Highlights

  • Persona 3 Reload is a complete overhaul and modernization of the original game, featuring major upgrades to graphics, user interface, combat, and audio, making it feel like a whole new game.
  • Persona 3 Reload introduces massive gameplay changes and additions, including new mechanics like Link Episodes for deeper exploration of party members' stories, more ways to boost social stats, and upgrades to the Tartarus dungeon. Combat improvements include new skills, a powerful attack system, and the ability to pass turns to other party members.

The much-awaited Persona 3 remake, Persona 3 Reload, was released on February 2. To say that this game remade the original is an understatement, as it’s a complete overhaul and modernization. Its graphics, user interface, social simulation, combat, and audio feature major upgrades. Developers Atlus and P-Studio even added new storylines. These major changes make Persona 3 Reload look and feel like a whole new game, which explains its positive reviews from fans and critics alike.

According to speculation, Persona 3 Reload was created because Atlus heard the call of the fans to remake the original. This claim is backed by the recent survey results that the developer released in 2022, which highlighted that P3 is one of the most requested titles to be remade. P3 Reload's release date was announced in August 2023, but its development started in 2019. It was one of the most anticipated games of the past year, and it reached over 1 million units sold within its first week.

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6 Things Persona 6 Could Learn From Persona 3 Reload

While Atlus' Persona 6 will be likely influenced by Persona 5, the game should also take inspiration from Persona 3 Reload.

How Persona 3 Reload Improves on the Original Persona 3

Overhauled Graphics

Persona 3 Reload looks exactly like a current-generation game with a mix of highly stylized 2D and 3D graphics. Its frame rate and resolution were upgraded to 60 FPS and 4K, respectively, which makes it a feast for the eyes on modern platforms like PS5 and PC. Persona franchise character designer, Shigenori Sojejima, also returned to a supervisory role. Under his and Azusa Shimada’s direction, the following changes were made to how the game was presented:

  • Character Designs and Sprites: These were all modernized and look like they’re modeled similarly to Persona 5’s character designs. The map models were also improved to make their proportions and designs look more realistic, compared to the original. Party members can now wear customized equipment, too.
  • Combat Animations: Each party member now has a unique victory pose and Finishing Touch, which has become a staple in modern Persona games. A Finishing Touch is an animated close-up portrait of one of the party members after an All-out Attack.
  • UI and Map Updates: One of the most impressive updates in Persona 3 Reload is its UI. The menu shows a 2D graphic of the protagonist submerged in water, which references the game’s plot and setting. The game’s UI now has an objectives bar and a mini-map. The developers also added more NPCs to make use of modern hardware.

Massive Gameplay Changes and Additions to Persona 3

The developers integrated the best combat and social sim improvements of pre-existing Persona games into this title. These include new skills and a variation on a Persona 5 combat mechanic.

  • Link Episodes: This is a new mechanic that provides a deeper exploration of each party member’s story by spending time with them. Persona 3 Reload's Link Episodes are time-limited and provide big rewards, like special fusion recipes and stat increases.
  • More Ways to Boost Social Stats: The protagonist can do various activities, like using computers, cooking with friends, and studying with classmates to boost their social stats.
  • Tartarus Upgraded: Tartarus is now easier to navigate with dashing. The developers also added locked treasure boxes, bigger and meaner rare shadows, and breakable objects. Monad Doors and Passages were also changed to provide more challenging encounters in exchange for better rewards. Fatigue has also been removed, so players can explore Tartarus for as long as they want, as long as their party members are healthy.
  • Combat Improvements: The game features new skills like Eiha and Kouha and updated the properties of some abilities for balance. Persona 3 Reload’s new Theurgy system lets players unleash a powerful attack using their Personas. This is powered by a gauge that can be filled through unique character-specific actions. There’s also Shift, which is a modified version of Baton Pass, letting players pass a turn to another party member during their One More turn.