I've always enjoyed scenes where a character unlocks their "true power" so I have a fondness for these particular modern Persona game scenes.

My vote goes to the original Persona 3's awakening as, to me, that situation seemed much more grim than the others and it was as though the protagonist was being "controlled", in a sense. Breathing heavily and sweating but then suddenly reaffirming himself and muttering "persona" before shooting himself in the head. The music was a nice compliment to it, too.

Why am I posting this now? Because Persona 4 Golden has had me watching videos of Persona 4, because I like polls and just 'cause.

I don't know what's yours?

Persona 4, because it's the only one I've seen.

I especially loved the tense buildup in Persona 3 to the protagonist pressing the evoker against his head and uttering "persona" for the first time. Thanks for the thread, brought back some good memories of that game. I spent so much time with Persona 3!

Persona 3. The build up too it is just so good.

When you hit and kick Jimenez multiple times to wake him up from a sleep panel in Strange Journey.

I always thought the Persona 3 one felt more dire. It was pretty good. Aigis' was alright too, but, something just felt weird about that one. I'll go with vanilla P3. 

Oh P3 MC's by far is the coolest , he also has that twisted almost "Kira" kinda look on his face it's just awesome.

The one where the dude blows his noggin off with a hand cannon.

Seriously, that's fucking nuts and I can't think of any reason to put that in there other than it's fucking nuts!

Persona 3 is the best one for reasons already listed. Tense and a freaking gun to the head to summon it.

@AngelN7 said:

he also has that twisted almost "Kira" kinda look on his face it's just awesome.

I really like the somewhat "evil" quality that is shown when they awaken their Personae (which was missing in Aigis', but I suppose it was a different kind).

I'm noticing a distinct lack of Persona and Persona 2 in this poll.

@Hailinel said:

I'm noticing a distinct lack of Persona and Persona 2 in this poll.

As far as I know, they don't have an anime scene that accompanies those moments, but I could be wrong.

Also, I tried searching for a Persona 2 one but couldn't find anything.

@Hailinel said:

I'm noticing a distinct lack of Persona and Persona 2 in this poll.

Wasn't Persona 1 just "somebody got crushed by a vending machine; have a Persona!"?

@Video_Game_King: Wasn't their Persona just straight up given to them because they did this weird occult ritual that summoned whoever the equivalent of Igor was back then? Man, it was soooo long ago!

@FluxWaveZ: While Persona 2 did not have a anime scene, it does have some great awakening scenes

@EquitasInvictus:

It's been a while for me, too. I remember that ritual, but I thought the Persona stuff came a bit later, when they got into battle and just straight-up summoned Personae. Also, I think you're referring to Philemon. Either that, or Igor served a greater role than I remember, since he's totally in that game.

@Video_Game_King: Wasn't their Persona just straight up given to them because they did this weird occult ritual that summoned whoever the equivalent of Igor was back then? Man, it was soooo long ago!

The lack of Persona 2 is frustrating. Eikichi first summons his persona when he gets angry at being called "Undie Boss". 
 
I mean how can you top that?
 
Also when Tatsuya first summons his persona he burns out someone's eye. And he was like 8 years old at the time.

@Video_Game_King: Yeah you're right. I always have trouble remembering or spelling his name properly so I referred to him as "whoever was the equivalent of Igor" since they sort of share the same function between the games. But yeah in those earlier games Igor is one of Philemon's subordinates, I believe.

@ricetopher: Were those ever animated? I think the OP only wanted to compare the animated ones and I can't remember if the earlier ones had any of that kind of stuff. It would've been crazy if those were animated though.

Persona 3, no contest.

Persona 3's was bad ass.

@ricetopher said:

@EquitasInvictus: The Eikichi "awakening" happened in an in-engine cutscene (but it was the dialogue that made that scene enjoyable), and Tatsuya's awakening was never actually shown, but it was mentioned. Would love to see an animated cutscene of 8 year old Tatsuya burning someone's eye off.

Maybe they should just hire a studio to animate for future remakes of the games. I'm sure they'll eventually make more remakes of the first two games. I know they're remaking EDIT: remade Persona 2 and they actually had an anime OP made by Satelight but I'm not sure if they're planning to make animated cutscenes for the remake, unfortunately.

EDIT: Oh yeah I don't follow the PSP much at all and totally forgot that this was for that. It was already released and I'm pretty sure it didn't animate the cutscenes but just had the above.

I never thought someone would get me to like something in P3 better than in P4, but there you go. P3's was all around tighter

I always thought that the one in Persona 3 was super intense

Persona 3. It's not even close. And I played (and finished) all those games.

I also agree with you guys, I love the fact that when they awaken, they look just evil and badass.

Persona 2's was cool, but Persona 3 tops it all.

I still wonder what led him to think "She was trying to shoot herself, maybe I should try that?". Then the way death just rips Orpheus apart was insaneeeee.

@joshth said:

I never thought someone would get me to like something in P3 better than in P4, but there you go. P3's was all around tighter

The fact that it had the girl too scared and apprehensive to go through with it before the MC does it makes it even more intense.

Minato grabs a gun and shoots himself in the head! Of course that one is going to win!