Persona 3 Reload: Life, Death, and Rebirth
Persona 5 Royal is my second favorite game of all time. It came to me during a confusing point in my life, when I didn't know where to go, or what to do. I adore Persona 5, and It's what got me into real RPGS, previously my portfolio was just Pokemon games and the Mario RPGs from the DS/3DS era that I've played, but Persona 5 got me to go play other RPG's like the Final Fantasy and Xenoblade, while also making me want to try out the other games in the wide Megaten ecosystem. After I first beat Persona 5 Royal, I was hooked on the entire Persona series. After I was done with Persona 5 Royal, I played Persona 4 Golden and loved it, not as much as I did with P5R, but still love.
I don't have a PSP or PS1, so can't comment about Persona 1 and 2, but despite only playing Persona 5 Royal and Persona 4 Golden, I have never gotten into Persona 3 yet at this point. The OG Persona 3 and FES are trapped on the PS2, and even with emulation possible, the fact that it does not have the feature to directly control your teammates was a turn-off for me, who was used to it in Persona 5 and 4. I was considering playing Persona 3 Portable (which I still might do eventually, only for FEMC since she ain't in Reload) since it did have direct commands, however, I ultimately decided to wait for Persona 3 Reload to come out since when I was thinking about this, it was only a few weeks before release. So I'm just saying all this to let you know my background with Persona 3, and Persona series in general.
I'm just going to talk about Persona 3 Reload, as its own game, without any comparisons to the original, FES, or Portable. Persona 3 Reload blew my expectations out of the water, I came into this game hoping for it to be on par with Persona 5 Royal, and I came out with that, and though as of now I hold Persona 5 Royal over Persona 3 Reload, it is possible for me in a few years to change my mind. Persona 3 Reload does everything right, it gives a cast of loveable characters, the best gameplay that the series has so far, and a story that has made me think about it for days after beating it. The gameplay feels smoother than it ever was, Tartarus is a great change from the palaces/dungeons I was used to In Persona 4 and Persona 5, and I wouldn't mind if sometihng similar to Tartarus comes in Persona 6, but I'd still like dungeons/palaces too. Each block in Tartarus feels unique enough from the other, and it creates a gameplay experience that I sometimes liked more than the palaces/dungeons in Persona 5 and 4, which is probably a controversal opinon, and I might just have recentcy bias towards Tartarus.
I love how Atlus took some inspiration from Persona 5's art style and used that inspiration to give Persona 3 Reload its own unique art style. I love the blue coloring of the UI, it makes going to the menus feel like a mini art piece every time. I love how sometimes when you attack a shadow with the right weakness element, there's a close-up shot of the character's face, as their Persona breaks through it and attacks the shadow. Little stuff like that makes it stand out from not only the original Persona 3 but also every other Persona game. One thing I do have to say about Reload's art style is with it is to the original game's art style. Yes, I loved Reload's art style, but the original had it's own, sorta edgy art style too, which isn't really here in Reload, which I would have liked, but it's not a major deal for me, but it is for those who loved the Original. The social links in Reload feel kinda weak some paired to social links in Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Royal, but since Persona 3 was the first Persona game to introduce social links, it's pulled off really well, for it's first time in a Persona game.
I found it weird there weren't any social links with the main party members sooner, you have to have max social stats in a specific category to start it. Like in Mitsuru's social link, you need max academics to start her social link, and even then you start her link kinda around the late game. Not only you start the social links for the main cast later, it's only the female members in the main party that have social links. Sadly Jumpei, Akakiko, Shinjiro, and Ken don't have social links, which I was bumped out to find out. I would have found their social links more interesting than Yukari's and Fuuka's, which I liked, but it just sorta bummed me out coming off of the social links from Persona 5 and Persona 4 but despite that, Persona 3 Reload has some of the best social links in the series.
