Summary
Persona 3 Reloadplayers will get to experience The Answer epilogue originally included inPersona 3 FESwhen Episode Aigis - The Answer launches as DLC later this year. For players looking to gain additional context to Aigis' story before thePersona 3 ReloadDLC releases, Atlus is bringing an obscure prequel titledPersona 3 Aigis: The First Missionto Steam and Nintendo Switch this year as well. While this prequel game won’t be available in English, players might be wondering if it is worth finding a translation or if the game is necessary to understand the plot of The Answer.
The lore surrounding the world ofPersona 3is fairly substantial and follows the common trend of numerous spin-offs that Atlus’Personagames tend to follow. WhilePersonafans might be familiar with spin-off titles likePersona Q: Shadow of the LabyrinthandPersona 4 Arena Ultimaxthat further flesh out the characters ofPersona 3, few are likely aware of theJapan-exclusivePersona 3 Aigis: The First Mission. With the game set for release on modern platforms later this year, it may be worthwhile for interested fans to seek out a translated version of the game if they are interested in understanding Aigis' backstory before The Answer DLC releases.
Persona 3 Aigis: The First Mission Serves as a Prequel to Persona 3’s Story
Originally released for mobile phones in Japan in 2007,Persona 3 Aigis: The First Missiontakes place in 1999 and follows the story ofAigisas she first develops her skills as an Anti-Shadow combat weapon. The game provides players with further context as to how Aigis became able to summon her Persona, Palladion, and the beginnings of her emotional development that players will see inPersona 3 Reload. As expected, players will primarily explore dungeons and fight Shadows throughout the game, though these mechanics are much more limited compared to the mainlinePersonagames.
Persona 3 Aigis: The First Missionalso gives other sidecharacters fromPersona 3 Reloadmore development, such as Yukari’s father, Eiichiro Takeba, and Mitsuru’s father, Takeharu Kirijo. In addition to these familiar characters, players will also meet new characters like Yuu Kimijima, Aigis' development chief, and Takashi Tomari, a young boy who develops a close relationship with Aigis.Persona 3 Reloadplayers will also be familiar with the game’s primary setting of Yakushima, where the SEES gang first meets Aigis.
Despite the upcoming release on modern platforms, it might be difficult for players to accessPersona 3 Aigis: The First Missionsince it won’t receive an official English localization. However, the good news is that the game is entirely optional and not necessary to understand the plot of The Answer.Persona 3 Aigis: The Fist Missionhelps give more context to some of the events described inPersona 3 Reload, such as Aigis' creation and the development of her human emotions, but the game doesn’t have that much of an impact on the story ofThe Answer.
Persona 3 Aigis: The First Missionis not necessary to understandPersona 3 ReloadThe Answer, but playing it will enhance the experience for those able to access the game.
Persona 3 ReloadThe Answer DLC will mainly follow up on the ending of the base game and explain what became ofNyx and the protagonistafter its finale. While it will certainly enhance the experience for players who can accessPersona 3 Aigis: The First Mission, it’s an entirely optional game that can be skipped. However, for those willing to put in the effort to find a fan translation of the game,Persona 3 Aigis: The First Missionis definitely worth checking out.
