Persona 3 Reload Review, Gameplay, and More
by Mathelene
Updated Feb 01, 2024
Persona 3 Reload Review
Persona 3 Reload represents a significant evolution in the Persona series, building upon the foundation laid by the 2006 release of Persona 3. As the first remake in the franchise since the PSP adaptations of Persona 1 and Persona 2, Persona 3 Reload not only refreshes the classic but also stands on its own as a compelling entry in the series. The improvements made in this edition address the outdated design elements of the original, ensuring accessibility for both longtime fans and newcomers.
The game goes beyond a superficial update, offering a wealth of added content. Fully-voiced scenes, enhanced combat mechanics, and numerous new side activities contribute to a fresh and engaging experience. Visually, Persona 3 Reload adopts Persona 5's art direction, resulting in a more dynamic UI, refined scene transitions, and visually appealing critical hit animations. The audio department also impresses with new and remixed tracks, complemented by exceptional voice acting that adds depth to the characters.
The gameplay remains faithful to the original's core loop of balancing daily life as a high school student and battling shadows in Tartarus. The addition of Link Episodes, dorm activities, and new scenes enriches the overall experience, though the pacing of unlocking these features may feel slow for veterans eager to explore the new content.
Persona 3 Reload introduces Shift and Theurgy mechanics, enhancing the turn-based combat system. Shift, akin to Persona 5's Baton Pass, allows for seamless character swaps and follow-up attacks, while Theurgy provides cinematic, powerful attacks under specific conditions. While these additions improve combat, the layout of Tartarus' floors could have seen more variety to prevent monotony.
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Persona 3 Reload
Persona 3 Reload is an upcoming video game created and published by Atlus, set to launch on February 2, 2024, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. It's a remake of the 2006 game Persona 3, part of the larger Megami Tensei franchise.
The story follows a high school student who returns to his home city a decade after losing his parents in a car crash. He discovers the ability to summon a Persona, a manifestation of his inner spirit, and joins the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (S.E.E.S.) to battle Shadows during the mysterious Dark Hour.
Fans had long requested a Persona 3 remake, and development began in 2019, officially announced in June 2023. The remake stays true to the original's story with updated graphics and features, aligning it with the series' later games. Shigenori Soejima oversaw new character designs by Azusa Shimada, and Atsushi Kitajoh composed new music with tracks sung by Azumi Takahashi and Lotus Juice. Persona 3 Reload received positive reviews from critics upon its release.
Persona 3 Reload Gameplay
Persona 3 Reload keeps the core mix of traditional role-playing and social simulation gameplay found in the original Persona 3, but it gets a major facelift in terms of appearance, graphics, and mechanics. These changes incorporate improvements introduced in later Persona games, especially from Persona 5.
The game introduces quality-of-life updates, including a refined user interface with added objective descriptions for story tasks, resembling Persona 5's heads-up display. The map display is enhanced, now providing more details about the surroundings and marking important story locations, similar to Persona 5's map system.
New gameplay features include expanded activities in the protagonist's dorm, such as conversations with dorm residents, cooking, gardening, and more. These activities improve the protagonist's social stats, influencing interactions with Social Links. Exploration around Tatsumi Port Island and Tartarus now happens from a third-person perspective, with a fully rendered 3D overworld map. Fast travel is expanded, and breaking Social Links is no longer possible.
A new social element introduces side-story arcs for supporting characters, deepening the protagonist's relationships. In Tartarus, environmental variety is increased, and the fatigue mechanic is removed. The battle system is revamped, drawing inspiration from Persona 5, with a new "Shift" ability and an improved "Baton Pass" skill. Shuffle Time, the post-battle minigame, now allows players to manually choose specific cards for rewards. Persona 3 Reload brings a fresh and enhanced experience, combining familiar elements with modern improvements.
Persona 3 Reload Trailer
Persona 3 Reload Review - FAQs
Persona 3 Reload is scheduled to release on February 2, 2024, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Persona 3 Reload is a remake of the 2006 game Persona 3, which is the fourth main installment in the Persona series and part of the Megami Tensei franchise.
Persona 3 Reload overhauls the original aesthetically, graphically, and mechanically. It incorporates systems and features introduced in the series since Persona 3's release, inspired by quality-of-life improvements from Persona 5.
Persona 3 Reload introduces expanded activities in the Iwatodai Dorm, including individual conversations with residents, cooking, gardening, watching films, and reading books. It also features a new social element with side-story arcs for supporting characters.
Tartarus' structure and progression remain unchanged, but it has been expanded with more environmental variety to encourage exploration. The fatigue mechanic has been removed, and breakable objects on each floor can yield hidden treasures.