Summary
Thanks to its comparatively short campaign when stacked up against its sequels, many players have now rolled credits onPersona 3 Reload. Hot on the heels of its release are recent rumors that Atlus is already planning similar remakes ofPersona 2andPersona 4done in the style ofPersona 5, makingPersona 3 Reloada template of sorts for a new series release strategy not all that different fromResident Evil’s. With this remake now on the market, there’s still the question of howPersona 5andPersona 3 Reloadwill influence the eventualPersona 6.
Not much is known aboutPersona 6at this point except for the fact that it’s currently in development and will see release sometime beyond 2025. Atlus already has a stacked release calendar for 2024 betweenPersona 3 Reload,Unicorn Overlord,andMetaphor Re:Fantazio, but that by no means is an indication that an official reveal ofPersona 6is off the table later on in the year. In terms of howPersona 3 Reload’s updates and quality of life changesshould influence the development ofPersona 6, the snappy and responsive combat takes center stage as something that future games need to emulate.
In addition to its complete visual overhaul bringing it more in line with the fantastic style and art direction ofPersona 5,Persona 3 Reload’s new battle mechanics benefit from the additions that the latestPersonabrought to the series back in 2017. This includes things like One Mores, All-Out Attacks, and the Baton Pass, returning inP3 Reloadas the Shift mechanic.
For all of the improvementsPersona 5made to the series' combat, it was hard to escape the feeling that characters were extremely underpowered in the early hours. Even battles against weaker Shadows initially felt like a battle of attrition, withJoker and his fellow Phantom Thievesbarely scraping out a victory.Persona 3 Reloadcorrects this problem by rebalancing character damage output to make the early game battles much quicker and more satisfying.
Normal attacks inReloaddeal significantly more damage, and exploiting enemies' elemental weaknesses results in one-hit KOs quite often. Perhaps best of all is that the increases to damage output are still balanced properly to make the rank-and-file enemies rife for grinding, while stronger Shadows still maintain a fair challenge. Futureentries in thePersonaseriesshould replicate this balance between enemy defense and character damage output to make the early hours feel like less of a struggle and help players develop a sense of power scaling as they level up their party.
Persona 3Reloadalso has a few tricks of its own, includingthe brand-new Theurgy system. Similar to a Limit Break from theFinal Fantasyseries, players can execute certain actions in battle that build towards filling a Theurgy gauge. Once full, the character’s Persona can use extremely powerful attacks capable of turning the tide of battle. These range from helpful defensive buffs for the whole party to devastating elemental attacks that open enemies up for an All-Out Attack.
Against the standard Shadow enemies, Theurgy can end up being overkill, but it is an absolutely essential feature for the game’s more challenging battles. After the system’s introduction inPersona 3 Reload,Persona 6’s combatwould feel incomplete without Theurgy or a similar mechanic.Reloadis more than a reimagining of a fan-favorite usingPersona 5’s art style; it’s a reminder of how the series can boldly move forward while pulling the best aspects of its past into play.
Persona 3 Reload
WHERE TO PLAY
Step into the shoes of a transfer student thrust into an unexpected fate when entering the hour “hidden” between one day and the next. Awaken an incredible power and chase the mysteries of the Dark Hour, fight for your friends, and leave a mark on their memories forever.Persona 3 Reload is a captivating reimagining of the genre-defining RPG, reborn for the modern era.Experience the pivotal game of the Persona series faithfully remade with cutting-edge graphics, modernized quality-of-life features, and signature stylish UI. Fully immerse yourself in an emotional, gripping journey with new scenes, character interactions, and additional voiceover. Choose how to meaningfully spend each day through various activities from exploring the Port Island to forging genuine bonds with beloved characters. Build and command your optimal team to take down otherworldly Shadows and climb closer to the truth.
