It is tough to replay older Persona video games after Persona 5. They nonetheless inform engrossing character-driven tales, however with Persona 5 — and Persona 5 Royal specifically — Atlus developed the sequence’ core gameplay loop to such an extent that earlier titles can really feel clunky and monotonous by comparability. And so we now have Persona 3 Reload — a ground-up remake of the unique Persona 3, which goals to introduce an entire new era of gamers to what was as soon as an inspirational PS2 RPG.
With the intention to obtain this objective, Reload focuses on two key areas of enchancment: a whole visible rebuild, and large gameplay upgrades, each out and in of battle. The result’s a remake that falls nearly precisely according to the trendy sensibilities of Persona 5.
However earlier than we dig into the small print, let’s discuss in regards to the sport’s immaculate presentation. Reload retains the blue-leaning color scheme of the unique launch, however as talked about, every part has been remade (in Unreal Engine, no much less). This can be a actually luxurious title; from the crisp character fashions to the attractive hand-drawn dialogue portraits, it is a visible delight, whereas particle and lighting results do some very heavy lifting by way of setting the sport’s moody tone. Even the menus, with their new, watery aesthetics, are a deal with to behold.
In a turn-based RPG the place you may be doing lots of speaking and flicking via menus exterior of fight, presentation is so necessary — and Reload nails it. Is it higher trying than Persona 5? Graphically, certainly — however we’re hesitant to say that it is extra trendy. Reload is extremely neat and tidy — under no circumstances soulless, however meticulous. In any case, it is an absolute feast for the eyes.
Once you’re not gawking on the sport’s many shades of blue, Reload follows the identical story and construction because the title that it is based mostly upon. Set in 2009, you play as a younger man who’s transferring to a brand new college — however your arrival on Tatsumi Port Island occurs to coincide with a sequence of supernatural occasions. As if the training system wasn’t nerve-racking sufficient, you shortly study that there is truly a hidden time frame that exists at midnight. This so-called ‘Darkish Hour’ is imperceptible to regular individuals — however those that have the ‘potential’ are acutely aware whereas it is occurring.
Normally, the Darkish Hour poses no risk, however there are creatures, named shadows, that take type throughout this time — and for no matter cause, they’re rising stressed. Happily, you are not alone in having the aforementioned ‘potential’ — and so that you’re invited to affix the Specialised Extracurricular Execution Squad, or S.E.E.S. for brief. Collectively together with your new buddies, you are tasked with taking the battle to the shadows, and unravelling the mysteries of the Darkish Hour.
Conceptually, Persona 3 nonetheless has one of many coolest narrative foundations within the sequence. You are basically a part of successful squad that hunts down demons whereas the world stays oblivious — and your looking floor is a terrifying tower known as Tartarus.
The plot can be so much darker than what you may discover in Persona 3’s successors. Proper from the beginning, there are apparent themes of demise and mortal consequence, and it makes for some gripping storytelling at occasions. There’s an satisfying melancholy to Persona 3 that subsequent Persona video games fell away from, however fortunately, Reload embraces the unique’s usually horror-tinged environment. If Persona 5 was a bit too Saturday morning cartoon to your tastes, then you definitely would possibly discover the brooding tones of Persona 3 extra interesting.
Structurally, the sport’s principally break up into two halves. The primary revolves round your day-to-day life, as you attend college, make associates, discover the island metropolis, and enhance key traits of your persona. The second half of the discharge includes conquering the Darkish Hour — climbing Tartarus, battling shadows, and levelling up your celebration. Nevertheless, in typical Persona trend, the sport’s greatness lies in its capacity to meld these two disparate halves to create a deeply satisfying complete.
As you forge extra significant connections with different characters, you are in a position to create extra highly effective personas — spirit-like entities that you simply summon as a way to stand in opposition to the shadows. And for the reason that complete sport runs on a calendar system — which means you could solely have interaction in a restricted variety of actions per day — you are inspired to dwell a balanced and environment friendly life. At its core, Persona is about utilizing your free time properly, and in Persona 3, that idea is probably extra necessary than ever, as on set dates, you may be compelled to partake in S.E.E.S. operations to thwart the shadow menace, and in flip, progress the primary story.
