I want to preface this review by noting that there are many aspects and points of comparison that are lost on me as Reload serves as my first experience of Persona 3. I know that there’s an argument to be made about Reload not adhering to the original atmosphere and overall vision of P3 but since I’m not really familiar with how it’s “supposed” to feel, I don’t really have anything to say about that. Apart from bits and pieces here and there, I’m not aware of aspects that got lost in translation between all the different versions, I only know what I got with this particular version of Persona 3.
I’ve been wanting to experience Persona 3 for the longest time since Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Royal are among my favorite games of all time. There was just always the struggle of which version to play, the original and P3Fes are pretty much lost to time unless I use emulation and the only version available on modern consoles is Persona 3 Portable which offered the best version of the P3 gameplay at the time but heavily sacrificed the presentation of the game. Everything was telling me that P3P should not be the way I first experience Persona 3 so I decided to just sit and wait for an eventual remake to happen. I can’t begin to describe my excitement when Persona 3 Reload was announced as I would finally get to experience this monumental RPG that made the series what it is today.
Persona 3 Reload might not be the definitive version of Persona 3, as it lacks notable content from P3P and P3fes, but i think it’s definitely the best version to play Persona 3 in the current day. The game has a shiny new coat of paint that makes it graphically on par with Persona 5 but with a completely different design philosophy that gives it a unique, distinct identity. The presentation is absolutely stellar and the new ultra-stylish minimalistic design language modernize Persona 3 while still making it feel like P3 and not another P5.
This new aesthetic is absolutely beautiful in its simplicity and its modernity. Persona 3 Reload immediately throws it on you when it greets you with its new opening that features the best visuals of any opening in the series alongside its new song. Persona 3 Reload features a redone soundtrack, featuring remixes from the original game with new vocalist Azumi Takahashi coming in as the new lead vocalist. As someone that’s been listening to the Persona 3 soundtrack for years, this change did feel a bit jarring at first but I quickly got used to the new arrangements. Some of the new songs are stellar and instant series highlights, most notably the new night theme “Color Your Night” and the new battle theme “It’s Going Down Now”.
Persona 3 Reload brings the classic Persona battle system in its modern incarnation that was perfected in P5. You have never played a turn-based RPG like these two. The battles just flow so well and the new Shift and Theurgy mechanics borrow from the Baton Pass and Showtime mechanics from Persona 5 respectively to add a deep layer to the battle system that makes each battle feel exhilarating. This alongside the newly added character-specific All-Out-Attack splash screens make you and your team feel like absolute badasses as you decimate your way through Tartarus.
Tartarus is one thing I’m really excited to talk about. So Tartarus is the procedurally generated central dungeon of Persona 3 which you and your party tackle throughout the school year to reach the top and uncover its secret, think P5’s mementos. From an outsider listening in, Tartarus has been the topic of the biggest complaints I’ve been hearing of P3. How it’s so long and boring, and all the floors feel the same. Well I’m here to say that Tartarus in Persona 3 Reload has been absolutely great. It’s still very long but they did a good job diversifying it and shaking things up with each chunk of floors. There are just so many quality of life improvements here that ultimately make the gameplay loop of Tartarus extremely addicting. You had to beg me to stay out of Tartarus.
If you’re familiar with Persona, you know that the gameplay loop doesn’t only revolve around the dungeon crawling. There’s also a complete life sim waiting for you outside those dungeons where you get to live out a calendar-based school year getting part-time jobs, building your social relationships, and keeping up with your studies. I want to give credit where credit is due, this game did this iconic gameplay loop first and it has since become a staple of the series. it is an ambitious and revolutionary concept to seamlessly blend those two types of gameplay into one game and have it be as cohesive as it is, especially when it’s their first attempt with this concept!
There is a lot to do during the day but it doesn’t get overwhelming as it sometimes does with Persona 5 as the settings are a lot different between the two. P5’s hustling and bustling city was perfectly fit for the infinite amount of things you can do in that game while P3’s seaside town is a lot simpler both in terms of things to do and in its overall vibe much more similar to the setting of P4. This made the game have a much more chill and easy going feeling to it. The town just eases you into living in it and its small landmarks are instantly memorable so you won’t find yourself getting lost a lot. This makes Persona 3 Reload an excellent entry point to the modern Persona entries as it allows the player to learn the ropes with a lot less going on.
