Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis Review – Worthy Expansion or Pricey Add-On?

Title	Persona 3 Reload – Episode Aigis: The Answer
Released	September 10, 2024
Developer(s):	ATLUS
Publisher(s):	SEGA
Platform(s):
Genre	JRPG, Turn-Based
Rating	M

Experienced on the Xbox Series X on Normal.
Content was free due to Game Pass Ultimate perk.

HowLongToBeat Time: 14.5hrs | My Clear Time: 17hrs 22min

Background

Persona 3 remains a landmark title in the Persona series, blending traditional JRPG mechanics with social simulation elements. Its expansion, Persona 3: FES, introduced The Answer, an epilogue focused on Aigis that provided closure for fans but sparked division due to its challenging combat and lack of social elements.

In an interview with Famitsu, director Kazuhisa Wada explained the challenges faced during the development of Persona 3 Reload (P3R):

• Wada had intended to include Episode Aegis (The Answer) from the start, but development issues forced the team to shelve those plans.
• Encouraged by fan feedback after the announcement of P3R, the team revisited the idea, assigning Koichi Hashizume (Tokyo Mirage Sessions#FE Encore, Soul Hackers 2) to lead the project.

Controversy
The decision to release Episode Aegis as part of a $35 expansion pass has sparked significant outrage:

• The base game costs $70, leading fans to express frustration over paying extra for content that was originally included in Persona 3: FES for $30, which had both The Journey and The Answer.
• Currently, the expansion has received a “Mostly Negative” rating on Steam due to the pricing model and fan disappointment.

Development Intentions
Despite the backlash, Wada and Hashizume emphasized that:

• Although The Answer was controversial for its darker narrative and absence of social elements, its core story remains intact, representing a critical chapter in the Persona series.
• Episode Aegis is being remade with the same care and quality as the main game.

The development team for Persona 3 Reload – Episode Aigis: The Answer includes:

• Kazuhisa Wada (Producer) – Known for Persona 3 Portable, Trauma Team, Persona 4: Golden, Catherine, Persona 3
• Yu Hashizume, Takuya Yamaguchi (Director, Support Director) – Known for Soul Hackers 2, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, SMT: Strange Journey Redux, Radiant History: Perfect Chronology.
  
  Takuya known for Persona 3: Reload, Persona 4: Golden, Persona 5, Persona 5: Royal
• Azusa Shimada, Sheng Kao (Lead Character Designer, 2D Character Designer) – Known for Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight, Persona Q2, Persona 5: Royal, Persona 3: Reload,
  
  Sheng known for Persona 3: Reload, Persona 5: Tactica, Persona 5: Strikers, Persona 5: Royal.
• Atsushi Kitajoh, Ryota Kozuka (Composers) – Known forTrauma Team, Catherine, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor – Overclocked, Persona 4: Golden, Persona 5, Persona 3: Reload.
  
  Ryota known for Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers 3DS, Shin Megami Tensei IV, Persona Dancing games, Shin Megami Tensei V.

Experience

Before playing Episode Aegis, I had completed 11 different Shin Megami Tensei titles, including Soul Hackers 1 and Soul Hackers 2, as well as Persona 2: Innocent Sin and many other JRPGs. Additionally, I have played Persona 3: FES, Persona 4 Arena, Persona 4 Ultimax, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 5.

For transparency’s sake, I have not played the original The Answer from Persona 3: FES. With almost 20 years of experience with Atlus games, I am well-acquainted with their storytelling, mechanics, and design philosophy.

Impressions

Introduction

Episode Aegis serves as the long-awaited epilogue to Persona 3, offering a deeper dive into Aigis’s story and serves as an epilogue intended to bring closure to the game’s narrative and cast. Because I have not played the original The Answer from Persona 3: FES, my impressions are based solely on this version made for Persona 3: Reload and its content, presentation, and its integration with the core experience of Persona 3 Reload.

In this review, I will explore how well Episode Aegis lives up to the expectations set by the main game, its enhancements over the original content, and whether it successfully addresses the controversies and challenges that made the original polarizing.

Gameplay & Mechanics

Episode Aegis retains the dungeon crawling essence of Persona 3, introducing several new mechanics and features that enhance the experience:

Upon starting the DLC, you are given the option to import a clear save from Persona 3 Reload. This allows you to access a dual-compendium system:

• The Journey Compendium: Reflects your progress from the main game.
• Episode Aegis Compendium: Specific to the DLC, tracking new acquisitions.

Fusion mechanics in Episode Aegis work similarly to the base game, with additional features becoming available as you progress through the story.

The dungeon mechanics are also enhanced:

• Checkpoints: Unlike in the base game, where you can warp to specific floors, you now have the flexibility to exit and re-enter dungeons at your convenience. The layout of the floors changes each time you return, adding a roguelike element to the experience.
• New Clock Feature: Allows you to spend twilight shards to duplicate skill cards, facilitating better management of your abilities.

Several facilities support your journey:

• Equipment Shop: Purchase and upgrade equipment.
• Item Fusion Shop: Combine items for various benefits.
• Blue V Skill Reset Shop: Reset skills to optimize your strategy.
• Pharmacy: Buy healing and support items.
• Planter: Grow and harvest seeds to aid in the grind.

Episode Aegis also features Elizabeth’s Requests:

• Elizabeth’s Requests: These are additional tasks you can undertake throughout the DLC. Completing these requests offers rewards and provides extra challenges, further enriching the gameplay experience.

