In 2024, the latest title from the modern Persona creators at Atlus’ Studio Zero will be released. Metaphor: ReFantazio is a turn-based RPG with light action elements, essentially serving as the next evolution in Shin Megami Tensei 5 and Persona 5 Royal’s brand of JRPGs. There's a reason it isn't connected to their franchise, however, and that is to give Metaphor: ReFantazio its own look. In trading urban fantasy, and a post-apocalyptic take on it, with a high fantasy setting, Metaphor: ReFantazio hopes to do something new with its predecessors' style.

The Role of Anime Scenes In Metaphor: ReFantazio

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As shown in its trailers, Metaphor: ReFantazio will benefit from 2D-animated cutscenes just like several Persona titles before it. The Persona 5 games in particular not only use animated intros, but also scattered animated cutscenes to punctuate big moments, something it and Metaphor should already have in common. With other big-budget JRPG franchises like Tales increasingly mixing anime cutscenes with regular ones, it's not a surprise to see one of their pioneers continue their use, especially as Metaphor's 3D scenes increasingly resemble their anime counterparts. However, Metaphor: ReFantazio isn't content with just following trends.

Anime Could Be Deeply Integrated Into Metaphor: ReFantazio's Gameplay

The full extent of its visual flourishes aren't visible yet, but compared to Persona 5, one improvement in Metaphor: ReFantazio's maximalist UI is more than meets the eye. After successfully landing a combo on a field enemy and transitioning into turn-based combat, what could be the graphic for Metaphor’s All-Out Attack appears. Enemies are left damaged and stunned, but of visual interest is the cut-in’s 2D animated nature. Quick anime cutscenes like these probably exist for every party member, and there could be other instances where the game flits in and out of 2D animation during combat. All of this forms the next step in Persona’s visual design, and isn't the only novel thing Metaphor is doing with its anime aesthetic.

Specifically, by looking so much like Persona or Shin Megami Tensei while simultaneously being so different from them, Metaphor: ReFantazio is subverting its anime stylings. It takes place in an alien yet active society, and tells tales of personal, political, and planetary intrigue with similar gravitas. As even Shin Megami Tensei 5 grounds itself with a high school backdrop amid its blasted wastelands, it doesn't take long to see that, for all that Metaphor shares with its predecessors, they don't conform to the same style of JRPG.

JRPGs’ Anime Meta Is Subverted In Metaphor: ReFantazio

In truth, the typical anime aesthetic one would expect from a Japanese RPG, or even a traditional fantasy anime, is barely present in Metaphor. The modern-day cities filled with fantasy races, massive mechanical vehicles, and utterly bizarre monsters seen in Metaphor: ReFantazio speak to a magical and political world that, while populated by characters with anime facial shapes, does not conform to an established anime meta. It's rare to see a big-budget video game push the boundaries of genres or other art forms like Metaphor: ReFantazio, but that should only draw in more players to see what this stylish and innovative game has in store.

MORE: Metaphor: ReFantazio's Archetype System Explained