Social Links are a defining part of modern Persona games, and Persona 3 Reload is no exception. The remake of the critically acclaimed PlayStation 2 classic faithfully retains all of the original Social Links, and fully voices them for the first time in the series’ history. While many of them are near-universally beloved such as the Aeon and Sun links, others tend to be controversial among fans. Even if they are not favorites, it is worth looking at them to find something to appreciate.
The Magician is Interesting for the Wrong Reasons
The Magician Arcana link, Kenji Tomochika, probably comes to mind quickly when discussing controversial Social Links. After all, his goal (which he loudly declares to the main character) is to date his teacher- It is unsurprising that people would not like a character like this. Kenji takes it even further, by falsely assuming that his teacher agreed to date him, and ends up causing many problems because of his poor communication.
However, a running theme among Persona 3 Reload’s links is that the NPC’s you befriend are not necessarily good people. Even those who are good people are often not the kind of person an edgy teenager like the protagonist would usually want to spend time with, like the elderly couple. The point of the Social Links in Persona is not for the sake of casually hanging out with friends, but rather for the sake of socializing itself. The protagonist comes off as an isolated individual (as represented by his headphones) who struggles to form connections with others.
Therefore, the Social Links’ point in Persona 3 is more about supporting others so they have someone they can rely on, even if their goals come crashing down. Kenji’s desire to date his teacher goes horribly wrong and he learns an important lesson from it, realizing that he never really loved her and just liked the idea of forbidden romance. Kenji becomes a better person from his experience and can move on because the protagonist was there to support him through his awful idea.
Persona 3 Reload’s Temperance Link is Sweet
Andre Laurent Jean Geraux, or Bebe as he goes by, is the Temperance Social Link and a foreign exchange student from France. Unlike Kenji, Bebe is generally liked among fans, but the nuance that makes his link great is often overlooked. Being that Bebe is a foreigner to the Japanese school where the game is set, he comes off as a fish out of water who may be annoying to his fellow students. He constantly talks about how much he loves Japan; to others, it is weird to treat their normal lives as anything so glorious.
This, again, ties into the theme shared by many links in Persona 3 Reload. The protagonist can only progress in Social Links if he is willing to encourage others, and Bebe might not be someone a character like him would initially like. When Bebe finds out that he will have to leave Japan permanently after his aunt dies, he is devastated. It is up to the protagonist to be a friend who can help Bebe through his hard times. In Japan, standing out from social norms can be detrimental to one’s social life, and Bebe sticks out like a sore thumb. The protagonist likely is the only one willing to stick out and help him, should the player choose to.
The Hated Moon Link isn’t so Bad
Nozomi Suemitsu, the Moon Social Link, might be the most disliked Social Link both in Persona 3 Reload and the entire Persona series. Nozomi is very full of himself and confrontational to begin with, and things get worse when the player discovers that he is a cultist who scams people out of their money. Things get so bad that even the protagonist, who (when the best choices are made) is willing to support his friends through almost anything, has no option other than to tell off Nozomi for his horrible behavior. This results in Nozomi breaking his friendship with the protagonist, as the only forced Reversed Social Link in the series.
However, while Nozomi is a terrible person, he is not entirely unsympathetic. When reading between the lines, it becomes clear that he became susceptible to the cult’s idea of a paradise afterlife following the death of his brother. This reflects the way real cults can gain followers by preying on the insecurities of susceptible victims. Nozomi does manage to get out of the cult in the end thanks to the protagonist’s help, and it goes to show that even someone who commits horrible deeds can atone if they have meaningful bonds.
Persona 3 Reload’s Core Themes
Persona 3 Reload is about embracing mortality while learning to love life. One might see the faults in others as a reason to recuse oneself and avoid communication with them, but Persona 3 rejects this idea. Building bonds with others, even those who initially appear insufferable, is important for both parties to live a fulfilling life. Persona 3 Reload presents this idea and displays it with pride. You may not have realized it, but even the Social Links about people you dislike support the best parts of Persona 3.
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