Atlus already had quite a year with the release of Persona 3 Reload and Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, and now, we finally have Metaphor: ReFantazio. This is an interesting title for many reasons, though mainly because it’s the big project from Katsura Hashino, the director of Persona 3 to 5. The game also features plenty of veteran staff members from Shin Megami Tensei and other iconic RPGs.
Based on the various previews that Atlus has shared over the past few months, Metaphor: ReFantazio has no doubt piqued the interest of many RPG fans, especially given its turn-based combat system which seems to be familiar and new at the same time. There’s also the fact that it has an intriguing medieval fantasy story, all wrapped up in a stylish aesthetic.
From what we’ve seen of the game, we were already quite excited to play Metaphor: ReFantazio, but we didn’t expect just how much the game would blow us away.
The Atlus RPG Formula, Perfected
While this is not a Persona game, Metaphor’s core gameplay loop should be familiar to Persona veterans. That’s because this game features a mix of turn-based combat in dungeons along with social elements where players can deepen bonds with party members and Followers (this game’s version of Social Links).
In the game’s social aspect, Persona fans would appreciate the fact that some key changes make spending time with allies feel less demanding. In Persona, there’s no doubt that many players would be tempted to check guides to make the most out of the time outside dungeons. In Metaphor though, this itch to look at a guide shouldn’t be as big, especially given that the game is clearer in what rewards you get during social encounters.
These quality-of-life enhancements aren’t just present in the game’s social aspect though. The turn-based combat system also features various improvements that make the game feel much better. For instance, there’s now a handy rewind feature where you can restart the combat encounter at any point. This is great whenever things go south as you don’t have to quit the game or wait for your inevitable party wipe. And speaking of a party wipe, we also like the fact that the protagonist getting taken down in combat no longer results in an instant game over.
The game’s combat isn’t just great because of these quality-of-life improvements though. Its overall combat system is also a joy to experience, even if it’s not exactly “new.” Yes, the name of the game here is still about taking advantage of enemy weaknesses (as is the case with most turn-based RPGs). And yes, many of the combat’s elements should be familiar to SMT and Persona fans. But when taken as a whole, what you get is perhaps the ultimate expression of Atlus’ RPG formula.
Metaphor: ReFantazio’s combat features a version of SMT’s Press-Turn system. It works similarly to the SMT version, but what gives this game its unique flavor is the addition of Archetypes. This is kind of like the game’s version of Personas, though it’s more accurate to think of it like a job system as Archetypes provide both skills and stat buffs.
There are plenty of Archetypes in this game, and ranking them up is a key component. While you may find yourself sticking to specific Archetypes during the earlier stages, switching between them is something you’ll likely need to do later in the game, depending on what setup works best for enemies in later dungeons. You won’t just switch Archetypes on the protagonist though as all party members’ Archetypes can be changed. This is important as you’ll want to optimize your party’s Archetype setup to take advantage of Synthesis attacks. These are powerful attacks that consume two turn icons, but using these is key to winning some tough combat encounters down the line.
Combining the game’s Press-Turn mechanics with the in-depth Archetype trees makes for an incredibly deep combat system that’s rewarding to master. Given these elements, Metaphor’s combat is a joy to play for RPG-lovers.
Even with how good the combat is, we feared that it could get old at some point. Thankfully, this wasn’t the case as the game also features a more involved action-oriented combat element. Think of it like a more involved version of Persona’s dungeon mechanics. Instead of simply getting the upper hand in combat when hitting an enemy first, in Metaphor, you can breeze through lower-level enemies without even entering the turn-based combat phase by using the attack button. This helps minimize the tedium of exploring dungeons.
This seems to be one of Studio Zero’s guiding principles while developing the game. Even though we love the Persona games, there are still times that they can feel a bit tedious and repetitive. But with Metaphor: ReFantazio, Studio Zero addressed plenty of these points, both in combat and the social aspect. Thus, you get a game that has the same compelling and addictive quality as Atlus’ signature RPGs, all while making everything flow incredibly well.
