Persona 3 Reload

Persona 3 Reload is a complete remake of the classic 2006 turn-based roleplaying game, developed and published by Atlus. Twelve years after its original release, Atlus has revamped experience into a modern and definitive version, fine-tuning the graphics, gameplay, and presentation for a new generation while remaining faithful to the spirit of the original. This remake brings the dark, emotional story and its cast of memorable characters to life like never before.

Reloading the JRPG gun

The most immediately noticeable upgrade in Persona 3 Reload is the graphics. Environments, character models, cutscenes and animations have all been visually enhanced to match the crisp, vivid style of the more recent Persona 5. With support for 4K resolution and 60 FPS on PC and consoles, Persona 3 has truly never looked or played better. Additionally, the phenomenal soundtrack has been remastered, and the game is fully voice acted, lending even more immersion into its modern-day Tokyo setting.

At its core, Persona 3 Reload retains the addictive, dual-life gameplay loop that made the original a standout RPG. During the day, the player attends high school as a student, building relationships and improving skills. At night, it’s time to explore ever-changing dungeons and engage in turn-based battles against shadows, summoning the mighty personas that represent one’s psyche.

Persona 3 Reload refines this loop with numerous quality-of-life upgrades, while introducing options like directly controlling teammates in combat. The remake packs content from past versions, like The Answer epilogue and Vision Quest mode, while appending some wholly original features, such as the choice between male and female protagonists, new personas and quests. This creates an definitive, content-rich Persona 3 experience.

An Emotive, Unforgettable Story and Cast

As with previous entries, the narrative remains the driving force behind Persona 3. Reload’s enhanced visuals and performances do justice to the game's haunting, twist-laden plot following students balancing school life with saving the world from ominous shadows. Bolstered by full voicing, the characters – from the silent but charismatic protagonist to fan favorites like Mitsuru and Akihiko – are more expressive than ever.

Though playable content was trimmed back from previous extended versions in favor of refinements, the emotional core of Persona 3 still shines through. Players old and new alike will fondly recall Persona 3 Reload’s dramatic, character-driven story for years to come.

Review: 9/10

For long-time Persona fans, Persona 3 Reload is the definitive way to revisit this conference-defining RPG, or to experience it for the very first time. With its stellar visual overhaul, quality-of-life tweaks, and content additions marrying the old and new, Reload hits the perfect balance of staying faithful while still modernizing a stone-cold classic.

Some dated design elements hold it back from absolute perfection, but in the end, newcomers and return visitors alike will find an unparalleled Persona 3 experience and stand tall as one of the greatest modern JRPG releases in recent memory.

Pros:

• Visual overhaul brings environments and characters to life
• Addictive gameplay loop refined and expanded
• Emotive, character-driven story elevated by full voicing
• Definitive version packing series' highlights

Cons:

• Can still feel dated at times despite improvements
• Intimidating length and complexity for newcomers
• Omits some past extended content for refinements