I played FES all the way through in 2016. Back then I liked it a lot but didn't connect with its messages all that much. Eight years later I can safely say I needed this game in my life more than ever and I now consider it a masterpiece.
The themes of mortality and accepting that we'll all meet an inevitable end and what matters is how you choose to spend your time being alive really speaks to me as it's something I've had trouble with for the past few years. The way this game portrays it is genuinely beautiful. I adore this game's story and characters so much. Both are easily the best out of the Persona games I've played. I loved them.
Gameplay-wise, I think this version really improves on the original's formula (which I really enjoyed back then) and is the definitive version of P3. They somehow took what made Persona 5 so visually satisfying and stylish and translated it into Persona 3 without making it too flashy for the game's tone and themes. Battles are so fluid and exploring Tartarus has never been more engaging. I really got into fusing Personas this time around and had an insanely stacked team by the end of the game. I didn't really grasp fusion when I first played P3 so Reload felt like I was playing new game+ on the first playthrough. I never got bored with the gameplay.
A lot of the game's social links also made me really emotional. In general I think this game has my favorites out of the ones I've played while also having some of the worst, which I think was intentional considering the themes of choosing how to spend your time. Favorites were easily Aigis, Mutatsu, Akinari, and Mitsuru's. Made sure I finished those above all else. I also enjoy how this game doesn't really give you anything for social links unlike P5 so you really can just hang out with who you want for the most part.
I think I can safely say this is one of my favorite games ever. I did not appreciate it nearly as much as I should have back in 2016, but I think Reload did genuinely improve a lot to make the experience even better, so that could have a bit to do with my newfound appreciation. Whether you've played any previous version of the game or not, I highly recommend Reload. It's a truly unforgettable experience that deserves all the time you're willing to give it.
The themes of mortality and accepting that we'll all meet an inevitable end and what matters is how you choose to spend your time being alive really speaks to me as it's something I've had trouble with for the past few years. The way this game portrays it is genuinely beautiful. I adore this game's story and characters so much. Both are easily the best out of the Persona games I've played. I loved them.
Gameplay-wise, I think this version really improves on the original's formula (which I really enjoyed back then) and is the definitive version of P3. They somehow took what made Persona 5 so visually satisfying and stylish and translated it into Persona 3 without making it too flashy for the game's tone and themes. Battles are so fluid and exploring Tartarus has never been more engaging. I really got into fusing Personas this time around and had an insanely stacked team by the end of the game. I didn't really grasp fusion when I first played P3 so Reload felt like I was playing new game+ on the first playthrough. I never got bored with the gameplay.
A lot of the game's social links also made me really emotional. In general I think this game has my favorites out of the ones I've played while also having some of the worst, which I think was intentional considering the themes of choosing how to spend your time. Favorites were easily Aigis, Mutatsu, Akinari, and Mitsuru's. Made sure I finished those above all else. I also enjoy how this game doesn't really give you anything for social links unlike P5 so you really can just hang out with who you want for the most part.
I think I can safely say this is one of my favorite games ever. I did not appreciate it nearly as much as I should have back in 2016, but I think Reload did genuinely improve a lot to make the experience even better, so that could have a bit to do with my newfound appreciation. Whether you've played any previous version of the game or not, I highly recommend Reload. It's a truly unforgettable experience that deserves all the time you're willing to give it.