For the plethora of fans whose first foray into the franchise wasPersona 5’s release, they’d be forgiven for taking for granted just how much of a radical reinventionPersona 3 Reloadis of its source material. Though the core gameplay and spirit of the original version of the game remain intact,Persona 3 Reloadtakes several of the quality-of-life features implemented in its sequels and completely overhauls the visuals to make it look like a sequel toPersona 5rather than its predecessor. WherePersona 3 Reloadtruly shines, though, is in its willingness to fully embrace the simplicity of its RPG systems and mechanics.
The originalPersona 3is the first game in the series to introduce several systems that have now become standard for the franchise. The “high school student by day, demon slayer by night” gameplay loop ofthePersonaseriesreceived a radical reinvention inPersona 3through the introduction of the Calendar system and Social Links. These systems have continued to receive iterations in the sequels, butPersona 3 Reloadmaintains them in their original state.Reloadembraces the original, primordial versions of these mechanics, and it’s all the better for it.
Thanks to how satisfying and compellingPersona 5’s combatis, it’s now hard to imagine future entries in thePersonaseries that don’t use it as a model for their own systems moving forward.Persona 3Reloadsmartly doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel when it comes to utilizing aspects ofPersona 5’s combat mechanics and instead simply retrofits them into the world in which the game takes place.
Additionally, the original versions ofthe Social Link and Calendar systems fromPersona 3remain intact, albeit in an improved form that allows players to form deeper bonds with certain party members that were comparatively underutilized before. Balancing the Calendar and practicing effective time management is critical to effectively maximizing the Social Links available for each of their respective characters, and here again,Persona 3 Reloaddoesn’t try to fit too much on the player’s plate. WhileReloadcould have iterated on this system and made it more complex like in later series entries, it instead stays the course and is less overwhelming as a result.
Persona 3 Reloadhas the shortest completion time of any main story in the modernPersonagames, clocking in at an average of 54 hours. In comparison to bothPersona 4(68 hours) andPersona 5(roughly 97 hours),Reloadis a much more manageable experience and requires a significantly lower investment of time.
Although the general inclination for sequels and remakes is that “more” equates to something being “better,” it’s often that the opposite holds true. Some of the best experiences available are those that accomplish exactly what they set out to do and avoid wasting players' valuable time with filler.Persona 4andPersona 5are two ofthe best modern JRPGs, but there’s an argument to be made that there are some pacing issues present in each. There are also plenty of sections that could have been left on the cutting room floor in the interest of brevity.
Rather than fill the game with additional content that didn’t offer anything of value to the base experience,Reloadborrows the best parts ofthe laterPersonagameswhile simultaneously keeping the core of the original front and center.
Persona 3 Reload
WHERE TO PLAY
Step into the shoes of a transfer student thrust into an unexpected fate when entering the hour “hidden” between one day and the next. Awaken an incredible power and chase the mysteries of the Dark Hour, fight for your friends, and leave a mark on their memories forever.Persona 3 Reload is a captivating reimagining of the genre-defining RPG, reborn for the modern era.Experience the pivotal game of the Persona series faithfully remade with cutting-edge graphics, modernized quality-of-life features, and signature stylish UI. Fully immerse yourself in an emotional, gripping journey with new scenes, character interactions, and additional voiceover. Choose how to meaningfully spend each day through various activities from exploring the Port Island to forging genuine bonds with beloved characters. Build and command your optimal team to take down otherworldly Shadows and climb closer to the truth.
