Metaphor ReFantazio First Impressions – Is It Fantasy Persona

As a longtime fan of the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series, I must admit that the upcoming release of Metaphor ReFantazio has me both excited and intrigued. The depth and variety that these Archetypes provide is a welcome addition to the franchise, making the loss of the monster-taming mechanic much more bearable.

At this point, Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei series boasts quite an extensive lineage, with the Persona series being one of its most recognized descendants. This offshoot propelled the company to great heights, and among all the Persona games, it’s Persona 5 that enjoyed the greatest success. The popularity of Persona 5 paved the way for a few spin-offs. Now, we can say that Metaphor ReFantazio is a sort of ‘rebellious sibling’ to this lineage.

As a seasoned gamer, let me share an analogy that might sound unusual, but bear with me. In the realm of video games, Refantazio could be likened to the first novel penned by a renowned author. This debut masterpiece is none other than ReFantasio, created by Atlus’ in-house studio, Studio Zero, under the guidance of Katsura Hashino – a name longtime Shin Megami Tensei gamers will recognize as the director behind these beloved games, including Persona 3 to 5.

After the launch of Persona 5, Hashino decided to found Studio Zero, signaling his desire to move away from the Persona franchise. He envisioned Studio Zero as a platform for creating fresh intellectual properties that would have no ties or connections to the Shin Megami Tensei series, and thus, the Persona series.

But the DNA of the Persona games can be clearly felt in Metaphor ReFantazio, which we can already tell from our brief six-hour demo experience with the game. However, that does not necessarily mean that this new game is just Persona with a new coat of paint. In this Metaphor ReFantazio First Impressions article, we talk about all the merits of this new IP, and how it metamorphosed from its source.

Evolving from the Persona DNA

The similarities between ReFantazio and the Persona series, particularly in terms of core mechanics and gameplay elements, are quite apparent. Yet, this isn’t necessarily a flaw since ReFantazio is the debut title from Studio Zero, and it makes sense for the team to leverage their shared past, given that many of its members hail from P-Studio.

The key lies in Metaphor ReFantazio’s unique interpretation of well-known gameplay elements and ensuring they seamlessly blend into the game rather than appearing forced. It’s crucial that these features complement the overall narrative of Metaphor ReFantazio, not just serve as familiar nods. So far, Studio Zero has managed to excel on both counts, a point we’ll delve deeper into later.

In a nutshell, Metaphor ReFantazio’s gameplay follows a traditional pattern typical of JRPGs. Players traverse towns and dungeons, accept missions, and engage in turn-based combat. Additionally, the game adopts elements from the Persona series, such as a calendar system, relationship development, and character personality refinement.

The monster-taming feature that was a key aspect of past Shin Megami Tensei and Persona titles is absent from this game, a fact that may disappoint fans who were hoping for interactions with monsters, summoning them to fight, or fusing them to create stronger creatures. Instead, the game introduces a class system, a feature Atlus has not attempted since Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE.

Familiar Combat

In a manner much like many Shin Megami Tensei games, ReFantazio’s combats follow a sequence where both player’s and enemy’s teams take turns performing actions such as attacking, defending, or using special abilities or items. The flow of the battle is organized with turn indicators, each party member having their own turn marker while they are active. Each action consumed one turn marker, and once a team exhausts their markers, it’s then the other team’s turn to act.

In the latest update, the resistance, vulnerability, and counterattack abilities come back with fresh spell names. Farewell Agi, welcome Bot! Exploiting an enemy’s weakness will give you extra moves using a half-turn symbol. On the other hand, nullifying attacks will force opponents to end their turn instantly. The characteristics of your party members’ vulnerabilities and resistances are based on their class.

In terms of fighting, it feels like old ground. The user interface for battles even brings to mind Persona 5. The main difference is that you can now switch positions between the front and back rows, which affects both the damage you sustain and inflict during combat.

In Metaphor ReFantazio, the game shows consideration for players’ time by allowing them to bypass fights against weaker opponents. Similar to Persona games, battles occur when player characters encounter enemy avatars during dungeon exploration. However, in this game, if an opponent is weak enough, they will perish instantly upon encounter instead of starting a fight.

Less Personal, More Political

In a different phrasing: Metaphor ReFantazio shares a relationship system, yet it’s intriguing that it terms the individuals in these relationships as “Followers,” rather than friends or colleagues. This label becomes more understandable given Metaphor ReFantazio’s political setting and the player’s power to align with the world’s political structure. Cultivating Followers and building trust with them goes beyond mere personal connections, taking on a broader significance in the context of politics and power.

In other words, it’s important to note that Metaphor ReFantazio won’t feature any romantic storylines. I regret to inform you that your in-game relationship with your character won’t lead to marriage, regardless of how deeply involved you become with them as your follower progresses. Given the game’s setting where society is in turmoil and your character assumes a political role, love stories have been set aside for now.

In addition, rather than focusing on personal development, the player instead develops their political identity. The game encourages the player to nurture five distinct “Royal Virtues”: Courage, Wisdom, Tolerance, Eloquence, and Imagination – qualities deemed essential for earning the right to wear a royal crown. These virtues can be cultivated in much the same way as in the Persona series, by accomplishing various chores or tasks.

