Wave 3 of Persona 3 Reload's expansion pass, Episode Aigis: The Answer, has received a release date reveal trailer. This section of the game will include more than 30 hours of new content and a new dungeon for players to explore as the?y navigate through an epilogue to the climactic?? main story.

Fans are excited to see this part of the game be reworked, as it quickly became one of the most controversial aspects of the original Persona 3 release. Many players have criticized the pacing of the story, as well as the overall difficulty spike of the original version of The Answer included with Persona 3 FES.

While The Answer was a controversial release, that didn't stop hungry fans from asking about it when Persona 3 Reload was first announced. Many assumed that the DLC would be missing from Reload until a surprise announcement confirmed it?? would be coming?.

Although gamers have come to disagree about the way that Persona 3 Reload changes up gameplay in its own ways with the inclusion of Theurgy attacks and changes to each character's toolkit, the overall outlook from the fando??m is optimism at a chance to see this story executed? in a way that feels more natural.

Additional excitement stems from the fact that a Reload recomposition of the FES version of Mass Destruction can be heard in this trailer. The trailer also shows off some dungeon expl?oration, Aigis' new all-out-attack screen, and a sliver of information about Metis, a focal character in this expansion.

Although some players are still holding out hope to see the female protagonist from Persona 3 Portable be included as a DLC somewhere down the road, most of the fandom is just happy to see The Answer be included in Persona 3 Reload, since it was p??itched to gamers as a faith??ful remake.

Episode Aigis is the third and final wave of DLC for Persona 3 Reload and will be released on September 10, 2024. Interested players can purchase it via their respective stores. Additionally, X??box Game Pass members have the opportunity to claim Episode Aigis as a Perk th??rough January 31, 2025.

The post Persona 3 Reload’s The Answer expansion gets a release date appeared first on Destructoid.

Sony has added a new demo, or game trial as it likes to call them, for Persona 3 Reload to its PlayStation Plus service, so Premium tier s??ubscribers can play its first three h??ours at no extra cost. It's an offer that has been met with scrutiny and mockery from fans online, and they're not exactly wrong.

Take a quick look through reactions to developer Atlus' announcement for the trial on Twitter, and you'll see many fans argue that three hours is not enough time for something like Persona 3 Reload. The game has a pretty slow start and is front-loaded with a lot of cutscenes and story set-up. ?You likely won't reach your first instance of combat and?? dungeon exploring until you're over an hour in, and that's if you don't spend too much time wandering around the school area beforehand. You can save a lot of time by skipping cutscenes, but then how are you supposed to tell if you'll like its cast of characters and story? This also doesn't leave much room to get to grips with other important mechanics, like the Social Links and fusing Personas.

Plenty have also drawn direct comparisons with Microsoft's offer on Xbox Game Pass, which lets you play Persona 3 Reload in its entirety. It's not even as if Sony's offer is distinctly cheaper. In fact, it's ever so slightly more expensive; one month of Game Pass is $16.99, while one month of PS Plus Premium is $17.99. If you're curious about trying out Persona 3 Reload, you may as well do so via Xbox.

Granted, not everyone can afford to own both a PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and there's no harm in at least giving the trial a go if you're a PS5 owner who's already subscribed to PS Plus Premium. However, these time limits Sony imposes on its game trials ultimately prevent you from really taking your time with them. The constant ticking clock means you're forced to rush through as much of the game as possible, which doesn't do a good job of demonstrating what the game's actually like to play casually. This isn't so bad for games that quickly throw you into the thick of it, but RPGs like Persona 3 Reload certainly need a lot more than three hours.

Perhaps an ideal compromise would be to limit the demos to a certain number of days. I imagine Sony doesn't already do this out of fear of players speeding through an entire game so they don't have to buy it; remember, these trials grant access to the full game, not a small portion of it. This obviously wouldn't be great for shorter games, but maybe there could be an exception for the longer ones, like Persona 3 Reload. Even if it was only a two o?r three-day limit, that's more than enough time for someone to get a proper understanding of the game and decide if they want to keep going. Or maybe just make it a normal demo that has an exact cut-off point; one that still lets you continue your progress into the full game.

Sony probably won't be changing its approach to handling PS Plus trials any time soon, but it's offers like this that frankly don't make them feel like much of a bonus for paying for a Premium subscription. Admittedly, the biggest selling point for the Premium tier is the catalog of retro PlayStation games, but that's not an especially impres????sive line-up either.

If you're not a PS Plus subscriber, don't have access to an Xbox, but do want to give Persona 3 Reload a shot, it's probably better to wait for it to go on sale than subscribe for just three hours of game time. In fact, at the time of writing, Persona 3 Reload on PS5 i??s available? at a discount digitally for $48.99, but only until June 6.

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Xbox Game P?ass is like walking into a candy store. There are so many different options to choose from when it comes to its game selectio??n, and some of the best games on Xbox Game Pass can be hard to spot. Every month more quality titles are added and at the end of the day the service has quickly become one of the best value subscriptions in video games.

