Although Persona 4 Arena Ultimax follows the fourth installment of the franchise, this game also includes elements from Persona 3. With both Persona 3 and P4 now in the mix, there is more content than ever for fans to fawn and reminisce over as they fight through each character’s storyline.

But only faithful followers of the franchise that devoted themselves to the long but rewarding hours of the main games will get the references in Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.

Updated March 28, 2022, by Christopher Sanfilippo: In light of the Persona series’ 25th anniversary, Atlus re-launched its classic fighting game spin-off, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, on current-gen consoles like PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. As a result, we’ve taken a deeper look into the many connections between P4AU and the mainline series.

10 Dark Hour

Since Persona 4 Arena Ultimax continues where the fourth installment left off, players who started from Persona 4 may not be familiar with the Dark Hour. This oversight is because the Dark Hour is a plot point from the earlier game, Persona 3.

The Dark Hour is a hidden 25th hour (between midnight and 1:00 am) that boasts a red haze and dark atmosphere, which takes over the real world. Therefore, we can clarify that the red mist enveloping Inaba at the beginning of Episode P4 is not a remnant of the Midnight Channel but a manifestation of the Dark Hour.

9 Sister Complex Kingpin Of Steel

At the beginning of the original Persona 4 Arena storyline, General Teddie introduces the P-1 Grand Prix contenders with embarrassing nicknames. One of these nicknames refers to Yu Narukami as the “Sister Complex Kingpin of Steel.” This moniker references the brotherly role Yu has taken on regarding his cousin, Nanako. Throughout Persona 4, Yu became very close to his younger cousin, even saving her from the grips of death.

Yu’s close bond with Nanako, who affectionately calls him “big bro,” is a significant plot point in P4AU. For instance, General Teddie claims to have kidnapped Nanako at the beginning of Yu’s P4A storyline. Furthermore, Yosuke encounters a fake version of Yu in his storyline. This fake Yu accuses Yosuke of becoming too familiar with his sister.

8 Solitude Vs. Bonding

More than just a fighting game, the mainline Shin Megami Tensei series is a JRPG with a rich story exploring the meaning of relationships. Throughout Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, the story often alludes to characters’ bonds and experiences with one another. In addition, it warns how total solitude can create darkness and a heavy heart within oneself.

In the Persona series, the protagonist levels up their skills by strengthening their bonds with others outside of the shadow realm. These social links strengthen the arcana that allows the protagonist to command different personas. In P4AU, Social Links reappear in Golden Arena Mode and level up as players repeatedly play with the same Partner characters.

7 Yukiko’s Cooking

In a scene at the end of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, players get a taste of Yukiko’s cooking (if you can call it that). But all Persona 4 veterans know to run while they can since cooking isn’t precisely Yukiko’s specialty. For instance, she’s notorious for the culinary disaster that was her lunch box. Furthermore, she prepares a curry that makes the cast sick during a school trip.

P4AU does not let you forget how bad of a cook Yukiko is. Multiple characters refer to its nastiness, including Yosuke in an inner monologue during his P4A storyline. In short, it’s fair to say that Yukiko’s cooking would earn her family inn a 1-star review on Yelp had she been in charge of the kitchen.

6 Chie: A Bruce Lee Fan

Another fun feature of P4AU is the looks into various characters’ bedrooms. For instance, Chie’s room reveals how big a fan she is of Bruce Lee (or “Blue Three,” as the Shin Megami Tensei series likes to call him). If you look closely, you’ll find a poster of him on the left-hand side of the back wall.

The reference seems a little obscure. But those who played Persona 4 already know about Chie’s adoration for the legendary martial artist. After all, she almost used her own Bruce Lee tactics on Yosuke when he broke her “Trial of the Dragon” CD.

5 Phoenix Ranger Featherman R

This Power Ranger reference is not just a fun costume from Persona 4 Golden and the dancing games. Anyone that played the main games and paid attention to the details would have an edge in getting this reference. Phoenix Ranger Featherman R is a canon show in the Persona universe first introduced in Persona 2. In fact, in P4AU, Yukari Takeba plays the Pink Argus ranger in Phoenix Ranger Featherman Victory.

This tv show comes up a lot in the main series. For instance, in Persona 3, Ken Amada refuses to admit he loves the show (even though he watches it in his dorm on Sundays). Furthermore, in Persona 4’s true ending, Teddie quotes the show, saying, “I’ll protect everyone! Phoenix Ranger Featherman Bear!”

4 Teddie’s Competition

In Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, players can find a dress donning Teddie zipping out of his bear suit while saying a victory line, “Gimme your heart.” Now, those who played Persona know this refers to the drag-pageant Teddie won in Yasogami High.

Considering Teddie’s appreciation for all things pretty and cute, it’s no surprise he drew out his inner femininity and won over all the votes from his fellow students. Furthermore, you can find the blue dress that one Teddie those votes hanging up in Yosuke’s bedroom closet in P4AU.

3 Junpei’s Love For Chidori

via @Mattiaaz on DeviantArt

Junpei is one of the playable characters from Persona 3added into this Persona 4 Arena universe. After battles, one of his victory lines is, “Hehe, you were good. Though no one can win out over my love for Chidori!”

Chidori, not wholeheartedly addressed in this game, is Junpei’s tragic true love, who died so he could live. This victory quote is one of those references that players would have needed to play the third main game to really grasp (and then ugly cry over).

2 Akihiko’s Boxing Escape

This game refers to many of the characters’ backstories without giving too much information, urging new players to try the mainline games for more character depth. And like all the main characters of the Persona series, Akihiko Sanada’s character runs deeper than just a protein guzzler with an obsession for being the strongest.

Therefore, to truly understand the meaningful conversation between him and Mitsuru, players would have to have played Persona 3to grasp how the people he lost motivated him to become better.

1 Junes Jingle

Junes, the Walmart of Inaba and official headquarters for Persona 4’s investigative team, carries a catchy jingle forever drilled into the brains of anyone and everyone that played the whole of Persona 4. That’s likely because Nanako constantly performs “Every day’s great at your Junes!” in sync with the commercial.

She also gave Teddie this jingle bug considering he sings it in Persona 4 Arena Ultimaxduring one of his entrances.

NEXT: Persona 6: Features We Want (And Features We Don’t Want To See)