Summary
- Ambush mechanics in Metaphor: ReFantazio are highly rewarding, stunning enemies for extra turns.
- Ambushing can conserve MP and grant bonuses, but it can be fatal on higher difficulties.
- Metaphor may rely too heavily on ambush mechanics, but it offers strategic advantages amid challenges.
Metaphor: ReFantazio has finally arrived, bringing with it the bones of Atlus' Persona series, along with some new muscles to make it feel like a fresh experience. One of the most significant changes made to Metaphor: ReFantazio from Persona lies in its combat, which includes an iteration of the Persona series' ambush mechanics.
Atlus' Persona series has utilized ambush mechanics for some time, and now they are back in Metaphor: ReFantazio, functioning similarly to how they always have. Fans of the Persona series are likely well-acquainted with Metaphor's ambush mechanics already, but something different about Metaphor in comparison to Persona makes those mechanics a bit of a double-edged sword.
Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Leon Strohl Is the Game’s Breakout Star
Of all the characters in Metaphor: ReFantazio, Leon Strohl is arguably the best on account of his kindness, compassion, strength, and leadership.
The Good and Bad of Metaphor: ReFantazio's Ambush Mechanics
Metaphor: ReFantazio's Ambush Mechanics Can Be Highly Rewarding
The best thing about Metaphor: ReFantazio's ambush mechanics is how undeniably rewarding they can be. If players fill an enemy's stun meter by attacking them in the wild first, the enemies that spawn will be stunned for at least an entire round of turns. Ultimately, this means players can potentially exhaust two rounds of turn icons before their enemies even have a chance to attack. With how difficult Metaphor: ReFantazio's combat can be at times, this means it's often imperative that players get that ambush advantage and benefit from those free attacks.
Ambushing enemies can also be a great way to conserve MP, especially if enemies can be vanquished before the stun effect resides.
What truly makes ambushing enemies in Metaphor: ReFantazio such a desirable and strategic choice is the "Unscathed Triumph" feature, which awards players bonus Exp, Archetype Exp, MAG, and Reeve, the game's currency. If players are able to defeat enemies without ever taking damage in combat, they will obtain the "Unscathed Triumph" bonus at the end of the battle. As such, it can be a vastly rewarding pattern to establish, especially early on in Metaphor: ReFantazio's story.
Metaphor: ReFantazio's Difficulty Means Its Ambush Mechanics Can Result in Fatal Encounters
Unfortunately, while the benefits of Metaphor: ReFantazio's ambush mechanics often provide players with an opportunity to execute a fairly easy win, they are arguably outweighed by some severe disadvantages — and this is especially noticeable in Metaphor's early game and when playing on higher difficulties. Metaphor: ReFantazio is a fairly grindy experience, with a challenge steep enough to merit players wandering around in dungeons for hours, farming the enemies within to level up their characters and obtain better gear.
In light of that, ambushing enemies is always the best route to take, but the tables drastically turn when players are ambushed by an enemy.
Should players get hit by an enemy, they will automatically enter combat in an ambushed state, with the added drawback of a chance to be afflicted by Metaphor's Anxiety mechanic. In other words, whereas players need to attack enemies enough times to fill up their stun meter before triggering an ambush against their foes, taking just one hit from an enemy results in an ambush against the party. Generally, this would be understandable, considering Metaphor's combat needs to be balanced and yet challenging. However, getting ambushed by enemies in Metaphor can quickly lead to either a game-over screen or to a party so wounded that costly MP and consumables must be used to heal them.
A certain point of view might propose that there are moments in Metaphor: ReFantazio where it feels as though the game relies too heavily on its ambush mechanics. It does make sense to balance things well when it comes to combat, and that is obviously what Metaphor is trying to do. It seems to give the enemies the same advantage that the players have over them when triggering an ambush, but Metaphor's high difficulty might suggest otherwise. Nevertheless, at the very least, Metaphor's ambush mechanics have a side to them that is astoundingly rewarding, so perhaps they are more a blessing in disguise.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 93 /100 Critics Rec: 98%
- Released
- October 11, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Studio Zero
- Publisher(s)
- Atlus
- Engine
- GFD
- Number of Players
- 1
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
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.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