Some need acquired tastes like liquorice (Dordogne), while many others will enjoy a beloved, comfortable chocolate bar (Minecraft). However, ??there's a good chance you'll find something to sate?? your palette in Microsoft's rolling digital library. Here are the 13 best games on Xbox Game Pass right now.

[Updated: November 2024]

Best Xbox Game Pass Games on Xbox and PC

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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Dead Island 2 - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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Stellaris - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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Inscryption - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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Age of Mythology: Retold - PC, Xbox Series X|S

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Octopath Traveler 2 - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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No Man's Sky - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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Tales of Arise - PC, Xbox Series X|S

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Those seeking adventure should look towards The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This (take a deep breath) 12-year-old game (breathe out) still has a fervent fanbase, and is still played to this day for good reason. There are many weapons, armor, spells, and even dragon shouts to find across the open world. There are also branching side quests that in and of themselves have deep, fascinating stories and characters behind them. You should take an arrow in the knee in this game and explore the grand landscapes of Skyr??im with Xbox Game Pass. The Special Edition also comes with all of the DLC.

Halo Infinite - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

In my opinion, Halo Infinite gets way too much flak. This entry was my first step into the series, and I was floored by this sci-fi experience. Each weapon in Master Chief's arsenal feels powerful, but in the frantic first-person shooter levels, you're scrounging for whatever you can find, adding to the tension of battle. Finding improved weapons from the tough bosses you kill in the open world is gratifying, and the world itself truly grabbed me. The storyline with Master Chief saving the UNSC and the world on the brink is also thrilling to experience. The multiplayer, to me, feels dated with tired map design and modes, but the single-player campai?gn is the main attraction.

Hi-Fi Rush - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Hi-Fi Rush is one of the best Xbox exclusives in years. It combines thrilling action combat with engaging music rhythm gameplay to create a unique melee-focused experience. You play as a unique, clumsy protagonist, trying to save the day from Vandelay Technologies' evil leader. The slapstick is on point, and the script is laugh-out-loud hilarious. The action is also fantastic as you switch between the powers of your allies and string together combos on your foes.  You also can't forget the stand-out music selection in Hi-Fi Rush with rock hits from Nine Inch ?Nails, The Prodigy, and The Black Keys.

Minecraft - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

There's not much else to be said about Minecraft but I'll try my best. It's a worldwide phenomenon for a reason as it allows players to build their own structures, craft their own items, and explore a randomly generated world. Building with your friends is a lot of fun, and many players have created amazing buildings throughout the years like Hogwarts from Harry Potter. Someone even made a working 3D graphing calculator. This game is great for kids, as it lets them show their creative side and figure out how to build materials in the game. Despite existing for over a decade, the game is still getting updates and DLC based on Mega Man X and SpongeBob SquarePants. 

Monster Hunter Rise - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

After many years of struggling to get into the series, Monster Hunter Rise finally got me on the saddle. Alongside your friends, you're taking down monstrous beasts, collecting the??ir materials, fur, etc, and then crafting incredible gear for your player. It's a rewarding game loop that keeps you playing for hours? on end.

There's a strategy to each battle, and you need to keep your wits about you to survive in some of these encounters. Ultimately, it's Monster Hunter's new maneuverability of the wirebugs that lets you zip from place to place like Indiana Jones' whip that really made it click for me. You can also mount your pet palamute, letting you get to the battle quicker. It's one of the best games on Xbox Game Pass because of how gratifying collecting resource??s and physically seeing your character getting stronger is.

Persona 3 Reload - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Atlus' Persona 3 Reload is a fantastic way to get into the series or continue your love for the JRPG franchise. It's a complete remake of the PS2 gem that some fans argue is the best Persona game. Expect engaging turn-based combat revolving around collecting shadows, a provoking, dark story, and plenty of wonderful characters to meet along the way. The visual improvements are a stand-out with stunning UI and a complete uplift on the same level as Persona 5 Royal.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has been out for almost five years now, and I'm still surprised when anyone tells me that they'v?e finished it.

This game’s absolutely massive, taking place in a stunning Greek-inspired open world. You can tell Ubisoft did its research with the spectacular architecture and intriguing culture to be found in the game. Kassandra (one of the two possible playable characters) is one of the best protagonists in the series; she has spunk, charming humor, and an overall badassery that few other Assassin’s Creed heroes can match. The story also takes twists and turns you’ll find fascinating. Oh, and the combat’s thril??ling with a deep customization syste??m alongside it.

Dordogne - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

If you’re fatigued from the intense FPS gameplay of most triple-A games, Dordogne is a fantastic palette cleanser. This game features a beautiful watercolor-like art style and a compelling narrative that tells the story of a woman’s childhood. It’s charming and adorab??le, but there’s an element of drama in the background that continues to grow as the game proceeds.

You’ll also interact with the environmen??t in unique ways. Don’t miss out on this Fr?ench indie game!

Celeste - PC, Xbox One

It's not often that a game truly moves me, but by the end of Celeste, I wept like a baby. Celeste was completely out of my comfort zone. It's a punishing platformer that tests your skills, and typi??cally I don't have the patience for something like this. However, the challenging gameplay comes hand-in-hand with the storyline. As Madeline, you're trying to overcome your anxiety, and as you climb the mountai??n, she's pushing herself.

