Summary
Persona 3 Reloadundid one of the mistakes thatPersona 5made, and that could be an omen forPersona 6following in its footsteps in that regard.Persona 3 Reloadlargely sticks to the originalPersona 3story-wise, but mechanically, it benefits from years of advancement. WhilePersona 3 Reloadis a remake, it still has plenty to offer, both as a game and in terms of the series' future. This includes a few areas wherePersona 5actually dropped the ball. Hopefully,Persona 6will be able to take cues fromPersona 3 Reload’s smarter decisions.
As part of the currenttrend of video game remakes,Persona 3 Reloaddoes an admirable job of being an upgrade over the original. Many of the more frustrating aspects ofPersona 3, such as the fatigue mechanic, have either been reworked or removed, and the infamous AI-controlled party members are now an option rather than a necessity.Persona 3 Reloadeven picked up a few things fromPersona 5, most notably the Baton Pass mechanic, reworked as Shift. Overall, it did a good job of bringing the game to the modern era, and gives hope for other olderPersonatitles to do the same.
One detail worth noting is theoutfits available inPersona 3 Reload. In a feature carried over from the original game, every member of the party has alternate outfits that can be equipped, giving them a different style in Tartarus and in battle. These outfits are primarily unlocked either through finding chests in Tartarus, or completing certain requests. While the outfits are just a cosmetic reward, they add a little more variety to the player’s dungeon-crawling adventures. SincePersona 3 Reloadembraced these alternate outfits again, there’s a decent chance that they could return forPersona 6’s party members.
Persona 5’s Only Extra Outfits Were DLC
Persona 5did not have a similar approach to alternate outfits. Instead,Persona 5’s downloadable contentwas the only source of alternate outfits in the game. Granted, some of the DLC packs were free, andPersona 5 Royalmade the original game’s DLC free to players of the newer version. However, that still meant there were no outfits that could be unlocked through gameplay. DLC is a frequent source of discussion and controversy for several reasons, especially paid DLC. For all ofPersona 5’s additional outfits to be DLC-only is a disappointment compared to whatPersona 3 Reloadhas to offer.
Persona 3 Reloadalso has some DLC outfit packs, but they exist in addition to the in-game unlockable outfits.
Persona 3’s Method Of Unlocking New Outfits Is One Worth Bringing Back
There is a major advantage to in-game rewards compared to DLC, and it stands as a point wherePersona 3 ReloadoutshonePersona 5. When a player can earn these extra rewards in-game, there’s a sense of accomplishment that comes with them. This is doubly true since the rewards in question are purely cosmetic. In general, it’s more satisfying to earn something in-game than it is to pay for it. There’s also the fact that some players will not want to purchase DLC, or are unable to. In general, in-game rewards are not only more exciting, but they’re more accessible as well.
The return of unlockable outfits inPersona 3 Reloadwas a welcome development, and hopefully an omen for the future. It’s a great lesson forPersona 6to learn fromPersona 3 Reload, and the feature would be well worth reviving again. Additional outfits are a lot of fun, andPersona 6would have a whole franchise full of ideas to pull from if it includes some of its own. If so, it would be better off following the example ofPersona 3 Reloadin incorporating them.
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.
