Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis serves as the epilogue to the main game, covering the story sections previously explored in “The Answer” scenario from the original Persona 3. While this sounds exciting, the realization that the epilogue comes at a high price dampens some of the enthusiasm. Despite its expansive content, which can take between 10 to 20 hours to complete, it still struggles to fully justify its cost.
My first experience with Persona 3 was through Persona 3 Portable, not the PS2 version, Persona 3 FES, so I never had the chance to play this epilogue before. I found the ending of Persona 3 to be a mix of grim and bittersweet, but revisiting the story events after the main game’s conclusion feels rewarding—especially as a fan of the cast.
The positive aspect of Episode Aigis is its story, which continues the character arcs and plotlines from the main game. However, the downside lies in the gameplay, which focuses almost entirely on dungeon crawling. The main protagonist is Aigis, as suggested by the expansion’s title. Unfortunately, there are no social elements, which are a key part of what makes the Persona series appealing. This highlights the drawback of relying solely on dungeon exploration. The expansion introduces a new dungeon that closely resembles Tartarus from the main game, but it can start to feel tedious the longer you play.
Aigis has always been one of the more interesting characters in Persona 3, being a mechanical companion capable of displaying human-like emotions and reactions. In this expansion, we get a deeper look at the SEES members in the aftermath of the main story’s conclusion. Without revealing spoilers, the central theme focuses on the internal conflicts of the SEES members, rather than a grand external threat, which is common in most games. While the pacing is a weak point, fans of the cast will likely remain engaged—except during the dungeon exploration sections.
The combat remains enjoyable, and there are additional party members to join you in battle. Although starting from scratch in this expansion felt frustrating, I understand why the developers made this choice, as it aligns with the character development process. However, the high price is a notable downside, and many fans may find it hard to justify the cost, potentially missing out on some genuinely good moments in the expansion.
Though Persona 3 has not had a direct successor, I appreciate the chance to experience more of the story and reconnect with its characters. This expansion is clearly designed for dedicated fans of the series and is considerably more challenging than the base game. You will need to grind frequently, which can become tedious, especially since the dungeon exploration feels uninspired. Despite this, the combat system is still enjoyable, which helped me push through. Unfortunately, there is little enemy variety, with many foes feeling like repeats from the main game.
Episode Aigis serves as a fitting send-off for fans of the franchise, particularly for those who consider Persona 3 their favorite. I admire the team’s dedication to remaking and expanding this content, making it several times larger than the original. However, it suffers from pacing issues and unnecessary padding that extends its length without adding much value. The steep price remains its biggest flaw, but it could be worth picking up during a sale.
Persona 3 Reload – Episode Aigis: The Answer Game Information
- Price: $34.99
- Publisher: SEGA
- Developer: Atlus
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
