Persona 3 Reload: The Answer May Have Another Controversy Waiting to Happen

Persona 3 Reload: The Answer May Have Another Controversy Waiting to Happen

As a long-time fan of the Persona series, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and disappointment with the recent release of Persona 3 Reload and its upcoming expansion pass, Episode Aigis. Having played through the original Persona 3 multiple times, including the FES and Portable versions, I was initially thrilled to see Atlus revisiting this classic JRPG. However, the controversy surrounding the lack of additional content from later iterations has left a sour taste in my mouth.


When Persona 3 Reload came out in February 2024, it was met with overwhelmingly positive feedback from both fans and critics, earning itself a spot among the top-rated games of the year. However, this Atlus remake has remained a contentious topic within the Persona community. The primary source of contention revolves around the fact that Persona 3 Reload is derived from the PS2 version of the iconic 2006 RPG. This means it doesn’t include the extra features present in later versions, such as the female protagonist in Persona 3 Portable and The Answer epilogue in Persona 3 FES.

After the release of the game, Atlus aimed to address some negative feedback by unveiling the “Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis” expansion pack. This DLC package includes a revamped version of the missing epilogue from “FES”. Many were thrilled by this announcement; however, the upcoming remake of “The Answer” sparked controversy when Atlus opted to sell it as a $35 add-on, which is roughly half the price of the base game. This revelation left a sour taste in the mouths of many “Persona” fans, causing some to consider avoiding the expansion altogether. Moreover, “Episode Aigis” may encounter further opposition from the gaming community if it doesn’t address certain aspects of the original epilogue, such as its challenging nature.

The Answer Epilogue in Persona 3 Reload’s Expansion Pass Has to Balance Difficulty

Difficulty Was a Major Point of Criticism With The Answer

In the aftermath of Persona 3 FES‘s release, opinions were deeply split regarding its epilogue. Critics voiced concerns over several aspects, including the storyline and character depictions, but the most frequent complaints centered around the game’s dungeons. Some players found these challenges excessively difficult and even tedious, as they built upon the already formidable difficulty level of the original Persona 3.

One distinctive characteristic of The Answer expansion was the absence of a difficulty level selection, which was a feature in the original game. Players aiming to complete the approximately 30-hour epilogue had no option but to play it on Hard mode. To increase the challenge, Atlus additionally removed the Persona compendium. Consequently, during fusion, players could only select from the randomly given Personas obtained after vanquishing adversaries.

An additional contentious aspect of The Answer in “Persona 3: FES” was its extensive focus on grinding. To have a chance at defeating certain challenging bosses during the epilogue, players were required to battle numerous enemies and amass experience points to advance in levels. Some gamers appreciated the combat in this turn-based RPG enough to find the grinding enjoyable, while others felt it was needlessly frustrating and laborious.

Games Like Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Have Brought Back Difficulty Discourse

A lot of people are talking about the level of difficulty in video games these days, particularly after the release of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Some believe that maintaining a high level of challenge is essential to respecting the original intentions of game developers. However, others feel that creators should provide players with more control over the intensity of their gaming experiences.

To avoid facing the criticism of excessive difficulty like Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Atlus could make The Answer more accessible in the upcoming Episode Aigis Expansion Pass for a better player experience. However, it’s essential to strike a balance, as some recent Persona series entries, such as Persona 3 Reload and Persona 5 Royal, have been criticized for being too easy. So Atlus should aim for a difficulty level that is neither too simple nor too challenging as seen in Persona 3 FES.

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2024-07-19 19:36