Persona 3 Reload
Release Date: February 2, 2024
RPG, TPP, turn-based, remasters/remakes, jRPG, urban fantasy, Game Pass, romances, singleplayer
A remake of an iconic 2007 jRPG, developed by Atlus and running on the Unreal Engine. Persona 3 Reload has us playing as a Japanese high school student, facing monsters known as Shadows during the night.
February 13, 2024
Persona 3 Reload Review: A Modernized Classic
The remake of a classic faces a difficult task of carrying the legacy. But it seems Persona 3 Reload is more than able to bear this weight.
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Games of February 2024 - Last Month of Winter Be HOT!
February can surprise when it comes to high-profile releases. It is no different in 2024, as the month turns out to be full of productions worthy of attention. For many, however, probably the most important will be the one game with seven in the title.
Videos and Screens
[1:02] Persona 3 Reload Persona 3 Reload Expansion Pass - Episode Aigis Launch Trailer
[1:49] Persona 3 Reload Persona 3 Reload Expansion Pass - Episode Aigis Opening Movie
Gamepressure Review
Persona 3 Reload
The remake of a classic faces a difficult task of carrying the legacy. But it seems Persona 3 Reload is more than able to bear this weight.
OpenCritic Rating
Game is Recomended by 98% of Critics. There are 139 Critic Reviews.
VideoGamer: 9 / 10 by Antony Terence
P3R’s poignant tale of acceptance is bolstered by smart combat refinements, deeper friendships, and a soundtrack you already love.
Hardcore Gamer: 4.5 / 5 by Chris Shive
Persona 3 Reload is a fantastic update on the classic, but some design choices make it hard to declare it a definitive version. New voice acting, graphical facelift and improvements to combat make this version of Persona 3 feel contemporary and an absolute joy to play. The omission of The Answer epilogue and the choice to play a female protagonist that were included in other versions of Persona 3, however, can make this version feel incomplete. But aside from the additional content being excluded, Persona 3 Reload is a great example of how to remake a game in a way that appeals to modern sensibilities without alienating the original fan base.
Easy Allies: 9 / 10 by Michael Damiani
Persona 3 Reload doesn’t quite address all the shortcomings of its previous renditions, nor does it include all the extras added over the years. However, it’s another incredible take that stands proudly alongside the other stellar versions of the game. With all of its new additions and features, especially the updated visuals, rewind function, and new battle mechanics, Reload is the best way to experience Persona 3.
The main pros of the game
- Engaging Story and Characters: Many players praised the narrative depth, emotional weight, and character development, particularly highlighting the themes of life, death, and personal connections. The story was described as beautiful and impactful, with a memorable ending that resonated deeply with players.
- Visual and Audio Enhancements: The game received commendations for its stunning graphics and animations, as well as an impressive soundtrack that many found exceptional.
- Quality of Life Improvements: Players appreciated the new combat mechanics, smoother gameplay, and the ability to directly control party members, which enhanced the overall experience.
- Social Aspects: The game effectively captures the essence of building relationships and managing time, which is a hallmark of the Persona series.
The main cons of the game
- Repetitive Dungeon Crawling: The exploration of Tartarus was often criticized for being lengthy and monotonous, with some reviewers expressing fatigue over the grind and repetitive nature of the dungeon design.
- High Price Tag and DLC Concerns: Many users felt the base game was overpriced, especially considering that significant content like "The Answer" was locked behind a separate DLC purchase. This practice was viewed as a cash grab by some players.
- Pacing Issues: Some reviews noted that the pacing could feel slow at times, particularly during the social segments, which might deter players seeking more immediate action.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Absence of Female Protagonist: Players lamented the lack of an option to play as a female character, which was available in previous iterations like Persona 3 Portable.
- Limited Social Links: Some users were disappointed that male party members did not have social links, which they felt diminished character interactions compared to other games in the series.
- Lack of Certain Mechanics from Original Versions: Several players missed features such as the original's condition system and the variety of weapons available to the main character, which were seen as beneficial for gameplay diversity.
Summary
- Overall, while "Persona 3 Reload" was well-received for its storytelling and improvements over the original, concerns about pacing, content pricing, and some missing features were common among user reviews.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 110 votes. 17 players anticipated the game.
Persona 3 Reload Description
Persona 3 Reload is a remake of Persona 3, an iconic 2007 jRPG. It was developed by Atlus, the company in charge of the franchise.
Plot
Persona 3 Reload is set in a fictional Japanese town of Iwatodai, home to an unusual phenomenon. Every day a Dark Hour occurs at midnight, an additional hour during which most people turn into coffins. The exceptions are several students from Gekkoukan High School, who have other issues to deal with during that time. Each Dark Hour their school turns into a massive tower called the Tartarus, filled with monsters called Shadows. They're opposed by the SEES (Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad), a group of students tasked with fighting the monsters. They fight using the titular Personas, reflections of their hearts which reveal themselves in face of danger.
We play as one of the members of the SEES. During the day he's a regular student, while during the night he climbs Tartarus, fighting Shadows. It's up to us to maintain balance between both of his lives.
Mechanics
Persona 3 Reload is a third-person game (TPP). The gameplay is divided into two layers, the first being ordinary school life. During the day we must attend classes, take exams, attend school dances or participate in sports competitions. We must also establish and maintain friendships and relationships.
During the night we battle Shadows alongside our classmates, using our Personas. Battles are turn-based. To succeed, we must skillfully use the abilities of the party's different Personas. The events during the day have an effect on the might - some of our party members may be unavailable, busy studying or recovering from an illness. Maintaining our bonds with them makes them stronger too.
Progressing through the game develops our character and grants new Personas, which can be fused together into more powerful forms.
Compared to the original game, the remake contains new scenes, events and gameplay changes, mostly involving the combat system.
Technical aspects
Persona 3 Reload runs on the Unreal Engine. The game retains the original's colorful, manga-like artstyle, though the visuals have been refreshed and are now more detailed. The audio was also changed; the soundtrack consists of new tracks and remixes of the original songs, while the English voice cast was entirely recast.
Additional info
Persona 3 Reload only contains content from the original Persona 3. There's no content from Persona 3 Portable or Persona 3 FES.
13
GAMES
in Persona Game Series
Game Series
Persona Series
A series of jRPG games overseen by Atlus. The series was launched in 1996, by the game Revelations: Persona, which is a spin-off of the brand Shin Megami Tensei (originally known globally as Revelations). The production, which debuted on PlayStation consoles, was so successful that it eventually gave rise to a new, separate series. Although from the beginning the series was associated with PlayStation consoles, over the years it has also made its presence felt on other platforms.
13 video games
Persona 3 Reload Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X/S
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Persona 3 Reload System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i7-4790 3.4 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 650 Ti or better, 30 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i7-4790 3.4 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 760 or better, 30 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
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