Summary
Metaphor: ReFantaziois invigorating for fans ofPersonabecause it’s the freshest thing Studio Zero and the greater Atlus teams have worked on sinceCatherine. While similar, there are a lot of differences, especially with the combat. Players can explore open areas or dungeons and enter combat by running into monsters as normal which will prompt turn-based battles.
However, if players are at a high enough level inMetaphor: ReFantazio, they can just melee through the competition. Even teammates can help. These teammates have more variety in their structure as well since they can change classes via the Archetype system. Archetypes or not, they have a lot of quality traits outside of battle too so let’s rank all seven permanent party members out.
7Will
A Powerful Main Character
Will is the main character of Metaphor: ReFantazio and that is his canonical name. At first, he seems like a nobody but then several twists toward the end make him stand out. First, Eldans have a veryAttack on Titan-like qualityin that they can transform into Humans with the right spell.
Also, Will was actually the will of the Prince’s soul sent to live out in his stead once he was cursed. Once the two meet up again, they merge forms Fusion style like inDragon Ball Z. This makes for a more interesting character in an Atlus game and it is nice that Will does talk. Still, he doesn’t speak that much and is ultimately just a cipher for the player which is why he has to be the last ranked.
6Basilio
A Little Late To The Party, Literally
Another automatic ranking situation happens with Basilio. While he is introduced much earlier in the story, Basilio does not become a party member until the last month of the game. Also, he becomes a Follower in this time.
Atlus games likePersonado this a lot with their party members by introducing them late in the game. It’s not enough time for players to get to know them or want to use them in battle. On his own, Basilio is great personality-wise though and it’s easy to empathize with a character who loses their brother in the heat of battle.
5Strohl
A Stoic Soldier Hellbent On Change
Strohl is the first party member who joins Will after they both join the military. While he is a noble by birth, he has no home because it was burned to the ground. That’s why he joins the knights for vengeance.
He’s a much different character than what Atlus games typically saddle their main characters with. Junpei fromPersona 3, Yosuke fromPersona 4, andRyuji fromPersona 5are all kind of thirsty slackers. Strohl thankfully isn’t trying to hit on women although to his detriment, he can be a bit too serious at times.
4Eupha
A Fish Out Of Water
Eupha is a later addition to the team too but she at least has more time to breathe compared to Basilio. She is fully introduced in the Virga Island arc wherein players are tasked with recovering a holy relic to prove their worth in the tournament. This leads the team to rescue Eupha from sacrificing herself to a dragon god.
This is one of the most critical dungeons in the game because her people’s temple is actually a contemporary building buried deep underground. It’s an office building and there are notes of the past from keyboards to buses. It’s a big moment, making Eupha and her people fascinating to study. Her summoning powers are not as strong ascasters in theFinal Fantasyseriesbut she is still a force to be reckoned with.
3Junah
A Spunky Popstar
Junah is a singer who is adored across the land. It’s a trope that has been done in Atlus games before like withRise fromPersona 4. However, Junah has more agency than Rise as she is a spitfire. She’s not afraid to let people know what she’s thinking nor is she afraid to use her feminine wilds to get what she wants.
This makes her a great spy and a welcome addition to the team. Her Masked Dancer Archetype is also a unique one in that it can take the forms of other Archetypes in the game similar to the powers theprotagonists of the last fewPersonagameshave shared.
2Hulkenberg
Never Gonna Give You Up
Hulkenberg is the second permanent party member to join Will right after Grius dies. She was actually on the wagon ride with Will at the beginning of the game but she had no idea they were both on the same mission: to save the Prince. It’s even funnier considering Will was the Prince all along in a roundabout way. Either way, as far as knights go in video games, Hulkenberg is a noble one who tried her best to believe the Prince was still alive.
While she had her doubts like any knight would, she ultimately did not falter in her quest and honed her skills to become an absolute legend. While a bit too serious at times like Strohl, the big difference between the two is Hulkenberg’s love of cuisine both good and bad. This levity helps brighten up her character.
1Heismay
As great as some of the other party members are, no one goes harder than Heismay. He’s technically the oldest of the crew even though he is also the shortest. Players will hunt him at first as some big bad child kidnapper and are then surprised by this delightfully tiny fellow. He was framed and by participating in his quest line, players can help clear his name.
He’s not just a cool old man with tons of adviceand ninja-like experiencesto bestow either. He also has a softer side because he lost his son. Unlike Hulkenberg, Heismay did run from his problems. However, with the help of Will, Heismay was able to face up to his truths and become a knight once more not for the church but for the Prince and the hope of a better tomorrow. As far as arcs go, Heismay has the best one by far.
