Ever wondered how a Persona game is made? Want to know the process voice actors go through? Well look no further than the behind-the-scenes mini-documentary of Persona 3 Reload (2024)!
About Persona 3
Ever wondered if there’s a hidden hour between days? Along with the deeper themes the series is known for, Persona 3 (2006) sought to explore that, forming an entire labyrinth of threatening shadows founded off the human condition; this terrifying tower is only known as Tartarus. The students of Gekkoukan High known as the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad aim to find what’s at the top of this mysterious building during the dark hour, along with their powerful companions known as personas. Follow the nameable protagonist (Makoto Yuki) as he gains friends, power, and curiosity as a leader to topple the boss of this mysterious maze.
Persona 3 established a new baseline for the RPG formula, eventually sparking multiple remasters. Having both social simulator and third-person dungeon crawling aspects balanced to make an engaging story, JRPG fans were left in shock by just how much content this PlayStation 2 title had. After the release of Persona 5 (2017), and the dramatic shift in the series’ technical prowess, fans were begging to see the story of Iwatodai once more. Since there was truly no definitive way to play the game, fans held onto the hope that this remake would be special. And after years of begging, their prayers have finally been answered by Persona 3 Reload (2024).
Reloaded: The Voices of Persona 3
Atlus made the approaching title, Persona 3 Reload, feel much more personal with their latest documentary style trailer covering the experiences of some of the main cast in both past and present persona games.
Taking a slice from the life of Michelle Ruff, Zeno Robinson, Heather Gonzalez, and Aleks Le, fans can get a deeper look not only into their experience, but the active audio booth as well. This featured set of interviews embraces both the past and future of the Persona 3 franchise, showing how the team understands the weight on their shoulders. Persona 3 means so much to the fans, and the team understands that.
Michelle Ruff
With such a fan-favorite role carried for almost two decades, Michelle Ruff’s Yukari Takeba is close to many hearts. Knowing that Yukari has a new voice actor, it’s refreshing to hear Ruff’s confidence in the next generation. Hearing her excitement in the process of making the new title definitely adds a cherry on top.
“Persona 3 spoke to a lot of people on different levels because the fans see themselves in the characters.”
Talking about her process as a voice actor on the series, describing how close the cast was able to get past just colleagues working on the game really reinforced how important Persona 3 is to fans. If not for the close cast, their performances would not have lasted the test of time. Yet it’s their genuine compatibility that’s given Persona 3 the popularity to stand the test of time. Now, Michelle Ruff can feel confident passing the torch to a new face.
Zeno Robinson
Who’s the man? Zeno Robinson is! With such a love for the Persona series, even describing how he started with the original release of Persona 3, there is no wonder why many fans are backing the hype he so ecstatically carries the torch for. Being the new voice for Junpei Iori, Zeno aims to capture his goofy style with the power of his voice. If there’s anything that proves why he’s the right choice for the role, it’s his pure, genuine enthusiasm.
Describing how his character is the heart of the party, Zeno confidently portrays a popularly desperate Junpei Iori. Even stating how as a huge fan, he actively wished for this game to be made. Zeno’s role as Junpei seems like a near impossible dream come true. It’s his genuine love for the entire Persona 3 franchise that makes him such a spotlight role for this upcoming title. Even in a dark hour, Zeno Robinson as Junpei is sure to provide the light. His 150,00% effort is nothing short of perfect for the character.
"...and I was the one who said Persona 3 Remake! Persona 3 Remake please!"
Heather Gonzalez
New to the Persona franchise, Heather Gonzalez’s expert voicework translates amazingly into the role of Yuakri Takeba. Being her first Persona game, she understands the weight on her shoulders. Describing how twenty thousand fans can frame expectations, she extrapolates just how important both her and the fan’s role is. There’s a level of both excitement and pressure that provide a nice balance for such important and detailed voice work.
“This is a life-changing game.”
But fans fear not, for her detailed description of the character is spot on. Portraying Yukari as a confident girl with an underlying stress of discovering the world, it’s easy to say her portrayal of Yukari is going to be full of the genuine emotion fans fell for in the original titles. Her understanding of the character only adds to the hype of this title.
Aleks Le
Both a fan of the Persona franchise and his mentor Yuri Lowenthall (the previous voice of the protagonist), Aleks Le understands just how important the role of the main character can be. Along with a new cutscene in his role of Orpheus, the protagonist’s persona, Aleks Le describes the balance needed for being a neutral character.
“The real, real challenge is are you able to put your ego aside and be the neutral one.”
Along with cementing his performance, he confidently describes his relationship with the rest of the crew. Having known his colleagues such as Zeno Robinson for a long time, he explains how much more confident he is in their performances. Just like in the game, being surrounded by friends has made him feel more confident and excited for the end product. It definitely shows in his work.
Where to Find the Game
If there’s any reason to be hyped for this game, it’s the synergy and excitement from the people making it. Aleks Le said it best:
“It’s awesome, it’s so cool, and it’s epic. And that’s why everybody loves Persona.”
Think you have the potential to stay up during the dark hour? Pre-Order Persona 3 Reload now for Xbox One, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Steam now! Look out for the release on February 2nd, 2023!
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