Every Atlus Enhanced Edition Ranked, From Persona 5 Royal to Catherine Full Body

Atlus has a long history of releasing enhanced editions of its games, sometimes improving upon the originals, and sometimes not. This article ranks each Atlus enhanced edition, from worst to best, considering factors like gameplay improvements, added content, and overall impact.

19. Growlanser (Remake)

The Growlanser remake for the PSP is a puzzling case. While the series has a dedicated fanbase, this enhanced edition was exclusively released in Japan. Lacking international availability, it is impossible to assess its quality or merits compared to other enhanced titles. This lack of accessibility relegates it to the bottom of the list.

18. Persona 2: Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment for the PSP

• This entry combines Persona 2: Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment, given their treatment as a single entity for this lengthy article.
• Innocent Sin‘s PSP enhanced version saw global release, but Eternal Punishment did not.
• The fact that Innocent Sin was the only part released globally highlights the uneven nature of the PSP Enhanced Edition, which warrants it a lower ranking.
• Both games’ quality is still potentially worth exploring with a potential Persona 3-style remake, but the specific enhanced edition’s quirks prevent it from ranking higher.

17. Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight

This enhanced edition, while improving the presentation and access to the Etrian Odyssey 2 experience, arguably diluted the original’s core gameplay focus. The addition of a substantial story mode, while appreciated by some, felt like a deviation from the series’ emphasis on exploration, turn-based combat, and guild management. This detracts from the original game’s strengths.

16. Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl

Similar to Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight, Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl also leaned too heavily on narrative additions. A slightly higher Metacritic score for the enhanced version compared to the original is a minor positive. However, the additions to the story felt somewhat tacked on rather than integral improvements.

15. Catherine: Full Body

Catherine: Full Body provides more gameplay hours but doesn’t necessarily improve on the original game’s core experience. While the additions to the storyline and the character interactions might appeal to some, the focus on quantity over quality, and some less-than-ideal character portrayals, leads to a lower ranking. The extended playtime feels like a feature in lieu of significant enhancement, rather than a true upgrade.

14. Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE Encore

Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE Encore is a solid enhanced edition, adding new content and improving existing elements. However, the inclusion of questionable localization choices (the “vagina bones” meme) and the focus on the Western version of the original over the more mature Japanese version causes a slight drop in ranking. This choice of maintaining a more accessible version, rather than offering a more complete experience, leaves room for improvement.

13. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked

While Devil Survivor Overclocked brought improvements like compendium mechanics and voice acting, these changes weren’t quite enough to elevate the experience. The combined enhancements feel a little less successful compared to other enhanced titles in the series. The enhanced version’s overall reception was slightly lower than the original, which is notable.

12. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 Record Breaker

Devil Survivor 2 Record Breaker offers a higher aggregate review score, showing a more notable improvement compared to its base version. The addition of DLC characters from a popular anime, coupled with generally positive feedback, marks it a slight improvement over Overclocked. The additional content and critical reception elevate it in the ranking.

11. Persona 5: Royal

Persona 5: Royal, often hailed as a definitive version, actually adds fifteen additional hours to a game that already ran longer than needed. While the added story content and character interactions are appreciated, the pacing and repetitive writing in some sections of the original game are accentuated. The expansion, although substantial, does not wholly address fundamental issues present in the core experience.

10. Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux

Strange Journey Redux benefits from releasing near the tail end of the 3DS’ lifespan and the growing interest in the Shin Megami Tensei franchise. The addition of new content like demons, a new dungeon, and a character arc contribute to an upgraded experience. This, combined with a well-timed release, positions it amongst some of the more well-regarded enhanced editions.

9. Maken Shao: Demon Sword

Maken Shao: Demon Sword successfully enhances its predecessor by changing the perspective from first to third person. This substantial alteration is crucial, as the previous release wasn’t well received by some. The shift to a third-person perspective, although not a massive overhaul, was a meaningful gameplay shift that led to a more positive critical response, making it a noticeable upgrade for the series.

8. Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax, often considered the standard version outside of Japan, deserves recognition for its role in boosting the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series’ popularity. While considered the default release, the enhanced difficulty and the inclusion of Dante are highlights.

7. Persona 3: FES

Persona 3: FES serves as a foundational enhanced edition for the series, introducing new story content and addressing technical issues in the original release. While well-regarded, there are superior versions of Persona 3 available that overshadow its ranking here.

6. Persona 3: Reload

Persona 3: Reload goes beyond simple enhancements, functioning nearly as a complete remake. The visual update and quality-of-life improvements make the experience far more accessible. However, some stylistic choices lean towards more contemporary tastes, undermining the original’s melancholic themes, making it a good balance, but not the best.

5. Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology

Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology successfully revitalized an older game. Adding animation and voice acting, alongside quality-of-life changes, created a more polished and enjoyable experience. The addition of new story elements made the game accessible to a broader audience, though the new narrative might feel somewhat tacked-on for those who played the original.

4. Persona 4: Golden

Persona 4: Golden stands out as a significant enhancement, offering a near-perfect refinement of the original. The added story content, while expanding the runtime, enhances the overall quality of the game, particularly in the character interactions. The new cutscenes and character additions elevate the narrative to a higher level, positioning it as a well-rounded experience.

3. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona for the PSP

The PSP enhanced edition of Persona is noteworthy for restoring the “Snow Queen” route, a section of the original story omitted from the western release. This inclusion makes the enhanced edition more complete and provides a richer experience for both fans and new players. The inclusion of content missing in the previous release is the major enhancement that places it high.

2. Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir

Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir is a prime example of successful enhancement. It focuses on refining gameplay systems and graphical improvements, without significantly changing the story, resulting in a deeply engaging and polished experience. The enhanced edition perfectly captures the essence of the original, providing a streamlined and visually impressive version of the game.

1. Persona 3: Portable

Persona 3: Portable stands out with its unique approach to enhancement. Adding the option to play as a female protagonist, significantly recontextualizes the entire experience. This addition, coupled with battle system enhancements, makes Portable a truly innovative and enriching experience for both returning and new players. The ability to explore the game with a different gender perspective elevates the game and sets a precedent for future editions.