Excitement and anxiety filled fans when Persona 3 Reload was announced. Since the original Persona 3 release in 2006, the RPG has seen two iterations in the form of Persona 3 FES and Persona 3 Portable, each with exclusive content not available in the other. While FES featured a playable epilogue called The Answer, Portable introduced a female protagonist.
For years, fans have been craving a definitive version of Persona 3 that combined content from both FES and Portable. With Persona 3 Reload, Atlus had the opportunity to fulfill this wish. Part of it came true with Episode Aigis: The Answer, a remake of The Answer included in Reload.
In a recent session, Digital Trends spent an hour with Episode Aigis, noting its focus on combat over social mechanics as a refreshing change. However, the DLC almost didn’t materialize. Producer Kazuhisa Wada revealed in an interview that the team nearly abandoned its development.
Breaking the cycle
Episode Aigis continues from the conclusion of Persona 3 Reload, where the characters are trapped in a time loop. Players control Aigis, a dedicated robotic member of the team, rather than the original protagonist. The arrival of Metis, who claims to be Aigis’ sister, sets off a thrilling expansion with a gripping start.
As the story progresses, Metis teams up with SEES to break the time loop, leading them into new dungeons under the dorms. The revamp of the original art style in Reload includes a significant change where SEES members wear red armbands with numbers, signifying the order of joining. However, Metis’ armband remains numberless, symbolizing her temporary role exclusive to the expansion.
Aigis’ combat style, focusing on ranged shooting, offers players more range for attacks compared to the sword-wielding protagonist. While the shooting mechanic appears less impactful, it adds a unique element to gameplay. The absence of social mechanics in Episode Aigis may disappoint some players, but the intriguing story and Metis’ mystery aim to hold their interest.
The episode that almost never was
Wada, with a long history with Persona 3 characters, almost abandoned Episode Aigis
While the remake of the female protagonist for Reload seems unlikely due to resource constraints, fans’ persistent requests could potentially sway Atlus. Persona 3 Reload Episode Aigis: The Answer is set to launch on September 10, offering fans a chance to prolong their time with the charming cast.
