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.]]
* EvilKnockoff: The sequel introduces Shadow {{Doppelganger}}s; copies of the main characters true Shadow Selves created by the BigBad to slow the heroes down. Doppelgangers have lower attack power and fewer defensive abilities, but have rapid SP gain, constant access to Awakening SP Skills, more health, and the ''Shadow Frenzy'' SuperMode (which grants them unlimited SP and special-to-special canceling temporarily).
* EvilVsEvil:
** Labrys' [[EnemyWithin Shadow self]] tries to kill Sho Minazuki for trying to control Labrys' body.
** Former SerialKiller Tohru Adachi turns on Sho [[TheAtoner to try and stop the boy from becoming a murderer like him.]]
* ExactTimeToFailure: One hour, a CallBack to the third game's Dark Hour. It's repeatedly mentioned, not that the characters don't stop to have long, exposition-laden chats whenever necessary.
* EXSpecialAttack: Skill Boost can now be applied to [[LimitBreak SP Moves]], bringing their cost up to 75 SP but making them even more powerful.
* {{Fanservice}}: Yukari being knocked out by her double when rescuing Fuuka is presented as a full drawn illustration... very prominently showing more cleavage from Yukari than her fairly modest outfit normally shows.
* FogOfDoom: The red fog that appears to cover Inaba, which works similarly to both the TV World and the Dark Hour by disabling electric power and altering the real world in addition to making the use of Personas easier.
* FragileSpeedster: Yosuke is now free from this trope in this (compared to ''Arena''), as one of his new moves gives him hard knockdown (allowing for more damaging combos) and his damage has been increased. He's now considered to be the best character ''in the game'' -- a combination of the buffs to Yosuke and the nerfs to other characters make him the most obnoxious opponent in the game. (His playstyle relies on, well, being as annoying as possible.)
* FriendshipHatingAntagonist: The main antagonist [[spoiler:Sho Minazuki]] is working with the Malevolent Voice in order to grant his desire: [[OmnicidalManiac to destroy the human race.]] [[spoiler:Sho]] claims to be a person who rejects all bonds due to [[spoiler:his adoptive father Ikutsuki using him as a test subject, eventually causing the boy to develop a split personality and a desire to destroy humanity.]] As Webcomic/Persona4TW [[https://personaftw.thecomicseries.com/comics/2294/ points out]], Sho and his alter MINAZUKI only got as far as they did [[{{Irony}} because they had a bond.]]
* 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 occasional glitch with Ken's name, since he's called ''Margaret'' by him.
** He doesn't even try to call Teddie by his localized name and always calls him "Kuma", no matter what language the game is set on.
* GivingSomeoneThePointerFinger: Yukiko and Teddie give double pointer fingers when they figure out which of two Kanji's is the fake.
-->'''Yukiko and Teddie:''' You're the culprit!
* 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.
* AnIcePerson: ''Ultimax'' bumps the number of Ice-Persona users to two, as Chie gains a new ice-themed move.
* ImmediateSequel: ''Arena'' ends with everyone pouring out of the TV at Junes sometime in the afternoon. ''Ultimax'' starts the next morning at the Junes' food court, and the action takes place later in the evening around midnight. Several people note the whole investigation is ruining Yu's Golden Week vacation.
* ImprobableWeaponUser: Rise, with ''a [[InstrumentOfMurder microphone]].'' She switches to an equally improbable [[LoudOfWar megaphone]] for her Instant Kill.
* {{Interquel}}: Like ''Arena'', ''Ultimax'' takes place between the ending of ''Persona 4'' and ''Golden'''s epilogue.
* LampshadeHanging:
** After noticing Sho's Yasogami uniform, Yosuke notes his RememberTheNewGuy-status by pointing out how unlikely it is that no-one on the Investigation Team spotted him around the school when one considers Sho's distinctive appearance.
** Yukari points out that none of the other Shadow Operatives are in a position to criticize 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.
* LateArrivalSpoiler: Aside from the story, the addons will spoil several characters if you haven't played ''Persona 3'' or ''4''.
