History VideoGame / Persona4TheUltimateInMayonakaArena

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[[caption-width-right:350:Summon the Fighter Within]]

''Persona 4 Arena'', known as ''Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena'' in Japan, is a fighting game spinoff and canon sequel of ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' and, to a lesser extent, ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}''. Developed by Creator/ArcSystemWorks under the supervision of Creator/{{Atlus}}' [[Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona Team Persona]], the game combines the gameplay of ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'' with the writing of the ''Persona'' series.

Three months after the conclusion of ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', the Midnight Channel makes an unexpected return when Teddie, now dressed in a general's hat and cape, shows up on the screen to announce the ''P-1 Grand Prix'', a [[TournamentArc bombastic fighting tournament]] created to discover who is the strongest Persona user in the world.

Noting Teddie's suspicious new attitude and attire, the Investigation Team from ''Persona 4'' decides to check it out just to make sure that it ''is'' nothing more than a friendly competition. Meanwhile, three [[VideoGame/{{Persona 3}} former members of S.E.E.S.]] (Aigis, Mitsuru Kirijo, and Akihiko Sanada) come across the tournament whilst tracking a dangerous "item" stolen from the Kirijo Group, and decide to investigate as well. And just who is Labrys, the [[RidiculouslyHumanRobot mysteriously-robotic]] StudentCouncilPresident of Yasogami High School who can freely traverse the Midnight Channel despite not possessing a Persona?

The game hit Japanese arcades in March of 2012, with a [[PlayStation3 console]] [[XBox360 release]] of July 26 and August 7 in Japan and America, respectively. The European release date [[ScheduleSlip was eventually confirmed for May 10 2013]], being published by [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Zen United]].

The Arcade build of the game began with 10 characters, but 3 more were added through timed releases (Labrys, Elizabeth and Shadow Labrys). The complete roster is as follows:

* From ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'': [[KatanasAreJustBetter Yu Narukami]], [[KnifeNut Yosuke Hanamura]], [[KickChick Chie Satonaka]], [[CombatHandFan Yukiko Amagi]], [[ChairmanOfTheBrawl Kanji Tatsumi]], [[WolverineClaws Teddie]], [[GunFu Naoto Shirogane]]
* From ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'': [[RoyalRapier Mitsuru Kirijo]], [[BareFistedMonk Akihiko Sanada]], [[MoreDakka Aigis]], [[ThrowTheBookAtThem Elizabeth]], [[AnAxeToGrind Labrys]][[note]]originally appeared in the ''Persona 3'' drama CD ''Moonlight''[[/note]]
* OriginalGeneration: [[ALoadOfBull Shadow Labrys]]

A sequel, ''Persona 4: Arena Ultimax'', or ''Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold'' in Japan, was released as a [[NoExportForYou Japanese arcade location test]] in August 2013. A console port for {{PlayStation 3}} and {{Xbox 360}} is slated for release in Japan on August 28, 2014, with an international release soon afterward. New playable characters include:

* From ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'': [[BatterUp Junpei Iori]], [[TheStraightAndArrowPath Yukari Takeba]], [[BladeOnAStick Ken Amada]] [[TheDividual and]] [[CutlassBetweenTheTeeth Koromaru]]
* From ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'': [[InstrumentOfMurder Rise Kujikawa]], [[PistolWhipping Tohru Adachi]], [[HandbagOfHurt Marie]], [[DeathDealer Margaret]]
* OriginalGeneration: [[DualWielding Sho Minazuki]] ([[DemonicPossession 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.

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

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[[caption-width-right:350:[[VideoGame/{{Persona 4}} Yu]] (left) and [[VideoGame/{{Persona 3}} Aigis]] (right) engaged in mortal combat.]]

''Persona 4: The Ultimate In Mayonaka Arena'' is, besides a mouthful, a fighting game sequel to ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' and, to a lesser extent, ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'', developed by ArcSystemWorks under the supervision of {{Atlus}}' [[{{Persona 3}} Team]] [[{{Persona 4}} Persona]]. The gameplay is purported to be similar to ''BlazBlue'' with the stand system from the ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' fighting game.

The game is set three months after the end of ''Persona 4'' and two years after the end of ''Persona 3'', it follows the True Ending of [=P4=] with everything in Inaba brought back to peace, but strangely enough Teddie turns up on the Midnight Channel to announce his P-1 Grand Prix, a tournament for Persona users to fight each other and decide who's the best fighter around; The Investigation Team takes note of this and decides to drop in to make sure this is just a friendly competition set up by Teddie; [[{{Persona3}} Aigis, Mitsuru, and Akihiko]] also drop in due bearing suspicion of a never seen before tournament where Persona users gather to fight against each other.

Currently it's scheduled to hit Japanese arcades in Summer 2012 and the {{Playstation 3}} and {{Xbox 360}} the following Autumn.

[[http://www.siliconera.com/2012/02/21/persona-4-arena-coming-to-north-america-this-summer/ Confirmed for American release]], albeit [[MarketBasedTitle with the changed title of]] ''Persona 4: Arena''.

