Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis – Review

Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis serves as a poignant and emotionally complex epilogue to the main game, exploring the aftermath of grief and the search for closure. A remake of The Answer, the epilogue chapter of 2006’s Persona 3, which was remade as this year’s Persona 3 Reload,  it may not be a gameplay revolution, but it masterfully ties up loose ends and expands upon the story of Persona 3 Reload, giving players more time with the beloved SEES crew while shining a spotlight on the android Aigis as she grapples with loss and leadership.

From the get-go, it’s important to note that while Persona 3 Reload is required to access this  DLC (downloadable content), Episode Aigis is a standalone experience that can be launched without having completed or even started on the base game. However, diving into it before finishing the main story is ill-advised, as this DLC directly picks up where it ends, filled with significant spoilers and a continuation of its story.

At its core, Episode Aigis isn’t just about the dungeon-crawling role-playing game experience (though there’s plenty of it), but about how the characters process their grief. In fact, the story beats in Episode Aigis are the DLC’s strongest elements — Aigis, the female android, and her companions are stuck in a time loop, forced to confront their sorrow again and again, until they can finally find the answers they seek. The story unfolds through cutscenes at the end of each dungeon block, offering glimpses into critical moments from the characters’ pasts.

Placing Aigis in a leadership role provides a fresh perspective on the SEES team’s emotional journey. Aigis’s arc is especially compelling as she wrestles with the weight of her loss while simultaneously stepping up to guide her comrades. In addition, her relationship with Metis, a mysterious android newcomer, adds layers to the narrative. While Metis herself remains somewhat underdeveloped, her role as a foil to Aigis helps drive home the DLC’s emotional stakes, showcasing the internal conflict of grief in a deeply personal way.

While the narrative is moving, Episode Aigis is not without its flaws, particularly when it comes to the gameplay. The turn-based combat system remains largely the same as in the base game; the calm and cool Mitsuru muses about a couple of hours into Episode Aigis, “It’s like Tartarus all over again,” referencing the expansive dungeon from the main game.

Battles are still enjoyable and appear to be more challenging than the base game, catering to players who enjoyed the turn-based mechanics but craved a higher difficulty. However, the monotonous grind can feel repetitive, especially without the time management or social sim elements that balance out the combat in the main game. As a result, the dungeon-crawling can sometimes feel like padding to extend the game’s runtime. That said, the emotional payoff in the final hours is well worth the effort, delivering some of the series’ most powerful moments.

Visually, Episode Aigis shines thanks to Persona 3 Reload’s upgraded graphics and quality-of-life improvements. The art is crisp with fluid animation, even on the pause screen. The dungeons are beautifully rendered, battles are slick and dynamic, and the new remixes of the original soundtrack breathe fresh life into familiar tunes. The presentation elevates the story’s emotional weight, making the experience all the more immersive.

In the end, Episode Aigis is a fitting conclusion to Persona 3 Reload’s already bittersweet ending. It may not revolutionise the gameplay, but its deeply affecting narrative, strong character development, and emotional resonance make it a rich experience for fans. Those willing to push through the repetitive dungeons will be rewarded with a moving and meaningful story about grief, healing, and finding a way to move forward.