Persona 3: Reload| Xbox Game Pass Cloudgaming Review
February 14th, 2024
Warning
Trigger warning: Persona 3: Reload depicts suicidal themes. Those themes are discussed in this article.
Play and read with caution.
First Glance
OK, so I was a little apprehensive of this game at first. I have never been a fan of games that are pretty much an interactive story like this one. I know they are popular amongst the Anime community. But I have to say, I became drawn in after the first thirty minutes, so, if this is your first type of experience with this sort of game, give it thirty minutes.
That would be my advice.
Summary
Persona 3: Reload is a role-playing game where you play a student exploring the city of Iwotodai. Iwotodai is plagued by mysterious creatures called Shadows and you are to uncover the truth of these mysterious creatures. You can explore your school, train station and other parts of the city.
Side note: I can’t help but feel Iwotodai is an anagram of “I Want To Die”.
Persona 3: Reload is a remake of Persona 3, which was originally released in 2006 and marks the fourth instalment of the Persona series.
As you interact with characters throughout the game, you will be given options for dialog that may affect the direction of the game.
If you’re not open to turn based RPG games, give it thirty minutes
While it is a slow start, the Persona 3: Reload story does build to become a bit more suspenseful. There are many points of mystery. Some involving the coffins you experience in the first scene, your classmates who try to keep you quiet about it and a mysterious character who visits you in a vivid dream.
At one point I was treating the game as a TV show. You can enable the Auto feature which automatically plays the dialog. The alternative is pressing an action button to go to the next set of dialogs. I had it on Auto while writing some parts of this article.
Another side note: the game has a good soundtrack. I found myself bopping along whilst playing.
As you explore, you can use the environment around you like using the restroom.
I thought I might be able to get a gun?
Game Intro
Persona 3: Reload opens with a classic anime styled montage with immersing colours and pop punk soundtrack. Similar to the Kingdom Hearts intro, there is text in the opening scene that tells you to listen your heart.
A heartwarming start to the masterpiece.
The montage continues to show an intense and suspenseful opening cutscene depicting one of the first themes of suicide. Before, cutting to a scene in the train station. A closeup shot of the vial looking necklace.
Not so heartwarming?
Gameplay
You are quick to be thrown into gameplay. In game dialogue is Pokémon themed with buttons triggering the next speech. You start out in Iwotodai Station. Is it trying to say I want to die?
Persona 3: Reload Gameplay reminds me of the early Resident Evil games where you were prompted with info about your environment by pressing an action button. The first stage offers you the ability to explore the station and choose a path to traverse.
Exploring the mall is filled with blood and coffins.
It really gives the vibe that you are back in school with the gameplay. This could be great or traumatic for you depending on your school experience. Either way, it is the experience of being at school in Japan.
Social Stats
Persona 3: Reload has this concept of Status.
Certain actions help you increase Social Stats. The three stats are Charm, Courage and Academics. Improving these skills will give you options to more dialog options. Like maybe you can flirt with more of the pretty girls.
Getting to fight?
It’s about fifty minutes into gameplay that you get given your first weapon, a sword.
Ok so instead of using your sword, you kill these monsters by shooting yourself in the head. I can almost feel the recoil against my skull as I watch this.
The combat is turn based. You can choose before using a special power called your Persona, or by using a manual attack with your sword.
I spent the first battle just shooting myself in the head. It seemed to do the most damage to the monsters and didn’t deplete my Persona.
Summary
In short, I think Persona 3: Reload is awesome. As someone new to the franchise, it took some patience and getting used to. I think my patience was well worth the wait and paid off. The graphics really make the animations and characters pop. The music is repetitive but it ads to the atmosphere and funky feeling of the game. The girls are certainly attractive.
Persona 3: Reload is full of surprises. I thought it was going to be one of those games that had no game play at all and just be an interactive story. I was pleased to be proven wrong. Absolute must play if you have Xbox Game Pass.
9/10