My favorite in Persona 3 Reload has to be Akinari's social link, his story is a tragedy, and without spoilers, is one of the highlights that conveys the game's theme of death. I believe the reason I play Persona, is for what each game has to tell in its story. Persona 5 Royal had the theme of rebellion, Persona 4 Golden and the theme of seeking the truth, and with Persona 3 Reload, it has the theme of Death. This concept dives deep into the story, and creates a narrative that has stuck with me for days since I beat it. It is the question of life and death, that this game attempts to answer it. In the game, you play through the MC, and see what his life is like, with social links and the bonds he has with others. By the end of the game, the MC finds the answer to that question, ultimately, passing the baton onto the player, as you think of your own answer to the question of life and death, as you watch the credits.
Persona 3 Reload's story, narrative, and themes are truly spectacular. It's the type of story I love in any type of media, regardless if it's a game, movie, tv show, anime, manga, book, or album, I love it when a piece of art, such as Persona 3 Reload, can have me still thinking about it for days and weeks after being done with it. Persona 3 Reload pulls you into it's narrative and gets you unknowingly invested in this tale. Life goes on as you play, like how days pass, both in real life and in the game, but there is also death. Death can come any time, you never know when death will come to your door.
It can come all of a sudden, and that's what Persona 3 Reload conveys. There's death, and there is no way to stop it, but there is also rebirth afterward, not in the game, but in you, the player. You are reborn, with the knowledge of life and death, now it is up to you, how you will use it. Will you forge links and bonds with the people you care about? Will you make the most of each day you have in your life before death? With your rebirth, what will you do when death comes? That is what Persona 3 Reload asks you. Overall, Persona 3 Reload is a true marvel of a persona game. It has the best gameplay the series has the offer, some the best narratives and story-telling reimagined today. Regardless if you've played the original, FES, Portable or not played any version of Persona 3 yet, please do so. Reload is a must for all Persona fans.
Stats:
9th game in 2024 I've completed
Played on PlayStation 5
Hours into Game: 70 hours
Score: 10/10 (5/5)
Last Statement: Ace Dective? More like-
Persona 5 Royal is my second favorite game of all time. It came to me during a confusing point in my life, when I didn't know where to go, or what to do. I adore Persona 5, and It's what got me into real RPGS, previously my portfolio was just Pokemon games and the Mario RPGs from the DS/3DS era that I've played, but Persona 5 got me to go play other RPG's like the Final Fantasy and Xenoblade, while also making me want to try out the other games in the wide Megaten ecosystem. After I first beat Persona 5 Royal, I was hooked on the entire Persona series. After I was done with Persona 5 Royal, I played Persona 4 Golden and loved it, not as much as I did with P5R, but still love.
I don't have a PSP or PS1, so can't comment about Persona 1 and 2, but despite only playing Persona 5 Royal and Persona 4 Golden, I have never gotten into Persona 3 yet at this point. The OG Persona 3 and FES are trapped on the PS2, and even with emulation possible, the fact that it does not have the feature to directly control your teammates was a turn-off for me, who was used to it in Persona 5 and 4. I was considering playing Persona 3 Portable (which I still might do eventually, only for FEMC since she ain't in Reload) since it did have direct commands, however, I ultimately decided to wait for Persona 3 Reload to come out since when I was thinking about this, it was only a few weeks before release. So I'm just saying all this to let you know my background with Persona 3, and Persona series in general.
I'm just going to talk about Persona 3 Reload, as its own game, without any comparisons to the original, FES, or Portable. Persona 3 Reload blew my expectations out of the water, I came into this game hoping for it to be on par with Persona 5 Royal, and I came out with that, and though as of now I hold Persona 5 Royal over Persona 3 Reload, it is possible for me in a few years to change my mind. Persona 3 Reload does everything right, it gives a cast of loveable characters, the best gameplay that the series has so far, and a story that has made me think about it for days after beating it. The gameplay feels smoother than it ever was, Tartarus is a great change from the palaces/dungeons I was used to In Persona 4 and Persona 5, and I wouldn't mind if sometihng similar to Tartarus comes in Persona 6, but I'd still like dungeons/palaces too. Each block in Tartarus feels unique enough from the other, and it creates a gameplay experience that I sometimes liked more than the palaces/dungeons in Persona 5 and 4, which is probably a controversal opinon, and I might just have recentcy bias towards Tartarus.
