A Fresh Perspective on Persona 3 Reload: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Existentialism

Persona 3 holds an intriguing position in the broader context of the Persona series. Unlike Persona 4 and 5, this title exudes a darker and more nihilistic tone, deviating from the “J-Pop” joy that significantly brightened the mood in its successors. In contrast to Persona 1 and 2, Persona 3 is built upon the foundation laid by its later counterparts. This game revolves around the quest for identity and the reconciliation of one’s inner essence, marking a coming-of-age moment for the entire Persona series as it discovered its own identity, propelling it to become one of the greatest JRPG franchises. It’s all quite meta, isn’t it?

Now, Atlus and SEGA have taken the initiative to revamp Persona 3 with Persona 3 Reload, introducing some of the production values from later Persona titles into a game that, by today’s standards, appears quite austere.

For those who have never played Persona 3, it follows the story of a high school student who transfers to a new school and is soon entangled in the events surrounding the “Dark Hour.” The Dark Hour occurs between one day and the next, when time seems to stand still and monsters emerge into the world.

Most people are oblivious to this extra time and the monsters, but the protagonist and their growing group of high school friends can perceive and navigate it. They form a team to investigate the enigmatic tower (which only appears during the Dark Hour) from which these monsters seem to originate. Fortunately, they have a means to fight back. Each of them can wield a special weapon, aim it at their head, and shoot, invoking the manifestation of their inner “self” – their Personas, which fight on their behalf.

You do not need to be familiar with Persona 3 to grasp how all of this works, as it primarily follows a formula that was also employed in Persona 4 and 5. Just like in those games, the main characters confront their personal issues, face their fears, and form deep bonds with one another. These narrative arcs are constructed in a similar fashion, where spending time with your companions outside of completing missions gradually unlocks their stories—a storytelling technique that initially appears whimsical but soon manipulates your emotions. The writing is stellar, and the characters in Persona 3 are well-drawn, despite their flaws.

What significantly sets Persona 3 apart is its dark nature (if it wasn’t evident enough from the suicidal actions the characters must undertake each time they summon their Personas). While Persona 4 and 5 have their share of dark moments, Persona 3 is downright nihilistic at times – and I mean nihilism in its popular understanding. Without giving too much away, the potential for the world’s end exists within Persona 3, and choosing the wrong path leads to an ending where the characters dismiss the impending threat, allowing themselves to lead comfortable lives until their final days.

Of course, this theme delves into the heart of existential philosophy. As Jean-Paul Sartre wrote in his essay “Existentialism is a Humanism”: “Life has no meaning a priori… It is up to you to give it a meaning, and value is nothing but the meaning that you choose.” Few things trouble an existential thinker more than alienating oneself from understanding their own self and role in the world. But to give meaning to one’s existence and place in the world means confronting inevitabilities like the end, and that is difficult. The motif of a simple gunshot to the head to gain power and understand one’s self strikes at the very core of Persona 3’s message.

As Sartre also wrote in the same book, “Dostoevsky once wrote: ‘If God did not exist, everything would be permitted.’ And that, indeed, is the starting-point of existentialism. Everything is indeed permitted if God does not exist, and man is consequently abandoned, for he cannot find anything to rely on—neither within himself nor within others. He discovers forthwith, that he is without excuse.” This sentiment is repeatedly echoed within Persona 3, by both the main and supporting characters, as it merges awareness with doubt. The pursuit of meaning in life is ultimately disquieting when left unrefined, and Persona 3 particularly presents an uncompromising and poignant coming-of-age story that places these questions at the forefront.

What particularly interests me about this remake is whether players who were introduced to Persona later on (especially with Persona 5) will engage with this game. As a remake, Persona 3 Reload is quite ambitious, boasting exceptional character models, locations, and detailed monster designs while still preserving the original’s legacy. However, unlike the visually stunning and meticulously crafted dungeons of Persona 5 or the theatrical roguelike escapades of Persona 4, the primary dungeon in Persona 3 is Babel Tower, comprised of seemingly endless sequences of small, randomly generated levels with limited visual creativity. Thematically, it is a fitting choice, as the biblical Tower of Babel rises seemingly into infinity, symbolizing humanity’s pursuit of knowledge and the divine. However, it simply doesn’t provide the same level of enjoyment during the journey as other Persona games.

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The source of the article is from the blog newyorkpostgazette.com