Incorporating these Regal Qualities expands the conversation possibilities for your game’s characters, grants players entry to certain stores, and enables them to discover hidden content that was previously inaccessible.

Running Out of Time

Refantazio’s Metaphorical Time Management System is akin to having a personal planner. The protagonist in the game battles against the ticking clock as they strive to accomplish their missions, assignments, and propel the storyline forward. Significant game events are linked to specific calendar days, requiring players to strategize and plan according to the time constraints set for them.

In the upcoming four months, a pivotal event called the “Day of the Hero” is scheduled. This day will decide who will ascend to the throne as the new ruler. I’ll share more details about it later. During this period, you’ll need to balance your efforts among three key areas: developing your character traits (Virtues), gaining supporters (Followers), and improving your fighting skills. By doing so, you’ll be able to accomplish missions and quests effectively before the Day of the Hero arrives.

In this calendar system, it consistently propels the storyline and keeps players eagerly anticipating rewards, regardless of when they play. This ability has proven to be just as effective in these games as it was in earlier versions of Persona, demonstrating that this engaging aspect of gameplay remains timeless.

Class Change and Progression

In a creative twist, ReFantazio assigns distinct roles and abilities to its characters through a system of classes, or Archetypes. These roles are conferred upon the player’s party members after they undergo mystical transformations following significant life-changing events. As the player acquires more Followers, an increasing number of these Archetypes become accessible for the player to switch between.

In this game, each character gets one chance to select an Archetype, which allows them to switch freely between classes. Each Archetype has the potential to upgrade into more complex forms. The game offers fifteen fundamental Archetypes, allowing players to explore a variety of playstyles. Additionally, skills learned from one Archetype can be passed down and used by the character when they’re using another Archetype.

Adopting a fresh role for your character will modify its attributes, grant it novel capabilities and talents, while also bestowing vulnerabilities and immunities upon it.

The richness and complexity offered by these Archetypes are a real plus, and help soften the blow of losing the monster-taming feature in the game.

Exploring Mature Themes and Politics

In a simplified manner, ReFantazio’s tale strongly reflects real-world politics, with the realm of Euchronia serving as a reflection of our own world. The game delves into issues such as societal hierarchy, discrimination, ideal societies, and the populace’s reaction to an emerging authoritarian leader.

The heart of the game’s story revolves around the King of Euchronia’s recent assassination by his general Louis, who aims to seize the throne for himself. Leveraging populist rhetoric, he stirs up support among the people. On the brink of death, the King employs his magical abilities to organize an election, with the candidate garnering the most votes four months later assuming the role of the new Monarch.

In Euchronia’s unique form of governance, which resembles Democracy in some ways, the selection process bypasses voting. Instead, a monumental sculpted rock emerges at the heart of the Capital City. The public’s allegiance to candidates is reflected on this stone, as it transforms into the visages of the contenders. The greater the backing a candidate receives, the larger the area his face occupies on the stone’s surface.

In simpler terms, the King’s Magic enables it to perceive the popular sentiment, and after four months, it will choose the individual with the greatest public support as elected by the people. The way each character responds to this competition forms the core storyline in the game.

As a dedicated fan, I’d like to share an intriguing insight about the game’s narrative. Yuichiro Tanaka, our lead scenario planner, reveals that the story draws inspiration from real-world political conflicts, which he attributes to the profound human emotion of anxiety. Furthermore, he emphasizes that this approach enables us to create characters with depth and complexity, departing from the stereotypical uncorrupted teenage personas often seen in Persona games, by allowing us to delve into multiple perspectives within the game’s themes.

In Metaphor ReFantazio, players have the freedom to shape their own journey, potentially engaging in the game’s political landscape by running for the King’s election. As of now, it remains unclear how immersive the political aspects will be within the game, but we’ve glimpsed representations of topics such as poverty, racism, discrimination, fascism, bigotry, religious bias, and extremism – issues that mirror real-world concerns.

In contrast to typical Shin Megami Tensei or Persona games, which often revolve around divine conflicts between good and evil, or the triumph of goodness over evil through the resolute spirit of youth, this setting presents a unique, distinct vibe and ambiance. I’m eager to see how the rest of the game unfolds with its novel approach.

Metaphor ReFantazio is a Metamorphosis of Persona Games

Refantazio effectively blends elements that showcase the developers’ expertise, relying on well-known ideas to reassure veteran fans, and infusing fresh ideas to challenge and expand the developers’ creative limits.

In terms of its impact, the Persona series is clearly noticeable, but Metaphor ReFantazio seems to be pushing boundaries within the niche genre of JRPGs. Its storyline and setting appear to be a significant evolution for this particular lineage of games, transforming them in a way that’s reminiscent of metamorphosis. Essentially, it’s moving away from its predecessor’s mold to become something unique and distinct on its own.

It remains to be seen whether this transformation yields positive results, however, it’s evident from the start that the game was developed by a dedicated team with lofty aspirations, supported by substantial resources, and crafted with a clear, distinctive vision.

On October 11, 2024, Metaphor ReFantazio will make its debut, available for PC via Steam, as well as on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The initial 6-hour Prologue Demo will be accessible, allowing players to progress their gameplay from the demo to the full version.

2024-09-29 23:39