For better or worse, 2024 is set to be a big year for remakes and the first big one in Persona 3 Reload.
The Persona series has grown in a big way over the last 18 years. One needs only look at the box art for the original for proof of this, with the game still being sold as “Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3.” Flash forward to 2024 and it’s the other way around, with Shin Megami Tensei’s recognizability largely stemming from the series’ past association with Persona.
That’s a strong testament to why Persona 3 was deserving of the remake treatment. Unlike The Last of Us Part 2 or Warcraft 3: Reforged, Persona 3 and Persona 3 FES are marooned on dead hardware. While the re-released Persona 3 Portable is solid in its own right, the PSP remake was effectively a visual novel, not a JRPG. There’s a clear need for Persona 3 Reload, but does it hit the mark?
The Good:
- The P-Studio style continues to dazzle
- The gameplay and story still guarantee a long, strong experience
The Bad:
- The lack of Persona 3 FES, Portable content looms large
- Social elements feel lacking relative to Persona 5
Review Details:
- What Platform Did the Reviewer Play On?: PlayStation 5
- Platforms Available: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Official Release Date: February 2, 2024
Persona 3 Reload brings a lot to the table, but leaves a lot behind
Persona 3 Reload has a lot to offer players, whether they’ve played the original game or not.
Those who enjoyed Persona 5 but haven’t played previous installments don’t really have to put much thought into this. Persona 3 Reload is, plain and simple, more Persona greatness.
It’ll hit all the familiar beats from a story and gameplay perspective that recently initiated players will hope for. A weighty but upbeat story, dynamic turn-based combat, striking aesthetics, and a dual focus on social and combat elements are all present and accounted for. Despite those similarities, the overall experience is fully distinct from both of its successors.
Those who haven’t played Persona 3 are in for an absolute treat with Reload. Those who have are in for a treat too, but there will be a bit of a sour aftertaste.
That’s because Persona 3 Reload is more of a remaster than a remake in many ways.
P-Studio brilliantly transplanted the look and feel of Persona 5 into Persona 3. Everything, all the way down to the menus, is a feast for the eyes. Past the fresh coat of paint, however, is the same Persona 3 of the past.
While there’s an eternal debate about what the “best” Persona game is, there’s no denying that the formula has improved with time. Persona 4 and 5 both built upon Persona 3 by featuring five social stats, offering more ways to raise social stats, and better weaving together the visual novel elements into the RPG core of the game. Very few of those advancements are present in Persona 3 Reload, and the game suffers for it.
Compounding matters is the lack of almost all the content that was added in Persona 3 FES or Persona 3 Portable content. The lack of Persona 3 FES’s playable epilogue chapter, The Answer, and the absence of Persona 3 Reload’s female main character loom large over the game. This may be remedied with DLC, but there’s no sign of this yet and it’s sorely missed on the game’s launch regardless.
Some new things are added to the game, most notably the new soundtrack. Male party members also have mini-social link arcs that are folded into the calendar and are fun additions. Still, that’s a poor substitute for everything that was left on the cutting room floor.
The Bottom Line: Persona 3 Reload brings the PS2 classic into modern times beautifully, but leaves content and concepts on the table to a degree where the game feels incomplete.
Score: 8/10
