Highlights

  • Persona 3 Reload is updating the classic Shin Megami Tensei spin-off title with gameplay changes from Persona 5, bringing new appreciation to the original.
  • Fans can expect a special challenge battle in Persona 3 Reload that could strengthen connections between the series, even if a proper Persona 5 cameo is unlikely.
  • The inclusion of previous protagonists as optional bosses in Persona 5 Royal suggests that Joker may appear as a challenging boss in Persona 3 Reload.

Set to launch early next month, Persona 3 Reload is updating the classic Shin Megami Tensei spin-off title into a modern era that has seen influence from the series’ more recent success. By taking influence from the gameplay changes found in the popular Persona 5, Atlus seems poised to bring new appreciation to the original through a remake like Persona 3 Reload.

Several features are already set to be adapted into P3R, but bringing one aspect of P5R over in particular has the potential to strengthen the connections between the series. While it’s unknown if there could be a proper Persona 5 cameo in Persona 3 Reload due to discrepancies between the timelines of the two games, there is still one bit of crossover potential in the form of a special challenge battle that would please fans of the franchise if it makes a return.

Persona 3 Reload Expect 2024
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The Persona 3 Protagonist's Challenge Battle in Persona 5 Royal

Makoto Yuki is One of P5R's Most Memorable Encounters

Available as an encounter via DLC, the fan-favorite player character of Persona 3 can be fought in Persona 5 as a special encounter in the Velvet Room. Makoto can offer an exceptionally strong resistance with this trial’s level of 50, but beating him directly is not even the most difficult aspect of this fight. There are rewards offered by meeting certain conditions throughout the battle, mainly defeating “S.E.E.S. Boy” within 20 turns. Considering he brings back some of the most iconic personas from his original game, this boss battle has the potential to be one of the most memorable in the game for players of the greater Persona series.

Full Moon and Persona 4's Foggy Day Battle

In a trend that has established a level of consistent connection between the Soejima-directed Persona titles, Makoto wasn’t the only previous protagonist to appear as an optional boss in P5R. Yu Narukami of Persona 4 is similarly available in his own challenge battle, now dubbed “Investigation Team Boy.” This “Foggy Day” encounter exists opposite Persona 3’s “Full Moon,” leading some fans to theorize what Joker’s battle could be named in Persona 6. With P3R announced and already coming soon instead, however, there’s a good chance that P5 will be able to return the favor with its own guest appearance sooner than expected.

Joker Should Follow as One of Persona 3 Reload's Toughest Bosses

Persona 5's Own Challenge Battle Potential

With the original Persona 3 having marked the beginning of a style that would continue to evolve into the modern series, it makes sense that its upcoming remake seems to be paying homage to the latest mainline game that has also become Atlus’ most successful release. With its P5-inspired updates to a turn-based combat system and presentation in mind already, a challenge battle encounter with Joker may even find itself in the base game of Reload.

Joker Can Outclass Persona's Typical Secret Bosses

It remains to be seen if P5's player character will make it into the next Persona in any form, but it's almost certain that a Velvet Room attendant will appear as a challenge battle for the late game. In the case of P3, it's likely to be Elizabeth who will serve a similar role as an extremely powerful hidden boss as she once did alongside her male counterpart, Theodore. With the success of Persona 5 and its own DLC cameos behind Atlus now, however, there's still a decent chance that the studio will cash in on Joker's popularity and also feature him as the "Ultimate Opponent" of Persona 3 Reload's Tartarus.