Persona 3 Reload vs. Portable: Which Game Should You Get?

Persona 3 Reload is the remake I’ve waited years for. Since I picked up Persona 3 Portable for my PSP well over a decade ago, JRPGs have ruled my life. So, trying out the new remake of one of my favorite games of all time compared to Portable’s HD release in 2023, I think I have my answer of who wins when it comes to Persona 3 Reload vs. Portable.

Persona 3 Reload vs. Portable: Who Wins With Content?

To me, there are two main categories where these games battle out, especially since Reload clearly wins in the graphical department. That is the game’s contents and gameplay. When it comes to content, this is a bit of a mixed bag. I will admit Reload is not the truly definitive version of this game (at least not yet) since it lacks some notable content.

Currently, it lacks The Answer playable epilogue and the female main character (FeMC). If it were ever to receive either of those as DLC, it would win easily in this category. In all honesty, though, I somewhat prefer much of the content in Portable since it includes some welcome romances with certain party members and the female main character.

This is only slightly a victory for that game, though, as Reload does an admirable job of including intriguing content. For instance, this remake at least has part-time jobs. Plus, it has some welcome new ideas like buying software to use on the shared computer at the dorms and new social link-like encounters with characters like Akihiko. Overall, I would say it is almost a tie in terms of content for these two games.

Persona 3 Reload Wins When It Comes to Gameplay

In terms of Gameplay, this is where Persona 3 Reload runs away with almost everything, except in some key areas. Tartarus feels so much faster and more fun to explore, for the most part. The new shift system for switching between party members for one more attack mid-battle and other additional gameplay mechanics help battles feel modern and enjoyable.

In addition, the ability to fully explore this world again feels so much better than the cursor system in Portable and even better than the original full exploration in FES. Quality-of-life features like a simpler shuffle time also improve the overall experience of combat.

The only area where I lament the gameplay of this remake is how annoying it is to get money sometimes. It feels like much more of a chore to earn cash in Tartarus, so it required me to play smarter about it. Furthermore, healing at the clock at the entrance uses Twilight Fragments now instead of money. This makes it also harder to heal at times, making grinding Tartarus for long periods difficult. Still, Reload wins here despite these issues.

Which version is best for you?

At the end of the day, the battle of Persona 3 Reload vs Portable is here to determine which game works best for you. In all honesty, I completely agree with Jenni in her review of this remake in how this is the overall best way to experience Persona 3’s phenomenal cast and story. It isn’t perfect by any means, but it comes as close as we have gotten thus far to a near-definitive version.

I recommend that anyone who has never played Persona 3 pick up Reload and play it first. Afterward, you should then check out Portable once you have an itch to revisit the SEES cast. This way, you can play as the FeMC and see the other side of this tale that is missing from the 2024 remake.

Persona 3 Reload is now available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.