When talking about gameplay, Metaphor moves at a great pace as things move fast without feeling too rushed. This is also the case when it comes to the game’s story as Metaphor is a thrilling journey from start to finish.
Pitch-Perfect Pacing
As we mentioned, we love the Persona games as we’re big fans of Atlus’ brand of RPGs in general, though we have to admit that some of these titles have slower points. This is fine at some points as a game going 100 all the time is too tiring, but these slow points can feel a bit dull at times.
For Metaphor: ReFantazio, Studio Zero addressed this as we didn’t find the game to be slow at all. From the beginning, the game moves at a great pace in terms of combat while still giving players breathers via its social elements.
More than just gameplay though, Metaphor’s story is also paced perfectly. It helps a lot that this game feels like a grand adventure as the protagonist and his party must travel the world to gain supporters. This is in contrast to other Atlus RPGs which can feel a bit confined.
We won’t go into full details story-wise so you don’t get spoiled, but Metaphor’s plot is another highlight. The game is set in the United Kingdom of Euchronia which is pushed into a state of unrest following the assassination of the King. The King’s death activates the Royal Magic which sets up a tournament for the throne by way of an election.
Yes, this game has a strong political element that can be seen as a mirror of what’s going on in the real world. While the developers may not have intended the game’s election story to mirror reality, what we can tell for sure is that Studio Zero has a positive and uplifting message that they want to share in this game.
Atlus’ other RPGs also have strong core messages, so it’s great to see this with Metaphor. Given its fantasy setting, it would’ve been easy to simply whip up a story that focuses purely on thrills. But the fact that this game has something to say makes it a more fulfilling and memorable experience.
Seriously Stylish
The story will no doubt stick with you long after you finish the game’s nearly hundred-hour playtime (more if you’re a completionist), but what also stuck with us strongly is the game’s incredible sense of style.
Atlus RPGs have distinct visuals and Metaphor: ReFantazio is no exception. Its mix of earthen tones for the world and bright red UI makes take some time to get used to (especially compared to the more cohesive look of the Person games), but this one grew on us a lot as we played the game.
This mix of styles gives the game a unique identity as it has both the look of a medieval fantasy setting with Atlus’ signature style. Yes, Atlus’ visual style very much takes center stage here as the UI, menus, and scene transitions are excellent eye candy. Studio Zero definitely outdid themselves in this regard.
One thing highlighted in Metaphor previews was the numerous art history references, specifically when it comes to the “Human” designs which are taken straight out of Hieronymus Bosch’s paintings. What’s more, the Archeytpe menu also features its own version of Leonardo Da Vinci’s iconic Vitruvian Man. Even if you’re not big into art history, these references do a lot to enhance the game’s visuals and atmosphere. But if you are into art history like me, you’ll love these inclusions even more.
If there’s one thing that we wanted to see improved, it’s the design of the character models. Sure, they look great, but there are times that they seem ever so slightly out of place when compared to the world design and stylish UI. This is just us nitpicking though as this shouldn’t be an issue for most players.
Before we wrap things up, we also want to mention the game’s soundtrack. This game’s music is seriously impressive as it gives the entire adventure a more epic feel. In fact, we even found ourselves humming the game’s various tracks even when we weren’t playing.
Metaphor: ReFantazio Final Verdict – 10/10
We had high hopes for Metaphor: ReFantazio, and after playing the game, our expectations were exceeded. In all aspects, Studio Zero’s latest title is a top-tier RPG. Whether you play RPGs for their engaging turn-based combat or gripping stories, Metaphor: ReFantazio is sure to delight
On top of these, the game’s story has a message that resonates with today’s time, all while having a grand sense of adventure with excellent pacing. As a bonus, the game’s visual style also makes it compelling enough to experience even for those new to JRPGs.
[This review was made via a PS5 game code provided by the publisher]
Metaphor: ReFantazio takes the Atlus RPG formula and perfects it. The combat takes all the great things about Persona and SMT, and further refines them. Meanwhile, its story is a memorable one with a great message, while its visual style is seriously beautiful. Overall, Metaphor is a top-notch RPG that sets a new standard for the genre.