There has been a lot ofPersonacontent over the last several years.Since the release ofPersona 5back in 2017, the franchise has seen exponential growth in the West, and it keeps getting bigger with every subsequent spin-off or re-release. The growth it has seen has brought excitement forPersona 6to something of a boil, but there are other things that Atlus could do before the sixth main entry releases. Namely, Atlus should bring backPersona 3as either a remaster or a full-blown remake.
While fans are looking forward toPersona 6, it might do Atlus a lot of good to work on a way for them to experiencePersona 3on modern consoles. After all,Persona 5was a major step for the franchise in terms of breaking into more mainstream Western gaming, butPersona 3really started to pave the way for this breakthrough. There is a lot to be gained from fans revisitingPersona 3,and hopefully Atlus sees that potential.
RELATED:The Persona Franchise’s Central Themes Explained
Making Persona 3 Widely Available
As with any longstanding gaming franchise, older entries are often hard to come by.Persona 3was originally released on the PlayStation 2, and unfortunately it isn’t particularly easy to find a physical copy because the franchise wasn’t the smash-hit it would eventually become. What’s more, even if someone were to find a copy, finding a TV compatible with the PS2 might be another hurdle further preventing fans from playing the game.
A PSP version was released that faces a similar issue as the PS2 version, and although the game is available on the PlayStation Network for PS3, there are plenty of issues with acquiring the game that way too. Playing older games on their original hardware just isn’t feasible, and Atlus shouldn’t expect fans to be able to hunt down and purchase multiple expensive items just to play earlier entries in thePersonafranchise.
Persona 3deserves to be played and made widely available to fans and newcomers alike. There has been a lot of speculation regarding where each game in thePersonaseries is going to release next, as the mainline games have been exclusively on PlayStation butcertainPersonaspin-offs were released on other platforms, meanwhile others get cross-platform releases. It’s confusing to say the least, but no matter wherePersona 3is published, it would do a great service for fans who are looking to play through the whole franchise.
Just last year,Persona 4: Goldenreceived a PC port that ended up selling welldespite coming out the same year asPersona 5 Royal. Although it wasn’t released on any modern consoles, the game introduced plenty of fans ofPersona 5to an older entry in the series. IfPersona 3were to receive similar treatment, it would do a lot for the preservation of the game while continuing to build hype for the franchise.
RELATED:Perfect Crossovers for Persona 5’s Morgana After Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania
Whetting Fans' Appetites Before Persona 6
Although there is no shortage ofPersonacontent releasing every year, some fans are starting to grow tired of the near-constant focus Atlus seems to have onPersona 5’s cast of Phantom Thieves.Persona 5was a major hit and continues to be extraordinarily popular, but since the game’s initial release there have been four separate titles featuring Joker and crew. None of the games have been poorly received, but asPersona 4: Goldenpointed out with its PC sales numbers, there’s merit in exploring other aspects of the series.
Instead of constantly adding toPersona 5’s lore and world, it would be worth Atlus' time to givePersona 3a chance to shine once more. There are a few different versions of the game as it also received a PSP port and a “Royal/Golden”-style expansion calledPersona 3 FES, but no matter which edition makes the cut, fans would be able to sink their teeth into it whilewaiting forPersona 6. Because the game would be new to a lot of fans who have only discovered the franchise in recent years, it would likely go over well and give Atlus more time to work on the next mainline entry.
Continuing the Growth of the Persona Franchise
No matter the game, whenever a remastered edition or a remake gets revealed there is plenty of buzz for the title. GivenPersona’s mainstream statusas “must-play JRPGs,” if aPersona 3remaster or remake were to be announced, it’s likely that would help the series continue to grow in the same wayPersona 4: Golden’s PC port did. Fans new and old would rush to play an olderPersonagame that has since been made nearly impossible to access.
It seems more likely that a remaster forPersona 3could release beforeP6rather than a full-blown remake, as the resources required to make a remaster are much less. No matter what sort of reissuePersona 3gets, it would likely be received well. As stated above, there are a few different versions of the game with fans having their own preferences about which is best, but most can agree that no matter which version gets a new coat of paint, it would do the franchise well.
