Metaphor: ReFantazio Review

Initial release date: October 11, 2024

Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

License: proprietary license

Composer: Shoji Meguro

Genres: Role-playing video game, Action game, Adventure game, Fighting game, Adventure

Developers: Atlus, Studio Zero

Publishers: Atlus, Sega, Atlus USA, SEGA of America

If you asked a large group of RPG enthusiasts what the best games in the genre are, most would probably choose Persona or Shin Megami Tensei. Atlus has built a slew of RPGs that have happily stolen hours from my life, and I wouldn’t want a single minute of it back. It’s been a while since these excellent devs created something wholly new, at least until Metaphor: ReFantazio, which is decidedly more fantasy-oriented.

Our hero in this fascinating medieval adventure is an Elda, a very rare race that faces a great deal of discrimination. This Elda, however, was a childhood companion of a cursed prince who had been sent on a mission to end the curse by killing its caster. This mission is complicated when the king is assassinated, and the entire kingdom is rattled as the search for a replacement begins.

The plot of Metaphor: ReFantazio revolves around political intrigue in a world where individuals who are different are rejected. To try to resolve this issue, the king utilized his mighty powers to ensure that the next monarch would be chosen by the people, thinking that a little democracy would bring everyone together and offer them the best ruler possible. With no other option for locating the person who cursed the Prince, you and your ragtag group of companions decide to run in the magical election and embark on a world-spanning journey.

Despite the fact that Metaphor: ReFantazio is mostly about elections and combatting bigotry, you will find yourself in a lot of scraps. Combat is turn-based, so fans of Atlus’ previous titles will feel right at home. Hitting weaknesses to get extra attacks is the name of the game here, and each of your characters has access to a variety of weapon kinds and spells to do this. It’s an entertaining system, if not a groundbreaking one, from the studio that created all of the recent Persona games, and it’s intelligent and fast-paced enough to never become boring.

Most characters in Metaphor: ReFantazio may only wield magical abilities through weapons called Igniters, but your group awakens the power of the Archetypes contained within, which aids them in combat. Archetypes are essentially character classes, with options ranging from the basic mage and healer archetypes to more unusual ones such as gunner and merchant. Building a balanced squad that utilizes a variety of Archetypes will make fights go much more smoothly, but how you do it is entirely up to you.

Although exploiting weaknesses is typically the key to victory, Archetypes can be used in a variety of other ways to shape your characters. Perhaps you’d rather employ stat buffs to pump up the team in battle rather to just casting spells, or inflict devastating status effects on the adversary to weaken their offensive capacity. Each Archetype offers something unique to give your party in battle, and you can even combine talents gained from other Archetypes to build a moveset that works for you.

In the contest to become king, it’s necessary to demonstrate your battle skill, but it’s also important to network and strengthen your kingly abilities. Much as in the Persona games, Metaphor: ReFantazio has a social life time management component in which you can spend time with your party members and other allies. Each character you can hang out with belongs to a distinct Archetype, and they can only be enhanced if you have a strong enough bond with the person associated with them. I enjoyed spending time getting to know everyone of my lovely and nuanced bond friends, and it was fulfilling to do so.

When you’re not creating ties, you’ll probably want to create your protagonist a more well-rounded figure who appeals to a wider audience. There are five main numbers that you may increase by participating in various activities (ranging from reading books to sitting on a bench and people watching), and they are important for influencing others at critical occasions. Perhaps a new link will only be available if your courage is unwavering, or you’ll need a more vivid imagination to persuade someone to assist you. Again, it’s similar to how you increase your personality stats in Persona, but with a more royal touch.

If you’ve ever played as a superpowered schoolkid saving the world in Persona, Metaphor: ReFantazio will feel familiar. However, there are other aspects of it that set it apart from conventional RPGs, such as the dungeon designs, which are considerably more fascinating with riddles, chase sequences, and other thrilling components that spice things up.

It would be frustrating if a new Atlus RPG lacked the visual flair and booming soundtrack that fans have come to anticipate, but you don’t have to worry about that. While not quite on the same level as Persona’s vibrant color menus, Metaphor has a stunning look all its own that is a little grittier (which fits the overall tone). On the music side, there are hundreds of songs throughout the game that I’ll be listening to even after the credits roll, and the voice acting is also excellent.

Although Metaphor: ReFantazio is unquestionably one of the best RPGs you’ll play this year, there are a few minor flaws to note. For the most of the game, I was completely engrossed and reluctant to put down the controller, but the final act dragged on a little too long. There’s also a minor issue with hitting foes to initiate fights, which is a little awkward when you have certain weapon types loaded. Again, this is not a major issue, but it will be noticeable if you make your main character more magical, like I did.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is yet another must-play RPG from the same studio that brought us Persona, with thrilling combat, fascinating time management aspects, and a wonderfully intriguing plot to tie it all together. If you want to see the credits roll, you’ll need to devote a significant amount of time to this fantastic game, but if you do, you’ll be rewarded with one of the best games of this stellar year of video games.

Review Overview

Gameplay: 86%

Controls: 82%

Aesthetics: 93%

Content: 88%

Accessibility: 78%

Value: 85%

Overall: 86%

EXCELLENT

Summary: “Metaphor: ReFantazio” is a jaw-dropping RPG experience that succeeds in both style and content. With a complex yet rewarding fighting system and a gorgeously constructed world, it provides an engrossing experience for genre enthusiasts. While the game’s complex gameplay may be difficult for newbies, its extensive content and graphically appealing presentation set it apart as one of the most memorable RPGs of recent years. “Metaphor: ReFantazio” is a wonderful pick for anyone looking for a compelling story, hard combat, and breathtaking visuals.