Unlocking the Power Play: Persona 3 Reload's Game-Changing Addition

Persona 3 Reload aims to revitalize the classic JRPG, blending modern visual and gameplay enhancements. While drawing inspiration from the successful Persona 5, Atlus assures fans that this remake will remain true to the original's essence. However, there is curiosity surrounding the extent to which Persona 3 Reload will adopt gameplay elements from more recent Persona titles, such as the acclaimed Baton Pass mechanic featured in Persona 5.

The original Persona 3 was criticized for its outdated combat system, which restricted players from directly controlling their party members in battles. Although Persona 3 Portable addressed this issue, it also removed certain features from the original game. With Persona 3 Reload, Atlus is determined to address these flaws by refining the combat system and expanding on mechanics like the Social Link system. This raises questions about how far Atlus is willing to go in modernizing Persona 3 Reload without sacrificing its faithfulness to the original, including the integration of the Baton Pass mechanic.

Persona 3 Reload Should Include P5's Baton Pass Mechanic

The Baton Pass mechanic was introduced in Persona 5 as an extension of the series' One More mechanic. It allowed players to gain an additional chance to attack when downing enemies by hitting their weakness. By reaching the appropriate Confidant rank, players could unlock the Baton Pass mechanic for an ally. This allowed them to pass their follow-up One More attack to the ally, who could then attack instead. The introduction of Baton Pass created a natural progression for the classic Persona combat loop. It enabled players to strategically pass follow-up attacks to allies who could target the enemy's weakness, resulting in optimal damage output.

Considering how seamlessly the Baton Pass mechanic fits into Persona's gameplay, it would be a shame for Persona 3 Reload to regress to a less engaging gameplay loop. The presence of Baton Pass in Persona 5 and its spin-offs, as well as Persona Q2, establishes it as a valuable addition. Therefore, Persona 3 Reload should set the precedent for Baton Pass to become a staple mechanic in the mainline series going forward. Since the game is already updating the combat of the original to align with its sequels, incorporating a system like Baton Pass wouldn't be too much of a stretch. This would be in line with the game's commitment to being a faithful remake.

Persona 3 Reload Should Stay True to the Original

While Persona 5 introduces an interesting twist with its Baton Pass system, there is value in the challenge presented by the more traditional battle style of previous entries in the series. Persona 3, without the Baton Pass ability, requires players to carefully select attacks without relying on their allies for support. Additionally, party composition becomes crucial as players will need a variety of damage types to exploit enemy weaknesses as they progress through Tartarus.

The dedication to faithfully recreating the original Persona 3 is evident in Persona 3 Reload. This is evident through the absence of content from later editions such as Persona 3 FES and Persona 3 Portable. Fans of the original game who enjoy its challenging combat should have the opportunity to experience it in its true form with Persona 3 Reload. While the game should make minimal changes to the combat system to maintain this philosophy, improvements in other areas, such as the game's presentation, are welcome and necessary to bring it up to modern standards.

Persona 3 Reload will release in 2024 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.