As I played this game, I kept asking myself one question. How am I meant to enjoy this? Not as a dig at the game, but as a consumer, what is this supposed to be for me?

I’ve previously played persona 3 FES, so I can’t experience it as my first voyage into this story, and even with all the new additions, it’s still largely the same product. So, what is persona 3 reload supposed to be for me?

Funnily enough, this question was answered by something that was already in the previous versions of the game. Shinjiro Aragaki. In my original FES run, I avoided him completely since I knew about his death. I didn’t use him in my party and I didn’t interact with him at all. Didn’t wanna get attached to someone I knew I was going to lose, but on a whim I decided to use him in my party when I got him for this playthrough. Once I started using him in my party, I started seeing the appeal of his character. Then I did his new hangout events and started really appreciating and enjoying his character, but his fate still lingered in the back of my mind. Was it really worth investing all this time and effort into someone who I’ll lose?

As I kept playing the game, I decided to try out some more social links I hadn’t finished in my original run, eventually running into Akinari. Another character whose fate I already knew about and had just never gotten around to starting. This is the point where everything clicked for me. His social link lets you know right off the bat that he’s going to die. There’s no saving him. Akinari WILL die, regardless of anything you do. “How is this any different from Shinji?” I thought. I know this man will die, so why am I motivated to spend time with him? The answer I came to involved every single party member, social link, and the game itself. All of these will eventually come to an end.

They don’t die, but you eventually have to get off the elevator. It’s just that some people step off a little earlier than you. Saying goodbye to all these doesn’t make them redundant or useless. Every moment I spent with these characters was my own choice. It wasn’t some IGN guide telling me how to max out everything and make the best use of my time. They would’ve told me to steer clear of using Shinji as a party member. Making these choices for myself, even if they’re not optimal made them matter all that much more. I chose to spend time with Shinji. I chose to accompany Akinari. I chose to spend time with all my party members, not because I wanted the personas you unlock from maxing out the social link, but because they deserved my time. I wasn’t crossing off items on a checklist, but instead I was spending time with friends.

So when I reached that final battle, when I squared off against Nyx, their words reached me. Every single moment I spent with them made it so I earned their support. But eventually, your time comes to step off the elevator. Your time ends with these characters and their world. Sometimes it leaves you wanting to spend more time with them, not ready to leave them behind, but you find that everyone who stepped off before you is already there, waiting for you.

That’s The Answer I reached. Even if you reach a different one than I did, I hope your ride is just as enjoyable as mine was