Metaphor ReFantazio: practical report – PlayStation.Blog

Anyone familiar with Atlus' deep and immersive role-playing games has been excited to see what the strange and magical Metaphor: ReFantazio has in store. And while it's not directly tied to the popular Persona series, there are some intriguing touchstones in its aesthetics and mechanics that will captivate fans and newcomers alike. Ahead of the October 11th release date, let's take a close look at some of these fascinating similarities and differences.

The fight is unleashed

Fans of Persona's fast-paced yet detailed turn-based combat will feel at home here, but Studio Zero has also given the game a little twist. You can fight with low-level enemies in real time and take them out with a few well-aimed blows, or even a single blow if your current level is completely superior to them.

There is a special dodge button that allows you to dodge their attacks when they see you before you can act. This is also handy for enemies that are too difficult to take down in real time. In this case, you can start a turn-based battle after softening it up with an action strike – especially useful if you can catch an enemy off guard first, which will give you a free hit during turn-based Squad Battle.

Real-time battles can also be used to each monster's advantage. In one instance, I thought some vicious beasts were being fended off by some barrels, but they smashed through them, triggering the squad fight and getting a free hit on my group in the process. Lesson Learned: From this point on, I found myself using the protagonist's fairy visor much more often to better perceive nearby enemies and let Gallica assess their threat level. But if things go really badly, you can also press L3 to restart the fight.

Time management is key

As the game's main plot develops, one of your goals is to distribute tasks throughout the day to gain democratic popularity, while also completing other goals to become more powerful, form bonds with other party members, or reach certain milestones to achieve the story. As in Persona, each of these events takes time as you move towards certain events, and failing to meet deadlines for critical events will result in the game over.

So planning each day and knowing when to enter time-consuming dungeons and when to rest – or even kill time by doing more peaceful tasks – can make all the difference. Luckily, all activities clearly state how much time they take, so you shouldn't be surprised.

Exploring the United Kingdom of Euchronia

Metaphor: ReFantazio wastes no time in establishing that we are not on our Earth… or in a particularly safe country. The game's inciting incident stems from a gruesome act of regicide, and things only get wilder from there, as the medieval fantasy setting explores themes of bigotry and the value of imagination, particularly in overcoming our own fears and Fears.

Man is anything but human

In fact, the term “human” in the game is a synonym for often giant, grotesque monsters feared by the game's various fantasy races. Even our blue-haired protagonist – who is arguably the closest thing to a traditional Persona character – is a rarity in a world full of horned Clemar tribe, elf-looking Roussainte tribe, fairies, and many other species.

The music is more operatic

Persona is known for this Diverse selection of music, from rock to acid jazz to electronically inspired beats. Given The scoring of the “Metaphor: ReFantazio” soundtrack leans more towards the orchestra, with tense strings, dramatic drums and chants in the beautifully composed battle themes, which are already backed with deservedly flattering memes. Fans of the previous series “Shin Megami Tensei” will be thrilled by the immersive tonal familiarity.

Less evocative or merging, more transformative

Although Metaphor: ReFantazio's powerful archetype forms are similar to Persona's summoning system, there are some notable differences. Archetypes are typically awakened when a party member is faced with and overcomes a particular fear or anxiety, resulting in them assuming a magically armored form capable of enhanced attacks and abilities.

These transformed characters are part of a job system in which your party members can switch between the over 40 differently skilled archetypes spread across 14 different lineages depending on their playstyle. For example, no matter what characters you have in your party, you can put together a savior from the healer line, a ninja thief, and a devil summoner. Or a magic knight, dragoon archer and martial artist brawler. And create combos with them in battle using spectacular synthesis skills.

Explore a safe haven

It doesn't take long in the game before you are whisked away to the mysterious Akademeia by the equally mysterious More. This magical library is a haunted house where you can learn more about archetypes and unlock additional aspects of their abilities through books and lectures. Initially you don't have much choice when it comes to visiting Akademeia, but as the game progresses you can choose when to visit Akademeia, via the protagonist's novel or via More's ghostly form.

Akademeia offers much more than you initially think

While Akademeia acts as an enemy-free center for learning and growth, Metaphor: ReFantazio also provides space to engage with the metacommentary of history and examine the power of imagination and the nature of storytelling. Without giving too much away, this is also related to one of your very first actions in the game, where you as a player enter your own name. Oh, and there's also a cute cat that you can pet…which I did often. Priorities, right?

Persona isn't the only one with style

Sure, you may have played medieval fantasy RPGs before, but have you ever played one as stylish as this one? From its anime cutscenes to its hilarious battle chatter to its slick victory outros, Metaphor: ReFantazio rivals Persona for its sheer sense of flair. The interface also maintains a feeling of familiarity without being a direct imitation, opting for a slightly more consistent aesthetic.

Likewise, the game knows when to use a bold color mix and when to opt for a more natural palette, delivering an appealing mix of what we'd expect from a classic fantasy genre without lacking any of Atlus' panache and polish sacrifice.

Your protagonist has a voice

Perhaps the most notable aspect of Metaphor: ReFantazio's cast is that your protagonist is voiced the same as the rest of the characters. Although you can name it whatever you like, as the majority of the game's dialogue is still delivered via text with occasional vocalizations.

A union of tribes

Significantly, each party member you develop throughout the game represents each of the country's main tribes. For example, the stoic knight Hulkenberg is a Roussainte, while the rodent-like Eugief tribe is represented by Heismay, who evokes the thief archetype. And the small but loyal fairy Gallica may not be able to fight, but offers valuable advice and guidance on your journey.

Build bonds with followers

Romantic Persona fans won't necessarily find the same sparkling connections in Metaphor: ReFantazio, but building relationships is still important. At various points you have the opportunity to interact with other party members and NPCs, and spending certain time with them creates a bond. This, in turn, can help awaken new archetypes, with deeper relationships unlocking further abilities.

Real contacts also help

If you stay online with the game, you'll have the opportunity to explore the handy Travelers' Voices page. A press of the touchpad shows you what other players have done in the section you are currently in. So if you're stuck in a dungeon, you can check what group formations others have used and what levels they used to clear that area, and also change your lineup to match another player's for a better chance of success.

Travelers' Voices also works in cities, conveniently letting you know where players spent most of their time during the day. A nice little feature if you're looking for some guidance on how to spend your free time in Euchronia.

Metaphor: Rich, always surprising and stylishly elegant, ReFantazio will not only delight fans of Atlus games, but will also enchant newcomers with its magic. If you haven't figured it out yet from the PS5 demo, you'll get your chance when the full game launches on PS4 and PS5 on October 11th.