Summary
Whether returning to it in its latest incarnation or experiencing the title for the first time,Persona 3 Reload’s release is a cause for celebration among RPG fans. Often regarded as the best title in the series,Persona 3’s new visual uplift and quality of life changes to bring it more in line with thePersonaseries' uber-successfulPersona 5have breathed new life into an all-time classic. As the fourth remake of the first game in the series to introduce its now trademark Social Links systems and slice-of-life gameplay interspersed with RPG dungeon-crawling,Persona 3 Reloadalso happens to have maybe the best opening hours of any game in the franchise.
Due to their incredibly complex and metaphorically rich narratives, thePersonagames spend plenty of time introducing their central casts and conflicts at each game’s outset, familiarizing players with their protagonists and world and creating genuine stakes for both. While this kind of world-building and setup is crucial for story-driven RPGs,thePersonaseriestends to really take its time with this initial introductory section before players actually dive into the act of recruiting Personas and slaying Shadows. Compared to most otherPersonagames,Persona 3 Reload’s opening hours are practically a rollercoaster that drops players right into the action.
The originalPersona 3was the first game in the series to introduce the Calendar system andSocial Linksthat reward players for managing their time properly and prioritizing building bonds with their party members. Consequently, time in the modernPersonagames can conveniently be measured using calendar days, withPersona 3establishing a distinct division between daytime at school, after-school, and evening sections. Later games in the series would greatly expand the number of different time windows in each day, but the Calendar system remains the foundation of the all-important aspect of time management in thePersonaseries.
Although it may be due to the game being the initial use case for these new systems,Persona 3 Reloadwastes absolutely no time in introducing the main character, having them attend school and make friends, and then being thrust directly into danger and forced to awaken their Persona. EvenPersona 3 Reload’s opening prologue and exposition during the first two calendar days are relatively short and to the point, resulting in an eventful stretch of time before the hero uses an Evoker, kicking off the first fight against a Shadow and allowing the player to come to grips withPersona 3 Reload’s turn-based battle system.
Even thoughPersona 5has its hero entering Kamoshida’s palace within two calendar days, the game’s ‘in media res’ framing device for its narrative necessitates lots of character and world-building before it makes sense to see how Joker awakens his Persona and begins recruitingthe Phantom Thieves. It also doesn’t help thatPersona 5’s extra divisions of time within a day somewhat elongate the actual in-game time spent in those first two calendar days.
Persona 4has the longest introductory section of any modern title in the series, taking a full four calendar days of character introductions and story setting before the main character enters TV World and hears the iconic “I Am Thou…Thou Art I” line indicating the awakening of a Persona.
Comparatively,Persona 3 Reload’s opening section seems to go by in a blur, though with no less effective character- and world-building. As a result of its combination of placing an emphasis on story, acclimating players to a variety of new systems, and then getting right into the action andenteringPersona 3’s Tartarus,Persona 3 Reload’s opening represents what is maybe the best introductory prologue in the series. Story and combat are the twin halves of any great RPG, andReload’s ability to succinctly introduce both to the player is a great model for the series' future.
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.