With anxiety and depression myself, this game strongly connected with me like no other did. Also, it will help others understand a foundation of what it's like to deal with symptoms like this daily. You also can't forget about Lena Raine's extraordinary soundtrack for Celeste.

Forza Horizon 5 - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

One of the best driving games available on Xbox Game Pass is Forza Horizon 5. Variety is the spice of life and this is what you get with this Forza title. You're exploring volcanoes, the desert, beaches, Mexican towns, and even wintry mountain landscapes within Forza Horizon 5. There are also many cars to unlock as you complete challenges, earn cash, and get the best times around the open world. If you love outstanding graphics to test on your Xbox Series X or PC, Forza Horizon 5 is a grand tou?r-de-force to show off your lovely 4K TV.

Best Xbox Game Pass PC Exclusive Games

StarCraft Remastered and StarCraft 2 Campaign - PC Only

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Against the Storm - PC Only

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The post Top 20 best games on Xbox Game Pass right now appeared first on Destructoid.

During today's Xbox Partner Showcase, Atlus revealed Persona 3 Reload Episode Aigis, The Answer, will in fact be coming to the RPG after all. It will be part of a 3-wave Expansion Pass for Persona 3 Reload that includes BGM sets and Velvet costumes as well. While the cosmetic content releases next week and in May, ????The Answer releases in September.

Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass

The Expansion Pass is split into three waves. The first wave releases on March 12 and includes a Persona 5 Royal EX BGM Set and a Persona 4 Golden EX BGM Set. Then, in May, Expansion Pass owners will receive the Velvet Costume cosmetics and a new BGM Set. Finally sometime in September, Episode Aigis, The Answer, will be released. The Answer is essentially post-ending DLC to Persona 3 which expands ??the story and adds some new content as well.

Surely, not everyone is going to be happy with this news. For starters, many were shocked to see that Persona 3 Reload would? not include The Answer in the base game. Also, choosing to bundle it into an Expansion Pass that features some music?? and a few costumes with a $35 price tag seems a bit steep when the base game was already $70.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will get access to the Expansion Pass? for free through January 31, 2025.

Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass will be availabl?e starting March 12 when the first BGM wave drops. It will cost $34.99 and be available on Steam, Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.

The post Persona 3 Reload getting an Expansion Pas??s ??featuring The Answer from Persona 3 FES appeared first on Destructoid.

The outstanding Persona 3 Reload sales have led to it being the fastest-selling Atlus game in its history. One million copies of Persona 3 Reload were sold in its first week, according to Atlus.

"Persona 3 Reload sold 1,000,000 copies worldwide within its first week, becoming the fastest-selling game in ATLUS history!" said Atlus West on its Facebook page. "A huge thank? you to our community for your incredible support!" Additionally, the publisher seems confident about its future lineup because it says "We look forw??ard to breaking more records with you" in the message as well.

Despite the game being available on Xbox Game Pass day one, that doesn't seem to have affected it??s sales in the slight??est. In fact, the potential word of mouth may have even helped.

Reception seems to be positive, too. On Steam, the current review score is Overwhelmingly Positive with a 97% rating. Additionally, it has an 88 Metacritic score from 61 critics as of the time of writing.

Persona 3 Reload is an updated version of the original PS2 game, for better or for worse. It has an all-new UI, a talented voice cast, updated graphics similar to Persona 5, and both remade tracks and new music. It also lets you control all of your party members during battle rather than the AI taking measures into its own hands. The Persona 3 Reload sales prove there's still interest in this gang's adventure??s in Tartarus and beyond.

The post Pe?rsona 3 Reload becomes fastest selling game in Atlus history appeared first on Destructoid.

I would have loved Persona 3 Reload when I was 14. Around there, I'd say I was most in love with the series, and Persona 3 stood at the top. I'd go as far as saying that with the first NieR and Metal Gear Solid 3, Persona helped? shape what I thought stories in games could be.

It's no longer 2013, and more stories have come along that further shaped my tastes. I've admittedly fallen out of love with Atlus due to being relatively disappointed by more recent releases. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim might rank among my favorite games ever, but it only published that title with Vanillaware developing. While I regard some of Atlus' RPGs among my favorites, revisiting Persona 3 came with a worry I didn't feel? with any other remake I'v?e played.

When seeing Persona 3 Reload's inclusions, it made me worry that it'd just be a cleaner release with a few of my issues from prior versions resolved. Now that I've finally played it, my prevailing thought is that I'm playing the best release of Persona 3's worst version. There are genuine improvements?? here, but ??there's always this feeling that something's missing, stopping it from feeling close to its definitive version.

Persona 3 Reload (PlayStation 5 [reviewed], Xbox Series X|S, Steam)
Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Sega
Released: February 2, 2024
MSRP: $69.99

The never-ending climb

Something I can genuinely praise Persona 3 Reload for is how fun combat is. It took its successors' improvements and built upon them even more. This means that while it lacks some elements introduced in Persona 5, Reload recontextualizes others in a meaningful way.

