When I was fighting a giant testicle boss that require me to check its shell before dishing out ruinous damage , I was wonder when the moment would come where I ’d see howMetaphor : ReFantaziowould specialize itself from Atlus ’ crown jewel , Persona . To be honest , this thought came up multiple times during my playthrough .
As I go on on and commence to delve into the nuances ofMetaphor‘s gameplay systems , I realized that it could indeed endure on its own two metrical foot . While the RPG does n’t whole lam Persona ’s shadow , Metaphor ’s likeable cast , refined turn - based armed combat , and captivating art direction makes it worth playing for sports fan and RPG enthusiasts alike , even if the story slew into predictable district .
A new age of kings
Metaphor : ReFantaziofollows a young blue - haired protagonist and his nance companion Gallica as they compete in a tourney to determine the United Kingdom of Euchronia ’s next rule after the death of its king . Whoever garner the will of the people will claim the throne . The protagonist pack a fantasy playscript that details an classless and utopian bon ton free of preconception that wait an awful lot like modern - day Japan with its predominate skyscrapers . Large and grotesque monster called Humans roam the commonwealth . The protagonist is also adjudicate to reawaken a curse - stricken prince so that he can claim his birthright as king .
It ’s not surd to seeMetaphor ’s plot twirl coming , which sometimes bring the surprise out of the winding saga , but it ’s still an enjoyable drive en road to the reveals . What aid lift the taradiddle is the charming casting of characters . In particular , the royal army police officer Louis Guiabern is an excellent primary antagonist . He ’s present from the very commencement of the taradiddle ( as he ’s the king ’s manslayer ) and is constantly in the party ’s bearing . He ’s a commanding force throughout the entire secret plan .
There ’s a certain point where the company even infiltrate his entourage , making the game palpate like an undercover undercover agent thriller at fourth dimension . Not only is Louis physically strong , but also guileful , and I was constantly intrigued by whether he knew something was fishy . Louis is n’t without his geological fault . He believes in the same democratic ideal as the protagonist , but over the course of the game , the cracks in his seemingly reasoned logic start to surface as he becomes more desperate .
There are muckle of little iteration on Persona ’s expression …
There are lots of little iterations on Persona ’s convention like that , which sum up to some welcome quality of life change . In Persona , you ’d also have to carry a matching creature with the same arcana as the person you ’re talking to , or you risk not being able to strain the next level . That pressure is rid of here , and picking the reply that the reference is likely to positively respond to simply rewards the player with more MAG , a separate currency used for unlocking new skills and Archetypes . I was able to love the conversation more without the needless micromanaging .
Euchronian globetrotters
The wayMetaphor ’s calendar and agenda system exploit is a minute unlike compared to Persona . Whereas engaging in a bond upshot or doing an activity to raise social stats ( called Royal Virtues ) like Wisdom and Tolerance employ up an afternoon or night , the political party can also discover and move around to different placement . Traveling typically takes between 1 and 3 days , which throw you consider the trade - offs between traveling to a donjon to take care of a sidequest or doing something else .
Its art direction is prima most of the time .
It ’s an excess twist on Persona ’s calendar twist that makesMetaphoralmost palpate reminiscent of , queerly enough , The Oregon Trail . There are also sure ranks within your bonds that require the conversation to take place on the Gauntlet Runner , the group ’s transportation vehicle , as well as activities that can only be done while travel , like cooking recipes to produce particular healing items . It always felt up satisfying to make unnecessary those conversations for when I take to travel to a certain destination and accomplish a backlog of seeking there .
Along the style to a name and address , the party will sometimes stop at a watershed like tourer and have a brusk conversation about its lore . alternatively of being a amply explorable 3D area , these landmarks are simply just 2D portraits of the area with the party in the background that calculate almost like developer concept artistic production . This letsMetaphor ’s gorgeous art direction shine . From the spellbinding emerald hue of Sporico Cave to the Prismatic Sea ’s intense colouration , the scenic path makes for a welcome beguilement from the world ’s political strife .
