Persona 3 might have been released back in the depths of 2006, but after spending dozens of hours with it, we can safely say Persona 3 Reload is the absolute best way to play this JRPG classic. It has gorgeous visuals, an improved battle system, and some great quality-of-life improvements in its gameplay loop. There is some missing content from Persona 3 FES and Persona 3 Portable that prevents this from being truly definitive, but it's still a great way to experience the Dark Hour.
Fans familiar with the original PS2 game or the more recent Portable re-release will recognize the story beats. You still control a blue-haired teen who can summon mysterious beings called Personas during the Dark Hour, a mysterious force that’s slowly crippling humanity with a disease called Apathy Syndrome. Luckily, you meet a group of fellow teens who can also summon Personas, banding together to stop the Dark Hour and uncover how it came to be.
Despite the story not changing, we can’t help but think this is more thematically relevant now than ever. So fans worried about the cheery nature of previous games affecting this remake need not worry, since this is still a very moody game that deals with various existential themes.
To seriously paraphrase Undertale, even after all of the changes made, this is still Persona 3, warts and all. This is still an RPG where the characters shoot themselves in the head to summon Personas. Player discretion is advised, as suicide, bullying, and violence against children still play a part in the game’s various plot threads. If you thought the other Persona games weren’t serious enough, Reload might be the mature and gritty experience you’re looking for.
Now that’s not to say it’s edgy all the time, as the remake does add several lighter scenes that characterize the cast even more. Players will discover that Yukari likes to watch zombie movies, Akihiko tries to do exercises while studying, and Junpei is interested in planting vegetables. These new events do a good job of adding goofier depths to the characters, while also making sure their interests keep their core identities the same as before.
Even if players aren’t a fan of the plot, the addictive Persona gameplay loop is still here and just as enjoyable as previous entries. When players aren’t saving the world from Shadows, they’re bonding with their friends, studying for exams, doing part-time jobs, and deciding on which girl to hit on. Like other games in the series, increasing your Social Links and stats is vital to getting stronger Personas for battles.
The most obvious improvements to Persona 3 Reload come during the Dark Hour, as players have a much more fleshed-out battle system to use. Persona 5’s influence can be felt, as Reload adds the Baton Pass mechanic, now called Shifting, which lets you switch between party members after hitting a Shadow’s weakness. Super moves called Theurgy have also been added, letting a party member dish out a ton of damage after meeting various conditions.
All of these improvements ensure that combat continues to be a blast in this JRPG series. Finding out the enemy's weakness and going for an All-Out Attack is just as satisfying as ever. Nailing these All-Out Attacks rewards players with Shuffle Time, letting players choose if they want money, extra EXP, new Personas, or skill cards.
It’s also worth noting that Persona 3 Reload changes how you make money. Enemies no longer drop cash after getting beaten like they did in the original, and players will now either have to choose money as a reward during Shuffle Time or settle for selling the items they drop. While seemingly limiting, this does ensure that players will take part in more money-making activities like part-time jobs.
Despite changes made to the money-making system, Reload can improve the rewards you get from battles with the improved Arcana Burst mechanics. When players collect Arcana Cards during Shuffle Time, they get a boost in rewards. Once all Arcana Cards are collected, the rewards get a boost, giving players stronger skills and Personas, alongside more money and experience. However, the number of Arcanas needed for the Arcana Bursts increases as you defeat the major bosses, so players will have to grind harder for the best rewards as the game goes on.
Improvements aren’t limited to the battles, as Reload has also made exploring Tartarus a smoother experience. When Mitsuru starts being your navigator, she instantly tells you when a floor has rare treasure chests and monsters. Later on, when you recruit Fuuka, she can make you invisible to monsters or buff up your stats before a fight, giving players even more options depending on their status.
Visually, we think it’s fair to say that Reload is the best-looking Persona game ever produced. Character models have seen a substantial improvement from Persona 5, with more detail and great facial expressions. The presentation is also just as great, with great voice performances and some smashing music.
Speaking of music, gamers familiar with the original Persona 3 OST might be confused when they hear familiar songs with new lyrics and artists. While Lotus Juice returns as the rapper in various tracks, Yumi Kawamura was replaced by Azumi Takahashi to “inject new life” into the remake. We miss hearing Kawamura’s voice but Takahashi does a great job with the new songs and remixes of classic hits like Mass Destruction.
All of the gameplay improvements and changes ensure that this is the best way to play Persona 3, so it’s a real shame that it cuts content from previous releases. Fans who want to use the female protagonist are better off buying Persona 3 Portable, as players are stuck with the male lead in Reload. Beyond choosing your appearance, Reload also decides to cut The Answer, a challenging and emotional epilogue that’s stuck in Persona 3 FES for the PS2. Even with these faults, though, Persona 3 Reload is a must-play for newcomers and veteran Persona players alike.
Reviewed on PC via Steam Deck with code provided by the publisher.
