The Persona series has been going on for over 20 years now. With a number of mainline RPG games and a few spinoffs, the series shows no signs of slowing down. Each new entry is similar to Final Fantasy in the sense that the games focus on a new cast of characters.
While each entry takes fans to new places and introduces new characters while leaving the previous cast behind, there have been a few instances in the series where something or someone was referenced as both an Easter egg and a nod to a prior entry. Here are eight of those instances that fans of the Persona series will instantly recognize.
8 Persona 4’s Chie Is Mentioned On TV In Persona 5
Chie was the martial arts-loving tomboy of Persona 4 and the Investigation Team. Throughout the fourth game, she expresses interest in becoming a police officer, which seemingly has happened in Persona 5.
If you watch TV at Leblanc, you might come across a television host talking about a female police rookie that is skilled in martial arts. That sounds a lot like Chie and fans of Persona 4 will likely agree.
7 The Original Detective Prince’s Name Turns Up
Speaking about watching TV at Leblanc, viewing it around the time that the detective prince Goro Akechi is introduced will include a host mentioning the franchise’s original detective prince by name. That being Persona 4’s Naoto Shirogane.
Naoto came to Inaba, Persona 4’s setting, to investigate the murders happening there. She eventually ends up joining the Investigation Team after confronting her insecurities in the Midnight Channel, awakening to her Persona, and getting rescued by the group.
6 Posters Of Rise Kujikawa Can Be Found Around Tokyo
Rise was another Persona 4 character who, like Naoto, had to be rescued by the Investigation Team. She joins a lot sooner than Naoto and serves as the team’s navigator. Even before her time with the Investigation Team, Rise was a famous young star in the making, something that is highlighted in Persona 5.
Throughout Tokyo, primarily in the train stations, are posters for something called Sapphire with Rise front and center. Seems like her career has only gotten better after Persona 4.
5 The MMO In Persona 3 Is Based On Persona 2
Persona 3 laid the foundations that would come to define the franchise, with its most significant contribution being the addition of social links. For the Hermit Arcana social link, the game’s main character plays an MMO called Innocent Sin Online that is seemingly based on Persona 2.
There are a number of references to the duology throughout the social link; for example, the protagonist’s character in the game is called Tatsuya, the name of Persona 2: Innocent Sin’s main character. The character associated with this social link goes by the name Maya, a reference to the protagonist of Persona 2: Eternal Punishment.
4 Persona 3’s Yukari Is Seemingly A TV Star Now
Persona 3 introduces the interesting team of SEES, a group that the game’s protagonist belongs to. An example of a SEES member is Yukari Takeba, one of the first characters to meet the player and join their party. She sometimes thinks before she acts but is a kind and caring person who is also a potential romance partner.
Yukari’s name ends up turning up again in Persona 5 where she is revealed to be a breakout star on superhero shows while going to college as well. She seems to be doing well for herself.
3 Teddie Shows Up In Persona 5 As Part Of A Gift
Teddie is the animal mascot of Persona 4 and basically a giant talking teddy bear. He helps the Investigation Team on their journey and ends up reaching the real world as a guy in a costume. Here he ends up becoming the official mascot of the Junes department.
Apparently, Persona 5’s Haru has been to a Junes since should Joker go with her to Asakusa in mid-November, the gift she gives him is a figure of Teddie in it. It can then be put on the shelf in your room so you have a piece of Persona 4 with you at all times.
2 The Junes Lobby Theme Turns Up In A Crane Game
Speaking of Junes, it is a major location in Persona 4 as it is where the Investigation Team meets and enters the Midnight. Before doing any of that, the player will arrive at a lobby where a catchy tune will play.
This tune turns up again in Persona 5 at the crane game in the Akihabara arcade. The game can be played to earn stuff to decorate your room and to snag a nice trophy to the tune of retail.
1 The Persona 4 Cast Visit Gekkoukan High School
Gekkoukan High School served as the school that the main cast of Persona 3 attended. As it turns out, the Persona 4 cast also visit this school for a field trip in early September.
The trip is a good homage to the previous game and even features a few cameos from Persona 3 characters. Namely, the school’s crazy nurse, Mr. Edogawa, giving a lecture and the social link character Chihiro Fushimi. It lets Persona 3 fans feel nostalgic while giving Persona 4 players a look into a familiar location through a different set of eyes.
