18-Year Leap: Comparing Persona 3 Reload to the PS2 Original

Persona 3 Original

I remember being super stoked when Persona 3 Reload was announced and I watched that first trailer. This is remarkable considering I had only a couple of months earlier completed a playthrough of Persona 3 FES with some mods. The third installment in the Persona series is unique in that it has had four different releases, each with more content than the last. We have Persona 3 (2006), Persona 3 FES (2009), Persona 3 Portable (2011), and finally Persona 3 Reload (2024). While Reload does not include the female protagonist option featured in Persona 3 Portable, it is still, by sheer volume of features, polish, and modernization, the definitive edition of Persona 3. For fans of the female protagonist, there are ambitious mods that put her back in the driver’s seat, so mostly everyone can enjoy the game in their preferred way. Having freshly completed Reload’s base game and started the DLC quest, Episode Aigis, I feel qualified to run through what’s different this time around.

Fresh Features

In the original games, the social link events were not voice-acted, which is easy to forget since the main cast and social links are fully voiced in Persona 4 and Persona 5. However, some of the less memorable social links in FES feel much more alive and engaging in Reload, with every character brimming with personality. This made saying goodbye to everyone at the end of the story, one by one, all the more tearful. These changes enhance the immersion and emotional depth of Persona 3 Reload, making it feel like a completely fresh experience for both newcomers and fans of the original Persona 3.

Combat Ready

The combat, while similar in the ways that matter, builds in tons of quality-of-life features that were added in Persona 5. Included is Persona 3’s equivalent of the baton pass option upon hitting an enemy with an effective move, a gauge that charges up for devastating Theurgy super moves, and Persona 5’s addition of light and dark moves that deal damage, instead of only using the insta-kill Hama and Mudo abilities. I was hoping Reload would include Psy and Nuclear elements, but since it stayed mostly faithful to the original, expanding Dark and Light into proper, usable elements makes a big difference.

I’ll circle back to this, but the buffs gained by doing evening hangouts really change up the party’s options and make characters relevant throughout the entire title. It’s fun to be able to play around with the full cast. The handy clock option to auto-level party members to the protagonist’s level made using everyone in combat an easy choice. All of these modernizations make Persona 3 Reload a more manageable experience in terms of difficulty. Early in the story, Theurgy attacks can make tense encounters much easier, but they’re so stylish and snazzy that I found myself not caring.

Tartarus 2.0

Persona 3 Reload

By far, the biggest change in what is essentially a faithful remake of the original game is in the dungeon area, the tower called Tartarus. In the first three iterations of Persona 3, each floor was much more sprawling and maze-like. Getting to the stairs was a genuine relief. But let me tell you, the Shadows in Persona 3, FES, Portable, and even Persona 4 were true terrors—super aggressive, able to turn on a dime, and relentless in their pursuit. It took focus and technique to run past the Shadows that stalk each floor of Tartarus, and they could pull your party members into a fight even if you got away!

For players who crave less punishment than a FromSoftware fan, I think the updated Tartarus in Reload is likely a boon. You still can’t be sloppy around the Shadows, but you can run right past them if you're paying attention, and the navigator has lots of new abilities to distract or addle them, making exploration easier. While the floors aren’t as maze-like anymore, this is compensated for by making each block of Tartarus more unique and introducing fresh gameplay elements like chasing down the Greedy Shadow. Overall, Persona 3 Reload’s Tartarus is an improvement that more players will enjoy, but the original titles’ version of Tartarus is still worth revisiting for those seeking a challenge.

They Only Come Out At Night

In the original Persona 3, nighttime activities were limited. After maxing your social stats, there wasn’t much to do, aside from a few specific social links. Reload addresses this by introducing non-social link hangouts with your party members. It sounds gimmicky, but watching DVDs, cooking, and gardening with the main cast was surprisingly satisfying and made me feel like these were real friends. These changes bring Persona 3 Reload in line with the more social-focused aspects of Persona 4 and Persona 5, enriching the overall experience.

Anything Missing?

Persona 3 - Original

Persona 3 Reload

So, is there anything negative to say about Persona 3 Reload? With a 9/10 rating from Steam users and over 19,000 reviews, I’d say not much. It’s worth remembering, though, that this is still an 18-year-old game given a fresh coat of paint and brought up to modern standards with new features. Persona 3 was the first game in the series to use the calendar system and introduce social links, which became staples of the franchise. But being the first attempt, it skips a few beats that get ironed out in later titles like Persona 5 Royal.

In the original editions of Persona 3, there were only two nighttime social links, and after maxing your stats, there wasn’t much else to do at night. While Reload compensates with party member hangouts, there are still a few social links that could have been moved to the night. Most of the social links are well-developed and even heart-wrenching, but a couple of the earlier ones feel goofy or unimportant. The only one that could have been omitted is Tomochika, whose entire arc revolves around wanting to date a teacher. His story feels out of place and unimportant in the grand narrative.

Conclusion

Recommended

These minor critiques don’t detract from the overall experience. Persona 3 Reload can feel slow in the first half as it sets up the pieces for the story’s explosive final act, but once things start moving, it’s a wild ride. I definitely recommend Reload for anyone who enjoys a good RPG, and I wouldn’t rule out playing the older versions for the exclusive content and additional challenge. I logged close to 100 hours on Persona 3 FES, and I’m currently sitting at 150 hours in Persona 3 Reload, with Episode Aigis still ahead of me.

What more do I need to say than this: Persona 3 is a wonderful story and experience that I, without hesitation, played twice within just a few months. Anyone who enjoys a compelling RPG will likely have a similar experience.