The dungeons , however , are less pleasant to face at . Many of these spaces are flavorless and tend to blend in with each other . They ’re not as elaborately and individually designed as the Palaces inPersona 5 , which featured a lot of bespoke designs as they represented antagonist ’ psyches . InMetaphor , the inside of these locations mostly look like distinctive rusty dungeons you ’d find inany fantasy RPG . They ’re a bit of a bore next to the stylish graphics everywhere else . For instance , there are three towers that eventually play important character in a future sidequest , but they ’re only take with purple brick , making them a dull chore to explore .
Still , its graphics direction is astral most of the time . The drug user port is snappy and stylish , just like you ’d expect from an Atlus biz . I even love how the Archetype tree diagram interface is modeled after da Vinci ’s Vitruvian Man , which emphasizesMetaphor ’s European esthetic . Every little contingent thing .
Fighting for the future
Metaphor ’s archetype figure out similarly to your distinctive RPG character course . My company members can become Mages , Warriors , Gunners , and more with the ripe spirit equip . But what I love about archetype is their unbridled flexibility . Each character has an affinity towards certain stats ; Hulkenberg and Stohl are more physically based , while Junah and Eupha rely on magic . However , I ’m not restricted from switching to Archetypes that focus on the diametric stat . Each hero can find out any acquisition by dismantle up Archetypes . They can then comport a few over to another class at the cost of some MAG . It ’s a meticulous and comminute - sullen organization for those min - maxers who love modernFire Emblem game .
A modest plus to the gameplay is the ability to attack enemies on the field in real metre before diving into a turn - ground battle . By filling up their stun meter , I can plunge a preemptive attack to lower a foe ’s HP and enter engagement with an advantage ( this year’sThe Legend of Heroes : trail through Daybreakhad an identical organisation ) . It ’s a slimly more piquant wrinkle on the battle reward grease monkey many RPGs have , though it still feels bare - bones .
The turn - establish conflict system make for a little more like Shin Megami Tensei than Persona . For each character in battle , players get a turn icon , and doing any activity uses one up . The twist here are Synthesis Attacks , which are like team - up attacks between extremity . They ’re incredibly powerful , with some get effects that can interchange the tide of battle , but they require two icons instead of the common unmarried one .
novel details like that helpMetaphorstand out from Persona and Shin Megami Tensei , while still retaining the strategic planning and synergism that Atlus ’ bend - based fighting is have sex for . Like those other serial , hit opposition weaknesses gain you another icon , while hitting them with elements that they immerse or block further depletes yours . It ’s authoritative to work enemy vulnerabilities whenever potential , and you ’re even incentivized to do it as winning battles unharmed Grant incentive experience and MAG .
It ’s not sodding , but Atlus has earned my suffrage of confidence .
As an even braggy variety from Atlus ’ normal signatures , Metaphorcompletely departs from Persona and Shin Megami Tensei ’s creature designs . Whereas those two franchise overlap and apportion their monster and demon compendiums , Metaphorhas entirely original design . There are giant birds , underframe , and Draco instead of the same demons we ’ve seen over and over . While the foe assortment may seem equation for the course for a fantasy game , it ’s a welcome change of pace in the context of an Atlus secret plan that gives it a distinct visual personality .
In many way of life , Metaphor : ReFantaziofeels like the next mainline entry in the Persona series in all but name . In others , it carves out an identity all its own . The strategic turn - ground fight system is just as satisfying as ever , while Archetypes and Earth - trotting put a novel perspective on an otherwise familiar experience . I could see the plot twists coming a land mile by , but the lovely cast of characters made the journey worthwhile . It ’s not perfect , but Atlus has bring in my right to vote of confidence . moot me a follower .
Metaphor : ReFantaziowas try out on Xbox Series X.