Baton Pass is now Shift and functionally remains the sa??me, but is as sl?ick as ever to use. Nothing's more satisfying than striking an enemy's weakness and then using Shift to attack with another party member who has another foe's weakness.

Showtime also returns as Theurgy and is?? significantly better here. Instead of activating somewhat randomly, e?ach character has a Theurgy gauge that fills when accomplishing specific actions that relate to that character's personality. One character might have theirs filled from aiding party members, while another might need to strike weaknesses.

Another improvement I've seen is how boss encounters are handled. I revisited Persona 3 Portable at a point where my playthrough overlapped with the one in Reload. I ended up fighting the same boss in both versions, getting a direct look at how the versions compare. While I cheesed the boss in Portable due to its surprising lack of resistances and having an overpowered persona, the same boss in Reload had some tension. There were more resistances to account for, and I had to reinvent my strategy! It was honestly a moment Reload shined for me ev??en if it was an incidental moment.

It's not as easy to farm stat-boosting cards in Reload, and fights that needed updating got just that. Ba?lancing combat is a specif?ic area it really seems the developers made significant efforts to improve upon the original.

The biggest improvement for me in Persona 3 Reload's combat is having the Kouha and Eiha spells from Persona 5. It's small?, but it makes the light and dark?? elements consistently useful, and I love them.

I would say Reload is an overall easier time than FES and about the same as Portable. This comes down to having the direct party control lacking in the original Persona 3 and FES while remaining a more balanced experience than Portable.

What I'm less in love with is how other parts of Reload handle its source material.? It do??esn't introduce new issues, but some old ones persist.

Too much time on my hands

Exploration and free time in Persona 3 Reload remain fundamentally unchange?d from the previous versi?ons. It's around here where I find the remake lacking some of its potential.

Compared to Persona 5's Tokyo or Persona 4's Inaba, Tatsumi Port Island doesn't have much to do. Reload improves?? it by expanding the activities, but only in the dorm.

These new dorm activities are nice and give extra opportunities for players to hang out with party members. They range from cooking and gardening to watching TV and reading and offer anything from boosting social stats to gaining new items, which are small but ??nice rewards.

If done enough times with specific party members, they even offer a new passive buff corresponding to the character. Yukari, for instance, will have healing spells that?????????????????????????? cost less MP while Aigis' physical abilities strengthen.

There's also a communal computer, but it's almost a non-factor since programs and online links unlock at a snail's pace. I like the potential for something like ?this returning in a future entry with more of a focus on unlocking new items in stores and combat maneuvers.

Players also have access to the Iwatodi Strip Mall at? night, giving more opportunities to boost social stats. This is with previously available activ??ities such as working in Changall Cafe and hanging out with specific characters.

While having nighttime activities is helpful, it?? makes it easier to max out all social stats relatively early. I??t's an ironic drawback that giving more options makes most of them redundant sooner, but it's an inclusion I still appreciate.

Where my issues with exploration start arising is with how Tartarus was handled. In Reload and the previous releases, this massive tower works as a mega-dungeon that pl?ayers spend the entire game working? through.

An issue that persisted throughout every Persona 3 version is that Tartarus just plain sucked. Each block present didn't have an individual theme so much as they offered different colore?d randomized corridors to trudge through.

Reload gives the blocks their own theme, but this upgrades them to be slightly better than Persona 4's themed corridors since rooms here sometimes have more shapes. Coming from Thebel to Arqa is a cool experience at first as the latter carries this strange bio-mechanical atmosphere. Once the illusion fades, however, dungeon-crawling in Persona 3 Reload returns to being something to rush through.

It makes it perfect ??to play with a podcast in the background, but that's not a great compliment. The Monad Doors are a fun inclusion that breaks up pacing with challenging fights, but Tartarus' structure is still dat??ed.

Persona 5 also saw a randomized dungeon return with Mementos, but that felt less repetitive due to spending most time in hand-crafted dungeons. Even Shin Megami Tensei V, which also lacks many unique dungeons,??? had some that broke up general exploration.

I will credit the actual art design because the blocks all look incredible. I mentioned Arqa's pulsing bio-mechanical design, but Thebel's corridors received a substa??ntial facelift. The last I'll mention is Yabbashah's mix of futuristic elegance and industrial pipes.

Persona's main ap?peal isn't with ?the dungeon-crawling, however. What I was most interested in seeing was how Atlus' first attempt at a social-sim hybrid is translated into a remake made almost 20 years later.

It's Persona 3, for better and worse

One of the most disheartening feelings is returning to a game you loved and realizing you don't like it as much anymore. This is overall how I felt playing Persona 3 Reload, and it doesn't feel good.

Much of this comes down to the story being faithful to its source material to a fault. This applies to the core plot and Social Links, and while Reload shares its predecessors' highs??, it shares their lows, and the new c??ontent feels like a bandage over a larger wound.

