Persona 3 Reload is the definitive version of the game I've been waiting for
Persona 3 has been a dream remake for me for a long time. While it doesn’t encompass the enhanced features from the extended and portable editions of the game into one like I had hoped it would, Persona 3 Reload is well worth returning to Tartarus for based on my preview session.
The Persona series is a monster today compared to back in 2006 when Persona 3 first hit the scene. The popularity of Persona 4 did bump the series up a fair bit, but it was Persona 5 that really sent things into the stratosphere. But it was Persona 3 that set up the modern Persona formula that subsequent titles improved on, which has left it in a bit of a weird place.
Persona 3 has had three releases to date; the 2006 original kicked things off, then came Persona 3 FES which included some brand new additions to the main game including new Personas and extra side content, as well as a standalone epilogue which followed one of the party members (Aigis) after the events of the game. Finally, there was Persona 3 Portable, which added an alternate version of the main campaign with a female protagonist, and finally allowed you to control your party members in combat – so the need for a definitive edition of the game has been a major focus in the fanbase.
While Persona 3 Reload disappointingly doesn’t include the epilogue or the female protagonist, it manages to feel like a definitive edition regardless. While my Persona 3 Reload Gamescom preview focused mainly on the Tartarus dungeons, during this particular event I was able to check out the day-to-day experience of Persona 3 Reload.
Burn my dread
The session kicked off a few hours into the game, at the point where Fuuka Yamagishi moves into the dorm, for those in the know. I was given free reign to explore Tatsumi Port Island at my own leisure. While I could’ve re-experienced some of my favourite Social Links from the original game – small vignettes allowing you to spend time with characters, which in turn can power up your Personas in the combat sections – I made a beeline for my male party members, Junpei and Akihiko to test out one of Persona 3 Reload’s major new additions.
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Like the original Persona 3, the protagonist doesn’t have Social Links with the male party members like in later entries, however, in this remake you’re able to spend time with them, and in turn get combat buffs – basically, they’re Social Links in all but name.
While this preview mainly focused on the protagonist's day-to-day life, the Dark Hour – which is a hidden 25th hour, and the only time when the party can head into the Tartarus dungeon – of course had to occur. Unlike the previous combat demo, I was given the chance to check out the brand new Theurgy mechanic. Persona 5 Royal had the tag-team-focused Showtime attacks, which were bombastic super moves capable of destroying enemies, and Theurgy feels like an evolution of that.
As you fight, your Theurgy gauge will increase, but it’s not as simple as just smashing away at enemies to get the super, as each character's Theurgy move charges based on their own personality traits. For example, Yukari’s gauge will charge more as you heal party members, while Akihiko gets more from buffing his damage during fights. The protagonist’s ability to channel multiple Personas applies to this too, while his base Persona – Orpheus – gets a Theurgy attack, I was able to find an extra super move featuring the Jack Bros. – Jack Frost and Jack-o'-Lantern. This new mechanic alone gives Persona 3 Reload combat an edge over the other versions.
Of course, the main thing you expect from any remake is for it to look prettier than the original, and Persona 3 goes above and beyond with this. Taking advantage of Unreal Engine 4, Persona 3 Reload looks phenomenal; smooth and vibrant, it makes the already-gorgeous Persona 5 Royal pale in comparison. It also takes the best-in-class UI and menu style found in Persona 5 and imbues it with the Persona 3 aesthetic – with lots of blue, and a more rounded techy design compared to the sharp graffiti style of Persona 5’s menus – making it a sure-fire contender for the most stylish game of 2024, which was already a given since it’s a Persona game after all.
While I am a bit disappointed that The Answer epilogue and the female protagonist are nowhere to be found, there’s a lot to love about Persona 3 Reload. Between fixing the Social Link issues and finally letting you control your party members in a console version of the game, Persona 3 Reload is shaping up to be the closest thing to a definitive edition of the RPG classic I’ve waited over a decade for.
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