Following an interview with Famitsu, the director of Persona 3 Reload Takuya Yamaguchi talked about a new combat mechanic with the remake. According to him, the developing title will have a Theurgy combat system, said to take inspiration from Persona 5 Royal’s Showtime. And similar to it, said battle feature does not miss a mark.
In the interview, the game director was asked about the motivation to implement the Theurgy system, which was not originally with the game. Yamaguchi said that the motivation behind the choice was due to the original “1MORE” system not being fully utilized in boss battles. He later elaborated by saying how difficult it was to exploit the bosses’ weaknesses in-game. But more importantly, he wanted to add more dynamics to that kind of situation.
X images
X (formerly Twitter) user @ScrambledFaz posted a few snapshots showcasing the Theurgy system at work in Persona 3 Reload.
Yamaguchi also mentioned how well-received the SHOWTIME feature was with Persona 5 Royal. That is, implying about said combat system’s intentional effect and presentation. The statement was later followed by the notion of wanting a similar yet also fresh element like that in Persona 3 Reload. And like its muse, the Theurgy skills do not miss and therefore can be relied upon during serious battles with enemies, including bosses and rare shadows.
When asked why each character adds differently to the Theurgy gauge, Yamaguchi implied their uniqueness as some characters might not be able to exploit an enemy’s weakness. However, they can compensate for the shortcoming by inflicting status ailments instead and therefore add to the gauge.
Alongside Takuya Yamaguchi, game producer Ryota Niitsuma and character designer Azusa Shimada made their presence in the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu magazine (the October 12, 2023 issue). It is Shimada’s debut appearance in the aforementioned prominent Japanese magazine.
Persona 3 Reload is set for release on multiple platforms, including the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, on February 2, 2024.