To get it out of the way, the new scenes are great! I love having more time with Strega even if not much more is learned about the group, and the dorm activities with party members are full scenes that take advantage of the talented new cast. The Linked Episodes with male party members also somewha?t make up for their missing Social Links.?? I would have rather have had those, but I still particularly enjoyed Akihiko and Shinjiro's new scenes.

These still don't fix most issues I already had with Persona 3's story. As strong as someone like Junpei's character a?rc is, was it necessary to still have him be a creep in the first couple dozen hours? He works well as?? a goofball character, but any potentially early endearment tanks when he considers looking up Yukari's skirt.

Other scenes that occur later also lack the impact they could have had if there was more build-up. There is one that does just that due to the new content??, and it would have been great to see that care applied everywhere.

My biggest issue with Persona 3 Reload's narrative comes from its Social Links. The original Persona 3 was Atlus' first attempt at a system like it, and it shows. While several hold up wonderfully, the ones that suck still really suck. It's an issue punctuated by Reload remaking the base game and not including most content from Persona 3's rereleases.

While the Justice Social Link for Persona 3's male protagonist is far better and way less problematic than the female protagonist's, the others exclusive to her were overall far stronger. I figured her exclusion would have been felt in Reload, but I didn't realize how bad it was. Kazushi's, for instance, is fine as a Chariot Social Link. He's just not as interesting as Akihiko. Meanw??hile, Maya's story as the Hermit is off-putting, while Saori Hasegawa's is incredibly touching.

Revisiting Persona 3 Portable while playing Reload widens this disparity. This ground-up remake provided Atlus with a perfect opportunity to strengthen both Persona 3's core story and Social Links. As flawed as the former is, the extra activities and scenes help round out its cast. The latter doesn't get that, and it mak?es this remake come off as a missed opportunity to make up for everything it excludes.

There's also the closing hours, which I always found to be Persona 3's best, and they're better here. The mix of new scenes with the original's excellent ones mesh together the best here, and it reminded me why I considered Persona 3 my fa??vorite in the franchise. I just only wish th??at reminder came before I dumped 50 hours into this remake.

Persona 3 Reload is a good game. Its gameplay changes help make it accessible to a newer audience. The? combat's genuinely a blast and helps dungeon-crawling be less of a slog. It just comes with the baggage of leaving behind incredible inclusions and not updating certain areas that needed it most or n??ot going far enough with updates.

It's odd to say, but I felt sad playing Reload. Not for anything occurring within it. Rather, it reminded me that I had fallen out of love with Atlus. If anything, it's fitting that Persona 3 Reload helped me realize that. Much of it is about learning to move on, and I'm going t??o do just that.

The post Review: Persona 3 Reload appeared first on Destructoid.

The February 2024 games list is an exci??ting explosion of JRPG action and su??perhero fare. We'll also be surviving in a car from place to place in a much-anticipated indie.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink (PS4, PS5, PC)

Publisher: Cygames
Developer: Cygames
Price: $59.99
Release Date: February 1
Trailer

Granblue Fantasy: Relink kicks off February 2024 with an anticipated action-RPG. With a stunning watercolor-like look, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is based on the popular mobile game series, which also spawned an anime and a fighting game. The game features four-player co-op as you explore this stunning world.

According to the Steam listing, we'll be able to "choose from a diverse roster of skyfarers, each with their own unique weapons, skills, and combat styles." This action RPG plunges onto PlayStation and PC systems on February 1.

Persona 3 Reload (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC)

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Atlus 
Price: $69.99
Release Date: February 2
Trailer

Another RPG arrives later on February 2 just after Persona 3 Reload. It's a complete remake of the PS2 classic, featuring an all-new UI, gorgeous graphical upgrade, and voice cast. Both the classic and the PSP reinterpretation have their pros and cons, but the Reload version? seems to be the best way to play, despite lacking the female protagonist from the portable ?entry.

Like Persona 5, you'll be taking on tasks around the town, hanging out with friends, and pursuing an evil force in Tartarus. "I really didn’t feel like an hour had passed by," said Timothy Monbleau in his Destructoid preview. "I felt so caught up in Persona 3 Reload’s gameplay that I honestly thought I had tw?enty more minutes." That's always a good sign.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC)

Publisher: Warner Bros. Games
Developer: Rocksteady
Price: $69.99
Release Date: February 2
Trailer

Publisher Warner Bros. Games arguably fumbled the release of Gotham Knights, and fans of Batman: Arkham City developer Rocksteady hope that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League succeeds. It may not b??e a single-player game, but the story seems compelling. You play?? as the Suicide Squad, attempting to kill the Justice League, who have been turned evil by prominent DC villain Brainiac.

Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark each have their own abi??lities to add to the mix. It's predominantly a third-person shooter as you explore the smashed-up city of Metropolis.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has been the subject of scrutiny. First, the game was in development for quite a while, and has been delayed several times. Second, its live service model has left some scratching their heads. Lastly, the game has already had launch issues for the 72-hour early access players,?? with saves acting as complete before t??hey even begin the campaign.

Despite that, if the combat isn't repetitive and the story is intriguing enough, maybe Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League could still work out on February 2. Be wary of spoilers, however.

