Summary
- The team behind Metaphor: ReFantazio decided to give themselves ample freedom when designing the game's world.
- Although the title features a medieval high fantasy setting, Atlus chose not to focus on historical accuracy.
- Metaphor: ReFantazio will be released on October 11, and a lengthy demo is currently available.
Katsura Hashino, the director of Metaphor: ReFantazio, recently explained that the development team decided to make creative adjustments to the JRPG's medieval setting. As Metaphor: ReFantazio is a high fantasy title, the team followed many medieval conventions, but they still allowed themselves more leeway to create and experiment with the setting rather than focusing entirely on historical accuracy.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a new IP from Studio Zero, a subsidiary of Atlus. The JRPG contains familiar features seen in the company's other series, like Shin Megami Tensei and Persona, and interested players can currently download a demo of Metaphor: ReFantazio ahead of the game's release on October 11. The biggest difference between Metaphor and other Atlus series lies in its setting. While Persona and SMT typically put players in a contemporary environment, Metaphor: ReFantazio ventures into an entirely new epic fantasy world.
Metaphor: ReFantazio - Release Date & Time
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a brand-new IP from Atlus that brings together ideas from all their other series; here's what day and time it releases.
In an interview with Gamer Braves, Hashino commented on this combination of fantasy and modern elements, explaining that initially, the team tried to adhere closely to medieval conventions. "There were a lot of discussions about things like, should things be rivets or screws in walls, or how much glass should there be in the town, considering if it's medieval times, glass would have been a precious commodity," said Hashino. Eventually, they embraced the creative freedom of Metaphor: ReFantazio's high-fantasy setting and stopped worrying about those small details.
Metaphor: Refantazio's Fantasy World Is an Escape From Our Reality
Hashino elaborated, saying one of the reasons they created this kind of fantasy world "is to confirm that the reality we live in does not have to always be the same." Many games have tried to stay historically accurate to their medieval settings, such as Kingdom Come: Deliverance, but this seemed to cause more backlash than praise. Final Fantasy 16 faced a similar controversy when justifying its Europe-inspired setting. Considering this, Hashino's team's approach seems ideal, both for enhancing Metaphor: ReFantazio's storytelling and bolstering the uniqueness of the game's fantasy world.
In the same interview, Hashino discussed how Metaphor: ReFantazio revolves around anxiety and how the characters remove their hearts before awakening to a new power as a reflection of dealing with said emotion. "And so that's the source's idea of grabbing your heart, pulling it out, and telling your heart to 'ganbare,' work hard, try your best," Hashino explained. Most Atlus RPGs present a central theme reinforced throughout the game, and even a new IP like Metaphor stays true to that approach. Likely, Persona 6 will also introduce a theme that shapes the entire game, from its visuals to its narrative and character motivations.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is shaping up for a stellar release on October 11th. Many fans who dove into the demo were quick to praise the title, with early reviews praising the game's world-building, characters, gameplay loop, and unique music. While the demo saw a few performance problems on PC, Atlus has committed to fixing any issues with Metaphor: ReFantazio to ensure that the game ships in top-notch form and pleases JRPG fans worldwide.
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
