Summary
The English version ofPersona 3 Reloadcontains a mistranslation suggesting Akihiko’s Theurgy gauge fills much slower than it actually does, as recently spotted by one attentive fan. While this isn’t the only localization mistake that the fandom has spotted inPersona 3 Reloadto date, it’s among the most problematic ones that have been confirmed so far, as it inhibits the process of making informed decisions about party compositions.
Theurgies are a new battle mechanic in Atlus’s latest RPG that has effectively replaced Fusion Spells fromPersona 3. While their effects are pretty much unchanged, leveraging them no longer comes down to farming and spamming Antique Shop items. Instead,the way Theurgies work inPersona 3 Reloadrequires more planning and consideration, as these spells can now only be activated by filling their accompanying meter. The quickest method of doing so is different for each character.
In Akihiko’s case, the game suggests that his Theurgy gauge fills when he buffs himself, which is a situational condition at best, as he doesn’t really have the spell selection to play the typical support role for the majority of the story and his single-target buffs in the early game are usually better used on healers or the protagonist. Or rather, it would be a situational condition if it were true. But as recently pointed out by Reddit user Gingingin100,Akihiko’s Theurgy gauge inPersona 3 Reloadactually fills from any buff that’s present on him at the beginning of his turn.
Persona 3 Reloadhas no shortage of methods for buffing characters: spells, passive skills, items, Theurgies, and even some enemies can provide Akihiko with stat increases. Ditto for all types of equipment, some of which come with effects that automatically buff the entire party at the start of each battle. So, despite the English version of the game suggesting Akihiko might be slow to use thePersona 3 ReloadTheurgy system, his meter actually fills at one of the quickest rates among all the characters.
Akihiko Is Still Not That Good in Persona 3 Reload
Although this misleading mistranslation ostensibly affected some players' party composition, even knowing the actual mechanics behind Akihiko’s Theurgy gauge might not be enough to convince players to pick him more frequently. Out ofall the S.E.E.S. members inPersona 3 Reload, Akihiko’s skillset is the only one that got noticeably worse compared to the original game, not least because he lost all of his multi-target debuffs bar Matarunda without gaining much in the way of reliable offensive options.
His single-target heals are also no longer as useful as they were inPersona 3 FESnow that dedicated healers are more reliable by virtue of not being AI-controlled. Granted, that was already the case inPersona 3 Portable, which was the first version of the game to allow the player to control the entire party instead of just the protagonist.
Persona 3 Reload
WHERE TO PLAY
Step into the shoes of a transfer student thrust into an unexpected fate when entering the hour “hidden” between one day and the next. Awaken an incredible power and chase the mysteries of the Dark Hour, fight for your friends, and leave a mark on their memories forever.Persona 3 Reload is a captivating reimagining of the genre-defining RPG, reborn for the modern era.Experience the pivotal game of the Persona series faithfully remade with cutting-edge graphics, modernized quality-of-life features, and signature stylish UI. Fully immerse yourself in an emotional, gripping journey with new scenes, character interactions, and additional voiceover. Choose how to meaningfully spend each day through various activities from exploring the Port Island to forging genuine bonds with beloved characters. Build and command your optimal team to take down otherworldly Shadows and climb closer to the truth.
