Summary
- Persona 3 Reload is adding FES' The Answer storyline as a DLC
- Part of the DLC is a new optional boss battle with Joker from Persona 5.
- This mirrors Persona 5's DLC boss battles against P3's Makoto Yuki and P4's Yu Narukami.
When Persona 3 Reload was first unveiled at the 2023 Xbox Games Showcase, its announcement was met with great excitement, since fans of the Persona franchise had been waiting nearly two decades to see the original P3 be remade. However, after Atlus later revealed that P3R would be missing the extra content added in Persona 3 FES and Persona 3 Portable, many were disappointed over the fact that the remake wouldn't deliver a definitive Persona 3 experience, regardless of how great the base game might be. Fortunately, though, Atlus eventually responded to the feedback from fans, as the developer announced in March 2024 that it would be adding P3 FES's The Answer epilogue to Persona 3 Reload as part of a paid expansion pass.
This $35 DLC, dubbed Episode Aigis - The Answer, not only remakes the missing content from Persona 3 FES, but it also adds a wealth of new features to the epilogue, such as Fusion Spells and Linked Episodes. Furthermore, the expansion gives players access to new Theurgies they can use in combat, in addition to all-new interaction events that will let them get to know the protective android Metis. Additionally, the DLC contains remixed soundtracks, new cutscenes, and significant quality-of-life improvements. These aren't the only features being added in the expansion, however, as during Gamescom 2024, Atlus revealed that Joker from Persona 5 would be included as a challenge boss in Episode Aigis. With this major addition to the game, Persona 3 Reload's expansion pass brings P5's downloadable content full circle.
Persona 3 Reload Players May Get the Best of Both Worlds with The Answer DLC
Persona 3 Reload will soon be releasing its epilogue DLC, The Answer, and details seen in trailers show great news for returning fans of the series.
Joker Being in Persona 3 Reload Makes Perfect Sense Given Persona 5's DLCs
Atlus Released Various DLCs for the Original Persona 5
After Persona 5 was released on PS3 and PS4 in 2016, Atlus supported the title post-launch with numerous paid DLCs. Unlike Persona 3 Reload's Episode Aigis expansion, these add-ons didn't contain any brand-new story content and instead brought more cosmetic features to the game. Various costumes for the Phantom Thieves were included in these DLCs, the majority of which were based off of other titles in the overarching Shin Megami Tensei franchise, such as SMT 4, Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army, Persona 4 Arena, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, and more. Atlus also released new, powerful Personas as paid downloadable content for Persona 5.
Some of the more noteworthy post-launch content that Atlus released for the original P5 were the Challenge Battle DLCs. These standalone missions weren't present in the main game, but were rather part of an alternate game mode in which players were tasked with defeating waves of enemies in time-limited trials that grew progressively more difficult. The Challenge Battles were accessible via the Velvet Room after reaching the second Palace in Persona 5. Although five of them were included in the base game, eight of the missions were sold as DLCs.
Players Could Fight the Protagonists of Persona 3 and Persona 4 in P5's Challenge Battle DLCs
In two of the Challenge Battles, players could face off against Makoto Yuki and Yu Narukami, the protagonists of Persona 3 and Persona 4, respectively, in one-on-one duels. These boss fights didn't just serve as mere novelties, they were also some of the most difficult ones in all of Persona 5. Outside of spin-off games like Persona 4 Arena and Persona Q, the protagonists of mainline Persona games almost never got a chance to interact with each other, so the fact that Joker could actually fight Makoto and Yu in these Challenge Battles was a big deal.
Considering that the player characters of Persona 3 and Persona 4 were added as boss battles in paid DLC for Persona 5, it's fitting that P5's protagonist will now be featured as an optional boss fight in P3R's Episode Aigis expansion. While some may have preferred to fight other characters in the game instead of Joker, many fans will likely be happy to see Atlus let players challenge the leader of the Phantom Thieves in Persona 3 Reload.
Persona 3 Reload
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- February 2, 2024
- ESRB
- Mature 17 / Blood, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- P-Studio
WHERE TO PLAY
Step into the shoes of a transfer student thrust into an unexpected fate when entering the hour "hidden" between one day and the next. Awaken an incredible power and chase the mysteries of the Dark Hour, fight for your friends, and leave a mark on their memories forever.
Persona 3 Reload is a captivating reimagining of the genre-defining RPG, reborn for the modern era.
Experience the pivotal game of the Persona series faithfully remade with cutting-edge graphics, modernized quality-of-life features, and signature stylish UI.
Fully immerse yourself in an emotional, gripping journey with new scenes, character interactions, and additional voiceover.
Choose how to meaningfully spend each day through various activities from exploring the Port Island to forging genuine bonds with beloved characters.
Build and command your optimal team to take down otherworldly Shadows and climb closer to the truth.
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Persona
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, RPG, Life Simulation, Strategy
- How Long To Beat
- 65 hours
