Why Persona 3 Reload's Iwatodai Dorm Deserves the Ultimate Persona Remake Spotlight

Highlights

Persona 3 Reload is revolutionizing the franchise by delivering a completely reimagined game experience, breathing new life into the title and offering the ultimate gaming immersion.

The Iwatodai Dorm in Persona 3 Reload offers enhanced features that expand on the original system. This additive approach is advantageous as it maintains nostalgia for existing fans while offering an improved experience for newcomers.

For future Persona remakes, it is recommended to adopt Persona 3 Reload's strategy of building upon previous elements rather than making significant changes to the core experience.

Persona 3 Reload is a groundbreaking installment in the beloved franchise. While previous Persona games have received enhanced re-releases, such as Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Royal, Atlus has never before completely remade a game from scratch. Persona 3 is the ideal candidate for this treatment. Unlike the definitive versions of Persona 4 and Persona 5, Persona 3 currently lacks that status. While FES offers additional story content and the PSP re-release features a unique female protagonist with exclusive Social Links, Persona 3 Reload aims to modernize the game and become the ultimate way to experience it, although it won't initially include the extra content.

While Persona 1 and Persona 2 are exceptional games in their own right, they bear little resemblance to recent additions to the franchise. Persona 3, on the other hand, laid the foundation for the modern entries. It introduced social simulation mechanics and brought the combat closer to that of contemporary turn-based RPGs. The blending of social sim mechanics with dungeon-crawling RPG combat has become a defining characteristic of the Persona series. However, in Persona 3, these mechanics were still rudimentary. Only female members of SEES had Social Links, making it harder for players to form attachments to male party members. Fortunately, Persona 3 Reload includes changes that rectify this issue.

Persona 3 Reload is Adding To The Game, Not Revising It

The latest trailer for Persona 3 Reload displayed the Iwatodai Dormitory and showcased various activities that players can engage in while staying there. P3R plans to maintain the original soundtrack but will revamp the dormitory by transforming it into a social hub, not just a base for SEES, but a place to forge friendships. In addition to the original version, players will now have the opportunity to participate in activities with their male classmates, thanks to the introduction of Link Episodes. By incorporating additional activities such as gardening and movie watching within the dormitory, the essence of the original game is respected and enhanced.

This approach is reflected in other changes within Persona 3 Reload. The All-Out Attacks in P3R retain the original's animation where characters dive into a cloud of dust. However, if the attack successfully concludes the battle, it triggers a character-specific victory screen similar to Persona 5. The victory screens in P3R possess a subtlety that mirrors the game's tone, distinguishing it from Persona 5. This attention to detail also extends to the overall user interface and soundtrack of the game, which have been enhanced without undergoing a complete overhaul.

Persona 3 Reload Presents A Great Model For Remakes

Based on what has been shown, Atlus appears to have successfully taken the elements that made Persona 5 popular and seamlessly integrated them into Persona 3's unique aesthetic. This strategy of adding new content without completely replacing existing elements is likely to satisfy both fans of the original game and those who were drawn to Persona 5's stylish presentation. If applied to future remakes in the franchise, especially Persona 4 which shares many similarities, this approach could prove to be highly successful. Adapting Persona 2 may require more creativity due to its structure, but Persona 3 Reload has established a model that would be suitable for most remakes in the industry.

From the trailers released thus far, it is evident that Persona 3 Reload is making all the right moves, despite some disappointment regarding the recasting of voice actors and the exclusion of Persona 3 Portable's female protagonist. Although the absence of additional content from Portable and FES is unfortunate, it presents an opportunity for future enhanced versions of the game or downloadable content. Overall, Persona 3 Reload is shaping up to be an exemplary remake that surpasses previous versions, solidifying its position as the definitive edition of Persona 3.

Persona 3 Reload will be released on February 2, 2024 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.