Metaphor: ReFantazio Review – Renaissance of JRPG Excellence

Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of the most exciting new IPs in the JRPG genre. Atlus has been enjoying a successful run over the past few years with the release of several games, many of which have been surprise hits. While their main highlight remains the Persona series, they’ve also released notable titles like Unicorn Overlord from Vanillaware. These games alone are significant achievements, but introducing a new IP like Metaphor: ReFantazio shows just how far Atlus has come.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is a medieval fantasy RPG from Atlus, heavily inspired by the Renaissance era. The game is directed by Katsura Hashino, the same person behind Persona 5, and shares some similarities with the Persona series, though it tells a new story with entirely different characters. It’s rare for Atlus to release new IPs, and even when they have in the past, few have gained the immediate popularity of Metaphor: ReFantazio. Recent announcements have confirmed the game’s success early on, making it a promising title, especially for Persona fans.

The story of Metaphor: ReFantazio is set in the Kingdom of Euchornia. The main character, an orphan, embarks on a mission to the kingdom, which is linked to the prince’s recovery after surviving an assassination attempt. Alongside this, the king is also assassinated, leaving the kingdom vulnerable to the forces of evil trying to take control. The protagonist, a silent character named by the player, is accompanied by a fairy named Gallica. Together, they embark on a long journey filled with twists and turns, navigating a tightly woven narrative that touches on political issues relevant to the modern world.

Metaphor: ReFantazio introduces new gameplay elements that differentiate it from the Persona series, while still retaining its core spirit. Instead of traditional Personas, the game uses Archetypes, and although the gameplay remains turn-based, it also offers a hybrid experience that can feel like an action RPG before the battle begins. Players are free to move around during exploration, and they can strike enemies before combat starts, which can either eliminate them or provide an advantage when the battle begins. Similarly, enemies can also initiate surprise attacks, gaining their advantage when combat starts.

The world of Euchronia is modeled after exaggerated aspects of our real world, and racial dynamics play an important role. The protagonist belongs to the Elda race, a group considered to have the lowest status in the world. The game blends modern elements with its fantasy setting through a unique twist. The reality within the game is harsh, but the protagonist carries a book that describes a fantasy world where racism between races has been eliminated, suggesting that this world represents our real modern world. This is a fascinating concept, and it’s rare to see such a theme explored in other RPGs.

The main cast of Metaphor: ReFantazio may not have the youthful charm of carefree teenagers, as seen in the Persona series, but it holds its own. The characters quickly grow in stature, thanks in part to the excellent writing. The world itself is full of challenges, making it feel vibrant and alive. The city of Euchornia serves as the central hub, but there is much more to explore. While it isn’t a fully open-world game, there are sections of the world map that allow for the exploration of new locations or towns. These areas often contain side quests that are enjoyable to complete, with rewarding outcomes that enhance the gameplay experience.

The story of Metaphor: ReFantazio is relatively straightforward, but there are key moments where player choices can impact the outcome of scenes or affect how certain characters behave throughout the narrative. Although the game only has one ending, there is also the possibility of encountering a bad ending if certain conditions are met. While the game does not feature social stats like the Persona series, it introduces a system called Royal Virtues. The game also runs on a calendar system with tight deadlines, which means players might miss optional content. This system adds to the replay value, as it encourages players to experience the game more than once.

The combat in Metaphor: ReFantazio feels like an enhanced version of Persona’s battle system, delivering a much faster pace. This is a welcome change, as I no longer have the patience for slow, turn-based combat. The game allows a party of four members to participate in battles, with each taking turns to attack enemies. Every enemy has a weakness—whether elemental or of another type—that must be discovered. Once you identify an enemy’s weakness, the game saves this information for future encounters. It’s crucial to understand the turn order and use it strategically. In fact, with careful planning, it is possible to defeat enemies without allowing them to take a single turn. Boss fights, however, present a greater challenge, requiring a thoughtful strategy to identify and exploit their weaknesses. Simply attacking will not be enough to win these battles.

The PC version of Metaphor: ReFantazio is excellent. It ran smoothly on the Steam Deck from the start, which was great to see. I played most of the game on the Steam Deck, occasionally switching to PC when I had the chance. Although performance can be a bit inconsistent in areas like towns or cities, the battles run perfectly fine on Valve’s handheld. The game also scales well on PC, allowing it to run efficiently on a wide range of hardware setups. However, there are some drawbacks: the game lacks widescreen support, proper directional input, and effective anti-aliasing or upscaling solutions. While the visuals are impressive, improving the image quality often requires rendering the game at twice the resolution, which can put a strain on the hardware.

Metaphor: ReFantazio Game Information

• Price: $69.99
• Publisher: Sega
• Developer: Atlus
• Platform: PC (Reviewed)
• Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher