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Atlus has struck gold withPersona 3 Reload, reimagining this cult 2000s RPG after thefourth, and especially thefifth, Persona games have skyrocketed the series to a level of popularity that Persona 3 never quite enjoyed.
The lavish presentation and bevy of fresh features make Reload an intriguing return trip for those of us who have experienced Tartarus previously, as well as an ample entry point for newcomers to the seminal RPG. We’ll go over the most common questions about Persona 3 Reload, so that you can get a good idea of what you’re getting yourself into if you grab the game.
What Comes With The Different Versions Of Persona 3 Reload?
It’s virtually a given these days, butthere are multiple ‘tiers’ of Persona 3 Reload for purchase, so to speak. There’s thebase game, which is available both physically and digitally. There are alsoDigital Deluxe, Digital Premium, andAigis Editions.
The Deluxe and Premium offerings are both, as the name implies, restricted to digital storefronts. The Aigis Edition is aluxurious physical edition packagewith several fine extras, including a statue of the titular Aigis character herself.
Both the Digital Premium and Aigis versions include thelaunch day DLC.
Base Edition (Physical or Digital)
PS4 and PS5:$69.99
Xbox One and Xbox Series:$69.99
PS4 and PS5:$79.99
Xbox One and Xbox Series:$79.99
PS4 and PS5:$99.99
Xbox One and Xbox Series:$99.99
PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series:$199.99
Yes (Physical or Digital)
Yes
Pre-ordering any version nets you thePersona 4 Golden BGM DLC. It may be available for separate purchase at some later date - we just don’t know yet!
It is - at least, as of this writing.At launch, Persona 3 Reload will be available at no extra chargeon Xbox Game Pass; it will be playable on Xbox One, Xbox Series S and X, and PC. That said, few third-party games stick around on Game Pass forever.
WhenPersona 3 Portable, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 5 Royalall came to Microsoft’s suite,they were on Game Pass as well,but - again, as of this writing - they’re no longer there. They might return, and similarly, Persona 3 Reload might leave only to come back years later.
What Is - And Isn’t - Persona 3 Reload?
Persona 3 Reload is a from-the-ground-upremake of the original Persona 3, which launched in 2006 for PlayStation 2. The classic Persona 3 was given an enhanced version,Persona 3 FES, which added an epilogue chapter to the game.
This epilogue chapter, a lengthy dungeon-crawler called’The Answer', isnotin Persona 3 Reload.
There’s also a PlayStation Portable version of Persona 3 calledPersona 3 Portable, which you may be familiar with either as someone who played it back in the day or viaits own recent remasterfor various consoles and PC.
Unfortunately, the fan-favorite option to play through the story asa female protagonistremains exclusive to Persona 3 Portable.
If you’re beginning to feel more ‘bummed out’ about Persona 3 Reload than excited, don’t worry;there is plenty of new content in the remake, from theTheurgysystem toincreased chances to bond with teammatesandplenty of quality of life improvements.
Tartarus, the game-wide dungeon sometimes critiqued as somewhat of a slog,receives plenty of improvementswhich make ascending the tower far less tedious.
Should I Play Other Persona Games Before Persona 3 Reload?
You sure can - they’re great games, too! - butyou won’t miss out on any story understanding if you play Persona 3 Reload first. The Persona series is all set in the same universe, but connections are slim, andfew characters pop up in multiple installments.
It’s pretty hard to get your hands on copies ofPersona and the Persona 2 duologythese days, and you may well find certain aspects of them rather dated.Persona 3 introduced many things common in its sequels thataren’tin its predecessors, too, so expect something quite different!
But again, they’re all worth playing. Persona 5 Royal is commonly cited asone of the greatest role-playing games of all time, and Persona 4 Golden has darn near just as many fans.
What Is Theurgy In Persona 3 Reload?
Theurgy isone of several major additionsto Persona 3 via this remake. It’s anew battle mechanicthat can be thought of, to tap into an arguably-overused shorthand, like theLimit Breaks from Final Fantasygames. Each party member has a Theurgy gauge, and once it’s full, they can use a unique attack.
Interestingly,each character’s Theurgy gauge fills in a method which reflects their personality; for instance, Yukari’s gauge fills as she heals her comrades, while Akihiko’s gauge is dependent upon raising his attack.
Theurgy issituationalinsofar as you may keep your gauge maxed-out, holding the attack in reserve forwhen it will be most needed, as withboss fights and powerful Shadows.
Why Won’t My Party Members Give Me Items For Elizabeth’s Quests?
Velvet Room denizenElizabeth will provide the protagonist with myriad side queststhroughout the course of Persona 3 Reload. Various tasks are involved; among the most common of which isitem retrieval. Elizabeth wants to see something, so you fetch it. Easy stuff.
Sometimes,Elizabeth will suggest that a fellow SEES teammate has the itemshe wants. Typically, these quests also featuredeadlines, so it’s possible tolock yourself out of ever finishing them.
Naturally,we need to chat up our party members in the dormfor them, but, and this befuddled us aplenty,you must set these quests as activein order for the character to offer you what Elizabeth has requested.
If the character in question still isn’t giving you the thing you need, check back with them on future evenings and they will.
Which Social Stats Matter The Most In Persona 3 Reload?
If you’ve played Persona 4 and/or Persona 5, you’ll be acquainted with thefive Social Statsand their respective purpose forunlocking contentin the form ofnew Social Links, rare items, and more. And if you’ve previously played Persona 3, you’ll knowthere are only threein this game.
Academics, Charm, and Courageare Persona 3’s trio of Social Stats, and they each havesix ranks.You should dedicate many nighttime actions to ranking up all three,but if we’re forced to choose which one is the most critical, we’d sayAcademics.
A high Academics score means similarlyhigh scores on school exams, which will get you a handful of things you simply can’t acquire elsewhere.
That said,there are Social Link unlocksatRank Two, Rank Four, and Rank Max(Six) for every Social Stat. If you want tobuild relationships with every character(and achieve more during Persona fusions with their respective Arcana), don’t neglectanySocial Stat.