Pacific Drive (PS5, PC)

Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Developer: Ironwood Studios
Price: $29.99 (10% off for first week)
Release Date: February 22
Trailer

A surprise gem of the February 2024 games list could be Pacific Drive. In a stormy, post-apoca??lyptic world, you're journeying ?through a scary landscape with many obstacles along the way. To help you and your car on this adventure, you'll be picking up resources and crafting objects for the car. The problem is that the most valuable resources are found in the more dangerous areas of the map, adding a risk-reward system.

"Every time you venture out, new trials await: bizarre weather, unforgiving landscapes, and experimental remnants," says the official Steam listing. You can take on this task when Pacific Drive launches on February 22.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (PS5)

Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Price: $69.99
Release Date: February 29
Trailer

Cloud's next adventure takes him into a stunning open world in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. As the second part of a trilogy, our heroes venture towards Sephiroth as he's become a dangerous threat to the world. We'll be learning more about all of the party members? as the storyline features many twists and turns along the way.

You might want to hold off on a full replay of Remake before Rebirth, however. "Overall, it mostly felt like more Final Fantasy 7 Remake with a few additions I could take or leave," explained Timothy Monbleau in Destructoid's preview. "I honestly wouldn’t recommend replaying Remake leading up to Rebirth, since I t??hink you’d burn yourself out with how similar they are." It launche?s on February 29.

Honorable mentions

February 2024 is an immensely packed month of games. Some of the omissions may have surprised you. Here are the ho?norable mentions you might want to check out.

• Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC) - February 2
• Foamstars (PS4, PS5 - will be available for free with PlayStation Plus day one) - February 6
• Helldivers 2 (PS5, PC) - February 8
• Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC)
• Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior (PC) - February 13
• News Tower (PC) - February 13
• Ultros (PS4, PS5, PC) - February 13
• Tomb Raider I-III Remastered (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC) - February 14
• PlateUp! (PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch) - February 15
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Switch) - February 16
• Skull and Bones (PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC) - February 16
• The Thaumaturge (PC) - February 20
• Nightingale (PC) - February 22
• Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake (PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC) - February 28
• Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC) - February 28

The post Here are the mo?st anticipated games of February 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

Persona 3 Reload, a remake of the classic 2006 RPG, is due to release on February 2. Between 2013 and 2016, AIC ASTA and A-1 Pictures released four animated films on Persona 3. The question is: are they worth watching before Reload's release?

For many, myself included, seeing your favorite franchises adapted into a new form is thrilling. So when I heard there were four full-length animated films based on Persona 3, I kne?w I had to watch them.?? It's too good to be true! Well, in a way, it kind of is.

Spoiler alert for Persona 3 and the films.

What are the Persona 3 movies?

Let's give a bit of context here. The Persona 3 films, under the banner Persona 3: The Movie, were mostly made by A-1 Pictures (with AIC ASTA doing #1). A-1 also tackled the animated scenes in Persona 4, so they've worked with Atlus in the past.

The films came out over four years, starting in 2013 and ending in 2016. They launched theatrically in Japan, and while they never made it to the West in terms of dubbing, you can buy them subtitled off Amazon Prime for around $5 each.

In honor of Persona 3: Reload's release, I decided to watch all four films and collect my findings here for you all to see. I'll talk about how the films adapt the source material an?d make it better, or in some cases wors??e.

For Better

As someone who played Persona 3 Portable, which had no animated cutscenes, the movies made up for that. Seeing the events of Persona 3 done justice through the great animation by AIC ASTA and A-1 Pictures is satisfying. The style is consisten??t with the original game and outmatched the animated cutscenes in-game, in my opinion. The fight scenes are also given a one-up, feeling just as snappy and rewarding.

The films also give Makoto Yuki, the once-silent protagonist, a full voice and lines. This helps speed things up story-wise and gives him more of a personality and arc. His character development throughout the four films is pretty good and goes deep into the themes of life and death. Furthermore, Yuki's humanization in Persona 3: The Movie #3. Falling Down with Ryoji creates some great mom?ents of friendship the game never had, if I remember c??orrectly.

From the start, you can tell the films were made by Persona 3 fans. T??hroughout the four films, you'll see cameos from Social Lin??ks like Akinari and Chihiro, as well as Makoto using fan-favorite Personas like Jack Frost and Thoth.

The S.E.E.S members also have their moments in the spotlight and translate well onto the screen. Junpei is still that lovable goofball, and Akihiko punches anything and everything near him. We even get an "I've been waiting for this", which is a must for any Persona 3 title.

For Worse

The story of Persona 3 is a long one. I mean, the game takes at least 88 hours to beat, and that's just sticking to the narrative??. While the base story remains, small characte?r moments and events are shaved to their bare bones or cut entirely. Even still, it hurts characters that didn't get much time in the original, like Shinji and Jin.

While what it adds is good, it doesn't elevate things as much as they could've. For example, the conc??ept of Personas turning on their users is glanced over, being resolved the same way for both afflicted characte??rs.

