Fans hope that Persona 3 Reload will combine the extra content found in FES and Portable to make a complete edition of the game. Unlike other entries in the series, there’s no definitive edition of Persona 3, which means you have to buy two copies of the game to experience everything. However, so far, it’s looking like the Persona 3 remake is poised to disappoint on this front.
Will Persona 3 Reload be the complete edition of the game?
The leaked Persona 3 Reload trailer begins with a clip of Aigis. So, we already know that it’ll be based on P3 FES, which has these unique differences from the original game and Portable:
- Aigis social link
- Extra scenes throughout
- Gameplay tweaks
- Hard mode
- More Personas than the original game
- New costumes
- The Answer epilogue starring Aigis
Portable, on the other hand, contains these unique features:
- Allows you to control all party members instead of just the protagonist directly
- Beginner and Maniac difficulties
- Desert of Doors extra area
- Female protagonist route with alternate Social Links and dialog
- Gameplay tweaks
- Removed 3D environments outside of Tartarus
- Removed animated cutscenes
While Persona 3 FES is the superior version, Portable’s option for a female protagonist and controllable party members kept it from being definitive. Unfortunately, so far, there’s no indication that Atlus will be adding the content from Portable to Persona 3 Reload.
My hypothesis is that Reload will be a remake of FES but with controllable party members. If the female protagonist was added, it’d be a big marketing point for the game, and her absence from the trailer means that content is likely staying exclusive to P3 Portable. Hopefully, we’ll get an official reveal soon that’ll let us know the answer.
Fortunately, Portable did get a re-release on PC, PS4, Xbox, and Switch earlier this year, so you don’t have to bust out your PSP to play it.
