Summary
More than just a simple one-to-one remake,Persona 3 Reloadmade a number of significant changes to the formula of the 2006 PS2 game it was based on. Though there were some initial concerns prior to its launch that the game wouldn’t amend the flaws of the original, Atlus proved those worries wrong by not only touching upon most ofP3’s faults, but also adding several new features inPersona 3 Reload. The manner in which the Japanese developer overhauled the seminal 2006 JRPG inReloadallowed for a modernized, spruced-up experience that lacked most of the rough edges present in previous iterations of the title.
Out of all themajor new features added inPersona 3 Reload, though, link episodes and dorm hangouts are some of the most notable. The link episodes give players the opportunity to interact with the male SEES members more since they otherwise lack the full-length social links that the female characters have. The dorm hangouts, on the other hand, add some extra slice-of-life interactions between the SEES members, which act as a good way to balance out the often stressful nature of the main story. These two optional activities not only flesh outPersona 3’s cast of characters in meaningful ways, but they also serve as an addendum to the social link system that was already present in the original PS2 game.Reload’s upcoming remake of The Answer expansion, however, could improve upon this even further.
In The Answer, the playable epilogue from 2007’sPersona 3: FES, players were dropped into the Abyss of Time, an enormous labyrinth of dungeons that most of the expansion took place in. One of this area’s defining traits, compared to, say, Tartarus from the base game, was that each level of the dungeon contained a mysterious door that, when entered, sent players back into the past and let them experience key moments from the lives ofthe SEES members. These flashbacks provided a glimpse into certain events that definedPersona 3’s cast of characters and made them into the individuals they are now.
The upcoming remake of The Answer that’s included intheEpisode Aigisexpansion passcould improve the original expansion by building upon these flashback segments in the Abyss of Time. Atlus could provide more depth toPersona 3 Reload’sSEES members by giving players an even greater insight into their past here, whether that be by adding more scenes to their respective flashbacks in the Abyss of Time or by incorporating more social link-esque interactions into The Answer’s gameplay loop.
Atlus Could Adjust the Story-to-Gameplay Ratio in The Answer DLC
If there was one thing The Answer was criticized for back when it first came out in 2007, it was the heavy emphasis it placed on gameplay over plot, as there are large sections in the expansion that don’t contain notable story beats. Instead, said segments task players with fighting wave after wave of challenging enemies and tough-as-nails bosses. Compared to the base game, which is chock-full of dialogue-heavy scenes, the heavy reliance on dungeon crawling in the expansion feels somewhat out of place. This is just one of many thingsPersona 3 Reload’s The Answer DLC could greatly improve on.
Many New Features in The Answer DLC Have Been Teased
Regardless of whether Atlus actually adds more depth to the character beats in The Answer, the developer did tease a number of otherchanges that will be made toEpisode Aigis. The upcoming remake ofFES’s expansion will include, among other things, new socialization events with Metis, new fusion spells for Aigis, and even new music tracks. Atlus also, however, confirmed that it will keep the story of the original expansion largely intact. Hopefully, that doesn’t prohibit more interactions betweenPersona 3 Reload’s cast of characters from being added to The Answer DLC, as well.
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.