The first build of the game is confirmed to have 10 characters + [[DownloadableContent DLC]].

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!!This game provides examples of:

* AnnouncerChatter:
** Rise, much like her role in the original [=P4=] to dictate on who needs help and comment on the battle situation in general; here she comments when a Super is done, when the character's health in low, and when a Fatal can be done, of course she does this in a personal manner unlike general fighting game announcers, expressing concern for the combatants as almost all of them are her friends.
** Margaret will also join Rise as one of the announcers, qualifying her for this trope.
* BadassCape: Akihiko is wearing one.
* BagOfSpilling: The characters no longer have their Ultimate Personas, with the exception [[VideoGame/{{Persona 3}} Akihiko and Mitsuru]], who evolved their Personas as part of their game's main storyline and were thus able to keep them.
* BloodlessCarnage: Unsurprisingly, but it really stands out when Yu has a real sword, Yosuke attacks with sharp kitchen knives and Kanji has a nice steel chair to bash heads with it.
* TheBusCameBack: Despite having moved back to the city as planned at the end of the original game, Yu seems to once again be sporting his Yasogami high uniform and involving himself in strange happenings in Inaba.
* CallingYourAttacks: The Investigation Team went native for the fighting game world, they call out their attack names or a CatchPhrase while performing one.
* CanonName: The protagonist's name is [[TheAnimeOfTheGame Yu Narukami]] in the sequel.
* ChairmanOfTheBrawl: Kanji with his trusty chair.
* DualWield: Yosuke and his kitchen knives.
* DramaticWind: Kanji when summoning Take-Mikazuchi for his Super, he makes a pose in glory with his coat flapping in the wind while the Persona attacks; actually even his fighting stance has a small dose of dramatic wind on his coat.
* ExcusePlot: Inevitable for the Arcade version, as whatever Teddie's P-1 Grand Prix tournament may develop into, it will only be truly explored in the console port which will have a story mode.
* FightingYourFriend: It is the case for the game, as the [[FireForgedFriends Investigation Team]] are going all out against each other in the P-1 Grand Prix. Not that it's wholly a bad thing... most of us are pretty sure that Yosuke and Chie would have wanted to get at each others' throats for some time now, and Kanji once threatened Yosuke for making a jab related to Shadow Kanji. Akihiko, Mitsuru, and Aigis will get the chance to fight each other as well.
* FunnyBruceLeeNoises: Chie, being who she is, drops a few [=ATATATAs=] and [=WATCHAs=] then and there.
* GoodScarsEvilScars: Akihiko has a scar from what appears to be from a animal on his chest.
* GratuitousEnglish: In the screenshot linked below. "Free pray"? (This example at least will likely be averted, however; all the other screenshots read "free play".)
* ImprobableWeaponUser: Kanji still got it in him, his weapon is a chair.
* KamehameHadoken: Yu with Izanagi, more than one of his Supers are gigantic laser beams, Zio and Ziodyne.
* KickChick: Chie, most of her attacks are kicks and variations, with only a few punches.
* KnifeNut: Yosuke, not only he dual wields them but has many to throw at his opponents.
* LemonyNarrator: The first promo video has FumihikoTachiki as one of these, giving the characters, except for Aigis, insulting nicknames. [[InteractiveNarrator The characters, naturally, complain about this]].
** "The Iron [[BigBrotherComplex Siscon]] Gang Leader" for the protagonist/Yu
** "Captain Resentment" for Yosuke
** "The Carnivore Girl Nobody Wants" for Chie
** "Impregnable Snow Black" for Yukiko
** "Terrific [[ManlyGay Macho]] Emperor" for Kanji
** Naoto is the "Callow Detective with IQ of 2000."
** Teddie is "[[LovableSexManiac Beast of Libido]]"
** Akihiko is "Protein Junkie With Unyielding Fists"
** Finally Mitsuru is "The Lonely Queen of Executions".
* MacheteMayhem: Akihiko has one on him now.
* MarketBasedTitle: ''Mayonaka Arena'' got left out of the title for the English release, as it's called "Midnight Channel" there. The rather straightforward ''Persona: 4 Arena'' has been announced instead.
* PlayingWithFire: Yukiko with Konohana Sakuya, she coordinates the Persona fire attacks with her fan.
* PrettyInMink: Mitsuru has one to wear over her catsuit.
* PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo: [[VideoGame/{{Persona 3}} Aigis]] [[http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/09/01/persona_4_fighter/images/2132459520/5 is a playable character]], and so are [[http://www.siliconera.com/2011/11/15/persoan-4-the-ultimate-in-mayonaka-arena-adds-two-more-guests-from-persona-3/ Mitsuru and Akihiko.]]