Social Links, or Confidants for those only familiar with P5, are my personal favorite aspect of the modern Persona games. During your day-to-day life, you’ll come across interesting people all throughout that you can hang out with and befriend. Doing so will have you cultivate a relationship with them that would directly benefit you in the dungeon-crawling side of the game. These were always my favorite parts as I’d get to hear the interesting stories of these people, help them with their problems, or share a good laugh over a bowl of ramen. These stories always feel like the heart of the games for me, each one pushing the theme of its respective game.
Since Persona 3 introduced the concept of Social Links, I’m not surprised that they’re pretty hit or miss in terms of quality. It’s clear that they were still figuring out how to handle that aspect and I appreciate Reload for preserving them flaws and all. The lows are pretty low but the highs are fantastic. I’m taking some of the best Social Links in the series are in this game with one of them turning out to be my absolute favorite from how raw and gripping the real-life consequences that character was going through. My absolute favorite thing about Persona 3 Reload that makes me struggle from going back is the fact they decided to have all the Social Links be fully voiced. This made me connect to these characters on a much different level and I really hope it becomes a standard moving forward.
Speaking of voices, once again Atlus remains top dog in English dubs. I know this is a topic of contention as the entire original Persona 3 voice cast got recast but coming in blind, these performances are all fantastic across the board. I haven’t heard any of these characters speak before but they all sounded exactly how I expected them to and delivered phenomenal performances across the board. I did think that one member of the main cast was a bit inconsistent with their performance but it didn’t stop me from falling in love with their character. Special shoutouts to: Aleks Lee, Zeno Robinson, Alejandro Saab, Allegra Clark, Dawn M. Bennet, Lucien Dodge, and mostly Shelby Young for breathing so much life into these characters and tugging at my heartstrings.
The main cast of characters have always been a highlight of the Persona games. I think they are the most important aspect of these games as these are the people you’ll be spending hundreds of hours with. P4 and P5’s casts genuinely feel like my best friends with the amount of memories I have with them and the level of attachment I have. I’m so pleased to say that P3’s cast is freaking phenomenal. This group definitely has my favorite dynamic out of the three modern Personas and include the most interesting relationships.
Going in with the expectations I had from P4 and P5 had me really shocked at the type of dynamic the P3 cast has. Some members have shared history, some just don’t vibe with each other, and you’re not the center of the group. While the P4 and P5 casts would rely on you as an active agent, P3’s casts all have their own agency. They have their own friends, plans, and motivations. Hell, they won’t accompany you on missions if they don’t feel like it. Aspects like that ground the cast and make you see them like real people because yeah my real-world friends are not always free for me, or they won’t always get along with my other friends. I only finished the game last night and I already miss them like crazy.
I look at the stories of Persona 4 and Persona 5 as stories that shaped me as a person. With both having messages and teaching me lessons I can immediately realize have impacted my life after playing through them. Persona stories are really really impactful and Persona 3 is no different. The story delivers such a powerful message and life lesson that really makes me feel like I’m going to tackle my life a lot differently moving forward. This especially becomes stronger when the game has one of the most cathartic and poignant endings that left me with a powerful final aftertaste.
I do have to say that the biggest gripe I have with Persona 3 is in its plot. While the story is fantastic, the plot and its pacing leaves a lot to be desired. The first half of the game feels pretty aimless to be honest. There really wasn’t anything going on in the main story until I reached the 40th hour which would be inexcusable if the gameplay loop wasn’t so fun. It felt like P4 and P5 had immediate hooks to keep playing the games that is definitely missing with P3. The back-half is outstanding but I really feel like it takes a tad too long for things to get going. These games are pretty freaking long and there really aren’t moments in P4 and P5 where absolutely nothing is happening but P3 feels like it has a huge chunk of that.