Later in the DLC, you unlock the Chamber, a high-difficulty area:

• Chamber: Features challenging enemies, high-level items, and an optional Superboss battle against Persona 5’s Joker, providing significant rewards.

The game maintains its reputation for difficulty with several features:

• Level Gap Clock: Helps manage party levels, especially with the addition of an extra character and mandatory story moments.
• Reaper Threat: The Reaper appears if you linger too long on a floor, ensuring that the challenge remains high.

Character and Art Design

Episode Aegis maintains the distinct style of Persona 3, with significant updates to match the enhancements of Persona 3 Reload. Aigis and other characters receive more detailed and polished designs, staying true to their original concepts. Notably, Aigis has a new outfit, adding a fresh look to her character. Metis is particularly striking, showcasing the improved visual quality.

The game’s art style retains its dark and atmospheric tone, now with enhanced textures and lighting that deepen the immersion. The dungeons feature increased complexity and procedural changes, offering a new visual experience each time you explore. Additionally, a few cutscenes are produced by Wit Studio, bringing an extra layer of quality and cinematic flair to the presentation. Overall, Episode Aegis successfully updates its visuals while preserving the unique style and atmosphere that fans cherish.

Unique Features and Moments

• Carryover Compendium: Seamlessly integrate your Persona compendium from The Journey into the new content.
• Roguelike Dungeon: The dungeon layout changes with each entry, adding a dynamic challenge.
• New Clock Feature: Duplicate skill cards outside the dungeon to streamline the grinding process.
• Chamber Area: A high-difficulty zone with tough enemies and an optional Superboss from Persona 5.
• Reaper’s Return: The Reaper returns, keeping the intense atmosphere throughout your journey.
• Approximate Time to Clear: Main content typically takes around 20 hours to complete.

These features, alongside updated visuals and additional story content, make Episode Aegis a compelling expansion for Persona 3 enthusiasts.

Seiyuu Performances

Episode Aegis retains the beloved cast from Persona 3, maintaining the continuity of voice performances that fans are accustomed to. Chiwa Saito reprises her role as Metis, bringing the same depth and nuance to the character as in the main game. The consistent voice acting adds to the overall immersion and familiarity of the DLC, ensuring that the characters feel as authentic and engaging as they did in The Journey.

• Maaya Sakamoto (known for Ryougi Shiki, Jeanne d’ Arc in Fate, Lightning Farron from Final Fantasy, Alisa Ilinichina Amiella from God Eater, Aigis from Persona 3)
• Akira Ishida (known for Zeref from Fairy Tail, Gaara from Naruto, Makoto Yuki from Persona 3, Kotaro Katsura from Gintama)
• Megumi Toyoguchi (known for Revy from Black Lagoon, Yukari Takeba from Persona 3, Aqua from Kingdom Hearts, Junko Enoshima from Danganronpa)
• Rie Tanaka (known for Mitsuru Kirijo from Persona 3, Morrigan Aensland from Darkstalkers, Neptune/Purple Heart from Hyperdimension Neptunia, Himeko from Honkai: Star Rail)
• Kosuke Toriumi (known for Junpei Iori from Persona 3, Guido Mista from JoJos, Gordeau fromUnder Night In-Birth, Kaeya from Genshin Impact)
• Hikaru Midorikawa (known for Akihiko Sanada from Persona 3, Marth from Fire Emblem, Tien Shinhan from Dragon Ball)
• Mamiko Noto (known for Scathach, Attilla, Fujino from Fate, Jun Kazama from Tekken, Catherine fromCatherine, Alcina from Unicorn Overlord, Yukako Yamagishi from JoJos, Fuuka Yamagishi from Persona 3)
• Chiwa Saito (known for Tamamo no Mae from Fate, Yoko Hiromine from Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, Taokaka from BlazBlue, Metis from Persona 3: The Answer)

Verdict

Episode Aegis offers a compelling expansion to the Persona 3 experience, blending challenging dungeon crawling with engaging new features. The integration of your previous Persona compendium from The Journey adds continuity and depth, while the roguelike dungeon design and new clock feature bring fresh twists to the gameplay.

The addition of the Chamber area introduces high-difficulty content and an optional Superboss from Persona 5, further enhancing the challenge. The Reaper’s return maintains the intense atmosphere that fans of the original game will appreciate.

With an approximate playtime of 20 hours, Episode Aegis provides a substantial addition to the Persona 3 universe. Despite some criticism regarding its pricing and the separation from the base game, it remains a worthwhile expansion for dedicated fans looking to delve deeper into Aigis’s story and the game’s darker themes.

TLDR

In Summary: Episode Aigis adds value to Persona 3 with features like compendium carryover, a roguelike dungeon, and skill card duplication, plus a challenging Chamber and an optional Persona 5 Superboss. However, the $35 price, separate from the $70 base game, has drawn criticism, especially since similar content was included in Persona 3: FES. While the shift from social elements to dungeon crawling might not appeal to everyone, the expansion offers around 20 hours of new content, making it a solid addition for dedicated fans.

References

1. Kawashima KG. (2024, March 8). [P3R] An exclusive interview with the developers of “Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass.” They talked about the high hurdles involved in remaking the “sequel,” the “female protagonist,” and their enthusiasm for the “completely new” game. Famitsu.com. https://www.famitsu.com/news/202403/08336894.html