One of the most unique RPG's I've ever played with incredible story and characters. The game has a nice contrast of being very whimsical but also very dark. The OST is awesome and the combat, although very simple, is enjoyable and has a unique spin on status effects with emotions. In an unexpected way, it's also one of the creepiest games I've ever played (even more than many horror games I've experienced).

Easy recommendation especially for anyone looking for a unique/different experience from a JRPG.

My second time playing FF7 Remake but this time with DLC and on the PS5. I definitely had more fun playing this the second time. The PS5 enhancements make a big difference and the combat feels also more smoother and fun to play. Some of my issues from my first playthrough still persist: terrible side content, horrible driving sections, and a little too much gameplay padding near the end (and this is coming from a gameplay-first guy).

Aside from that, I've come to accept the game for what it is. Still wish this was an actual remake and not a sequel but we'll take what we can get. Enjoyed the story a lot more the second time around. The Yuffie episode is amazing and she's definitely the most fun character to play. Also as a fan of crisis core, I really liked the ending of it.

While there may never be a definitive version of Persona 3, I think Persona 3 Reload is, at the very least, the best version of Persona 3 hands down. This is an incredible remake by Atlus that far surpasses the original. The music, art style, UI, and combat got a big improvement while still keeping the story and characters of P3 nearly 1:1 with the original.

My major issues with the game are stuff that I had issues with the original:
- The structure of the game can still get repetitive. I still prefer the palaces/dungeons of later entries
- The villains are still a little meh but they are slightly improved in Reload
- Some of the social links are not very good. They're not awful but later entries are just much better in quality. The fully voiced VA in each rank was great though

I wouldn't have minded if Atlus did rewrites and redesigns for these issues but I can also respect that they stuck to their guns and kept these things 1:1 to preserve the good and bad of Persona 3 similar to how Bluepoint Games did a near 1:1 remake of Demon's Souls to preserve its original design in a modern version.

While I still prefer P4G and P5R more as games, I think Persona 3 Reload has my new favorite final boss and ending in the Persona series. The music and scenes popped off in the end and had more impact than when I played the original. This is a must play for JRPG fans