Overall, Persona 3 Reload is a phenomenal game with a strong visual identity, fantastic soundtrack, streamlined and addicting gameplay, top of the line voice acting, stellar characters, and a powerful story that will for sure leave a lasting impact. While it might not be the definitive release of the monumental RPG, it sure feels like the best way to experience it as of now.
I’ve been wanting to experience Persona 3 for the longest time since Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Royal are among my favorite games of all time. There was just always the struggle of which version to play, the original and P3Fes are pretty much lost to time unless I use emulation and the only version available on modern consoles is Persona 3 Portable which offered the best version of the P3 gameplay at the time but heavily sacrificed the presentation of the game. Everything was telling me that P3P should not be the way I first experience Persona 3 so I decided to just sit and wait for an eventual remake to happen. I can’t begin to describe my excitement when Persona 3 Reload was announced as I would finally get to experience this monumental RPG that made the series what it is today.
Persona 3 Reload might not be the definitive version of Persona 3, as it lacks notable content from P3P and P3fes, but i think it’s definitely the best version to play Persona 3 in the current day. The game has a shiny new coat of paint that makes it graphically on par with Persona 5 but with a completely different design philosophy that gives it a unique, distinct identity. The presentation is absolutely stellar and the new ultra-stylish minimalistic design language modernize Persona 3 while still making it feel like P3 and not another P5.
This new aesthetic is absolutely beautiful in its simplicity and its modernity. Persona 3 Reload immediately throws it on you when it greets you with its new opening that features the best visuals of any opening in the series alongside its new song. Persona 3 Reload features a redone soundtrack, featuring remixes from the original game with new vocalist Azumi Takahashi coming in as the new lead vocalist. As someone that’s been listening to the Persona 3 soundtrack for years, this change did feel a bit jarring at first but I quickly got used to the new arrangements. Some of the new songs are stellar and instant series highlights, most notably the new night theme “Color Your Night” and the new battle theme “It’s Going Down Now”.
Persona 3 Reload brings the classic Persona battle system in its modern incarnation that was perfected in P5. You have never played a turn-based RPG like these two. The battles just flow so well and the new Shift and Theurgy mechanics borrow from the Baton Pass and Showtime mechanics from Persona 5 respectively to add a deep layer to the battle system that makes each battle feel exhilarating. This alongside the newly added character-specific All-Out-Attack splash screens make you and your team feel like absolute badasses as you decimate your way through Tartarus.
Tartarus is one thing I’m really excited to talk about. So Tartarus is the procedurally generated central dungeon of Persona 3 which you and your party tackle throughout the school year to reach the top and uncover its secret, think P5’s mementos. From an outsider listening in, Tartarus has been the topic of the biggest complaints I’ve been hearing of P3. How it’s so long and boring, and all the floors feel the same. Well I’m here to say that Tartarus in Persona 3 Reload has been absolutely great. It’s still very long but they did a good job diversifying it and shaking things up with each chunk of floors. There are just so many quality of life improvements here that ultimately make the gameplay loop of Tartarus extremely addicting. You had to beg me to stay out of Tartarus.
If you’re familiar with Persona, you know that the gameplay loop doesn’t only revolve around the dungeon crawling. There’s also a complete life sim waiting for you outside those dungeons where you get to live out a calendar-based school year getting part-time jobs, building your social relationships, and keeping up with your studies. I want to give credit where credit is due, this game did this iconic gameplay loop first and it has since become a staple of the series. it is an ambitious and revolutionary concept to seamlessly blend those two types of gameplay into one game and have it be as cohesive as it is, especially when it’s their first attempt with this concept!
There is a lot to do during the day but it doesn’t get overwhelming as it sometimes does with Persona 5 as the settings are a lot different between the two. P5’s hustling and bustling city was perfectly fit for the infinite amount of things you can do in that game while P3’s seaside town is a lot simpler both in terms of things to do and in its overall vibe much more similar to the setting of P4. This made the game have a much more chill and easy going feeling to it. The town just eases you into living in it and its small landmarks are instantly memorable so you won’t find yourself getting lost a lot. This makes Persona 3 Reload an excellent entry point to the modern Persona entries as it allows the player to learn the ropes with a lot less going on.
