Here’s a mandatory follow-up post to the Persona fighting game announcement, because I’m a nerd.

Let’s start with important stuff: screenshots here, promptly provided by White Knight Rizzou.

But guys, be careful, because this post might contain spoilers, so if you haven’t played Persona games to completion and don’t want me to ruin surprises or plot twists, you better go read something else!

We all know that Persona 3 was kind of a reboot of the series, severing ties with the previous generations of heroes and villains and providing a brand new setting - and mood, for that matters.
This sadly means that no characters prior to P3 will be in the game.
What many fans ignore, though, is the canon anime Trinity Soul, set some years after the events of P3 and featuring a new cast — along with cameos, such as a grown up Akihiko.
Even if the story in Persona 4: Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena will be considered canon, it’s hard to think that Arc System and Atlus will take account of the anime and its consequences on the setting and characters. It goes without saying that it would be all the same disappointing not to see any sign of the Trinity Soul characters: the anime, despite being average, did have an interesting cast!

The silent main hero(es) in Persona 3, dubbed Minato Arisato in the official manga, dies at the end of P3/FES. Considering his(her?) incredible popularity, it’s to be hopefully excluded that the fighting game will do without him or his female P3P incarnation - which could be selectable via alternate outfit, or even be a flip character!
Same goes for other relevant casualties, such as Shinji or some villains and allies in the two PS2 games: if the story is canon, how will they be brought back?
And if not, how will the fans cope?

The stage select screen in the famitsu scans provides some hints about the criteria that’s being used to select the fighters: each fighter is depicted under his numbered arcana.
One might wonder, rightfully, what will happen with popular doubles. For instance, Chiie is already in the game, but Aigis, whose original persona, Palladium, is a Chariot, has been shown in a magazine scan.
It would be a waste if only one character per arcana would be included. I really want Junpei in, he’s soooo better than Yosuke!

The last thing I’m wondering about is the gameplay.
Team BlazBlue has already shown lots of appreciation for Capcom’s Jojo.
Considering the similarities between the Araki’s manga and Atlus’ RPG series, it would be natural to expect a similar system, already somewhat explored with BlazBlue characters such as Carl Clover.

Even if I’m not particularly fond of Persona 4, I love Megaten games, including P3.
There’s plenty of room for surprises and fanservice, and plenty of time before the game release as well.
I’ve been waiting for a project like this for years - I’m still dreaming of those Chrono Cross and Suikoden fighting games -, and I’m confident the forces working on it are an insurance it will be nothing but a great success.

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EDIT: turns out Trinity Soul is not canon anymore! One issue solved.
Aigis is considered a Fool here. Together with P4 main characters, it makes two fools in the game already. Is Arisato really out of the fight?