Persona 3 Reload – Analysis

Persona is possibly one of the best-selling Japanese titles in the RPG genre. Part of this reputation is due to the launch of Persona 5 which won over players not only for its excellent storyline but also for the innovations associated with the new visual style and bold mechanics. That said, the producer Atluswith what he has been learning and improving in the franchise, he traveled to 2006 to bring back the classic Persona 3 with a clean face for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Xbox Game Pass and PC (Steam and Microsoft Store).

This remake titled Persona 3 Reload is basically a recreation of the original experience, following the same plot with a range of new features added to its gameplay in social and combat mechanics, along with a new visual formulation that gives the game a more invigorating and more contemporary appearance. However, the female protagonist of Persona 3 Portable and the epilogue presented in Persona 3 FES were excluded from this current edition. We know that they will most likely be introduced in the future in DLC format, but it is a little frustrating as we were hoping to find the definitive version of a game that has received several editions, but never one as inviting as this one.

For players looking for a game primarily focused on narrative, Persona 3 Reload is ideal. Once again we play the role of a young Japanese high school student who is transferred to a new school in the Port of Tatsumi, an island that is tormented by a supernatural phenomenon that affects the minds of the local population, leaving them in a state of deep apathy. However, our protagonist, after discovering his abilities to summon the Persona and realizing the existence of the dark hour, decides to join the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (SEES), a group of students with the same ability who fight against the Shadows and intend to uncover the mysteries behind the emergence of Tartarus.

Throughout the school year, we will spend much of our time living the daily life of an ordinary teenager: attending classes, meeting new characters and interacting with them daily to strengthen bonds, participating in extracurricular activities and studying for tests, as well as exploring visit places on the island in our free time, play arcade games, relax at Karaoke and other activities to improve our skills. With time governed by a calendar, as the days go by, the narrative develops naturally, whether in the main story related to the dark events of Tartarus, as well as in the “secondary” stories that offer many of the game’s best moments.

Despite the important themes that his successors addressed, the plot of Persona 3 Reload is the darkest and at the same time the most human of this franchise, addressing reality and many of its dilemmas manifested in some of the important phases of our lives without filters. Without a doubt, it will be in the small narratives, projected through the characters that we will create the so-called social bonds where we feel the greatest emotions. Some certainly reflect situations that we have already suffered or followed closely. We also have a luxurious cast made up of memorable characters, who in this version were graced with new interactions and narrative events that, in addition to being rewarding, deepen the characters.

During the night cycles, our main objective is to explore Tartarus, a giant tower made up of more than 200 floors and enemies. A Atlus in addition to respecting the original story, it was also faithful to the structure and image of Tartarus, which may cause some displeasure to players who started the series from Persona 5. Unlike the impressive Palaces, the towers of Tartarus at the end After a few hours they will start to get repetitive, ending up taking away a little interest from the exploration. Another problem I can mention is the lack of variety of enemies that occupy the dungeon and which I hoped would have been modified in this remake.

New activities have been added to the dormitory where we can spend time with our SEES colleagues.

But, not everything is bad. Since we have new changes that balance some of the problems that remained unresolved. I start with the addition of a button that allows us to explore while running, or the presence of rare enemies and new floors with stronger creatures that deliver challenging moments, as well as greater experience and excellent rewards. We can even select a character to advance work on the next floor, which helps us waste less time exploring and discovering the items and chests spread across the areas.

Within the combats, a conventional turn-based RPG awaits us, which strictly follows the tactical bases of Persona. That is, the system of elemental weaknesses and resistances that encourages us to analyze and take advantage of the abilities of our characters and Personas to discover the weak points of enemy shadows, not only to cause more damage but also to leave them stunned.

The combat of Persona 3 Reload it was equally refined by inheriting elements from the most recent games in the series. In addition to being able to directly control all the characters as in Persona 3 Portablewe also have a version of the Batton Pass (Persona 5) which allows us to pass the turn to one of the group members when we discover an enemy’s weakness, thus giving a broader approach to combating shadows.

However, the big news is the introduction of skills called Theurgy, a special attack that causes massive damage to opponents. Each of the characters has one at their disposal, but to invoke them they need to follow rules. For example, Junpei Iori to charge the Theurgy energy bar needs to land critical damage, while Akihiko Sanada will do the same when using a support skill on himself. The rewards at the end of combat have also been improved with the installation of Major Arcana cards, which provide attractive advantages as we navigate Tartarus, such as receiving double the money, experience or a boost in attack power.

All the additions mentioned here are more than welcome in this remake. In part, because the Persona 3 2006 is a product of its time, with the absence of qualities of life that are essential nowadays to attract the attention of players. The weight of exploration was eased and the confrontations became grander and more fun. Still, I advise you to try this journey in difficult mode (Hard), because some of these “facilities” are felt in the absence of the challenge at stake.

As for graphic innovation, Persona 3 Reload has undergone a radical change in its visual elements, from the cutscenes to the game’s art, from the menu interface to the scenarios and character models. The team at Atlus manages to impress as usual in these parameters, demonstrating that it is one of the most creative producers in the video game industry, transforming this title into a visual package that delivers much more than gameplay, standing out for its unique appearance and interactivity. Despite all the grandeur, I couldn’t help but notice that less care was taken in some of the game’s scenes, especially the interior of Iwatodai’s dormitory, which suffers from a lack of detail in the textures.

Part of the P-Studio team that worked on Persona 5 Royal was part of the development of Persona 3 Reload.

In turn, during the events we are accompanied by a memorable soundtrack that infects us with its new songs and original themes with a new look, influenced by J-Pop, Hip-Hop and acid jazz from the early 2000s. Voices, both in English and Japanese, we continue to have a talented cast that succeeds in giving life and personality to the characters, although the English version features a completely new team of actors. Lastly, although with errorsthe producer made an effort to present texts in Brazilian Portuguese in the game, which will certainly please Portuguese and Brazilian fans.

After all the editions released, Persona 3 Reload is the most advisable version for the public. The result is clear to see, we have a game with updated visuals and improved gameplay that gives new life to a cult classic and that above all manages to be familiar without losing the essence that defines it. Despite the lack of content and not being a fan of the structure of Tartarus, there is an incredible and infectious soundtrack that accompanies one of the best narratives in the series. Persona 3 Reload is the perfect entry for new players and one that I especially recommend for avid fans of Persona.