** The fact that a particular character has Persona powers is a ''major'' spoiler to ''Persona 4'''s main plot.
** It also spoils Shinjiro and the [=''P3'' MC=]'s deaths, as they're conspicuously absent.
* {{Leitmotif}}: Each new character also has their own battle theme.
** ''Pink Sniper'' for Yukari Takeba.
** ''"Mr. Easy-Going" Man'' for Junpei Iori.
** ''Youthful Spirit'' for Ken Amada and Koromaru.
** ''Twinkle*Star'' for Rise Kujikawa.
** ''Fool or Clown?'' for Tohru Adachi.
** ''XOXO For You'' for Marie.
** ''The Joker'' for Sho.
** ''Blood Red Moon'' for Minazuki.
** ''Burning Inferno'' for the Malevolent Entity/[[spoiler:Hi-no-Kagutsuchi]].
* LemonyNarrator: Creator/FumihikoTachiki in Japanese and Creator/PatrickSeitz in English, again.
** Yukari is "[[{{Sentai}} The Unsightly Pink]] [[FriendlySniper Sniper]]."
** Junpei is "[[ButtMonkey The Mighty Strike-Out Slugger]]."
** Sho is "[[TheSociopath The Rule-Smashing]] [[PungeonMaster Pun Machine]]" when it's Sho himself, and "[[SplitPersonality The Scar-Faced]] DarkMessiah" when it's Minazuki.
** Rise is "[[MsFanservice The Scandalous]] [[IdolSinger Superstar Idol]]."
** Ken and Koromaru are "[[{{Determinator}} The Pretentious]] [[NaiveNewcomer Tenderfoot]] [[TheDividual Duo]]."
** Adachi is "[[SmugSnake The Egocentric]] [[DirtyCop Police]] [[{{Troll}} Dick]]."
** Marie is "[[NoSocialSkills The Anti-Social]] [[WarriorPoet Poet of]] [[AmnesiacGod the Hollow Forest]]."
** Margaret is "[[BloodKnight The Sadistic]] [[{{Hunk}} Stud-Keeping]] [[AlmightyJanitor Secretary]]."
* LetsGetDangerous: The returning cast show a lot less hesitation this time around since they know that they're fighting evil knock-offs instead of their friends. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, that's what the BigBad wants them to do.]]
* TheManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler:Ikutsuki turns out to be an important character in Sho's backstory]].
* MarketBasedTitle: The game went from "The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold" in Japan to simply "Arena Ultimax" in the West.
* MeaningfulName: [[spoiler:Kagutsuchi]] is the name of a god whose mother died giving birth to him, a fitting name for the AnthropomorphicPersonification of "breaking bonds". Even more fittingly, [[spoiler:Kagutsuchi is the name of Izanami and Izanagi's child in Japanese mythology. Kagutsuchi's plans actively hurt Marie, who is an incarnation of Izanami, and is defeated by Yu and Adachi wielding Izanagi and Magatsu Izanagi respectively]].
* MechanicallyUnusualFighter: Sho doesn't have a Persona nor does he have an Instant Kill (similar to the Shadow Doppelgangers). His "Persona" attacks are extra attacks from Sho himself and a dodge move, and he is not only immune to Persona Break, but also not heavily affected by the Silence status effect (the only thing it disables is his ability to Burst).
** Margaret, instead of having her own focused Persona, simply chooses multiple ones from her compendium (Yoshitsune, Cu Chulainn, Ardha, and Helel) to fight with.
