Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change.Remaking a beloved JRPG with thoughtful additions and deliberate omissions is always a leap of faith. Persona 3’s multiple entry points and dedicated fanbase make this all the more challenging. I don’t envy developer Atlus’ burden.
Its bleak undertones sharply contrast with newer Persona titles, especially Persona 5. Persona 4 Golden might have dispersed an eerie fog ‘in search of the truth’ but Persona 3 dug deeper to death itself. Fortunately, Persona 3 Reload’s visuals are guided by the flagposts of the original, with gorgeous environments and character models that don’t shy away from the grotesque.
Persona 3 Reload is an opportunity that Atlus takes advantage of to flesh out its array of memorable heroes. Its solid writing is paired with excellent voice acting, giving well-loved characters a revival worthy of their names. Be it the intelligent dog Koromaru or the constant bickering between Junpei and Yukari, there’s a lot you’ll look back on fondly once you beat the game.
One of Persona 3 Reload’s biggest additions is that you can finally hang out with all your friends. The franchise staple Social Link feature of getting to know your friends’ aspirations was reserved for female friends in the original, turning into a romance without a platonic option. You can now hang out with Junpei and Akihiko in social link segments, complete with voice-acted dialogue.
The ordeal of Tartarus remains a tedious grind. Tartarus is a haphazard skyscraper your team must scale during the Dark Hour without an elevator for plot reasons. You can use the elevator to go back, though. P3R’s retooling of the Tower of Demise retains the sense of dread of the original while adding little treats like breakable items and bonus Monad stages. Its Great Clock mechanic thankfully lets you level up party members who aren’t your top picks in combat.
Theurgy is unique to Persona 3 Reload, offering a meter that fills based on how you approach battles. Heal people as Yukari, land critical hits as Junpei, or inflict status effects as Mitsuru to fill their bars for powerful attacks that ignore resistances. Planning your team composition also lets you take advantage of unique passive skills possessed by each S.E.E.S member.