Combining the best of SMT and Persona

When people compare Metaphor: Refantazio to PersonaThey do not do so in a way that invites detractors. First impressions are everything when it comes to new releases, and to be noticed alongside some of the JRPG genre’s best is an indication of respect from the onlookers. The bar is set very high, and metaphor will need to exceed or redefine it to escape the comparisons that come to encapsulate as it is mentioned; But as far as the ideal starting point goes, the similarities to one of the all-time greats isn’t the worst.

Metaphor: Refantazio did Persona In her blood. Developed by Studio Zero, it is the first game from the outfit, which was founded by Persona Series director Katsura Hashino, composer Shoji Meguro and character designer Shigenori Soejima. First announced in 2016, the game exists under a project codename until 2023When more details finally emerged – and first glances that are immediately reminiscent of phantom thieves and specialized extraterrestrial execution squads.

I will be honest – when I first saw metaphorI thought it would be nice in the niche of “games like Persona Which isn’t quite on its level.” The type of JRPG many enthusiasts are happy to sink 60 hours into without complaint, but one that won’t shake things up too widely. I now think Metaphor: Refantazio is a combination of not only Personas best elements, however Shin Megami Tenseis too. It’s at the top of my list of games I want to play in 2024 and I think it could be a year-defining JRPG from Atlus.

Metaphor: ReFantazio’s story seems mindbending in a fun way

Early indicators suggest a two-faceted narrative

It’s not like Atlas Persona Stories were always perfect. They are deeply flawed, if not only because they span upwards of a hundred hours of content, but also because they try to juggle intricacies between a host of cast members who, depending on the game, may only be present in half as many scenes as They may be in others. But they are memorable stories at their heart, crafting magical worlds that permeate the human psyche and borrow from legends around the world.. And they’re human, too—rooted in common, relatable struggles, all while trying to forge relationships with the people we care about.

Obviously, one hour is not enough to judge whether Metaphor: Refantazio Manages to do something similar with its history. it Is Enough to show that it’s aiming for the same goal, however, and starts off on the right foot. A seemingly omnipotent narrator asks you to provide your name, before indicating that the name of the protagonist in the story will be chosen later, and that jarring idea of ​​a two-sided story that exceeds immersion in his fantasy world is immensely appealing in the jump . .

Later, while exploring the world and engaging in some more traditional fantasy fare, the player encounters his first boss character. A winged monstrosity with apples dangling from its folds, it kills a camp of soldiers with ease before it becomes a name of the protagonist’s companion – it’s a Man. I have no idea what that means at the moment, except that it’s exactly the sort of twist I’d expect from the best of Atlus’ repertoire up to this point.

There is also a darkness more pervasive in the story and the design of the world – a character is hanged within minutes of arriving at the main city, just one of many examples of racial prejudice and inequality being central themes. That reminded me a lot more of some of Shin Megami TenseiIt’s more in-depth story beats, and I think there is potential to explore an interesting fusion between Personas social ties and companionship styles and SmtIt’s more visceral and sinister source material.

But a combination of​​ style and hopefully substance will see it through

Anyone familiar with Atlus’ library of JRPGs will be surprised by what’s on offer Metaphor: Refantazios battle systems. Players control their protagonist while using a variety of standard attacks or skills to exploit weaknesses; Use these well enough and you’ll be given an extra turn in combat to press the advantage further. I think that the general violation has been offered for quite some time and would like to see a little more innovation later in the game, but it did not wear out its welcome with me while hands-on.

Rather than raising demons or familiars to expand the protagonist’s range of combat options, metaphor will instead see the player character form bonds with those in the world around them and then embark on a path that will unlock a new transformation in combat. These changes swat the protagonist in fantasy, fantastic armor and offer him a new range of abilities and strengths. Hands-on, I’ve only had to try the Seeker, so I can’t comment on how different they’ll be from each other – but it’s a promising amalgamation of some of the Persona And Smt Games’ strengths with a new look on top of it all.

One thing Metaphor: Refantazio Not lacking is style. UI, whether in combat or outside, has clearly borrowed inspiration from the extensive praise Persona 5s menus received when the game launch; They are not identical, more suitable for a high fantasy setting, but they are not boring. Some cutscenes have great animation to enhance the presentation, while the overworld map eschews sprinting between locations, instead letting the player connect from location to location by selecting them on the map screen.

Cities are bustling with conversation and intrigue, while the world itself contains many ancient secrets begging to be unraveled. It doesn’t have the familiarity of a real-world Japanese setting, but it’s better for it, by many Metaphor: Refantazios early moments remain inviting even in a more alien, magical backdrop.

Keep your eyes on Studio Zero’s debut game

At worst it will be a solid JRPG – at best, it could be something much bigger

60 minutes is not enough to decide if a game will be great. Sometimes, the first hour can be an illusion, painting a beautiful picture that slowly decays under under-developed mechanics or a short-sighted story. I’m sure that, at its worst, Metaphor: Refantazio Will be another solid, if slightly overcooked, JRPG for fans of the genre to sink their teeth into. That’s the floor – but What I’m excited about is the ceiling for the game, which feels like it could be a breakout hit that establishes another lineage of excellent JRPGs down the line..

A combination of Persona And Shin Megami TenseiThe best traits and vibes of Atlus, then coupled with a combat system that knows what it’s doing and can be refreshing for an Atlus-led project, is something to pay attention to. The talent in the studio is undeniable and the first hour leaves a lasting impression – if Metaphor: Refantazio Keeping this momentum going for the rest of its runtime, I’ll be shocked if it’s not in the discussion for one of the best games of the year.

The creative team behind Persona 3, 4 and 5 present Metaphor: ReFantazio, a new fantasy action-adventure RPG game. The game’s development team includes the original director, character designer and composer of the Persona franchise and is like a full fantasy-set game with modern elements.

RPG

JRPG

Action

Adventure

Systems

Released

October 11, 2024

developer(s)

Studio Zero

Publisher(s)

Atlas

motor

GFD

ESRB

H For Teens // Blood, language, mild suggestive themes, use of alcohol, violence