Summary
After the success ofPersona 3 Reload, many fans are eager to see Atlus tackle remakes of some of the franchise’s older titles. The wayPersona 3 Reloadfaithfully adapts the characters, setting, and mechanics of the original release shows that Atlus is intent on preserving the core experience of their titles while updating their feel to be more approachable for modern audiences. This approach toPersona 3 Reloadbodes well for futurePersonaremakes to find a balance between remaining faithful to the original experience and still enhancing it to suit modern game design.
Despite having just releasedPersona 3 Reloadearlier this year, rumors that Atlus is planning to remake otherPersonatitles have already been circulating. According to credible Sega leaker Midori, Atlus is already working onremakes forPersona 1andPersona 2,with plans for aPersona 4remake to eventually happen as well. While it’s not clear how far along in development these titles are, fans likely have a good idea of what to expect from them based on how the developer handled the remake of the franchise’s third entry withPersona 3 Reload.
Some of the core elements ofPersona 3were given special attention inPersona 3 Reloadto ensure the game didn’t lose its original identity in the process of modernization.Tartarus, for example, is not a perfect recreation of the original, having new designs for its different blocks as well as new floor layouts. However, Atlus could have completely changed how Tartarus functioned based on the way it was criticized as repetitive in the original release, butPersona 3 Reloadinstead maintains the spirit of the original design while still providing fresh, new elements.
A big fear many fans have aboutAtlus tackling remakes of older titles likePersona 1andPersona 2is how they will handle the games' lack of the calendar system and social mechanics that the series has become known for. Atlus would face the tough decision of whether to try and incorporate these mechanics into a remake ofPersona 1andPersona 2, or leave them out like the originals did and risk alienating fans who prefer the newer titles. Given the developer’s track record withPersona 3 Reload, it seems like they are more likely to keep the spirit of the original games while polishing these mechanics to make them more accessible.
Persona 3 Reloaddoesn’t try to reinvent the wheel of the original release’s mechanics and instead chooses to polish them with additions that feel natural and like they would have been present if the original was made today. The addition offully-voiced Social Linksis a great example of howPersona 3 Reloadadds a layer of polish to an already great aspect of the original game. Combat enhancements like the Shift and Theurgy systems also feel like natural additions that make the game’s battles feel more approachable to newcomers.
Persona 1andPersona 2remakes would likely follow a similar route with their improvements, focusing on expanding the existing base of the games rather than reinventing them. Adding voiced dialogue to the games' characters would go a long way toward refreshing these games while still remaining faithful to the originals. Additionally,Persona 1andPersona 2remakes could feature a pseudo-Social Link mechanic similar to something likeFire Emblem’s Support systemthat adds new bonding scenes between characters depending on how players use them in combat to give the games more flavor and deepen their characters.
