A remake ofPersona 3could do for it whatFinal Fantasy 7 Remakehas done for Square Enix’s game. AlthoughPersona 3may not be quite as famous as the legendaryFinal Fantasytitle, it helped thePersonagames get a foothold in the west all the same. With the remakes ofFinal Fantasy 7putting it back into the spotlight,Persona 3could benefit from a remake in a similar vein. In particular, there are a few aspects of the original game that could be tweaked in a remake, potentially to great effect.
One part of what makes theplot ofFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeso interesting is the distinct changes made to the original game’s story. The remadeFF7diverges at a few key moments that make it not just a remake of the game, but an alternate retelling. Because the plot developed differently, the remake was able to explore some characters and ideas that were not able to get much attention in the original, with the expanded roles of Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie being a major example.Persona 3likewise has a few characters and concepts that could benefit from a retelling in a remake.
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A Persona 3 Remake Can Revise Its Story To Fix Some Missed Opportunities
First in line for potential changes comes in the form ofone ofPersona 3’s party members, Shinjiro Aragaki. Shinjiro is an ally of the player, but they only have him available for approximately a month in the middle of the game before he gets killed off. WhilePersona 3 Portablemade it possible for him to survive by playing as the female protagonist and maxing out his Social Link, he only comes back at the very end of the game. A remake could substantially alter the story by keeping Shinjiro from being put out of commission in the first place, giving him more time to contribute.
Ironically, the group that caused Shinjiro’s death, Strega, is another example ofPersona 3’s untapped potential. While they have a sense of menace in the original game, Strega accomplished very little story-wise aside from how their existence ties into the backstories of certain SEES members. Unfortunately, one of their biggest claims to fame is having some of the game’s easiest fights. A remake could make Strega much more active and threatening to the player. In addition, the love story between Junpei and Strega’s Chidori could be expanded in a remake as well, potentially giving players a powerful new ally in the late game.
One more character that could see more relevance is Shuji Ikutsuki. Originally seen as a goofy mentor to SEES despite lacking aSocial Link inPersona 3, Ikutsuki reveals his true intentions in the late game – to cause the end of the world – and betrays the team, nearly killing them. However, he dies almost immediately after his villainy is revealed, leaving little time to develop his villainous role. While Ikutsuki’s villainy was a shocking and effective twist, it’s disappointing that it was little more than a twist. A remake could increase Ikutsuki’s villainous role, turning him into a major threat and even potentially a boss fight worthy of such an evil figure.
Persona 3may have gotten a new port recently, but a full remake could provide the game with a few twists and turns likeFinal Fantasy 7 Remake. Therumors of aPersona 3remakeare still ongoing, so there is hope that such an idea could come to pass. There are several areas of the original game that did present something interesting, but ended up not being explored as deeply as they could have been. Changing the game with a move similar to theFinal Fantasy 7remakes could be the best move forPersona 3.
Persona 3is available now for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS2, PS4, PSP, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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