Persona 3 Reload isn’t just a re-release or hi-res tune-up of the 2006 turn-based classic Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3. It’s a true remake, with nearly every aspect of the game other than the story changing in subtle or major ways. What feels like thousands of voiceover lines, impressive new persona animations, sharp graphic design and some nifty quality of life features give Persona 3’s solid story a high 2024 shine.
Sixteen years ago, Persona 3 was a landmark release for RPGs. The way it combined a sim-style RPG about high school life with a dungeon crawler including both Pokémon and roguelike elements gave it lots of depth.
Which is also a way to say that Persona 3 Reload is long. Really, really long. Enormously long. You’re playing for a full year, one day at a time. Each day has multiple interactions and decision points. It typically takes more than 130 hours to meander your way through the game. I’ve enjoyed every hour I’ve spent in it.