I love how Atlus took some inspiration from Persona 5's art style and used that inspiration to give Persona 3 Reload its own unique art style. I love the blue coloring of the UI, it makes going to the menus feel like a mini art piece every time. I love how sometimes when you attack a shadow with the right weakness element, there's a close-up shot of the character's face, as their Persona breaks through it and attacks the shadow. Little stuff like that makes it stand out from not only the original Persona 3 but also every other Persona game. One thing I do have to say about Reload's art style is with it is to the original game's art style. Yes, I loved Reload's art style, but the original had it's own, sorta edgy art style too, which isn't really here in Reload, which I would have liked, but it's not a major deal for me, but it is for those who loved the Original. The social links in Reload feel kinda weak some paired to social links in Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Royal, but since Persona 3 was the first Persona game to introduce social links, it's pulled off really well, for it's first time in a Persona game.
I found it weird there weren't any social links with the main party members sooner, you have to have max social stats in a specific category to start it. Like in Mitsuru's social link, you need max academics to start her social link, and even then you start her link kinda around the late game. Not only you start the social links for the main cast later, it's only the female members in the main party that have social links. Sadly Jumpei, Akakiko, Shinjiro, and Ken don't have social links, which I was bumped out to find out. I would have found their social links more interesting than Yukari's and Fuuka's, which I liked, but it just sorta bummed me out coming off of the social links from Persona 5 and Persona 4 but despite that, Persona 3 Reload has some of the best social links in the series.
My favorite in Persona 3 Reload has to be Akinari's social link, his story is a tragedy, and without spoilers, is one of the highlights that conveys the game's theme of death. I believe the reason I play Persona, is for what each game has to tell in its story. Persona 5 Royal had the theme of rebellion, Persona 4 Golden and the theme of seeking the truth, and with Persona 3 Reload, it has the theme of Death. This concept dives deep into the story, and creates a narrative that has stuck with me for days since I beat it. It is the question of life and death, that this game attempts to answer it. In the game, you play through the MC, and see what his life is like, with social links and the bonds he has with others. By the end of the game, the MC finds the answer to that question, ultimately, passing the baton onto the player, as you think of your own answer to the question of life and death, as you watch the credits.
Persona 3 Reload's story, narrative, and themes are truly spectacular. It's the type of story I love in any type of media, regardless if it's a game, movie, tv show, anime, manga, book, or album, I love it when a piece of art, such as Persona 3 Reload, can have me still thinking about it for days and weeks after being done with it. Persona 3 Reload pulls you into it's narrative and gets you unknowingly invested in this tale. Life goes on as you play, like how days pass, both in real life and in the game, but there is also death. Death can come any time, you never know when death will come to your door.
It can come all of a sudden, and that's what Persona 3 Reload conveys. There's death, and there is no way to stop it, but there is also rebirth afterward, not in the game, but in you, the player. You are reborn, with the knowledge of life and death, now it is up to you, how you will use it. Will you forge links and bonds with the people you care about? Will you make the most of each day you have in your life before death? With your rebirth, what will you do when death comes? That is what Persona 3 Reload asks you. Overall, Persona 3 Reload is a true marvel of a persona game. It has the best gameplay the series has the offer, some the best narratives and story-telling reimagined today. Regardless if you've played the original, FES, Portable or not played any version of Persona 3 yet, please do so. Reload is a must for all Persona fans.
Stats:
9th game in 2024 I've completed
Played on PlayStation 5
Hours into Game: 70 hours
Score: 10/10 (5/5)
Last Statement: Ace Dective? More like-