Persona 5 Reload Review (PC)

It's understandable that Persona fans are skeptical about Persona 3 Reload. The original game came out in 2007, and since then we've had Persona 3 FES (featuring The Answer) and Persona 3 Portable. So the idea of ​​playing Persona 3 Again after all these years, it can feel like we're being asked to retread the same material, the same way Bethesda is asking us to buy Skyrim all over again. That said, Persona 3 is beloved enough that P3R could have been a graphical remaster without too many complaints. So the fact that Atlus went to the trouble of making numerous gameplay changes while also adding a host of quality of life improvements here is a minor miracle.

Adding bullets to the chamber (Evoker)

Now, I could sit here and type out all the changes P3R made from the original game, but that list already exists and it's pretty long. The most visible updates are the more refined graphics and aesthetics that bring the game more in line with Persona 5. Each character comes with a more detailed and slimmer model, while the game's menus are better animated and less static. The corridors of Gekkoukan High School and Tartarus have a broader perspective, with Tartarus having undergone a complete design overhaul from Arqa and beyond.

This isn't the only way P3R builds on the more modern Persona 5 system. Each SEES member can receive direct orders and you can now switch between characters like Baton Passes. Damaging Light and Dark spells have been added, as well as new Theurgy skills that act as limit breakers for each party member. Fuuka has been redesigned with incredible abilities that she can also unleash during battle.

A reconstructed tower

Coupled with the aesthetic changes and remixed soundtrack, exploring Tartarus feels less like a grindfest. First of all, the fatigue mechanic has thankfully been completely removed. Shuffle Time is no longer random, allowing you to choose the card you want, which includes new Major Arcana cards for special benefits that last until the end of the day. Twilight Shards, which you can collect in town, dungeons, and at Elizabeth's request, can be used to open locked chests throughout Tartarus. You can also spend seven shards to restore your party's HP and SP at the lobby clock.

Deeper into Tartarus, you can unlock new Monad Gates that lead to dungeons with optional bosses and special rewards. If you're willing to spend the Twilight Shards, you can enter a Clock Room where two other SEES members can automatically reach your protagonist's level. Overall, this makes grinding less complicated, while also making exploration more exciting and random.

For better or worse, Persona 3 Reload doesn't make too many changes to the game's original plot. Persona 3 doesn't have social links with your party members, and Strega still isn't a party compelling villains. Reload can't do much to change these elements without shaking up the story, although it does add several new episodes with your party members that help bring them together. The new English voice cast also does a pretty good job, although I miss Liam O'Brian as Akihiko's voice actor.