Persona 3 Reload Reviews
If it wasn't for the flood of RPGs I still have to play this year, I think this would be "teh urn" for Persona 3. As it sits, I do want to see this one through to graduation, knowing full well what awaits me there, and the 45 minute / 13 stage final boss fight I have to go through to do it. There's still some structural issues with Persona 3, but it's probably the most underappreciated member of its trilogy.
Persona 3 Reload finally hits the Nintendo Switch 2, but what should've been a celebration quickly turns into a major letdown. The frame pacing and constant stutters make every step through Tatsumi Port Island a chore, no matter how enjoyable the game itself can be. Maybe ATLUS will patch the frame rate issues in the future, but even then, the lack of support for 60 FPS might be enough to detract some players regardless.
The Nintendo Switch version of Persona 3 Reload retains all the essence of the original game and its improvements, although limited by performance and resolution compared to other platforms. It's the ideal option for those looking to enjoy the classic on the go, but it doesn't add exclusive content or technically surpass the next-gen versions. Even so, it remains the best way to experience one of Atlus's most iconic JRPGs on Nintendo's hybrid console.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Persona 3 Reload on Nintendo Switch 2 remains an excellent JRPG, but it's a port that clearly illustrates the technical compromises of poor optimization. Its polished art direction, masterful soundtrack, and consistently compelling storytelling make it a memorable experience, even more than fifteen years after the original game's release. However, the limitation to 1080p and 30 FPS, combined with the absence of additional content such as The Answer or the female protagonist, prevents this version from rising to the rank of “ultimate” re-release. Nevertheless, Atlus has delivered a successful revamp that breathes new life into one of the most important chapters in the series, while allowing a new generation to discover a carefully modernized classic that can once again be played on mobile devices.
Review in French | Read full review
Despite its technical concessions, it manages to transport the original experience in a portable format while preserving what is the heart of Persona 3: emotion, strategy and narrative depth.
Review in French | Read full review
Persona 3 Reload remains one of the best JRPGs out there, and what I encountered here does little to deter me from that sentiment. Switch 2 owners might not be getting the best version performance-wise, but they’re still getting a version that’s worthy enough to play on the go. Those who care about smooth framerates will be better served playing it on more powerful platforms. But if you’re looking for a solid enough port on Nintendo’s shiny new Switch, you can certainly do a lot worse than this.
Persona 3 Reload is an exemplary remake: respectful, emotional, and visually stunning. Despite minor technical hiccups on the Switch 2, it remains an unforgettable and essential journey for any JRPG fan.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Annoying visual issues aside, which I hope can be patched with a future update, I had a great time playing Persona 3 Reload on the Switch 2. It’s an odd case of a Persona game where the gameplay kicks off right away, but the plot takes a while to show up. Once it does, you’re in for a ride.
Persona 3 Reload is a triumphant return of a classic that defined generations. It masterfully balances the everyday with the supernatural, delivering an emotional, stylish, and meaningful experience. Even with issues of repetitive exploration, the game remains one of the best examples of how an RPG can combine strategy, narrative, and visual identity in such a unique way. Ultimately, it's an invitation to look within and discover that, like its characters, we all have a bit of light and shadow, and it's up to us to decide what to do with it.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The visuals and melodies of Persona 3 Reload are incredible. The harmony between the fights and the slice-of-life moments pace the adventure without making it boring. The story unfolds unhurriedly, introducing, at its own pace, not only the characters who are part of SEES, but also ordinary people and their plights. People who help build a vast web of relationships that directly impact the young heroes' mission. It's not just about battling monsters: it's about creating bonds! Because it's precisely these bonds that give us the strength to fight.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Although the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Persona 3 Reload has some technical limitations compared to other platforms, it’s still a highly competent port of one of the best JRPGs I’ve ever played. With a deep and impactful story, charismatic characters, and an engaging, fun combat system, Persona 3 Reload is a must-play for fans of the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Persona 3 Reload breathes new life into one of Atlus’s greatest classics, preserving everything that made Persona 3 such a special game for fans of the franchise while updating many of its mechanics, making this remake the definitive version of P3. The Nintendo Switch 2 version turned out to be a port that definitely had room for better optimization, but it still fulfills its purpose of bringing the SEES journey to Nintendo’s hybrid console.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Persona 3 Reload is simply incredible on the new hybrid, it's impressive to see how well the game runs on Nintendo's console.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Persona 3 Reload is a highly-polished remake of the 2006 classic. A few elements don't age well.
With a stellar visual overhaul and countless small but impactful changes, Persona 3 Reload tells a timeless story of tragedy and hope with sharp emotional sincerity.
Overall, Persona 3 Reload is a fantastic package that offers enough new content to satisfy fans of the original, while remaining faithful to what made that entry so special. It's also an incredibly approachable entry for newcomers thanks to the myriad of enhancements to the Persona series' combat and social mechanics. It's clear that Persona 3 Reload isn't just a remake of an outdated game, it's an entry that is entirely its own and signals a bright future for the franchise in the post-Persona 5 era.
Reload adds welcome modernisations to the wonderfully deadly coming-of-age story that captured hearts in 2006, though visual tweaks undermine the thematic coherence.
Inconsistent graphics and the lack of a female protagonist we had in Portable aside, however, this remains a solid means of enjoying one of the finest RPGs of the past two decades. Its writing is sharper, combat is more satisfying, and it brings this world to life in ways that just weren’t possible several generations ago. Reload might lack its signature rough edge, but those coming around for the first time will find plenty to love.
Even after nearly 100 hours, I was sad to part ways with my team, feeling as though I had formed bonds with them that transcend any kind of in-game Social Link metric. Even with some outdated and repetitive elements inherited through the 18-year-old structure of the original, Persona 3 Reload is one of the best entries in one of the most acclaimed modern role-playing franchises in video games.