Summary
- Persona 3 Reload eases player stress with activities like Elizabeth hangouts that don't consume in-game time slots.
- Persona 6 should learn from Persona 5 Royal and Persona 3 Reload by offering non-time-consuming activities for players.
- Future games in the Persona series should balance content and player freedom by incorporating limited-time activities wisely.
One of the most difficult parts of Persona 3 Reload is managing the free time granted to the player during each in-game day, given the wide number of activities they can participate in during this limited time frame. Between hanging out with Social Links in Persona 3 Reload, working part-time to raise the player's social stats, progressing through Tartarus, and many other activities, it can be overwhelming trying to decide how to manage this limited free time. However, players don't have to worry about time passing during their hangouts with Persona 3 Reload's Elizabeth, since outings with her follow a trend started by Persona 5 Royal.
The Persona series' iconic calendar system is a core part of its modern entries, and Persona 6 will likely continue this trend. Players are usually given two slots of free time each in-game day: one during the day after school and one in the evening, although the availability of this free time can change based on in-game events on certain days. However, both Persona 3 Reload and Persona 5 Royal offer players certain activities that don't take up one of these free time slots, giving players more flexibility in their schedule that Persona 6 should build upon.
Persona 3 Reload's Elizabeth Hangouts are Generous with the Player's Time
Although Elizabeth isn't a Social Link like other characters in Persona 3 Reload, players still get the opportunity to spend time with her, taking her on excursions outside the Velvet Room so she can experience the real world for herself. In order to unlock these outings, players will need to complete a set number of Elizabeth's requests before they become available. Luckily, these hangouts with Elizabeth don't take up any of the limited time players have in the day, so they are free to spend time with her whenever she becomes available.
Persona 5 Royal started this generous trend of including activities that didn't take up a time slot in the player's daily schedule. While several locations offer non-time-consuming activities, Persona 5 Royal's Leblanc introduced a handful of useful activities to help players raise their social stats without expending any of their available free time. Activities like watering the houseplant or doing the crossword puzzle increase the player's Kindness and Knowledge stats, respectively, making it easier to unlock future content gated behind certain social stat requirements.
Persona 6 Should Follow Persona 3 Reload and Persona 5 Royal's Lead with Fewer Time-Consuming Activities
Persona 6 will be in the tough position of having to build upon the immense amount of content available in both Persona 5 Royal and Persona 3 Reload without overloading players with choices during their limited free time. To get around this issue, Persona 6 should follow in the footsteps of these previous entries with their approach to making certain activities not take up a time slot. Persona 3 Reload and Persona 5 Royal were already very generous with this mechanic, and Persona 6 could go one step further to make the calendar system even more approachable to players.
Spending time with the Velvet Room attendant in Persona 6 should go the same route as Persona 3 Reload as opposed to Persona 5 Royal. While spending time with Elizabeth in Persona 3 Reload didn't consume any free time, spending time with Caroline and Justine in Persona 5 Royal did take up a free time slot, likely because they were the Confidant of the Strength arcana. Depending on how many social stats are in Persona 6, the game should also follow Persona 5 Royal's lead and give players certain activities that can help increase their social stats without spending any free time to ensure they can access all content available in the game.
Persona 3 Reload
- Released
- February 2, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17 / Blood, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- P-Studio
- Franchise
- Persona
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, RPG, Life Simulation, Strategy
- How Long To Beat
- 65 hours