* MultiSlotCharacter: Alongside Labrys and Shadow Labrys returning from the previous game ([[spoiler:with this game's story mode revealing that the latter has become a split personality of Labrys that can control the former's body and call upon Asterius as her Persona]]), this game adds Sho Minazuki, who has two playable variants. There's SHO Minazuki (The Rule-Smashing Pun Machine) and his SplitPersonality Sho MINAZUKI (The Scar-Faced Dark Messiah). SHO doesn't have a Persona to use, so his moveset is entirely physical, while MINAZUKI shares the same moveset and incorporates his Persona, Tsukiyomi's, [[CastingAShadow darkness-based]] moves. The true end of ''Ultimax'''s story mode reveals that [[spoiler:after the defeat of the true villain behind the game's plot, Sho can't sense Minazuki anymore, and that he now has access to Tsukiyomi as his Persona. It's implied that Minazuki became Tsukiyomi, and that Minazuki was Sho's Shadow. This is followed up with a TrueFinalBoss fight against Sho, where he uses his physical-based gameplay style while also having access to Tsukiyomi's power, though this variant isn't playable and can only be fought in the game's story mode]].
* MyNameIsQuestionMarks: In Lobby Mode, the protagonist of ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' is not named at all, and is just referred as "????".
* MythologyGag:
** Each new character has a set of [=DLC=] palette swaps that serve as individual shout outs to ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'', ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'', and three from ''Persona'' games:
*** Yukari: [[VideoGame/GuiltyGear A.B.A]], [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Noel Vermillion]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona2}} Lisa Silverman + Venus]], [[VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth Zen]]
*** Junpei: [[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Kliff Undersn]], [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Kagura Mutsuki]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona1}} Hidehiko Uesugi + Nemhain, Masao Inaba/Susano-o]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona4}} Kanji Tatsumi]]
*** Sho: [[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Johnny]], [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Hakumen]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona2}} King Leo]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona4}} Human Teddie]]
*** Minazuki: [[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Zappa]], [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Azrael]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona1}} Reiji Kido + Bres]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona4}} Chie Satonaka]]
*** Rise: [[VideoGame/GuiltyGear I-No]], [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Platinum the Trinity + Trinity Glassfille]] [[note]]Rise and Platinum share the same [[Creator/LauraBailey voice actress]][[/note]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona2}} Trish]], [[Anime/Persona4TheAnimation "True Story" opening's Rise costume]] [[note]]Rather than being a palette swap, it is a sprite edit[[/note]]
*** Ken and Koromaru: [[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Bridget and Roger (both)]], [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Carl Clover and Nirvana + Valkenhayn R. Hellsing (wolf)]], [[Anime/PersonaTrinitySoul Jun Kanzato and Seth]] [[VideoGame/{{Persona4}} + the Fox and her cubs]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona2}} Ixquic and Belphegor (both)]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona3}} Shinjiro Aragaki]] [[VideoGame/{{Persona4}} + Teddie]]
*** Adachi: [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Terumi Yuuki + Dark Susanooh]], [[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Robo Ky Mk.II]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona3}} Theodore]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona2}} Katsuya Suou + Helios]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona4}} Yu Narukami]], [[VideoGame/DevilSummoner Kyouji Kuzunoha]]
*** Marie: [[VideoGame/SoulHackers Hitomi Tono + Nemissa]], [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Amane Nishiki]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona4}} Naoto Shirogane]]
*** Margaret: [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Kokonoe]], [[VideoGame/GuiltyGear May]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona2}} Ulala Serizawa + Callisto]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona4}} Rise Kujikawa]], [[VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth Nurse Elizabeth]]
** Minazuki's OneHitKill seems to be a combination of [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Hazama's, Terumi's, and Ragna's Astrals]]. Also while during it, Minazuki uses a pose resembling Dio from ''VideoGame/JoJosBizarreAdventureHeritageForTheFuture''.
** In ''Ultimax'', Yu got a secret super which plays out exactly like [[VideoGame/GuiltyGearXX Order-Sol's]] "Dragon Install Sekkai" super, or for {{Creator/SNK}} fans, [[VideoGame/FatalFury Gesse/Rock's]] Deadly Rave.
** [[spoiler:This isn't the first ''SMT'' game to base a character after the rather unknown Hinokagutsuchi. Before this, he was both a recurring demon and also [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne an avatar of YHVH]] (though simply shortened as Kagutsuchi in that game).]]