Another thing that felt off was the unchanged ending. I know some people didn't like the pacing of the ending and the events that transpire. And, while I was confused and surprised, it felt right. Persona 3: The Movie #4: Winter of Rebirth didn't change that, and it's a miss??ed opportunity.

On that note, the pacing was quick and went too fast. This problem came up a lot, as events happen an?d end within minutes and get pushed to the side. The game had this issue, and to see that adapted doesn't suit the films well.

I do want to point out that each film has a different director. While the visions for them didn't change much from each version, it feels like there wasn't a lot of wiggle room to explore. For example, Persona 3: The Movie #1. Spring of Birth covered the beginning up to Fuuka's entrance, while Persona 3: The Movie #2. Midsummer Knight's Dream gave us the rest ??of the S.E.E.S squad and villa?ins.

Each film was an hour and a half, give or take. I'm unsure if the plan was always four films, but deep down, I feel like adding a bit more time ?to each would help smooth the pacing and make them unique.

Consensus

The Persona 3 films are solid showings of the game's narrative. They stay true to the source material and add small yet welcoming changes. That said, condensing the story and translating its pacing problems to the screen hurt the films, especially the last two. As a fan of Persona 3 and its cha??racters, it's gr??eat to see them as lively as they were in the game.

So, it begs the question: should you watch Persona 3: The Movie and its sequels before Persona 3 Reload? Personally, I would steer clear of them if Reload is your first. The game looks to correct some of the original's errors and the story flows much better with gameplay. If you're a returning Persona 3 player, the films would help refr?esh your memory of the story and characters. Plus, it gives some fun moments that fans will enjoy.

Overall, they act as mementos of the original. Whether they'll age well come Persona 3 Reload's release remains to be seen. 

The post The Persona?? 3 films adapt everything, for better or worse appeared first on Destructoid.

The Umbrella Academy meets Gekkoukan High. With Persona 3 Reload launching next week, Atlus West's YouTube released an out-of-the-blue? live-action commercial with Aidan Gallagher.

Persona 3 Reload is an RPG/life sim where you take on the role of Makoto Yuki, a recent transfer to Gekkoukan High. He then becomes a member of the Specialized Extracu??rricular Execution Squad (S.E.E.S) and takes on the many levels of Tartarus during the elusive Dark Hour at midnight.

The almost minute-and-a-half-long trailer, titled "Seal Your Fate", features The Umbrella Academy actor casually taking a stroll through the halls of Gekkoukan High and Tartarus and, of course, monologuing about time. Aidan becomes an in-game character at some points, ending off with slaying a Shadow himself. It's a weird mix and a pretty odd p??resentation, but seeing it go mainstream is cool, to say the least.

School Days

To be honest, Aiden doesn't strike me as protagonist Makoto, but weirdly Tatsuya of Persona 2 fame. I'm not the only one who thinks so, as YouTube comments repeat the protagonist's name due to his long brown hair and demeanor. Maybe when they adapt Persona into a live-action film, Aidan will take on the role. Though, Atlus would need to acknowledge the original Personas to do that, so who knows?

As I mentioned before, the commercial is a bit weird. It's just Aiden walking in a straight line talking about life. I know that time is linear but maybe the ad shouldn't have been? Still, as a fan of the franchise, it's exciting to see it feel a bit more mainstream??.

Celebrities in video game ads aren't new. Just recently, Succession star Brian Cox talked about complicated family lore for Tekken 8. Last year, The Office's Rainn Wilson did a spin on the classic sitcom for Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon. While simplistic, I do like that Persona can join those ranks. Perhaps they'll do this again for other Atlus titles? Maybe Kit Harrington for Unicorn Overlord? Or Timothee Chalamet for Metaphor: ReFantazio? Too much?

Persona 3 Reload launches on February 2 to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Game Pass. If you're interested, check out our latest preview of the game.

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If there's one thing that makes Persona?? games special, it’s their ability to make typically banal moments in RPGs feel e??nthralling.

Back in August, I had the chance to demo Persona 3 Reload. During that session, I got to check out the game's dungeon crawling and one of the early boss fights, both of which impressed me. But one piece of Persona 3 Reload I didn’t get to test was its social systems, which is arguably what makes a modern Persona game... well, Persona. Turn-based combat is fun and all, but spending time with yo?ur virtua??l friends and eating ramen at night just ties the whole experience together.

Fortunately, this was the exact part of Persona 3 Reload I got to try out at another recent event held by Sega/Atlus. Loading a save file in what seemed to be the early-to-mid game, I had an hour to do basically whatever I wanted in Tatsumi Port Island. The experience was mostly what I expected, which I mean in the most enthusiastic way possible. But it's the stuff I didn't expect that really caught my attention.

Explore the space

I began my session with Persona 3 Reload in my main character’s homeroom at school. I immediately? walked out the door and decided to explore.

Like any good Persona game, I quickly found a ton of different distractions and Social Link events that I could spend my in-game afternoon on. However, I mostly wanted to get a lay of the land first. As I mentioned in my last write-up, I never got around to finishing Persona 3 back in the day. Yet, like riding a bike, I started planning my in-game week like I'd last played a Persona game th??ree days ago. I talked to everyone, ran everywhere, and felt ??like I generally knew where everything was pretty fast.

