Summary
Naturally,Metaphor: ReFantaziohas been compared to thePersonaseries, as it bears a striking resemblance to the franchise’s art style. However,Metaphor: ReFantazioexhibits other featuressimilar to thePersonaseries, like its mascot character, Gallica.
ThePersonaseries has featured three memorable mascots over its last few mainline games — Koromaru, Teddie, and Morgana — each with a distinct personality and role. Now,Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Gallica joins that roster, despite not belonging to aPersonagame, and she stands out from the others with what she brings toMetaphor’s protagonist and the rest of the party.
Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Gallica Is Starkly Different From Persona’s Mascots
Persona’s Koromaru, Teddie, and Morgana Each Have Unique Personalities and Roles
Koromaru isPersona 3’s mascotand has proven to be a fan favorite, likely because he’s a dog. While Teddie and Morgana are both animal-like, Koromaru really is just a dog, thereby creating a different dynamic between him and the party. As a dog, Koromaru arguably has an advantage over Teddie and Morgana, as he is nothing but fiercely loyal and unreservedly kind, and he cannot speak directly — a characteristic that has been known to tarnish the reputation ofPersona’s mascots.
Koromaru is also a playable character and has his own Persona, Cerberus.
Persona 4’s Teddieis a textbook mascot, as lighthearted and as goofy as they come, spouting off bear-related puns whenever the opportunity presents itself. He also has an extremely awkward side to him that creeps up occasionally, especially when it comes to human customs and idioms, but this is a large part of what makes him so endearing. LikePersona 3’s Koromaru, Teddie is a playable character inPersona 4with his own Persona, Kintoki-Douji.
Finally,Persona 5’s Morganahas maintained a rather infamous reputation despite being the mascot of what is widely recognized as one of the best role-playing games ever made. Unlike Koromaru and Teddie, Morgana tends to be very bossy and controlling, often exuding overconfidence and arrogance. Those unfortunate qualities aside, Morgana is deeply loyal toPersona 5’s protagonist, and his development from a smug deuteragonist to a relatable character makes the journey alongside him worth it.
Morgana is also playable inPersona 5and has his own Persona, Zorro.
Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Gallica Offers a Fresh Approach to Persona’s Mascot Formula
While it might seem likePersonahas covered all its bases when it comes to mascots,Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Gallica is yet another unique iteration of the formula and could even be considered a step forward that thePersonaseries needs to take. Firstly, Gallica is extremely tenderhearted and humble, and she is never controlling, smug, or arrogant, asPersona 5’s Morgana can be at times. Though her undying loyalty and kindness toMetaphor’s protagonistechoes that of Koromaru’s loyalty, she has an advantage over Koromaru in being able to speak to her protagonist, assisting him on and off the field of battle.
As a fairy, Gallica fits right in with thefantasy setting ofMetaphor: ReFantazio, and her charming design isn’t easily forgotten. She’s not quite as goofy as Teddie,Persona 4’s mascot, but she does provide lively commentary and tends to chime in with a lighthearted anecdote duringMetaphor’s more somber moments. Where she ultimately pales in comparison toPersona’s mascots, however, is that she is not a playable character. Nevertheless, she can be of tremendous assistance in battle, directing the player’s attention to where it needs to be.
While she might not be a playable character inMetaphor: ReFantazio, Gallica might have topped the list when it comes toPersonamascots. She is loyal, kind, helpful, and charming, and she is far from a burden to the protagonist and party inMetaphor: ReFantazio. Hopefully,Persona 6keeps up with this design and gives fans another mascot who is as easy to love as Gallica.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
WHERE TO PLAY
From the creative minds behind Persona 3, 4, and 5 comes Metaphor: ReFantazio, a unique fantasy world, where your protagonist will journey alongside his fairy companion, Gallica, to lift the curse from the kingdom’s lost prince.Control your destiny, face your fears, and awaken magical Archetype powers that lie dormant in your heart. By awakening to an Archetype, you will unlock the power to channel and combine the abilities of unique job classes. Strengthen your bonds and build your party to take down powerful foes and discover the kingdom’s true nature.
