Persona 3 Reload’s DLC expansion Episode Aigis delivered more of what we loved about the base game, but holds back just a little too much to be worth the money.
After thoroughly enjoying Persona 3 Reload despite feeling it to be a step-back in places compared to Persona 5 Royal, I was more than happy to check out the DLC expansion, which provides closure on the events of the base game.
Take a look at the trailer for Persona 3 Reload- Episode Aigis below
While I once again thoroughly enjoyed my time in Persona 3 Reload’s world, I’ve come away from the experience wanting more, and I don’t think that’s a good thing when Episode Aigis is supposed to be the grand finale of the game.
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For a bit of context, the DLC picks up shortly after the conclusion of the base game, this time focusing the story around Aigis as she takes over S.E.E.S as team-leader. The whole gang's back together, and they’re joined by a new member called Metis, Aigis’s sister and fellow android who starts her relationship with the team on shaky terms.
Following what they believed to be a send-off to their personas and the life of the battle they’d grown accustomed to, the team is somehow trapped in a fixed point in time and must traverse the Desert Of Doors to escape back to reality. During this new adventure they’re haunted by ghosts of the past, which leads to some wonderful character development that I’ll get to later.
Once gameplay picks up you’re set loose in the Desert Of Doors, which is essentially Tarturus from the base game but instead of going up, you’re slowly working your way down instead. It functions the exact same way too, you start a new room, fight your way through collecting treasures until you find the exit, and head down to the next. Golden Hands will occasionally appear, as do teleporters to get back to the entrance, and you’ll even find the occasional clock face used to replenish your health and skill points
Back at the entrance, you’ll have access to the Velvet Room to fuse and upgrade your personas, Elizabeth’s challenges, and your teammates if you want to switch-up your party.
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Combat is also the same but still enjoyable. I’ve always loved the combat in Persona games, especially figuring out the weaknesses of enemies and organising my team to make them as versatile as possible. It was just as fun slashing my way through the Desert Of Doors as it was storming up the steps of Tartarus, and nothing really needed to be changed about the combat aside from some new theurgy moves and battle dialogue, both of which are included in the DLC.
There's also a suitable amount of challenge here. Monad Doors from Tartarus make a return but now there's three at a time, each one more difficult than the last. It's up to the player which doors they want to open, and they're worth a go given the good loot they'll reward you with at the end. Most of my playthrough was on Normal and I found this to be the most suitable for my play style.
It's worth adding that the DLC includes an optional boss that's even tougher than the Reaper from the base game. It'll test the skill, strategy and resolve of even the most veteran players… and trust me, you'll never see it coming…
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Unfortunately unlike Tartarus, the Desert Of Doors quickly outstayed its welcome for me. It’s basically all there is to do in the DLC, thus eliminating the thing I love most about Persona games, the slice-of-life element.
During my playthrough of the base game I could do a few levels of Tartarus and then ignore it for a few in-game days while I explore the world, boost my social stats or hang out with friendly-faces. If I wanted to dedicate a play session solely to destroying the dungeon I could, but I always had the option to come back later if I wasn’t feeling it and engage in some slice-of-life fun instead.
Don’t get me wrong, there are slice-of-life moments in the DLC, but in my opinion, they’re far too in-frequent and a poor replacement for what the base game offers. There are no Social Links to speak of in Episode Aigis because there’s no-one to socialise with aside from your team, after all, you’re the only ones trapped in this strange time-warp. While I’m always down to hang out with the likes of Mitsuru and Akihiko, or learn more about our new teammate Metis, the only reward for doing so was either a new theurgy move or some other latent ability. This in my opinion is a far cry from the extensive list of perks and powers the Social Links gave you, and you’ve already spent a 60+ game with this team already.
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What was nice to see is more of their background in the main story, as once you’ve completed a section of the dungeon, you’ll be treated to a glimpse into the past of one of your teammates. It felt like a real reward to look back on baby-faced Akihiko when he first met Mitsuru, but I don’t know whether that’s because I genuinely care for these characters or because the social side of the DLC is so sparse.
I recognise it’s an odd criticism, and that there’s only so much potential to innovate within the parameters that make a Persona game, but in many ways, it feels like Episode Aigis delivers plenty that we’ve already seen but holds back the things we needed.
What I can say with full confidence is that the expansion delivers closure on the events of the base game, and feels like a true send-off to these characters as far as the story is concerned. It’s just as emotional as the base game, and just as well-written, but it feels bogged down by the sheer amount of fighting you have to do in order to get to those tear-jerker moments.
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Persona 3 Reload - Episode Aigis is a decent finale to a game I adore, but there were too many times where I felt it was taking away more than it was giving. The story is absolutely worth finishing, and if your favourite part of the base game was Tartarus you’ll have a blast, but if you’re like me and prefer a balance between business and pleasure, you may be disappointed by what the DLC offers.
Pros: Expands and concludes the story in a meaningful way, adds hours of content to the game, new additions to the cast like Metis are handled well, a suitable challenge for veteran players
Cons: Way too much emphasis on combat, the lack of socialising is jarring after a base game playthrough, feels like it lacks replayability
For fans of: Persona, RPGs
7/10: Very Good
Persona 3 Reload- Episode Aigis is due to be released on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S (version tested), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC on 10 September. A review code was provided by the publisher. Read a guide to our review scores here.