Tokyo Game Show 2023 is just around the corner, and it looks like Atlus is already aiming to impress. Notably, a new trailer for Persona 3 Reload has debuted, including an English dubbed version for those of us across the pond.
Any new footage is a treat for Persona fans. However, what makes this trailer unique is its focus on the Persona rival team Strega. While they did appear in the original version of Persona 3, their emphasis here hints at some surprises for even seasoned fans of the series. Also, perhaps more importantly, we can see Elizabeth climbing up a descending escalator. I hope she finally turns the Velvet Room into a nightclub too.
Strega people, ah oh ahhhhhh
For added context, the trailer coincides with a new blog post with more details and images for fans to peruse. Through this, we can see Persona 3 Reload will include new story content, including “A new episode focusing on Strega.”
For Persona fans, this is pretty big news. There has been quite a bit of unrest over the confirmed cut content from Persona 3 Reload, which includes The Answer campaign and the Female Protagonist route from Persona 3 Portable. So the confirmation of all-new story content at least softens the blow a bit there. This means longtime Persona fans will have reason to check out this remake beyond the prettier graphics.
Truthfully, this lines up with what I hoped to see when I demoed Persona 3 Reload last month. I had already observed some lines and mechanics not present in the original game, so I’m glad to see Atlus is going further in that direction. Additionally, the blog post also briefly details the new Shift battle mechanic, which I also got to see. It looks like it is indeed Persona 5’s Baton Pass without the added stat buffs. Taking a look at the fan reaction to this, it seems like there was much rejoicing.
Given what we’ve seen so far, who knows what else is hiding in Persona 3 Reload? We’ll see how it all shakes out as we get closer to the launch of the game on February 2, 2024 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
