Summary
Katsura Hashino, the director ofMetaphor: ReFantazio, recently explained that the development team decided to make creative adjustments to the JRPG’s medieval setting. AsMetaphor: ReFantaziois a high fantasy title, the team followed many medieval conventions, but they still allowed themselves more leeway to create and experiment with the setting rather than focusing entirely on historical accuracy.
Metaphor: ReFantaziois a new IP from Studio Zero, a subsidiary of Atlus. The JRPG contains familiar features seen in the company’s other series, likeShin Megami TenseiandPersona, and interested players can currently download ademo ofMetaphor: ReFantazioahead of the game’s release on October 11. The biggest difference betweenMetaphorand other Atlus series lies in its setting. WhilePersonaandSMTtypically put players in a contemporary environment,Metaphor: ReFantazioventures into an entirely new epic fantasy world.
In an interview withGamer Braves, Hashino commented on this combination of fantasy and modern elements, explaining that initially, the team tried to adhere closely to medieval conventions. “There were a lot of discussions about things like, should things be rivets or screws in walls, or how much glass should there be in the town, considering if it’s medieval times, glass would have been a precious commodity,” said Hashino. Eventually, they embraced the creative freedom ofMetaphor: ReFantazio’shigh-fantasy settingand stopped worrying about those small details.
Metaphor: Refantazio’s Fantasy World Is an Escape From Our Reality
Hashino elaborated, saying one of the reasons they created this kind of fantasy world “is to confirm that the reality we live in does not have to always be the same.” Many games have tried to stay historically accurate to their medieval settings, such asKingdom Come: Deliverance, but this seemed to cause more backlash than praise.Final Fantasy 16faced a similar controversywhen justifying its Europe-inspired setting. Considering this, Hashino’s team’s approach seems ideal, both for enhancingMetaphor: ReFantazio’s storytelling and bolstering the uniqueness of the game’s fantasy world.
In the same interview, Hashino discussed howMetaphor: ReFantaziorevolves around anxiety and how the characters remove their hearts before awakening to a new power as a reflection of dealing with said emotion. “And so that’s the source’s idea of grabbing your heart, pulling it out, and telling your heart to ‘ganbare,’ work hard, try your best,” Hashino explained. Most Atlus RPGs present a central theme reinforced throughout the game, and even a new IP likeMetaphorstays true to that approach. Likely,Persona 6will also introduce a themethat shapes the entire game, from its visuals to its narrative and character motivations.
Metaphor: ReFantaziois shaping up for a stellar release on October 11th. Many fans who dove into the demo were quick to praise the title, with early reviews praising the game’s world-building, characters, gameplay loop, and unique music. While the demo saw a few performance problems on PC, Atlus has committed tofixing any issues withMetaphor: ReFantazioto ensure that the game ships in top-notch form and pleases JRPG fans worldwide.
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.
