When Does Akihiko Join the Party Reload, Akihiko in Persona 3 Reload
by Naveenkumar | Updated Feb 05, 2024
Persona 3 Reload
Persona 3 Reload is a video game created by Atlus, released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on February 2, 2024. It's a remake of Persona 3, the fourth main game in the Persona series, and part of the larger Megami Tensei franchise.
In this role-playing game, players control a high school student who gains the ability to summon a Persona, a manifestation of their inner spirit. The protagonist joins the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (S.E.E.S.) to defeat Shadows and unravel the mystery of the Dark Hour. The story revolves around returning to the protagonist's home city, haunted by the tragic death of their parents in a car crash.
As requested by fans after the success of Persona 5, Persona 3 Reload started development in 2019 and was officially announced in June 2023. The remake faithfully retells the original Persona 3 story with updated graphics, new music by Atsushi Kitajoh, and character designs by Azusa Shimada under the supervision of Shigenori Soejima. The game features vocals from Azumi Takahashi and Lotus Juice.
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When Does Akihiko Join the Party Reload?
In Persona 3 Reload, Akihiko Sanada becomes a valuable addition to your party on May 23 (5/23). This significant date coincides with the last midterm exam in the game. Akihiko's entry into your group is a scripted event, and once he joins, you can venture into Tartarus with him on the same evening. This marks the beginning of Akihiko's contribution to your team, offering a mix of Strike damage, Electric damage, and healing.
Akihiko in Persona 3 Reload
Akihiko Sanada is a notable character in Persona 3 Reload, bringing a potent blend of combat abilities to your party. His Persona, Polydeuces, holds the power to deal Electric damage, making him particularly effective in Arqa, the second block of Tartarus. In this block, you encounter powerful shadows weak to Electric damage, enhancing Akihiko's value.
Despite his combat prowess, Akihiko faces a setback early in the game. After going out alone during the Dark Hour, he sustains injuries and becomes temporarily unavailable. The anticipation builds around his recovery, with discussions about his strength and the eagerness for his return. The scripted event leading to Akihiko's official inclusion in your party unfolds on May 23, offering players the chance to explore his combat skills and contribution to the team.
Persona 3 Reload Gameplay
Persona 3 Reload is an updated version of the original game, blending traditional role-playing and social simulation gameplay. It brings aesthetic, graphical, and mechanical improvements inspired by later Persona series entries, particularly Persona 5. The game retains the core story of the protagonist summoning Personas to battle Shadows during the mysterious Dark Hour.
Graphical user interface enhancements include objective descriptions for story tasks and an improved map, resembling Persona 5's features. New gameplay additions include expanded activities in the Iwatodai Dorm, allowing interactions with dorm residents, cooking, gardening, watching films, and reading books to enhance social stats. The protagonist can also engage in these activities with party members, providing buffs for combat.
Exploration in Gekkoukan High School and Tartarus has been revamped. In-class questions are new, and exploration is now in a third-person perspective with free camera control. The overworld map is fully rendered in 3D, and fast travel options have been expanded.
Persona 3 Reload introduces a new social element separate from Social Links, featuring side-story arcs for supporting characters. Tartarus retains its structure but offers more environmental variety and visual effects. The fatigue mechanic is removed, allowing uninterrupted exploration.
In battles, players can control party members directly or let the CPU dictate their behavior. The user interface is inspired by Persona 5, with commands like "Persona," "Item," "Guard," and "Attack." New commands, such as "Survey" and "Assist," are introduced. The "Shift" ability enables passing turns between party members. The "Baton Pass" skill from Persona 5 is adapted as "Shift," allowing strategic enemy knockdowns.
Shuffle Time, the post-battle minigame, allows players to manually choose a card for additional Personas and effects. Overall, Persona 3 Reload combines familiar elements with improvements for an enhanced gaming experience.
Persona 3 Reload Plot
The protagonist moves to Gekkoukan High School and experiences a mysterious hour called the Dark Hour. Attacked by Shadows, he gains the power of Persona and joins SEES, a group fighting Shadows in Tartarus. They discover Tartarus' origin and the impending danger of Nyx, a force that could end the world. A deceptive plan is revealed, leading to a critical decision – sacrifice one for blissful ignorance or face the challenge to save humanity. If spared, SEES confronts Nyx, and with the power of "Universe," the protagonist seals Nyx away.
Set after the protagonist's death, SEES finds themselves trapped, and March 31 repeats. They uncover the Abyss of Time responsible for the time skips. Aigis gains the Wild Card ability, and SEES fights to end the time skip. Keys are obtained, offering a choice: unlock the door or travel back in time. Infighting arises, and a new door reveals their true purpose – preventing Erebus from summoning Nyx. SEES defeats Erebus, realizes the cyclical nature of despair, and decides to embrace life, honoring the protagonist's sacrifice.
Persona 3 Reload Trailer
Persona 3 Reload Overview
Title
Persona 3 Reload
Developer
P-Studio
Publisher
Sega (JP: Atlus)
Director
Takuya Yamaguchi
Producer
Kazuhisa Wada, Ryota Niitsuma
Artist
Azusa Shimada, Tomohiro Kumagai, Shigenori Soejima
Composer
Atsushi Kitajoh
Series
Persona
Engine
Unreal Engine 4
Platform
PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Release Date
February 2, 2024
Genre
Role-playing, social simulation
Mode
Single-player
When Does Akihiko Join the Party Reload?-FAQs
Akihiko Sanada is a character in Persona 3 Reload known for his combat abilities, including Strike damage, Electric damage, and healing.
Akihiko becomes part of your party on May 23 (5/23), a scripted event that aligns with the last midterm exam in the game.
Akihiko's Persona, Polydeuces, has the ability to deal Electric damage, making him particularly effective in Arqa, the second block of Tartarus.
Arqa is crucial because it introduces many powerful shadows weak to Electric damage, aligning perfectly with Akihiko's strengths.
Akihiko sustains injuries after going out alone during the Dark Hour, rendering him temporarily unavailable until he fully recovers.