Summary
Persona 3 Reload’s changes to its gameplay help bring the game into the modern era and make it accessible to a wider audience. However,Persona 3 Reloadalso includes many visual and audio enhancements like remixed music tracks and a new voice cast to refresh the game for both newcomers and veterans. While some fans of the originalPersona 3release might miss the original voice cast, there are a few references to those voice actors throughoutPersona 3 Reload, including one that is a nice nod to the relationship between two characters.
A big selling point ofPersona 3 Reloadwas the enhanced audio that includesfully-voiced Social Linkscenes, giving the game the most spoken dialogue in aPersonagame. With this many spoken lines of dialogue in the game,Persona 3 Reloadhas quite a large voice cast, allowing certain characters' original voices to appear for minor roles of characters with newly-voiced scenes. While this practice is a fun callback for fans of the series, one particular casting choice further develops the relationship between Akihiko and Officer Kurosawa.
InPersona 3 Reload,Officer Kurosawa serves as the weapon and armor vendorfor SEES, allowing players to purchase wares from him under the table from the back of the police station at Paulownia Mall. The player is first introduced to Kurosawa after Akihiko introduces them to him and notes how Kurosawa has been helping SEES by supplying them with the equipment they need to take on Shadows. While Kurosawa doesn’t know the full extent of the Dark Hour and Shadows, it’s clear he trusts Akihiko enough to support his and the rest of SEES' efforts as much as he can, demonstrating the connection between these two characters.
Persona 3 Reloadfurther strengthens the connection betweenAkihiko and Kurosawathrough its voice cast, with Kurosawa being voiced by Liam O’Brien in this entry. While Grant George voiced the character in past versions ofPersona 3, recasting Kurosawa to Liam O’Brien is significant because he was the original voice actor for Akihiko in previousPersona 3releases. InPersona 3 Reload, Akihiko is voiced by Alejandro Saab, and as such, the game references his previous voice actor by recasting Liam O’Brien as a character who has a close relationship with Akihiko.
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Additional Voices
While this casting is a nice nod to the fact that Liam O’Brien was Akihiko’s original voice actor, many of the other original voice cast now play other minor characters inPersona 3 Reloadas well. It’s interesting to see actors like Yuri Lowenthal and Michelle Ruff, who voiced the protagonist and Yukari respectively, are now playing side characters like Yukari’s father, Eiichiro Takeba, and theMayoido Antiques Owner. Another interesting casting choice to note is that Grant George, Kurosawa’s original voice actor, now voices Takeharu Kirijo, Mitsuru’s father and head of the Kirijo Group.
While Tara Platt originally voiced both Mitsuru and Elizabeth in the originalPersona 3, she was replaced as the voice of Mitsuru by Allegra Clark but still retains her role as the voice ofElizabeth inPersona 3 Reload. This casting makes Elizabeth the only character inPersona 3 Reloadto retain their original voice actor. It’s great to see Atlus give these iconic voice actors the recognition they deserve with these roles inPersona 3 Reloadwhile allowing new voice actors to shine in starring roles.
