“Persona 3: Reload” (P3R) is an underrated game that deserves to be in the spotlight. It is a remake of what is considered the first modern Persona game in the series, Persona 3.
P3R blew my expectations out of the water and into the stratosphere.

I’ve rarely encountered P3R’s central theme of mortality with this intensity within the RPG and turn-based game genre. The only comparable turn-based game that comes to mind is Undertale, which explores the themes of determination and perseverance in life.

The theme of mortality is delivered throughout P3R through symbolism in the character development and plot. Examples include using Orpheus from Greek mythology as the player’s first Persona, multiple characters facing their inevitable death, and their loved ones’ deaths in the story. P3R builds its story around not just death and accepting it but also making the most of life.

The realistic character development compliments this story. Although the game’s graphics might be less realistic than games like Baldur Gates 3, the characters feel fleshed out as if they are actual teenagers. They also move past their problems and solve them in a pretty realistic way instead of having an instant or convenient way of solving them.

For example, when it is revealed that the main characters have accidentally brought inevitable Armageddon upon the world and have no way to fight that fate, most of the main cast freak out or are in shock at the idea of having to face their inevitable death within a few months, as most people would do when they are told they are going to die soon.

Another element I love the most about P3R is its soundtrack. Just like how you can’t have burgers without fries, a great game without a great soundtrack is underwhelming. Instead of making a soundtrack that doesn’t have lyrics and focuses more on the tone and setting up the feeling of the game itself, such as the use of “Megalovania,” P3R instead uses songs with lyrics to both set the tone of the game and foreshadow the game’s story. Some examples include “Full Moon Full Life”, which foreshadows the importance of the moon in the story, and “It’s Going Down Now”, which sets the mood in a fight where the player has an advantage.

P3R is not without fault, however. I dislike the contrast between the slice-of-life-like and fantasy aspects of the game. The game’s combat and exploration feel underwhelming, repetitive, and even too easy after a while. The game has a Pokemon-esque-like combat system, but without Pokemon’s complexity in stats and different move sets added with the randomly generated dungeons, it feels repetitive after a while, making the fantasy part of the game less exciting. I often found myself forgetting or abandoning the dungeons and focusing more on the story and slice-of-life aspect of the game.

Overall, “Persona 3: Reload” is a great game that is definitely underrated compared to more mainstream games. It’s an excellent game for people who appreciate single-player, story-focused games.