ATLUS brought the hype as the “Metaphor: ReFantazio Completion Celebration: World Metaphor Summit” kicked off at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel. The momentous event marked the end of development for the highly anticipated JRPG and offered fans some new sneak peeks into the upcoming title.
Hosted by Mafia Kajita and Tomomi Isomura, the celebration opened with a performance by Keisuke Honryo, chief priest of Myojoji in Kanagawa, setting a unique, chilling tone for the afternoon.
The event featured key figures behind the game’s development. From ATLUS, we had director Katsura Hashino and character designer Shigenori Soejima, Joining them onstage was Shoji Meguro, the composer behind the game’s music score. Each shared their experiences and thoughts on the game’s completion.
Hashino expressed gratitude to the fans, stating, “I’m very grateful for all the fans that have supported us in the development.” He highlighted the challenges of creating a fantasy world, comparing it to the real-world setting of Shibuya in the Persona series.
Soejima, responsible for the game’s visual aesthetic, commented, “I am pleased to have been included in the production of this game.” He emphasized the delicate balance achieved between contemporary and fantasy designs in the game’s visuals.
Meguro, the mastermind behind the game’s soundtrack, reflected on the lengthy development process: “This game has taken a long time, and I’m looking forward to the release of this game.” He also mentioned the unique challenge of composing music based on the game’s Esperanto language.
The event included a live showcase of the game’s “journey” trial version. Hashino noted that the demo version offers players approximately 3 to 4 hours of gameplay, depending on exploration style. The full game will feature various elements including multiple races, classes, and even cooking mechanics.
READ: Metaphor: ReFantazio | All you need to know about its story
Adding to the festive atmosphere, Takashi Yoshimura alongside famous cosplayers Kokoro Shinozaki, Sutanmi, and Billy made appearances, bringing characters from the game to life. They’ll be making a comeback at this week’s Tokyo Game Show, appearing onstage to showcase the game. As such, a variety of merchandise will be available, including magnetic bookmarks and goodie bags.
As for what’s to come, a manga adaptation of Metaphor has been confirmed, alongside an SH Figuarts action figure of of the main character. What’s more is we’ll also be getting collectibles from the Kotobukiya and Nendoroid series, so stay tuned.
Fans eager to get their hands on the game won’t have to wait long. A playable demo will be available at the aforementioned Tokyo Game Show. It will be compatible with Xbox, PlayStation 4 & 5, and Steam platforms.
For more information on Metaphor: ReFantazio, check out the official ATLUS website, Facebook page, and Youtube channel.