Persona 3 Reload Shows So Much Promise Despite Missing Features | Push Square

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Persona 3 remains a groundbreaking RPG but we were slightly worried if Persona 3 Reload would live up to its legacy. It's been 16 years since the original game first appeared, introducing life simulation mechanics and a considerably darker storyline than its successors. As the game that reshaped Atlus' popular series, expectations are unsurprisingly high for this full-fledged remake and after going hands-on, we've come away impressed.

Playing a 30-minute demo at Gamescom 2023, Atlus split this into two segments. 'New Moon' showcased the remade Tartarus and its procedurally generated levels from floors 2-6. That includes the first mini-boss battle and at that stage, only Yukari and Junpei are available as active teammates. There's also 'Full Moon', which pits you against Persona 3's first major boss in the monorail segment.

If you never played Persona 3, Tartarus is comparable to Persona 5's Mementos, a hefty dungeon that gradually unlocks upon advancing through the main story. Exploration remains familiar and Reload faithfully recreates this warped version of Gekoukkan High — perhaps a little too closely. Mini-boss floor aside, each area only featured several enemies and the odd treasure chest, lacking that same variety Mementos holds. That said, we might actually prefer the shorter length given how vast the original Tartarus was.

Unlike the original game, you also won't get tired when exploring or potentially become sick the next day, as Atlus previously confirmed the Condition system's removal. This means characters who've been battling for ages won't see stat reductions like decreased accuracy and defence, removing the regular need to swap out characters upon ascending Tartarus. It's a welcome change that simplifies