Persona 3 Reload Misses Out on Ryoji Mochizuki’s Impactful Social Link

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This article contains spoilers for Persona 3 Reload.

In the adaptation known as “Persona 3 Reload”, Ryoji Mochizuki’s Social Link was not included, and its omission is noticeably impactful in certain crucial aspects. The characters and their narratives, particularly those linked to Social Links, have been instrumental in the popularity of the Persona series. Ryoji and his link are no different. However, since “Persona 3 Reload” lacks his Social Link, it highlights its significance in shaping Ryoji’s overall character development. Although Ryoji remains part of the game, his role doesn’t carry the same weight as it did before.

In the ensemble of characters from Persona 3, Ryoji Mochizuki stands out with an intriguing role. Though he joins Gekkoukan High relatively late in the game, his actual position is much more complex. Beneath his relaxed, flirtatious exterior lies a human manifestation of Nyx Avatar – Death itself and the ultimate boss of the game. This dual nature makes him both an acquaintance and a potential danger. Although not unique among the series as an antagonistic force who appears before battle, Ryoji’s character and narrative journey make his presence particularly striking.

Ryoji’s Returned to Persona 3 Reload Without His Biggest Asset

Ryoji Got His Own Social Link in Persona 3 Portable

In the game Persona 3 Portable, if you chose the female protagonist, Ryoji becomes an exclusive Social Link character. As you progress through his relationship with him, you’ll discover a tender aspect of Ryoji’s personality. This friendship, which could blossom into something more, carries a sense of sorrow due to their shared predicament. This emotional bond between the protagonist and Ryoji enhances the emotional weight of the game’s climax, making it even more impactful when you witness Ryoji transforming and revealing his true identity, particularly if you had romantic feelings for him. The addition of Ryoji’s Social Link significantly enriches the experience in Persona 3 Portable.

Persona 3 Reload Left Out Portable’s Exclusive Social Links

Regrettably, due to the fact that Persona 3 Reload didn’t include the female protagonist or her route, Ryoji’s Social Link was omitted from the remake. This means players won’t experience all the content derived from Ryoji’s Social Link. However, he does make appearances as he did in the original game and even gets a few Linked Episodes to deepen his bond with the protagonist. Despite this extra material, it doesn’t carry the same impact that Ryoji’s arc had in Portable‘s female route. In contrast, one area where the earlier version of the game, Persona 3 Portable, surpassed the remake is with Ryoji’s character development.

Besides Takaya, Ryoji is among the rare two characters not belonging to S.E.E.S., who were granted Linked Episodes in Persona 3 Reload.

Ryoji’s Arc Loses Impact Without His Social Link

In the remake, Ryoji isn’t alone in losing his Social Link; other male characters from S.E.E.S. also lack these relationships in Persona 3 Reload. This is because they didn’t have Social Links until Portable. Although other characters’ stories are still fleshed out, Ryoji isn’t as fortunate. He spends most of the game on the sidelines and has limited time to make an impact. The absence of his Social Link in this remake significantly hinders his development, highlighting how crucial the Social Link from Persona 3 Portable was for Ryoji’s character growth.

In the world of Persona 3 Reload, I found Ryoji to be a significant character that didn’t quite reach his full potential. The Fortune Social Link in Keisuke is decent on its own and offers an engaging story. However, it was his Social Link in Portable that really fleshed out his character and allowed me to connect with him more deeply. Without this connection, I feel like his growth and development aren’t as noticeable. Regardless, Ryoji continues to play the role of Nyx Avatar consistently across all versions of Persona 3, but he just doesn’t seem to shine as brightly without his Social Link.

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2025-02-02 23:55