Metaphor: ReFantazio was easily one of my most anticipated games of 2024. Developed by the creators of Persona 5, I expected it to share some DNA with Persona, and after playing it, I can confidently say it met those expectations. Built on the solid foundation of Persona 5, Metaphor: ReFantazio becomes a greater experience while establishing elements that make it unique.
Persona fans will immediately see similarities in Metaphor: ReFantazio. These extend beyond a deeply engaging narrative, told through a plethora of cutscenes, or standard RPG mechanics, to even basic things like presentation. While it might initially seem like another Persona clone, Metaphor: ReFantazio stands out by offering distinctive elements that allow it to stand on its own.
Metaphor: ReFantazio transports players to the United Kingdom of Euchronia, a medieval fantasy realm with intriguing parallels to the modern world. The story kicks off with the King’s assassination plunging the kingdom into chaos. With no heir, a grand tournament is held to decide the next ruler.
Players assume the role of a young boy from the ostracized Elda tribe. This group faces discrimination and prejudice due to them being “tainted,” due to them inheriting forbidden magic. His journey starts by trying to aid his childhood friend, a cursed prince, targeted by the same assassin that killed the King. Along the way, he forms alliances that work together to break the curse, and confront the forces that threaten Euchronia.
From here the narrative offers a captivating and deeply emotional experience that will resonate long after the game ends. Themes of religion and politics play a central role, shaping the broader narrative. This even expands to the colorful cast of characters, who have their own motivations to explore.
Similar to Persona 5, Metaphor: ReFantazio offers a wide array of activities to immerse players in the world. The game follows a day-by-day progression system, with deadlines for major missions. How players spend their time before these deadlines can have a significant impact on their experience, whether it’s leveling up characters, or deepening relationships to unlock new abilities.
Diverse Range of Characters
Social Links, a fan-favorite feature from Persona, return in Metaphor: ReFantazio. Players can strengthen these bonds with extra time before mission deadlines. Doing so not only unlocks new abilities, items, or even money. Beyond main missions, players can also engage in side content like bounty missions, or cooking that are well worth exploring to max relationships.
One standout feature in Metaphor: ReFantazio is the Archetype (Job) system. It allows players to switch characters between any of the 30 available classes, letting them become proficient in different roles. The Archetype system is closely tied to Social Links, with NPCs and companions being used to unlock new classes/skills.
To progress an Archetype, players use a resource called Magla (MAG), a currency earned through combat and social activities. MAG can be spent to purchase new classes or skills, which can then be inherited by other Archetypes. For example, if a character masters all the Warrior archetype skills, and then unlocks the Mage archetype, they can inherit Mage skills to enhance their Warrior damage.
Combat in Metaphor: ReFantazio is a notable improvement over Persona. While it remains turn-based, it offers much more flexibility. Turn counters are still in play, and players can earn extra turns by exploiting enemy weaknesses. Learning enemy weaknesses before embarking on missions, especially boss fights, is crucial. This is due to the “Unscathed Battle” bonus, which rewards players with extra experience, MAG, and money for not taking significant damage in combat.
Fascinating Visuals
The addition of Synergy abilities, which depend on Archetypes, adds even more depth to combat. With over 30 Archetypes to choose from, players are encouraged to experiment with different combinations to unlock powerful abilities. Synergy moves often consume more than one turn counter, so strategic use is essential.
Visually, Metaphor: ReFantazio is stunning. The gothic-inspired art permeates through everything, creating a cohesive aesthetic. Players will encounter grotesque bosses contrasted by breathtaking landscapes. Many of the game’s major cutscenes, including social interactions, are fully voiced, adding an additional layer of immersion. The voice acting is superb, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the mood of every scene. Together, these elements create an experience that is deeply immersive, and emotionally impactful.
Metaphor: ReFantazio Review Verdict
Metaphor: ReFantazio: In so many ways Metaphor: ReFantazio brings the Persona formula to the next level. By blending a captivating narrative, deep characters that grabs players without letting go. This is furthered thanks to the Archetype, and Synergy systems, which add some much needed strategy. In addition to that, it's a Visually stunning experience that offers beautifully designed environments, and a stellar soundtrack. All of this makes for an amazing experience that RPG fans absolutely must experience. – Mark
Editor’s Note: Metaphor: ReFantazio was reviewed on PC, and a copy was provided to us for review purposes.
