Everything I did n’t know I need .
develop by Atlus ' Studio Zero , Metaphor : ReFantazio perpetrate its intake from the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei franchise , but it still manages to carve out its own individuality in the phantasy genre . Metaphor : ReFantazio does n’t shy away from the themes and mechanics that made Persona such an awe-inspiring serial publication , but this time , they ’re woven into a mediaeval illusion setting . Read more in this Metaphor : ReFantazio reexamination .
Story
powerful off the cricket bat , the report pulls you in with its rich world - building and well - crafted character . You roleplay as the Protagonist ( who you name ) , a son of the Elda tribe tasked with saving his puerility friend from a deadly curse . Oh , and his childhood Quaker just so bechance to be the Prince of the United Kingdom of Euchronia , whose father , the King , was just assassinate .
The stakes are straight off high , and the political intrigue surround the realm adds a vast amount of deepness to the story . The story touches on heavy themes like racism , inequality , and religious fanatism , which mirror real - world issue , and Atlus handles these topic with care .
I specially bed the dynamic between the Protagonist and Strohl , a noble from the Clemar tribe . Their relationship has that same loyal , fraternal vibration as Persona 5 ’s admirer and Ryuji , which for me , is friendly relationship goals at its finest . There ’s something heartwarming about catch them interact , despite the personal and political baggage each character brings .
One affair that tolerate out in Metaphor : ReFantazio is how deeply you become invested in the political climate . It ’s not just about the Prince and his curse ; it ’s about the realm ’s fractured State Department , discrimination , and the looming threat of humans . The story ’s power to evoke substantial ire at the treatment of the Protagonist and other marginalise groups is impressive , and it ’s this aroused exercising weight that sets Metaphor aside from being just another Persona spin - off .
Score:5/5
Visual Design
The fantasy world of Euchronia is brought to life with a style that uses the bold aesthetic of the Persona series as combined with darker , gamey knightly elements . The fictitious character invention are elaborate and reflect their respective tribes and backgrounds , making it well-fixed to tell apart them apart from each other .
The environment are lush and detailed , from the bustling cities to the rugged , eerie keep . you could feel the weighting of the kingdom ’s account in every turning point you explore . I also apprize the attention to contingent in the UI - blank , nonrational , but still brim with personality . It ’s very similar to Persona ’s UI , so fans will quickly pick up how to use it .
However , the literal ocular highlight for me was the design of the Archetypes . They ’re so unique compared to the Personas in Persona . They fit the man of Metaphor utterly , despite the similarities in how they ’re born into the humanity . The transformation chronological succession for each character when they redact off their anxieties is very evocative of the persona in Persona ripping off their masks , but the differences are clear and sinful .
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Metaphor superintend to capture the charm and vogue of Atlus ’ signature conception , but it goes one pace further by conform it into a phantasy setting that feels as vibrant and foreboding .
Score:4.5/5
Controls and Accessibility
When it come in to ascendence , Metaphor plays smoothly , especially with a controller . The interface is clean , and combat input feel intuitive . But here ’s where things fall a second short - the want of controller re - mapping options is a disappointment . For a plot as elaborated asMetaphor , I expected more flexibleness in how I could set up the controls , specially for players who might need custom apparatus for availableness reasons .
That said , the accessibility features that are present do a adequate task . The game offer multiple difficulty option , which is great for participant who want to enjoy the story without getting bogged down in tough battle . I also value the message velocity options and the ability to toggle camera shake , which can be disorienting for some players . While it ’s not the most comprehensive set of accessibility feature , it cover the staple well enough . But it ’s definitely an area Atlus could better on in future titles ( or patches ) .
Score:3.5/5
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Gameplay
The combat and societal systems will experience very familiar if you ’re a Persona devotee - but there are some new things for you to play with . The Archetype system is similar to hold Personas , allow political party member to equip dissimilar Archetypes , each with unique skills and stat rise . What makes this system limited is that it allows for flexibleness in your political party ’s strategy .
Combat is a mix of substantial - clock time and turn - based system , and this keep battles engaging . Do you risk attacking enemies in real - time for a pre-emptive strike , or do you play it safe and jump off straight into bout - ground scrap ? The option is yours , but the real - time approach comes with the danger of being ambushed yourself . I found myself switching between these modes constantly , particularly when exploring keep , where it ’s essential to get the jump on tougher enemies .
The Press Turn system , borrowed from Shin Megami Tensei , makes every conflict a tactical puzzler . Exploiting foeman weaknesses give you extra turns , but the same goes for your opposition if they target your imperfect spots . It ’s all about carefully deal your squad ’s formation , attainment , and Archetypes to outwit your foe . And permit ’s not forget about Synthesis - fuse the major power of two or more Archetypes to loose a withering onset feel incredibly satisfying , though you ’ll demand to use it wisely , as it be multiple turn .
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There are so many bed to the gameplay that I never felt bored . The calendar organisation add that signature Persona time - direction feel , and explore the world of Euchronia gives you a real sense of progression .
Verdict: A darker, grittier Persona well worth playing
Metaphor : ReFantazio is a game that walks the line between court and conception . Its deep connection to Persona and Shin Megami Tensei is clear in its mechanics and structure , and while at times it feels almosttoosimilar to its predecessors , it ultimately cut up out its own place with a compelling phantasy world and meaningful characters .
The Archetype system and combination of real - time and round - based armed combat are fresh takes that keep things interesting , and the story ’s geographic expedition of serious themes like racial discrimination and inequality give the secret plan a circumstances of emotional weight unit .
If you ’re a buff of Atlus game , you ’ll discover a wad to love here . And while it may not take as many risks as some might desire , Metaphor : ReFantazio is still a memorable and rewarding journey that prove fantasy and Persona - fashion gameplay can coexist .
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revelation : A free copy of the plot was provided to PGG by the newspaper publisher for follow-up purposes .
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