** TheRival: Yu and Aigis are implied to have a rather fierce rivalry or a very hostile relationship with each other; many of the trailers, as well as some of the artworks, often show them fighting each other. Then again, it my just be hyping up the fact that this is a Crossover between {{Persona 3}} and {{Persona 4}}.
* ShockAndAwe: Akihiko with Caesar, Kanji with Take-Mikazuchi and Yu with Izanagi summon their Personas for electricity based attacks.
* ShoutOut: The name for Teddie's tournament: ''P-1 Grand Prix'', obviously inspired by one of the editions for the late japanese Kickboxing championship league: ''K-1 Grand Prix''.
** The Alternate Costumes are either shout outs to GuiltyGear, BlazBlue or [[{{Persona 3}} Previous]] [[{{Persona 2}} Persona series]] (excepting strangely [[VideoGame/{{Persona}} the first Persona]] except one character):
*** Yuu: [[GuiltyGear Ky Kiske]], [[BlazBlue Ragna the Bloodedge]], [[{{Persona 3}} P3 Protagonist + Orpheus]]
*** Yosuke: [[GuiltyGear Chipp Zanuff]], [[BlazBlue Jin Kisaragi]], [[{{Persona 2}} Eikichi Mishina + Hades]]
*** Chie: [[GuiltyGear Jam Kuradoberi]], [[BlazBlue Makoto Nanaya]], [[{{Persona 3}} Yukari Takeba + Isis]]
*** Yukiko: [[GuiltyGear Anji Mito]], [[BlazBlue Carl Clover]], [[{{Persona 3}} Chidori + Medea]]
*** Kanji: [[GuiltyGear Potemkin]], [[BlazBlue Iron Tager]], [[{{Persona 2}} Baofu + Odysseus]]
*** Teddie: [[GuiltyGear Faust]], [[BlazBlue Taokaka]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona}} Jack]][[SeriesMascot frost]]
*** Naoto: [[GuiltyGear May]], [[BlazBlue Hazama]], [[{{Persona 2}} Yukino Mayuzumi + Durga]]
*** Mitsuru: [[GuiltyGear Axl Low]], [[BlazBlue Litchi Faye-Ling]], [[{{Persona 2}} Maya Amano + Artemis]]
*** Akihiko: [[GuiltyGear Slayer]], [[BlazBlue Bang Shishigami]], [[{{Persona 3}} Takaya + Hypnos]]
*** Aigis: [[GuiltyGear Justice]], [[BlazBlue v-13]], [[{{Persona 3}} Metis + Psyche]]
* SpinOff
* SpyCatsuit: Mitsuru's new outfit.
* TimeSkip: A small one for the ''Persona 4'' crew, just three months; a big one, two years, for the cast of ''Persona 3''. Mitsuru and Akihiko are both twenty and college students now.
* TournamentArc: Initially the reason the characters are going at each other throats is simply because Teddie is holding a tournament, but taking account the game will be story driven, expect things to get more complex than that.
* UnexpectedGameplayChange: Did anyone expect a sequel to ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', a {{JRPG}} in a series of {{RPG}}s that is a spinoff of [[ShinMegamiTensei yet another series of RPGs]], to come in the shape of a fighting game developed by Arc System Works?
** TheUnexpected: Or for that matter [[VideoGame/{{Persona 3}} Aigis]] would be on the roster?
* WalkingShirtlessScene: Akihiko is now shirtless.
* WalkingTheEarth: How Akihiko has spent the two years between the end of ''Persona 3'' and the tournament, traveling across the globe to perfect his punch and become the greatest fighter. He's back in Japan because Mitsuru invited him to participate in the tournament with her.
* XMeetsY: Probably something along the lines of ''Persona'' meets ''BlazBlue''[=/=]''GuiltyGear'' meets ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' (in gameplay at least).
* WholeCostumeReference: One of Teddie's outfits in ''The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena'', with its JapaneseDelinquents style hat/golden skull and lightning bolt motif/purple cape/etc, looks suspiciously like [[StreetFighter a certain martial arts tournament hosting dictator's]].
* WrestlerInAllOfUs: Kanji, many of the attacks with his chair are wrestling moves: body slams, drops & etc.

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*** Teddie: [[Guilty Gear Faust]], [[BlazBlue Taokaka]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona}} Jack]][[SeriesMascot frost]]

** Alternate Costumes will also be a shout out to GuiltyGear and BlazBlue. One of Yu's reskins is a tribute to the [[{{Persona 3}} Persona 3 Protagonist.]]
** For example, Kanji has a [[GuiltyGear Potemkin]] and a [[BlazBlue Iron Tager]] reskin. Naoto has a [[BlazBlue Hazama]] reskin as well.

* DubNameChange: ''Mayonaka Arena'' got left out of the title for the English release, as it's called "Midnight Channel" there. The rather straightforward "Persona 4 Arena" has been announced instead.

* DubNameChange: ''Mayonaka Arena'' in the title is highly unlikely to stick for an english release of the game, since Mayonaka TV is what Midnight Channel is called in Japan.

* GoodScarsEvilScars: Akihiko has a scar from what appears to be from a animal on his chest. Except they actually are [[spoiler:[[ContinuityNod from the Magician Full Moon Shadow that wounds him at the very beginning of Persona 3]].]]

* GoodScarsEvilScars: Akihiko has a scar from what appears to be from a animal on his chest.