Social Links, or Confidants for those only familiar with P5, are my personal favorite aspect of the modern Persona games. During your day-to-day life, you’ll come across interesting people all throughout that you can hang out with and befriend. Doing so will have you cultivate a relationship with them that would directly benefit you in the dungeon-crawling side of the game. These were always my favorite parts as I’d get to hear the interesting stories of these people, help them with their problems, or share a good laugh over a bowl of ramen. These stories always feel like the heart of the games for me, each one pushing the theme of its respective game.
Since Persona 3 introduced the concept of Social Links, I’m not surprised that they’re pretty hit or miss in terms of quality. It’s clear that they were still figuring out how to handle that aspect and I appreciate Reload for preserving them flaws and all. The lows are pretty low but the highs are fantastic. I’m taking some of the best Social Links in the series are in this game with one of them turning out to be my absolute favorite from how raw and gripping the real-life consequences that character was going through. My absolute favorite thing about Persona 3 Reload that makes me struggle from going back is the fact they decided to have all the Social Links be fully voiced. This made me connect to these characters on a much different level and I really hope it becomes a standard moving forward.
Speaking of voices, once again Atlus remains top dog in English dubs. I know this is a topic of contention as the entire original Persona 3 voice cast got recast but coming in blind, these performances are all fantastic across the board. I haven’t heard any of these characters speak before but they all sounded exactly how I expected them to and delivered phenomenal performances across the board. I did think that one member of the main cast was a bit inconsistent with their performance but it didn’t stop me from falling in love with their character. Special shoutouts to: Aleks Lee, Zeno Robinson, Alejandro Saab, Allegra Clark, Dawn M. Bennet, Lucien Dodge, and mostly Shelby Young for breathing so much life into these characters and tugging at my heartstrings.
The main cast of characters have always been a highlight of the Persona games. I think they are the most important aspect of these games as these are the people you’ll be spending hundreds of hours with. P4 and P5’s casts genuinely feel like my best friends with the amount of memories I have with them and the level of attachment I have. I’m so pleased to say that P3’s cast is freaking phenomenal. This group definitely has my favorite dynamic out of the three modern Personas and include the most interesting relationships.
Going in with the expectations I had from P4 and P5 had me really shocked at the type of dynamic the P3 cast has. Some members have shared history, some just don’t vibe with each other, and you’re not the center of the group. While the P4 and P5 casts would rely on you as an active agent, P3’s casts all have their own agency. They have their own friends, plans, and motivations. Hell, they won’t accompany you on missions if they don’t feel like it. Aspects like that ground the cast and make you see them like real people because yeah my real-world friends are not always free for me, or they won’t always get along with my other friends. I only finished the game last night and I already miss them like crazy.
I look at the stories of Persona 4 and Persona 5 as stories that shaped me as a person. With both having messages and teaching me lessons I can immediately realize have impacted my life after playing through them. Persona stories are really really impactful and Persona 3 is no different. The story delivers such a powerful message and life lesson that really makes me feel like I’m going to tackle my life a lot differently moving forward. This especially becomes stronger when the game has one of the most cathartic and poignant endings that left me with a powerful final aftertaste.
I do have to say that the biggest gripe I have with Persona 3 is in its plot. While the story is fantastic, the plot and its pacing leaves a lot to be desired. The first half of the game feels pretty aimless to be honest. There really wasn’t anything going on in the main story until I reached the 40th hour which would be inexcusable if the gameplay loop wasn’t so fun. It felt like P4 and P5 had immediate hooks to keep playing the games that is definitely missing with P3. The back-half is outstanding but I really feel like it takes a tad too long for things to get going. These games are pretty freaking long and there really aren’t moments in P4 and P5 where absolutely nothing is happening but P3 feels like it has a huge chunk of that.
Overall, Persona 3 Reload is a phenomenal game with a strong visual identity, fantastic soundtrack, streamlined and addicting gameplay, top of the line voice acting, stellar characters, and a powerful story that will for sure leave a lasting impact. While it might not be the definitive release of the monumental RPG, it sure feels like the best way to experience it as of now.