** Sho has some references to Joker from ''VideoGame/{{Persona 2}}'' in that both of his names are spelled in a mix of lower and uppercase letters along with the fact that his {{Leitmotif}} is titled "The Joker". Add to that that he is working closely with the main antagonist (who in turn is [[spoiler:a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute to Nyarlathotep]]).
** Rise sings "True Story" from ''Golden'' and her introductory episode in ''The Animation''. However, whilst the Western release of ''Golden'' translated the lyrics into suitable English, the dub of ''The Animation'' used the original Japanese song instead - here, the song uses the same English recording from ''Golden''.
** Shadow Yukiko tells Chie that she needs her to "die for me," a reference to the Demon Alice's CharacterCatchphrase.
** 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 ''The Answer'' remix of "Mass Destruction".
** Akihiko is mentioned to have ambitions to work as a police officer, which is not only a ContinuityNod from his Story Mode's path in the original game, but also a small nod to ''Anime/PersonaTrinitySoul'', where he works as an actual police officer.
* 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.
* 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."
* NotMyDriver: Played with. The BadassInDistress moment is caused by Mitsuru's driver being mind-controlled, and the reveal is treated like a NotMyDriver moment.
* OpposingCombatPhilosophies: As the leader of disciplined soldiers who fight for a living, Mitsuru has to tell the Investigation Team to let her people handle Inaba's problems. And as a local militia motivated to protect their town themselves, the Investigation Team has to disobey her and get involved anyway. Both sides know this, but for protocol's sake Mitsuru asks anyway and the Team pretend to agree.
* PlayingWithFire:
** Ken and Koromaru have a fire super. [[ContinuityNod In keeping with the original role-playing games]], the super begins from Koromaru's position, not Ken's -- it was Koromaru who learned fire abilities, not Ken.
** Junpei also uses some fire-based attacks.
** Yukiko has her Agi abilities from her previous appearance in ''Arena''.
* ThePowerOfFriendship: Mocked by Adachi in one of his victory quotes:
-->'''Adachi''': Yeah, yeah, friendship, teamwork, {{blah blah blah}}. I still won. [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids Results beat idealism]].
* PosthumousCharacter: Ikutsuki, who died in ''Persona 3'', [[spoiler:appears in Sho's backstory]].
* PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo: ''Ultimax'' brings back all of the surviving SEES members who missed out on the P-1 Grand Prix and makes them playable characters.
* PromotedToPlayable:
** Rise Kujikawa, who was only a support Navigator in ''Persona 4'' and the announcer in ''Arena'', becomes a full-on playable fighter in ''Ultimax''.
** Tohru Adachi, a non-playable boss from the original game and had a guest appearance in the arcade build of ''Ultimax'', becomes a DLC character in the home console version of the game.
** Margaret, who played a supporting role in the original game and ''Arena'''s story, becomes a DLC fighter in ''Ultimax''.
** Sho Minazuki, [[spoiler:who was the Eerie Voice back in ''Arena'']], becomes a playable character in ''Ultimax''.
** Marie, a supporting character and secret boss of ''Persona 4 Golden'', becomes a DLC character.
* PuppetFighter: Ken breaks Arena's gameplay tradition by having no standalone persona attacks. His C and D buttons are reserved for control of ''Koromaru''. He's the most traditional PuppetFighter in the game and many of his most damaging combos (and punishes) rely on placing the opponent between himself and Koromaru. Unlike Shadow Labrys, Ken can remove his puppet from the screen. His persona attacks are limited to a follow-up move and the healing spell Mediarama (which restores Koromaru's health along with Ken's). [[DamnYouMuscleMemory All but one of his supers are inputted with the A or B buttons, not C or D, unlike the rest of the roster.]]
* PurelyAestheticGlasses: Glasses are an equippable accessory for all characters, regardless if they need them or not.
* RevenueEnhancingDevices: Three characters exist only as paid DLC, despite being on the disc from the get-go.
* RunningGag: As a continuation from the previous game, the Shadow Operatives' outfits make them stand out like a sore thumb among the assembled Persona users and even the members themselves commented about their teammates' outfits. Unlike Akihiko and Mitsuru however, Yukari and Junpei have no time to change before they are called for the operation and are rather self-conscious about their outfits.
