Overview
Persona 3 Reload is the full remake of Persona 3, the third entry in the series, originally released in 2006 on PS2. Developed and published by Atlus, it came out in 2024. It is a JRPG that mixes everyday high school life with turn-based dungeon crawling.
Story and world
You play a student who transfers to a new high school and discovers the Dark Hour: a hidden hour, after midnight, during which most people vanish into coffins and monsters, the Shadows, roam the city. Together with other students who can summon their Persona, he joins SEES to fight them and unravel the mystery of Tartarus, a huge tower that appears every night at that hour.
The melancholic atmosphere and the theme of death, at the heart of the game, are as powerful as ever.
Gameplay
Days are split between classes, activities and social links, and nights between exploring Tartarus, floor after floor. This remake brings in the quality-of-life mechanics of the recent Persona games. Tartarus, however, is still repetitive.
Graphics and music
On the music side, it is one of the best soundtracks in the series.
Verdict
Tartarus is still repetitive, but the melancholic atmosphere and the theme of death are as powerful as ever, with one of the best soundtracks in the series.