The biggest vibe shift was wandering the tower of Tartarus, which is now the creepiest of all the Persona dungeons. The aura is truly unsettling in the chunk of floors that I played, with the intent to closely emulate the themes of death in the game, producer Ryota Niitsuma and director Takuya Yamaguchi told me after the demo. Reworking Tartarus was a high priority for the team and it shows.

Announced during the Microsoft Xbox Showcase in 2023, the first trailer shows the remake in a surprising amount of detail.

In July 2022, Atlus conducted a consumer-led survey in Japan gauging interest in potential remakes and re-releases of past games from the publisher, specifically in the Megami Tensei franchise.

Exp: Experience. Used to level up. There is no way to confirm how the Exp system works as of this version of the guide, but here is what is assumed to be the Exp system.

Persona 3 Reload shows there's still a novelty to balancing normal life and relationships with the duties of defeating shadows in the Dark Hour – a mysterious 25th hour where time stops as monstrous forces come out, humans turn into coffins, and your school transforms into a deranged 250-floor tower.

Reload also includes fully voiced Social Link scenes for the first time, and that works wonders in terms of giving them more weight and value. All romances are optional as well, which wasn't the case in previous versions of Persona 3 (except when playing as the Persona 3 Portable-exclusive female protagonist), and it's pretty wild to think back and realize you used to be forced to have a relationship with every female classmate you got to max rank.

Your browser isn’t supported anymore. Update it to get the best YouTube experience and our latest features. Learn more

Here's some brand new Persona 3 Reload gameplay. The latest trailer also features our first look at Persona 3 Reload's English VO cast, announced at Anime Expo. Get another look at the upcoming reimagining of the popular RPG and prepare to step into the shoes of a transfer student thrust who unexpectedly manages to enter the hour "hidden" between one day and the next.

And, of course, the glue that binds any Persona game together is its music. At this point, it feels routine to sing the praises of an Atlus soundtrack, but Persona 3 Reload is a case worth examining because of its fusion of the new and old, and the persona 3 reload gameplay storytelling embedded in the songs themselves. In the mid 2000s, it stood out for having a wild mix of funky J-pop and the nu metal rap rock trend that was prevelant in the years leading up to its release. Yet that’s what has made it stand the test of time; there’s just nothing like it and the more time has gone on, the more it has been ingrained in Persona 3’s identity.

Reading books with Mitsuru, Aigis, or Fuuka also serves to reward you with both stats and charming little interactions, and even the precious dog Koromaru gets his own adorable side-arc to round him out as a more complete character.

A more exhilarating battle system and new graphics and gimmicks make Tartarus easier to explore. Dormitory life and community have also legitimately evolved!

This power is called a Persona, a manifestation of a person’s inner psyche that their user can command to perform devastating attacks or heal wounds. As a newly appointed member of S.E.E.S., your job is to destroy Shadows, rescue any ordinary humans who have been pulled into the Dark Hour, and explore the tower of Tartarus to discover why the Dark Hour and Shadows exist in the first place.

There are three Status Parameters that are exclusive to Joker. They have six ranks each, and they need to be at a specific rank to take certain actions or to rank up certain Social Links. They can be ranked up in a variety of ways.

While unapproachable at first glance, beneath the gruff exterior is a gentle heart and a knack for cooking. He even has a soft spot for animals, doting on Koromaru when no one is looking.