Persona 3 Reload opened my eyes to JRPGs in 2024 and now I consider myself a reformed hater

GamesJRPGPersona 3 ReloadPersona 3 Reload opened my eyes to JRPGs in 2024 and now I consider myself a reformed haterWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesJRPGPersona 3 ReloadPersona 3 Reload opened my eyes to JRPGs in 2024 and now I consider myself a reformed haterWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Atlus) Home truths (Image credit: Atlus) Refined and revitalized(Image credit: Atlus)Returning after 17 years, Persona 3 Reload is the quintessential way to experience a modern JRPG classic Refined and revitalized (Image credit: Atlus)Returning after 17 years, Persona 3 Reload is the quintessential way to experience a modern JRPG classic (Image credit: Atlus) Returning after 17 years, Persona 3 Reload is the quintessential way to experience a modern JRPG classic I hear you seething from behind the screen, dear reader, so for clarity’s sake: no I am not inferring that I am embarrassed to have played and loved a JRPG. Rather, much like how Troye Sivan’s “One Of Your Girls” was somehow my most listened to song in 2023 despite my having zero affinity for the artist himself, I simply did not realize how much time I’d apparently invested into Persona 3 Reload until my Xbox “wrapped” spelled it out for me. In hindsight, I really should have seen it coming. From becoming fiercely protective over characters I’d originally loathed to grappling with P3R’s unique social sim-meets-turn based combat gameplay, I’ve waxed lyrical in the past about how unexpectedly brilliant I found it. But the truth is that I’ve always had a tricky relationship with the genre itself, and Persona 3 Reload unpicked all of that unconscious bias. Well, most of it anyway. Facing the music (Image credit: Atlus) I’ve always had a tricky relationship with the JRPG genre itself, and Persona 3 Reload unpicked all of that unconscious bias. I’ve always had a tricky relationship with the JRPG genre itself, and Persona 3 Reload unpicked all of that unconscious bias. Despite now knowing full well that JRPGs arenotreserved for specific demographics – and nor are they all synonymous with perversion – learned mentalities are hard to break. Especially one like this, being so entrenched in my identity as a British-born Hong Konger with some kind of white knight point to prove. Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more 2024 is the year I opened my heart to JRPGs, and Persona 3 Reload in particular. One game has already banished so many of the negative preconceptions I’d been unconsciously holding against the genre, and I’m more incentivized than ever to keep that curiosity rolling into 2025. This year, I won’t be in denial about my keenness to keep exploring JRPGs – playground rules be damned. 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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid 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vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”