Persona 3 Reload is set to breathe new life into a beloved JRPG, and Dexerto was able to go hands-on with the game ahead of its release next month.
Persona 3 Reload is set to bring a classic JRPG, one that literally saved developer Atlus from “collapse” almost two decades ago, to new audiences.
As Atlus is quick to remind you, the game is a ground-up remake – not a remaster – that modernizes the look and adds to the gameplay while staying faithful to the original.
Recently, I was able to go hands-on with Persona 3 Reload. While I only played about an hour of it (which Persona fans will know is next to nothing considering how long these games are), I was struck by just how well it balances the beloved original and fresh modernizations.
It’s Going Down Now
My preview consisted of a week in between major story moments, providing a good feel for the day-to-day gameplay that makes up most of a Persona game.
Those familiar with Persona 3 will know the drill: The protagonist and company are members of the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (or SEES), an after-school club of Persona users tasked with eliminating Shadows and investigating Tartarus during the mysterious Dark Hour.
The story itself remains intact, but Reload provides far more opportunities to get to know your classmates and other major characters. There are plenty of new hangouts and activities to enjoy, such as spending time at an arcade with Junpei and meeting Akihiko in town (and, of course, jogging home).
Opportunities like these really helped me bond with these characters. Even as someone who has played Persona 3 before, it’s nice to see new sides to the members of SEES. Completing these new side stories also improves the player and their party members’ Persona stats, making them well worth the time.
Locked and (Re)loaded
It’s largely considered cliche among fans to compare other Persona, Shin Megami Tensei and other Atlus titles to Persona 5. But in this case, it’s unavoidable by design. The simplest way to describe Persona 3 Reload is “Persona 3 with a Persona 5 coat of paint,” but that really doesn’t do either game justice.
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Persona 3 Reload, from all the previews released so far and my hands-on time with the game, does borrow a lot from Persona 5. The UI, for instance, will be incredibly familiar to those who played the Phantom Thieves’ adventure, as will the stylish All-Out Attack finisher screens.
Even with these, though, it still feels distinctly Persona 3.
This is largely helped by the music, including the new songs composed for Reload. I’ll admit hearing some of the returning songs performed by new vocalist Azumi Takahashi was a little jarring at first, but the new arrangements are solid, and the brand-new songs fit right in.
There are also brand-new features like Theurgy attacks. These are essentially signature moves unique to each character that represents their heightened emotions in battle.
I definitely don’t want to spoil the way they are introduced, but I was struck by how well the game blends the first use of Theurgy with its storytelling and character development. What I will say is that the Protagonist actually isn’t the first one to use Theurgy, and the moment does an excellent job of shining a spotlight on another party member who absolutely deserves it.
All in all, my time with Persona 3 Reload has me excited for more. Whether you’ve played the original (or one of its rereleases) or not, the game looks to be a solid remake of an excellent JRPG that gives returning players more than enough reasons to dive back into Tartarus when the game releases on February 2, 2024.
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