Persona 3 Reloadis the acclaimed remake ofPersona 3. Although remasters are commonplace in Atlus' strategy of making and releasing games, remakes are an entirely different beast. ThoughPersona 3 Reloadwas released to critical and commercial success, it was missing one critical piece of the puzzle: the epilogue chapter known as The Answer, which first originated inPersona 3 FES.Personahas become more and more synonymous with flashy presentation and technical combat ever since the release ofPersona 5. However, the storytelling ofPersonais what defines the series. This has been the case since the very first entry, and it is a trend that should continue inPersona 3 Reload’s DLC, Episode Aigis: The Answer.
Before the global release ofPersona 5in 2017, thePersonaseries wasn’t exactly a household name. The series was fairly niche for a long time, descending from its even moreniche mother series,Shin Megami Tensei. However,Persona 5owes much of its success toPersona 3, the entry which many consider the beginning of modernPersona.Persona 3was a major innovator for the series, especially for setting the series' standard for groundbreaking narratives. However, the game’s original ending was one that left players with a lot of questions, leading Atlus to releasePersona 3 FESalong with its epilogue, The Answer.
Atlus announcedPersona 3 Reloadalong with the questionable decision to not include The Answer. Even thoughPersona 3 Reloadbrought satisfying gameplay, and some of the smoothest quality of life the franchise had ever seen, its narrative was left on the same cliffhanger as the original. For a moment, it seemed likePersona 3 Reloadmay not provide the definitive experience forPersona 3, due to leaving its own narrative unfinished. This concern was quelled when Atlus announced thatPersona 3 Reloadwould be receiving its own version of The Answerin the form of DLC.
Though The Answer is infamous for its tough boss fights, its real purpose is to conclude the narrative ofPersona 3.Persona 3: Reloadalready did everything possible to smooth out the mechanics of the original, thanks to a mixed bag ofFESandPortable, while even taking cues from newer and morepolished games likePersona 5 Royal. There is no reason to continue focusing on gameplay features or tweaks when it comes time to release The Answer. Instead, Atlus should do everything necessary to ensure the narrative resonates.
After all, The Answer has a lot on its plate. ThoughPersona 3 Reloadhad a satisfying ending in its own right, it leaves both the players and the main characters needing a lot of closure. ThoughPersona 3’s main theme centers around accepting mortality, The Answer focuses on how to pick up the pieces when a loved one has passed on. Developing this theme takes a lot of work, and deserves priority over additional gameplay features.Aigis' story is still unfinished inPersona 3 Reload, andReload’sDLC could finish it by prioritizing her narrative over additional bells and whistles.
Though the original version of The Answer requires a lot of dungeon-crawling and grinding,Persona 3 Reloadremoves a lot of the painful grindingthat was so synonymous with even later versions ofPersona 3likePersona 3 FESandPortable. This comes with the exciting promise that Episode Aigis: The Answer could further the original’s purpose of concluding the main narrative. Though Atlus may have the temptation to include a litany of new game modes and mechanics, it could instead prioritize other narrative tools.
More cutscenes would certainly be welcome thanks toPersona 3 Reload’s spotless presentation and high production value. Though it’s unlikely,extra Social Link style contentwould go a long way in providing clarity to certain character arcs. Yukari Takeba’s outlook drew a lot of discussion in the original version of The Answer, and it would be more than welcome to receive extra scenes that allow players to grapple with the depth of what she says.
Despite being essential to the narrative ofPersona 3 FES, its version of The Answer is infamous for relying heavily on grinding and boss fights. However,Persona 3 Reloadwould not be complete without its own version of The Answer. If handled correctly, Episode Aigis: The Answer will provide an opportunity to smoothly resolvePersona 3 Reload’s incredible story.
Persona 3 Reload
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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.
