Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis Evaluation (PS5)

Episode Aigis is an epilogue to Persona 3 Reload — a remake of the extra situation that first appeared in Persona 3 FES on the PS2. Very similar to Reload itself, this enlargement is just about a one-to-one recreation by way of core narrative and construction, however it’s bolstered by the entire remake’s high quality of life and fight system enhancements. This makes the expertise a lot simpler to abdomen on a mechanical degree, because the dungeon-based tour typically felt like a critical slog again in its authentic kind.

Having mentioned that, Episode Aigis nonetheless revolves round dungeon crawling nearly completely. The enlargement does away with the social aspect of the Persona components, and easily duties gamers with attending to the underside of a brand new, Tartarus-like creation. As you progress, story beats try and hold you hooked, as your SEES get together members are pressured to unravel the reality of this recent trial, with you taking up the position of mechanical companion Aigis.

The plot offers with some intriguing character-driven themes, however the pacing is an actual sticking level. For a lot of the journey, you are fed scraps of what can barely be referred to as exposition, with the precise character growth locked behind a number of grinding. It is a tall order contemplating your ranges and gear do not carry over from the bottom recreation; you are successfully ranging from the underside once more, albeit with a wider roster of get together members available.

You have to ask your self whether or not the grind is price it; whether or not your enjoyment of Reload’s dungeon crawling is sufficient to justify one other 20 hours of typically paper-thin and generally frustratingly contrived storytelling. For what it is price, Episode Aigis does supply a better problem than the core launch — one thing that will enchantment to extra hardcore gamers. However even then, the enlargement is priced at $34.99 / £28.99 — and that feels costly for what’s, basically, a brand new dungeon populated with reused enemy property.

Episode Aigis is one for the tremendous followers. Its worthwhile story beats are uncommon and buried beneath a number of all-too-familiar dungeon crawling, and it is undeniably costly by way of asking value. At finest, it is an intriguing however flawed epilogue; at worst, it is a fully pointless addition to a incredible recreation.