When it was time to do it Metaphor: ReFantazio, developer Atlus had one guiding principle: to create a video game that would be the culmination of all the popular RPGs the company had previously developed. “We decided to challenge the fantasy genre,” director Katsura Hashino said during an online demo of the game this week. Atlus has been developing games for around 35 years and wanted to put together an all-star team to celebrate the anniversary.
Hashino has been instrumental throughout the Persona series; the following Persona 5After release, he left P-Studio – the team that worked on Persona games – and founded Studio Zero, another internal Atlus group. For metaphor, Studio Zero hired Persona character artist Shigenori Soejima and longtime composer Shoji Meguro. They also brought in guest developer Koda Kazuma, concept artist for NieR:Automataand Ikuto Yamashita, one of the artists behind the popular anime Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Metaphor: ReFantazioe, set to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series
In metaphor, assassinating a king triggers an election that allows anyone to become the next ruler as long as they receive enough support. This means that the protagonist, who is on a mission of his own, must network with potential followers, earn bounties for killing monsters, explore dungeons, complete side jobs, and generally gather support.
Like the Persona games, there’s a social element at play here, whether it’s building relationships with followers or hanging out with the game’s cast. There is no fast travel between destinations; Instead, players move around on mobile bases equipped with everything from lounges to libraries to places to cook or do laundry. It’s reminiscent of Persona’s incredibly satisfying, completely mundane tasks, which make the game feel more alive.
Hashino says this metaphor allows players to build their squads using a job system based on powers called archetypes. “By confronting their fear, the protagonists acquire these archetypes, a special power,” he noted during Tuesday’s demonstration. “Their powers manifest in various forms throughout the game.” They may sound similar to the eponymous enemies of the Persona games, but they are more akin to traditional fighting styles. For example, a Seeker is a versatile fighter, while a Mage fights with magic. Players can mix and match their groups however they want, including forming squads with exactly the same mission.
Atlus is currently experiencing a renaissance thanks to the groundbreaking popularity of games like Persona 5 in 2016 and Reload Persona 3published in March. Reloada remake of a PS2 title, became the fastest-selling game in Atlus history within its first week. metaphor retains much of the series’ flashy style and sophisticated combat. It’s a huge game, says Hashino, one that “challenges the power of imagination, a power we all possess.”