ATLUS revealed several new details about Persona 3 Reload including new Tartarus mechanics, Shuffle Time, and more Social Links. In addition, ATLUS revealed more information about S.E.E.S members Akihiko Sanada, Mitsuru Kirijo, and Fuuka Yamagishi.
Persona 3 Reload is a remake of the original Persona 3 game with several major improvements, newly arranged music, new story cutscenes and episodes, and much more. Moreover, Tartarus has been updated extensively as detailed in ATLUS’s latest Persona Channel blog post about the game.
A Newly Improved Tartarus in Persona 3 Reload (Updated With English Screenshots via ATLUS)
Tartarus is a giant labyrinth that only appears during the Dark Hour, a hidden time that exists between one day and the next and can’t be recognized by normal users. Various graphical improvements and new elements have been developed for Tartarus in Persona 3 Reload.
Players may now dash in Tartarus to move faster than normal, and an auto recover button has been added to restore party to full HP instantly. Outfits may be freely changed from the menu this time around. Moreover, Tartarus is now filled with destructible objects. By destroying objects, players can obtain recovery items and Twilight Fragments, which are used to unlock treasure chests and recover HP/SP at the entrance clock.
After a battle, players may be given the option to perform reconnaissance. This will allow the player to send out one member of the party to search for a route to the next floor in Tartarus. Allies that are sent out will meet up on the next floor and hand over items they’ve collected. Players should also be on the lookout for missing persons that wander into Tartarus. Rescuing these people may yield rewards at a later date.
Further, Golden Rare Shadows may appear within Tartarus. These Shadows will attempt to flee as soon as they are spotted, but players who manage to initiate combat and defeat them will earn a large amount of EXP and money. Players are in luck if they find a giant Rare Shadow since it will drop additional items.
The Reaper will appear if players wander on the same floor for too long. A normal party will not be able to fight off against the Reaper, so players should flee unless they are thoroughly prepared.
Persona 3 Reload’s Shuffle Time and New Tartarus Passages
Shuffle Time may occur after winning a battle. During Shuffle Time, players may select a card to gain a bonus or new Persona. A Major Arcana may sometimes appear with unique effects such as increased EXP and bonus damage from All-Out Attacks. An Arcana Burst will occur after the maximum number of Major Arcana cards are obtained. Arcana Burst causes the Minor Arcana cards to yield greater effects.
A huge door known as the Monad Door will now appear sometimes while exploring Tartarus in Persona 3 Reload. Beyond the door, a powerful Shadow guards a rare treasure chest. Winning the battle will trigger a special Shuffle Time with Major Arcana Cards. Furthermore, a Monad Passage may sometimes appear in Tartarus. Monad Passages are long passageways filled with powerful Shadows containing rare loot such as powerful weapons, character costumes, and other items not found in treasure chests.
S.E.E.S Members Akihiko, Mitsuru, and Fuuka
Akihiko Sanada (Japanese CV: Hikaru Midorikawa, English CV: Alejandro Saab)
- Weapon: Fists
- Persona: Polydeuces
- Skill Specialty: Electric/Strike attacks
- Therugy: Lightning Sphere
As the captain of the boxing club, Akihiko uses his fists in battle. With the power of the Persona Polydeuces, he specializes in attacks with Electric and Strike affinities. His Therugy Skill, Lightning Sphere, deals high Electric damage to all enemies while negating Electric resistance.
Mitsuru Kirijo (Japanese CV: Rie Tanaka, English CV: Allegra Clark)
- Weapon: Sword
- Persona: Penthesilea
- Skill Specialty: Ice Attacks
- Therugy: Blizzard Edge
Mitsuru fights with a sword as a skilled member of the fencing club. She wields the Persona Penthesilea and specializes in Ice-based skills. Her Therugy Skill, Blizzard Edge, deals massive Ice damage on one enemy while negating Ice resistance.
Fuuka Yamagishi (Japanese CV: Mamiko Noto, English CV: Suzie Yeung)
- Persona: Lucia
- Skill Specialty: Support Skills
- Therugy: Oracle
Although she’s not a combatant, Fuuka lends her support with various skills with the Persona Lucia. Her skills range from checking enemy attributes to assisting exploration. Her Therugy Skill, Oracle, gives a random positive effect to all allies.
Pressing the Navi button while exploring allows players to activate Fuuka’s Support Skills. These skills include Jamming, Shock Noise, and Sylphid Aura. Jamming hides the party from enemies, Shock Noise throws enemies into chaos, and Sylphid Aura strengthens the party when entering battles. These skills require SP to activate.
More Returning Social Links
President of the TV Mail Order Channel, President Tanaka (Japanese CV: Bin Shimada, English CV: Patrick Seitz)
President Tanaka is rapidly growing his business thanks to unique sales pitches and a catchy theme song. He’s money hungry with a strange philosophy for business and management. Tanaka plans to use the protagonist as a talent.
Unconventional Monk Mutatsu (Japanese CV: Shin Aomori, English CV: Aaron Laplante)
Mutatsu is a brash monk that shows up at Club Escapade. He may be seen smoking a cigar and wearing a gold ring, giving an impression that’s contradictory to devout monks. He’s a good speaker, and he lectures the protagonist about values.
Another School’s Ace Mamoru Hayase (Japanese CV: Yuichiro Umehara, English CV: Yong Yea)
Mamoru is the ace of another school’s track and field team. As a talented athlete, he gained attention on a national level, and he’s been approached by universities and professional clubs. Mamoru notices the protagonist’s talent at the track and field club’s summer tournament, recognizing him as a rival.
Online Maya
Maya is the first player that the protagonist meets in the online game Devil Buster’s Online. She’s a woman in red that names the protagonist’s character Tatsuya and pairs up with him for adventures. She logs on and waits for the protagonist to show up on her free days.
Shrine Girl Maiko Ohashi (Japanese CV: Hiyori Kono, English CV: Grace Lu)
Maiko is a young girl that spends time at the park near Naganaki Shrine after school. She’s uneasy about her parents since they are constantly fighting and nearing a divorce. As a result, she doesn’t want to head back home. Maiko sees the protagonist as her older brother.
A Young Man with Little Time Left to Live Akinari Kamiki (Japanese CV: Hirofumi Nojima, English CV: Lucien Dodge)
Akinari is a dying young man that sits in a bench near the Naganaki Shrine. He’s suffering from an incurable disease, so he rests at home on weekdays and visits the shrine on weekends. Akinari wants to leave proof of his life behind through stories, which the protagonist reads as he writes them.
The Old Couple at a Used Bookstore Mitsuko Kitamura (Japanese CV: Sanae Takagi, English CV: Susanne Blakeslee) and Bunkichi Kitamura (Japanese CV: Naoki Tatsuta, English CV: Andre Sogliuzzo)
Mitsuko and Bunkichi are an old married couple who own a used bookstore at the Iwatodai Station shopping district. Although he’s slightly out of touch, Bunkichi is cheerful and friendly. Mitsuko is kind and steady, supporting Bunkichi and the bookstore. Several years ago, they lost their only son who worked at Gekkoukan High School and nurtured a persimmon tree in the school’s courtyard.
Mail Invites
After school or on free days, the protagonist may receive invitations to hang out with Social Link characters.
Lastly, Persona 3 Reload releases February 2, 2024 across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Windows. The game will be available at no additional cost with Xbox Game Pass on launch day.
