Arriving just a year after the port of Persona 3 Portable, Atlus’ beloved role-playing game has now received a full-on remake that makes the classic easier to get into and dazzles with best-in-class presentation. Featuring gorgeous graphics, Persona 3 Reload is beautifully put together and offers an incredible, modernized experience that JRPG fans, new and old, won’t want to miss.
Persona 3 Reload is a pretty easy sell — imagine P3 fully remade and up to spec with Persona 5 Royal’s quality of life improvements and graphics. The game simply looks incredible, with moody graphics and an eerieness that really shines early on. Everything has been updated from the ground up, from the opening to new cutscenes, and it is easily one of the best-looking role-playing games ever made as it oozes style.
The biggest improvements can be found during gameplay, thanks to a number of improvements in both the battle system and movement. You can now dash around the dungeon, Tartarus, which is also a bit of a gamble as it can attract the attention of enemies. Players can also direct party members, similar to Persona 3 Portable, and even perform a “baton pass” (now called a shift) and give up a turn to another party member. The battle system hasn’t been reinvented, which would’ve been a needless change, but it has been properly updated and improved upon.
The biggest gameplay addition for battles is the addition of Theurgy attacks. These new special moves are similar to Persona 5 Royal’s Showtime attacks, although they’re individual rather than being tied to two members. What’s unique about them is that they’re tailored to each character, so one character’s Theurgy gauge might be raised by healing party members, while another will gain energy by inflicting status effects upon foes. It really encourages you to play to each character’s strength, and you’re rewarded with some of the strongest attacks that can help change the tide of a battle. For the main character, this is now how fusion spells are used, a smart change from the original, as they could become overpowered.
Of course, the real draw to any Persona game is the great narrative and strong characters, which is why Persona 3 is so beloved in the first place. While Persona 4 wonderfully captures the feel of a small-town murder mystery and Persona 5 spirals into a political conspiracy, Persona 3 vividly tells a personal story about death and companionship. The story in the remake really shines on a replay, as it’s easier to pick up on the symbolism involved, but it’s a real thrill, no matter if it’s your first time or not. This is one of gaming’s best stories, period.
That being said, going back to Persona 3 does show that Atlus learned a lot from its formula. The story starts off quite slow, with characters spending a lot of time waiting around for events to occur rather than being proactive and trying to solve a mystery like in Persona 4 or 5. These small pacing issues would require an entirely different story, so it’s understandable that they haven’t been addressed. Plus, the slow burn pays off in a major way later on, so I recommend enjoying the early downtime as things pick up later on.
As far as new additions go for the story, there are some really nice ones that flesh out the overall game. These include new social activities with your party members, such as watching boxing matches with Sanada, cooking with Yukari, and planting vegetables with Fuuka. These aren’t just fun character moments, you also unlock character perks for broadening your relationship with your partners. There are also additional scenes featuring the game’s villains, who really shine with the extra spotlight. Throw in all of the social links now being fully voiced (and the inclusion of Aigis’ social link from Persona 3 FES), and you’ve got a really polished experience that resonates more than ever before.
Remaking a legendary title is often a recipe for failure, but Persona 3 Reload lives up to its legacy and wonderfully updates the 2006 gem. Featuring a darker story and imagery than its recent brethren, there’s a reason why Persona 3 continues to strike such a chord with fans. Getting to experience the story with gorgeous graphics, modern gameplay, and new scenes is a true treat, as this is a lovingly crafted remake of one of Atlus’ best.
SCORE: 9/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 9 equates to “Excellent.” Entertainment that reaches this level is at the top of its type. The gold standard that every creator aims to reach.
Disclosure: The publisher provided a PlayStation 5 copy for our Persona 3 Reload review. Reviewed on version 1.000.000.