* SequelHook:
** Rise's story in ''Ultimax'' is book-ended by her preparing for shows with "Kanamin Kitchen", the [[IdolSinger idol]] group that suddenly disappears in ''VideoGame/Persona4DancingAllNight''. You can even see Rise in her ''Dancing All Night'' costume in a few cut-scenes.
** The prologue of ''Ultimax'''s story mode has a person later revealed to be Sho Minazuki [[RefusalOfTheCall refusing a contract with the Velvet Room]]. Igor however comments that Sho is destined to refine his power, and will eventually return.
** The epilogue of ''Ultimax'''s story mode True End has Margaret imply that both Sho and possibly ''Elizabeth'' are destined to become [[PlayerCharacter Guests]] of the Velvet Room.
** Naoto points out that there might be more people like Sho out there. ''VideoGame/Persona5'' would prove her right.
** Elizabeth continues her quest to find a way to save the ''Persona 3'' Protagonist from his fate of becoming the Great Seal.
* SlasherSmile: Almost all the Shadow versions of the characters have 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.
* SplitMindSplitPowers:
** Sho Minazuki has two identities of which only one, the "Minazuki" personality, can use a Persona, Tsukuyomi. The "Sho" personality, on the other hand, is a BadassNormal. [[spoiler:In the True Ending of story mode, the two personalities merge together, with Sho gaining access to Minazuki's persona, implying Minazuki was actually Sho's shadow.]]
** [[spoiler:Shadow Labrys from the previous game ends up becoming this. While she became Ariadne, Shadow Labrys eventually hijacks Labrys' actual body when Sho tries taking control of her, which then has her call upon Asterius as her Persona instead of Ariadne.]]
* SplitPersonality:
** The bratty Sho has a second personality, Minazuki, who was born from the Plume of Dusk inside him.
** Due to Labrys' status as a MindHive, she switches from her normal personality to that of her Shadow self when Sho tries to shut off her psyche.
* SNKBoss: Every character has a "Boss mode" similar to the "Unlimited Mode" from the ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'' series. They can be fought in Score Attack or unlocked for use in versus play.
* StatusInflictionAttack: 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.
* SuperMode: Several return from the first game, while Junpei has an exclusive one with Victory Cry.
* ThemeMusicPowerUp: In ''Ultimax'', it's now "Time To Make History" from ''Persona 4 Golden''. The option to use "Fog" as the Instant Kill music like the first ''Arena'' can still be chosen.
* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: Shadow Frenzy combos, Instant Kills: take your pick. Ken and Koromaru's Instant Kill does 56,000 damage in a game where the max health a character can have is 14,000.
* TheVillainSucksSong: [[SomethingSomethingLeonardBernstein It's hard to tell without looking up the lyrics]], but the main theme "Break out of..." is actually one for Sho. Sort-of combined with VillainSong, as the rap segments are from Sho's perspective giving the main singer a ShutUpKirk. [[spoiler:This makes its use during the TrueFinalBoss battle between Sho and Yu particularly fitting.]]
* UnexpectedGameplayChange: One of Rise's attacks interrupts the match so you can play a rhythm minigame. The more accurate you are, the more damage you deal.
* {{Wackyland}}: This game's version of Inaba is a demented version of it, with some locations from ''Persona 3'' added in. Notably, one of the locations remade for ''Ultimax'' is Persona 3's Tartarus!
* AWinnerIsYou: ''Ultimax'' lets everyone do their own "Congratulations!" messages after the credits when playing arcade mode.
* YellowLightningBlueLightning: Every character with electric attacks has a unique color associated with their electricity, affecting even the [[StatusEffects paralyzation sparks]]. Yu has blue, Kanji has yellow, Akihiko has indigo, Ken has green, Elizabeth has purple/pink, and Adachi has blood-red.
* YinYangBomb: Ken and Koromaru's Instant Kill involves the two of them blasting their opponent with Hama and Mudo spells.
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