Metaphor: ReFantazio is held back by borrowing too much from Persona

As a seasoned RPG enthusiast who has delved into countless fantastical worlds, I found myself captivated by the intricate tapestry of “Metaphor: ReFantazio”. The game, while showing some faltering steps in execution, truly shines as one delves deeper into its 100-hour journey.

Refantazio is an intriguing game to discuss. Atlus’ latest RPG originates from some of the team who were involved in the renowned Persona series, yet it aspires to be unique. To begin with, it takes place in a medieval fantasy setting, Euchronia, rather than contemporary Japan like in Persona.

Initially, for about two dozen hours, it frequently brings up associations with the Persona series due to its adoption of several concepts, both significant and subtle, from this franchise.

Absolutely! The storyline evolves based on a cycle of days and nights as well as calendars, and forming connections, which we refer to as ‘bonds’, with characters within the game, serves as a crucial aspect.

In the new version, team members experience a significant realization upon joining your group. Social attributes are now referred to as ‘noble qualities’; instead of enhancing traits like wisdom and charisma, you must focus on characteristics such as wisdom, eloquence, and tolerance. There’s also an area reminiscent of the Velvet Room in a separate dimension (Akademia), run by a mysterious figure, where you handle your Personas Archetypes.

It takes quite a while, much more than I had anticipated, for Metaphor’s unique thoughts to emerge on their own.

The title of Metaphor seems quite straightforward, as the realm of Euchronia, while possessing magic, is designed to reflect our own world. This world, despite its magical elements, is harsh, plagued by inequality, strife, prejudice, and injustice.

The main character yearns for a perfect world where all are valued equally, and he works tirelessly to bring this vision to life. His adventure commences after the king is assassinated. Since there seems to be no surviving bloodline, the king’s demise triggers a royal election, with the winner becoming his successor.

Despite being in a perpetual sleep, the prince remains alive, and the main character’s task revolves around finding means to shatter this curse. As events unfold, our hero unexpectedly joins the royal election competition himself.

As a gamer, I found the uneven pace in this game to be quite disappointing. Large chunks of the initial stages didn’t really stand out or grab my attention like they should have. The themes presented weren’t exactly understated, and it felt like I was waiting an eternity for the twists to introduce some real intrigue into the storyline.

From a practical standpoint, the concept of a royal election, which may seem quite unusual at first glance, turns out to be more structured than it appears.

Although you engage with diverse personalities and groups, your advancement and rank seem quite straight-forward, which contradicts the freedom you enjoy in managing your own schedule.

Last year’s “The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood” brings back memories. While it had distinct themes and objectives compared to “Metaphor”, its unique approach to incorporating mechanics and gameplay to immerse players into an election race is truly noteworthy.

Although Metaphor has some powerful writing, the emotional resonance from its bonding scenes doesn’t quite match up to the similar moments found in the Persona series of games.

In an unexpected twist, the calendar feature from “Persona” seems to exacerbate the rhythmic problems found in “Metaphor”. Unlike in “Persona”, where the calendar serves to visually depict the flow of time as the protagonist goes about their daily routines, the calendar in “Metaphor” doesn’t hold the same importance nor does it greatly enhance the narrative.

Even though time is scarce, I managed to fully utilize all the available bonds and accomplish every quest I could find within the game, although I wasn’t necessarily optimizing my time usage to its fullest potential.

Managing time effortlessly seems beneficial, but it may overlook the significance of conveying that the protagonist’s actions carry weight. This is because it appears as if time isn’t being utilized thoughtfully, which can diminish the impact of their actions.

Although Metaphor stumbles in certain aspects initially, its stronger traits become increasingly apparent as you delve deeper into the 100-hour experience. It’s intriguing to note that as it distinguishes itself from Persona, it finds room to thrive, and this separation results in a more compelling second half of the game.

In this game I play, one standout aspect is its intricate world-building. From the troubled castle town of Martira, where kidnappings are a common occurrence, to Virga Island, home to the Mustari tribe who suffer persecution due to their nonconformity with Euchronia’s state religion, each settlement carries its own unique narrative that adds depth to the world of Euchronia.

Consequently, these experiences enrich the main storyline. As the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance, the hero’s travels take him and his companions across various regions, offering them insights into diverse viewpoints about the current situation and the concerns of the people.

In certain aspects, the storyline presents a greater scope compared to previous Atlus works. However, one potential downside is that not every character’s personal narrative receives the attention it might warrant, despite their likability.

One way to rephrase the given text is: “The combat system and mechanics are another standout feature. Instead of Personas, battles in Metaphor are built around Archetypes, serving as job classes for party members. Players can unlock and advance through approximately 40 unique Archetypes that span various roles, such as physical and magical attackers, defenders, and healers.

As you progress with the Archetype system, it grows broader and more advantageous. This is because, later on, your allies can acquire up to four abilities from different Archetypes, enhancing the versatility of your team with additional tailoring options.

In a simpler and more conversational manner, battles in this game are quite intriguing. They operate on a turn-by-turn basis, encouraging players to focus on enemy vulnerabilities as anticipated. However, they’re not just about that; they also incorporate various aspects to keep the fights exciting, such as icon indicators that show how many times your team can strike, the ability to form parties, and a feature called synthesis attacks where two characters can join forces for a stronger attack.

Beyond the arena, you have the option to engage enemies in the open world in real-time. Should an adversary prove noticeably weaker compared to your team, they’ll be swiftly vanquished without the necessity of engaging in formal combat, making for a smooth and efficient dungeon exploration experience.

In the captivating narrative of “Metaphor,” there is much to admire, including political intrigue and a richly detailed world. However, surprisingly, some links to “Persona” hinder it from realizing its full greatness.

The game shines brightest when it successfully carves out its unique identity, distinguishing itself from the “Persona” series. It’s unfortunate, however, that it lacked the courage to fully pave its own way.

The metaphor draws inspiration from a character, but it doesn’t fully capture or convey those traits effectively. Furthermore, by heavily relying on a well-known series, Atlus’ new creation spends a significant amount of time establishing its unique identity.

Platform reviewed on: PC

Metaphor: ReFantazio is out on October 11 on PC, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X/S.

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2024-10-07 17:49