The Persona series started in 1996 on the PS1. However, Persona 3 is the game that transformed the series into what it is known as today. For example, it added Social Links, which was a way for players to expand their friendships with NPCs.

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The original project debuted in 2006 in Japan and now over a decade later, Atlus has brought back this monumental entry in the franchise for a full-on remake. Persona 3 Reload has a lot of upgrades beyond the visuals, music, and load times, which are all greatly appreciated. Some of these features are new to the series, while others are borrowed from other entries.

7 Link Episodes

You Can Now Hang Out With Your Party

Fans of the Persona series are probably used to being able to build up their Social Links with party members. That’s how it works in Persona 4 and Persona 5, two of the most popular entries. In the original release of Persona 3, players only had Social Links with non-party members.

That still holds true in Persona 3 Reload, but the remake added a feature called Link Episodes. These work like Social Link quests, except choices don’t matter. They’re just there to allow players the opportunity to get to know their party members better through activities like cooking.

6 Weakening Enemies

New Elements And Shift

One of the coolest battle mechanics of the Persona series revolves around weakening monsters. This concept is not unheard of in other JRPG franchises, but Atlus' series provides a unique spin on things. Hitting a weak spot in the Persona games gives heroes an extra turn.

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The remake added two new elements, light and dark magic, which had appeared in older entries like Persona 5. Also like that game, Persona 3 Reload has a Baton Pass-like feature called Shift. After a hero scores a weakened hit, players can then use Shift to switch to another character and continue the chain.

5 Theurgies

Say Hello To Persona’s Limit Breaks

Another big upgrade to the battle system in Persona 3 Reload is a feature called Theurgies. They unlock once players acquire Fuuka as their navigator in the summertime, and the character has undergone a few big changes in the remake herself, including acquiring her own Theurgy skill. A Theurgy acts like a Limit Break in the Final Fantasy series.

The more actions heroes take, the more their Theurgy meter will rise. It takes a while for players to achieve a maxed-out meter too, so they should only be used in desperate situations like boss battles. Each character is different too; for example, Yukari can raise her meter more if she heals characters.

4 Tartarus Is Slightly Different

No More Fatigue

One of the biggest complaints fans had with the original version of the game was the randomness of Tartarus. Tartarus is the one major dungeon in Persona 3, and it stretches dozens of floors. Each visit to the tower will be a random one and each section looks like the last more or less.

While there still isn’t a huge puzzle-solving element in the remake’s version of Tartarus compared to the Palaces of Persona 5, the visuals do change more between floors. The team at Atlus also upgraded the mysterious Monad sections of Tartarus, which are marked by glowing doors. Perhaps the biggest upgrade, though, is that characters no longer suffer Fatigue after completing a run in Tartarus.

3 Shuffle Time

See What The Prize Is

Persona 5 changed how players acquire Persona for their team, with the process involving negotiation. In Persona 3 and Persona 4, players get cards that could contain Persona during a segment called Shuffle Time. In the original version, cards were facedown to the player after battle.

In Persona 3 Reload, players get to see their Shuffle Time rewards. This change was also implemented in Persona 4, so it’s not a new feature overall in the series. It’s just nice to see the remake have some smaller quality-of-life elements.

2 Twilight Fragments

Unlock Rare Treasure

Twilight Fragments are not only new to Persona 3 Reload, they are new to the series. That said, they operate a lot like the lock picks players can acquire in Persona 5. Twilight Fragments are glorified keys that can open chests and activate certain clocks in Tartarus which will heal the party.,

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Players can find Twilight Fragments on the ground in Tartarus and the real world. Elizabeth will offer them as rewards to players once they raise their Social Link statuses with characters. They're hard to come by, so players would be wise not to waste them, especially on the clocks around the dungeon that require seven Twilight Fragments.

1 Exploration Upgrades

From Saving To Fast Travel

Two big quality-of-life upgrades will help players explore this small fragment of Japan. Fast travel options appeared a bit in the PSP version of the game, but the options are even more prevalent in Persona 3 Reload.

They’re even more convenient than what Persona 5 offered in both the original version and Persona 5 Royal. Players also get the bonus of being able to save anywhere. It’s encouraged for players to take advantage of this feature and the fifteen save slots, especially since there is strangely no autosave feature.

Persona 3 Reload

Platform(s)

PC , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One , PS4 , PS5

Released

February 2, 2024

Developer(s)

P-Studio