This might sound like I was wasting my time, but the game actually rewarded me for my effort. I wound up finding a lot of items called Twilight Fragments littered everywhere I looked. From what I understand, th??ese items are kind of like keys. You’ll use them to open special treasu??re chests in dungeons, so they're very worthwhile to gather up. Or at least they will be in the full game.

Deciding how I wanted to spend my time afterwards was a breeze. With a single button press, I could open my cell phone and see text messages from anyone and anything that wanted my attention. My notable Social Link options were all there, in addition to local restaurants advertising what they offered that day. E??ven better, I could fast-travel to each person or place ?just by selecting the message they sent.

It’s all rather seamless, which is a huge boon considering how long Persona games typically run. But all things considered, I knew who I wanted to first s??pend time with almost immediately.

Hanging out with the bros

I decided to hang out with my buddy Junpei in what is, to my knowledge, a new feature of this remake. Certain key characters, like Junpei, lacked Social Links in the original game. So Persona 3 Reload kind of rectifies this by adding new events where you can get to know them better. While these aren't literally Social Links, they do ??feel almost identical in practice. The only major difference ??is that your responses in conversation don't appear to impact any hidden relationship stats.

My reward for hanging out with Junpei was a stat boost for his Persona. A good enough prize for sure, though I wonder if minmaxers will forego events like these to focus solely on Social Links instead. Boxing king Akihiko also had a unique event I subseque??ntly triggered that evening, which involved him getting into a brawl with some troublemakers to save a couple damsels in distress.

I'm curious if these events will lead to wider, overarching stories the way Social Links usually do. They're fine as sta?ndalone sequences, but it'd be nice to explore these characters on a deeper level too. Either way, it was nice to spice up my night life with something other than my usual ramen and hamburgers.

Even the Social Link events that were from the original game felt livelier than I remembered. This is 100% due to these scenes being fully voiced, which ??really helped each character come to life. The leading characters are impressively?? performed, and even minor characters like Kenji and Chihiro felt memorable. Every actor seemed to bring their A-game, which is an absolute boon in a title as text-heavy as this.

Promote Theurgy

Though I spent most of my time with Persona 3 Reload’s social elements, I did get some dungeon exploration in too. Entering Tartarus gave me a slick anime cutscene of the protagonists showing off some newly acquired gear with the “SEES�?branding, which will probably be more impactful when I see it in context. But eve?n out of context, it was neat.

However, the co?oler n??ew addition to the game was right around the corner.

Not long after I started my time in the dungeon, my party members were separated. My protagonist and fellow party member Yukari entered a scripted battle shortly after, in which the hero was knocked down with a critical hit almost immediately. Compelled to act, Yukari proceeded to heal me and used a new kind of move: Theurgy. This is essent??ially a limit break, which for Yukari was a strong Wind attack that ignored enemy resistances.

In my last preview, I discussed the “Shift�?mechanic, which worked like a backported version of Persona 5’s Baton Pass. Similarly, Theurgy was described to me by a representative of Sega as akin to Persona 5�?/em>s S??howtime attacks. That said, I liked that Theurgy builds depending on each character’s strengths. For example, Yukari can charge her Theurgy gauge by healing party members, leaning into her role as the party’s ??healer.

I didn’t have much of a chance to experiment with this mechanic, but its inclusion felt worthwhile nonetheless. Optimistical?ly, I hope the Theurgy system will spice up the battle system and lead to new battle tactics. But even if it’s just some cool new signature attacks for everyone, it’s still a welcome feature.

Feeling the time melt away

After my visit to Tartarus, I started to unlock even more new systems back at the dorm. From what I could gather, it appeared that I had the option to do some gardening on the roof, watch DVDs, or even cook some food. Also, I could pick any of my party members to br?ing along for these activities, which I was fully prepared to explore. But, alas, by this point in my session, my time had just about ran out. I’ll need to wait for the full game to see what these features bring to the table.

Maybe that was a failure of my own time management, but the thing is�?I really didn’t feel like an hour had passed by. I felt so caught up in Persona 3 Reload’s gameplay that I honestly thought I had twenty more minutes. Persona games have a way of devouring your time, and Reload clearly follows that trend. That ?rhythm of social elements and RPG dungeon crawling i?s just hypnotic, and it took only a couple minutes for this remake to put me under its spell.

I do have some misgivings with Persona’s Social Link formula, which I discussed in detail last year if you want to read me ramble a bit more. So whether Persona 3 Reload can enthrall me for dozens upon dozens of hours is ce??rtainly still up in the air. However, based on my sessions with the game so far, I do have high hopes for the final product. Everything looks sleek, sounds great, and plays smoothly. I've had a great time demoing this one, and all that's left now is waiting to see if the final product can maintain that momentum.

Of course, we don’t have to wait long now to see how this one will shake out. Persona 3 Reload launches for PlayStation ??4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on February 2?.

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