Persona 3 Reload falls short in comparison to Persona 5

Persona 3 has always been the odd one out of the series. It set the groundwork for the RPG series we know today, but its dark visuals and lackluster storyline paled in comparison to the subsequent games. With Persona 3 Reload, Atlus revisits the past, but does so in the shadow of a more popular game – Persona 5. Reload begins with a high school student experiencing the so-called “Darkest Hour.” During this 25th hour every day, the streets are filled with coffins and enemies called Mithunzi, while a tall tower called Tatalasi overlooks the island. When not at school building relationships with people on the calendar, players climb Tartarus with the help of the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (SEES), fighting different world bosses during nights and full moons. For the most part, Persona 3 Reload remains faithful to its roots, with main events, characters, and locations all intact. However, it lacks additional features available in newer versions like Persona 3 FES and Persona 3 Portable.

Despite these limitations, Reload introduces new events to break up Persona 3’s calendar, providing a more engaging gameplay experience. Players can engage in activities like buying software at a web cafe, watching episodes of the wolf pack with Koromaru, the canine member of the group, and enjoying performances filled with charm and humor. Additionally, Reload’s smooth gameplay makes it stand out from its predecessor, Persona 3 Portable, providing a more seamless experience. The game also features a new character synergies system, as well as a gardening mechanic and character special abilities, called Characteristics, tied to the new Theurgy system, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

These additions reflect the Persona series’ commitment to refining and improving mechanics with each new entry. However, the impact of Persona 5’s influence on Persona 3 Reload is evident, as the game struggles to find its own identity amidst the shadow of its successor. Despite its engaging story and themes, the game’s presentation feels at odds with the dark and gritty atmosphere it tries to convey, leading to a somewhat compromised experience. The gameplay has been streamlined to align with modern RPG trends, making it more approachable but potentially sacrificing some of the series’ unique challenges and intricacies.

Despite these drawbacks, Persona 3 Reload brings some welcome enhancements to the series, including a less burdensome dungeon-crawling experience and various quality-of-life improvements. However, it is also clear that the prolonged influence of Persona 5 on the series has had mixed results, diluting the unique elements of Persona 3 to some extent. While it’s a shame that Persona 3 is being brought forward under these new conditions, the game still offers an engaging and memorable experience for fans of the series. Persona 3 Reload is set for release on Feb. 2 on various platforms and promises a familiar yet updated experience for both new and returning players.

Author: OpenAI