Metaphor: ReFantaziois a smashing success on so many levels. Will it outsellPersona 5or any of the other games in the series? It’s hard to say but what is clear is that reviewers and fans dig it. Maybe they don’t like it enough to get away fromPersonaaltogether, but there is definitely value here.
Should Studio Zero split in two with one team focused onPersonalike withPersona 6and the other focused onMetaphor: ReFantazio 2? What would a sequel even be about? Should it be a continuation or should it be a solely unique experience? It’s going to be a long time either way, so here are some ideas.
6Go Full Open-World
Get Rid Of The Time Limit
Metaphor: ReFantaziois and is not a departure from the structure of thePersonagames. For example, while the game takes place in a more fantastical realm and players do not have to adhere to a school-based rhetoric, there is still a calendar to follow. Players will go through the made-up days of Flamesday, Watersday, Arboursday, Metalsday, and Idlesday.
During the afternoon and night, players can do what they want from talking to Followers to completing an activity to raise stats like Wisdom. They do not have full reign of their options on story-based days though. While the structure is looser, it is still uncomfortably claustrophobic at times with deadlines always looming over the player’s shoulders. Wouldn’t it be nice to see what Atlus and Studio Zero could do without these restraints to allow players toexplore an open-worldat their discretion instead?
5Consolidate The Party
Does There Need To Be More Than Four?
Atlus games, particularlyPersona, have had a problem with party members. In terms of diversity, they have all been great. However, the introduction is the issue. InMetaphor: ReFantazio, Basilio gets introduced as a playable charactera little more than a month before the game ends.
With two Archetypes and a whole Follower quest line to follow, there is no time to dive into Basilio as a character. The next game could instead limit the party to four playable characters and maybe they could add in temporary fifth party members throughout the game instead.
4Add More Voice Acting
Will Was A Good Start
Persona 3 Reload started the year right with a great remake of an already stellar game. One of the biggest improvements, besides the graphical upheaval, was the addition of more voice work. The main character, often referred to as Makoto, still barely spoke but it was an improvement over the original.
Contrary to that game,Metaphor: ReFantaziogave its main character, Willmore speaking opportunities at a cost. There was less voice work in the overall game. Understandably, it costs a lot to add voices in games especially multilingually, but it still needs to be said that a sequel toMetaphor: ReFantazioshould have more spoken dialogue.
3Choices And Romance Options
Give Metaphor: ReFantazio 2 The Witcher Effect
It was a fresh idea to keep the romance options out ofMetaphor: ReFantaziocompared to thePersonagames. Theromance options, like inPersona 5, are a selling point that a lot of fans love. However, these choices don’t affect the main stories which can be baffling sometimes especially if the main character is dating a party member or someone older like a teacher.
That’s why it made sense to ditch the mechanic inMetaphor: ReFantazio. However, Atlus could fix the idea of romantic plot holes if they better incorporate choices and consequences into their story. A dynamic choice and romantic system, with a smaller pool, could help add value to the replay options.
2Character Customization And Multiplayer
This Is A Big Gambit
Atlus has tried to incorporate online gameplay into their titles for at least a decade now. The mechanics inMetaphor: ReFantazioare basically the same as thePersonaseries. Players can tap a button to see how other players spend their days off. It’s kind of a useless mechanic because players don’t know what these people were planning with their overall schedule. At long last, Atlus should try a real multiplayer mode.
Not at all fans would love aDestiny-style live-service gamefrom Atlus for the overall experience. That’s why they could add a separate mode to test the waters that could also tie into the main campaign sort of like the multiplayer mode inMass Effect 3. Players could create a character with one of the main races like Elda, Roussainte, or Clemar, and then go on small little skirmishes or dungeon runs with friends to help fund the main character.
1Add Human Battles
May As Well Go Full Attack On Titan
The combat system was one of the most fun things to engage with inMetaphor: ReFantazio. Players could go into every battle with a turn-based perspective but if they were a high enough level, they could also just mow down enemies with physical combat in the field. It wasn’t a robust action system but it was a welcomed change.
A sequel could further engage players with story-based Kaiju-like battles. Toward the end of the game, it is revealed that Eldans are Humans who have transformed via anxiety. Louis shows how this is possible for Will who understandably cannot control his newfound powers. It would be cool if Atlus leaned in ontheAttack on Titaninfluenceharder to have wild boss battles if the main character is an Elden again.