If such a gameplay construction sounds nerve-racking, it is value noting that Reload makes many optimistic adjustments to how managing your time truly works. For starters, associates and part-time job alternatives will textual content you (in your flip cellphone!) after they’re obtainable — so that you not need to comb the town for particular actions. What’s extra, there isn’t any longer a fatigue system, so you do not have to fret about celebration members rising drained and even sick as you delve into Tartarus. Briefly, Reload streamlines the Persona 3 expertise, and whereas hardcore followers could argue that the alterations dilute the journey, the adjustments are, once more, all in service of modernising Persona 3. And in that sense, Reload is a large success.
However Reload’s finest enhancements lie within the warmth of battle. Fight within the authentic launch had an inclination to pull, particularly later within the sport when shadows would tout tediously massive well being bars. Reload addresses that grievance by adopting mechanics from Persona 5, permitting you to ‘shift’ between characters after hitting an enemy’s weak spot, whereas additionally including ‘mild’ and ‘darkish’ components to the prevailing pool of magic assaults and resistances. Then there are Theurgy strategies — explosive character-specific tremendous assaults which might be constructed up over the course of fight. There are a great deal of extra minor tweaks underneath the hood as properly, however these headline adjustments permit Persona 3’s fight to shine as soon as once more.
Reload’s turn-based encounters are sometimes a thrill, they usually’re at all times eye-poppingly fairly. All-new animations, paintings cut-ins, and intuitive, one-button command menus make battles a spotlight of the expertise. In the meantime, the return of Shuffle Time provides a randomised component to every battle, providing you with an opportunity to select up some uncommon loot after claiming victory. It is all very moreish, to the purpose the place the grind for character ranges, objects, and new personas turns into devilishly addictive.
What about Tartarus itself, although? The shadow-infested tower has lengthy break up fan opinion, as its procedurally generated format can serve up some very samey exploration. Happily, Reload transforms Tartarus into a totally 3D labyrinth the place every block is visually distinct, and better of all, it throws a bunch of randomised components into the method of ascending the tower, flooring by flooring. Initially, there are treasure chests to find and particular shadows to hunt, however as the sport progresses, increasingly more options are unlocked. Monad Doorways, for instance, present non-obligatory battles in opposition to lethal new bosses — certainly one in every of our favorite additions.
Tartarus remains to be repetitive by design, however these recent parts make the grind way more partaking general, and when mixed with the quite a few updates to fight, that is in all probability the best-designed dungeon crawling in a Persona sport.
The enhancements do not cease there, although. As talked about, Reload sticks to the story of Persona 3, nevertheless it makes a transparent and efficient effort to flesh issues out — particularly the place essential characters are involved. Within the authentic RPG, it was the S.E.E.S. members themselves that lacked depth, locking nearly all character growth behind key story scenes. Nevertheless, Reload enables you to hang around together with your fellow shadow-slayers regularly, collaborating in shared actions like gardening, cooking, and watching DVDs (2009, keep in mind). The narrative pacing feels far more cohesive on account of all this socialising, and essential plot factors find yourself hitting tougher than ever.
In terms of the gameplay loop and the remedy of its core solid, Reload is well one of the best model of Persona 3 — nevertheless it’s nonetheless tough to name it definitive. That is as a result of the extra elements of enhanced re-release Persona 3 FES and PSP port Persona 3 Transportable aren’t included — and so we’re nonetheless caught with 4 separate incarnations of what’s basically the identical sport. Understanding Atlus, there’s at all times an opportunity that Reload itself will get a re-release down the road that might embrace FES’ expanded story, or Transportable’s feminine essential character — however we will solely overview what’s in entrance of us, and proper now, Reload is a close to important remake.