If the goal of Persona 3 Reload is to modernize a classic JRPG from the PlayStation 2 era for a new generation of players, then it is undeniably a success. While there may be some legitimate disappointment over the lack of content from Persona 3 FES and Portable, what is here is more than enough to cement Reload’s status as a solid remake that delivers the now definitive version of Persona 3.
Persona 3 Reload is by far the best game in the franchise. With plenty
of new content, significant visual and performance improvements,
fine-tuned adjustments in all gameplay systems, and a captivating story,
it feels fresh on today's consoles. Addictive and stylish, Atlus's JRPG
is more than just a well-crafted remake, it's one of the greatest games
of the decade.
Revisiting a classic is an exciting proposition, yet there are always concerns about respecting the original. Persona 3 Reload doesn’t quite address all the shortcomings of its previous renditions, nor does it include all the extras added over the years. However, it’s another incredible take that stands proudly alongside the other stellar versions of the game. With all of its new additions and features, especially the updated visuals, rewind function, and new battle mechanics, Reload is the best way to experience Persona 3.
A great remake that updates the Atlus classic to modern times with a new and stylish audiovisual section and with a multitude of interesting novelties and improvements. It is not the definitive version of this wonderful RPG, but it is the best and most enjoyable one, with an unforgettable story and characters, although the “dungeon crawling” in the Tartarus tower may not connect equally well with everyone.
As with all Persona games, Persona 3 Reload takes its time, both with its 80 hour story and its slow progression throughout the ingame months. If that's your thing, then there's an amazing game here with an interesting story, fun characters and outstanding music. The combat doesn't always hold up, but it mostly does and it's fun when it works.
If you’re already a Persona fan, there’ll probably be enough sheer Persona-ness for you to forgive all the shameless grinding and recycling. For curious newcomers, a lot will depend on whether or not the look and sound of the game push your buttons. If it doesn’t, steer clear, as I definitely wouldn’t recommend it as a gameplay experience. And if it does, you might enjoy it, but the more refined Persona 5 would still be a better entry point to the series.
This is essentially the perfect remake. It preserves and spruces up the original without cutting stuff out. It also adds elements that elevate the story, characters and gameplay. The writers clearly understand the heart of this great cast. This game brought me to tears several times, it is peak storytelling.
Most of the game is voiced, and that raises a lot of the social links up another level. Most I've talked to about this game found newfound appreciation for a social link they didn't think much of in the original.
This game does its best to incorporate elements of every version of Persona 3. Of course with the caveat of the FeMC. But this is certainly the most complete version of the core story of P3. The social events with the male characters serve as pseudo social links, and they have the strength of being tied to a certain point in the narrative (whereas links are standalone, for the most part).
The game isn't as difficult as the original, but if players seek more of a challenge, they can put constraints on themselves to make it more so. Whether or not to use all the mechanics offered to you is the player's choice. They can choose how they want to play.
The soundtrack is incredible. The old songs sound great, and even if Mass Destruction isn't as good, it's still good. The new tracks are absolutely perfect.
Overall, I'm very happy this game exists and it delivers the core Persona 3 experience so effectively.
This is a good game, but really did not hook me like 4 and 5 did. The story writing was especially disappointing to me, and really pales in comparison to how fleshed out 4 and 5 was. Maybe that's what people like about it? The villains all seemed like idiots except for the main one. Tartarus was kinda lame, and the social links were laughably bad half the time. What kept me playing was the combat, persona fusion, and general gameplay loop that I love about persona games. Overall I was pretty disappointed, I suppose because of how highly praised P3 is.
Love the persona series. I will say though I am very disapointed at the removal of multiple features. Atlus has this habit of reselling the same game and removing important features; in this case certain social links, the FemC, and also the answer. We may or may not get these things as dlc but overall its a business model I can no longer support. It leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. Newer fans may enjoy this one if they have yet to experience it. The same might not be true for veterans who have played the originals or even p3p.
This game is a huge steaming pile of garbage. The greedy developers are charging $70 for an indie quality mobile game. The graphics are a joke. This whole "art style" stuff is just an excuse for developers to be cheap and lazy. When I pay $70, I expect top-notch AAA quality. The physics are trash. The animations are laughable. The soundtrack is horrible. The "triple brown meow" song is cringeworthy. The songs are even worse when you engage in battle. The "Meh meh meh meh" and "beh beh baby baby beh" songs are next level cringe, it sounds like it was recorded by a bunch of goats/sheep using autotune. The dialogue is cringeworthy. You cannot enter buildings or rooms in real-time. It is the same garbage as GTA San Andreas where the protagonist opens a door and the screen fades to black. And just like San Andreas, the shop interiors are somehow magically bigger than the strip mall itself. I remember when so many people criticized Life is Strange for its terrible lip-syncing, but for some reason people are quiet about this game's terrible lip-syncing despite the fact that this game does it worse with the price being nearly triple that of LiS. ● Judging by what I have seen online and the massive praise for Persona 5, I believe this game is an internet darling. Are you freaking kidding me? How is it games like Saints Row, GTA Trilogy remaster and Starfield get roasted for their quality while the Persona series gets a pass, despite these games being full-priced? Whether you like this game or not, there's no denying the game's quality is on par with shovelware games. Case in point, take a look at the non-character NPCs, they don't even have a freaking face. It's the same garbage as Persona 5. To make matters worse, the faceless NPCs look worse than the ones in the GTA 6 pre-alpha leaks. That is embarrassing. Not even EA or COD devs are willing to sell you a game in its pre-alpha state for $70. It only gets worse from here, these NPCs walk in one direction and magically disappear. When I was talking to characters, those faceless NPCs were magically walking through me rather than walking around me. The developers were too cheap and lazy for AI pathfinding. These cheapskates refused to have every line voice acted and the protagonist is mute. ● There is no multiplayer. So once you beat the story, there is literally not a reason to play this game again. Charging $70 for a game with no replay value is a cash grab. The story is trash. The gameplay is boring and repetitive. When I pay $70, I expect a combat system with depth and detail. All the developers did in this game is put pretty lights during every move, to give players the illusion that the game is fun. None of that is fun for me. This game uses the laziest form of combat imaginable, and that's turn-based combat. Sometimes when I attack a short enemy with the sword, the protagonist just brandishes the sword against the air instead, and somehow that magically damages the enemies. It's pathetic that even with laziest combat system, they are still too lazy to make the moves compatible with short enemies. The textures in this game make me want to puke. I got this for $40 but it's still too expensive at that price. I don't recommend this game at all, unless you want to support laziness.
SummaryYour story begins again. Memento Mori.
Awaken the depths of your heart in Persona 3 Reload, the genre-defining RPG now reborn for modern consoles.