Metaphor: ReFantazio – Review

We want you Project Re Fantasy be more than just a game that points to nostalgia going back to the roots: we aspire to something even more than that.

Katsura Hashino, director Metaphor: ReFantazio in interview with Dengeki on November 23, 2017.

For 38 years, Atlus has been characterized by a unique style in the narrative and gameplay of its RPGs. Over the years, this style has been strengthened with the games of the franchise Persona, spin off of Shin Megami Tensei. However, for seven years, Atlus and Studio Zero have wanted to give their RPGs a twist. In this way we were introduced Project Re Fantasya title set in a fantasy world far from dense cities, apocalyptic stories and the daily life of high school students.

Thanks to this promise, the expectation to see how Atlus would approach the classic genre scenario grew. However, Atlus only shared information and the real name of Project Re Fantasy last year, during Xbox Games Showcase 2023. Now, we have already experienced Metaphor: ReFantazio and in our review we will tell you if Atlus’ first version of a fantastic world lives up to its great franchises.

The story of Metaphor: ReFantazio It takes place in the kingdom of Euchronia, which is a union of three allied kingdoms. Eucronia, the Principality of Oceana and Montario are ruled by King Hythlodaeus V; a monarch who has fallen from grace, has isolated himself from the political world and lost all authority since an attack suffered by the Prince who everyone—including the King—believes to be dead. Since this event, the Unified Kingdom of Euchronia has been involved in a maelstrom of intrigue and conflict.

As a result, King Hythlodaeus V is assassinated by Count Louis, a charismatic member of the government with great influence in the army and part of the people.. However, the death of the King would unleash a magic unknown to everyone. This aims for the successor of Hythlodaeus V to be appointed by popular vote. Our mission is to defeat Louis to save the prince—who everyone believes dead—from a curse that left him in a deep sleep.

To save the Prince we will have to enter the Tournament for the Throne, a competition created by the Crown Theocracy for the candidates to demonstrate to the people their worth as King.. Our character is an Elda, the most discriminated against of the nine tribes. Since, it does not have any distinctive characteristics and also rumors say that they attract calamities. On our trip we will learn about the different sides of this war, other contenders for the crown and the history that surrounds this fantasy world inhabited by the nine tribes.

The story of Metaphor: ReFantazio It is a constant metaphor for many situations in our world, which is a “utopia” for the characters in the game.. Since, in this there is a single tribe (race) that, far from fighting for classes or racial discrimination, lives together in harmony and freedom of belief. During the journey of the Tournament for the Throne we will meet the nine tribes and the different problems suffered by the inhabitants of the Unified Kingdom of Euchronia. All this while we reveal a story that has endless secrets for the player and even winks for those who have been faithful followers of Atlus during the last three decades.

The trips in Metaphor: ReFantazio They are set with a narration that gives us details of the place and descriptions of the local culture. Thanks to this narrative—which resembles that of a novel—the Unified Kingdom of Euchronia is another character in this epic adventure from Studio Zero. We cannot say more about the story, but we do want to highlight that it is a carefully detailed section that always seeks to make us think and make the comparison with this “utopian” world in which we live.

Thus, many insist on comparing Metaphor: ReFantazio with the series Persona. The truth is that Studio Zero’s fantasy RPG only borrows from this spin off of Megaten the style of your menus and the mechanics of social links. The heart of the gameplay Metaphor: ReFantazio It lies in the Archetypes and the combat system. This is an updated version of the “Press Turn System” that debuted in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne. That is to say that in Metaphor: ReFantazioas in the recent Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance (review), we will have the possibility of exploiting enemies’ weaknesses to increase the duration of our turns. But unlike the “One More” system of Personawe cannot pass the extra turn to a teammate. Additionally, the penalties for blocking or reflecting the attack are more drastic than in the saga games. Shin Megami Tensei.

In Metaphor: ReFantazio If we block an attack we steal two turns, but if we reflect it or absorb an attack, the opponent’s entire turn—or ours—will end. Because of this, it is very important in battles to know the weakness and attack movements of the enemies to draw up a successful strategy. Up to this point we are practically describing the combat system of a Shin Megami Tensei. However, Studio Zero has added a differentiating factor in Metaphor: ReFantazio.

Archetypes and the freedom to create the perfect strategy

In Metaphor: ReFantazio There are no digital demons to capture, instead there are Archetypes – which, like Personas – are manifestations of character, personality and especially the desire to change the world with their ideals. In Metaphor: ReFantazioeach character has their own archetype and the possibility of using the other available ones. These are unlocked through social links, which have eight levels and must then be purchased at the Academy, . Each of these will take us to know the character in question and some culminate with a special mission. Each time an Archetype is unlocked and leveled up, its abilities—attack, defense, support, or passive—can be inherited to another Archetype. This gives the player the freedom to create their own strategy for battle.

The scene of the battle Metaphor: ReFantazio It has two formations. If our characters are in the front line, their melee skills improve, but their defense is reduced. On the other hand, at the forefront, ranged attacks gain power and the characters’ defense will be stronger. Another novelty in the combat system Metaphor: ReFantazio is in altered states. Since, some of these debut in this game and others have received changes that make them – in some situations – more fair or unfair than in previous Atlus games. The attacks are the now classic slash, piercing, punch, fire, ice, wind, light, darkness and almighty. But some effects have been revamped and there are also a large number of new magics and abilities that fit perfectly with this new version of the game. Press Turn System

The news in the combat system Metaphor: ReFantazio They feel fresh even for the players who have accompanied Atlus in these more than 35 years. As we progress through the story, we will even see nods to the Japanese developer’s previous games. The weather is a differentiating factor when entering one of the dungeons (dungeons) of Metaphor: ReFantazio. Since, if the weather is not favorable, no matter how much we exploit an opponent’s weakness, we will not receive the advantage of the turn. The above only affects us. So part of the strategy is knowing when to enter a mission or find a way to make the weather favorable.

So, with everything new that Studio Zero has added to combat and exploration, twenty years after the release of the game that immortalized Katsura Hashino, we can feel satisfied. Now, we can’t wait to see how these new elements will be inherited or adapted in the next game of the now franchise. Persona.

Music is the first magic known to man

In Metaphor: ReFantazio again, the character design is by Shgenori Soegima and the music is composed by Shoji Meguro. They, along with director Katsura Hashino, are the pillars of modern RPGs and Metaphor: ReFantazio It is proof of all the work done by this team of Japanese developers. On our trip we see beautiful landscapes set to epic music that make every important moment memorable. Both the normal battle theme and the ambush theme have strength and personality, as does the setting of each area of ​​the game. So those who have gotten caught up in the franchise Persona From its fifth installment you will find in Metaphor: ReFantazio everything that made this game what it is today and more.

In Metaphor: ReFantazioin addition to the franchise’s usual team Shin Megami Tensei y Persona From the last 20 years, we also see the work of Ikuto Yamashita – designer of the Evangelion—in the mechanical designs and Yuji Himukai—character designer of Etrian Odyssey— in charge of the designs of the Archetypes.