As a seasoned gamer with over three decades under my belt, I must say that Metaphor: ReFantazio has caught my eye like no other JRPG in recent memory. The blend of light visual novel elements and engaging combat mechanics, reminiscent of Persona, has me eagerly anticipating its release this October 11.
As a diehard fan, I can hardly contain my excitement! Atlus’ upcoming JRPG, ReFantazio, is just days away, releasing on October 11th. This game seems destined to be a serious contender for Game of the Year with its innovative and nostalgic mechanics that exude an unmistakable style reminiscent of the Persona series. But here’s the twist: instead of a teenage cast, it takes place in a mesmerizing fantasy world! Can’t wait to dive in!
Should you share our enthusiasm for ATLUS’ upcoming major role-playing game, or if you’re undecided about it, let me present six compelling reasons to get you pumped!
Persona 3, 4 and 5 Creators
Without a doubt, devoted Persona series enthusiasts would recognize the creative hand of the team responsible for Persona 3, 4, and 5 by merely observing the gameplay, art style, and listening to the soundtrack. Notably, this is Studio Zero’s debut original game since they were established in 2016.
Katsura Hashino, director of the Persona series, will once more lead the team, with Shigenori Soejima continuing to design the characters. As always, the vibrant and dynamic soundtrack of the Persona games will be provided by Shoji Meguro, who returns as the composer for the game’s enchanting melodies.
As a fervent admirer, I can’t help but feel captivated by the fact that Metaphor is a labor of love and sheer creativity from these gifted minds, transforming into an immersive, action-packed journey through a fantastical world.
Familiar Turn-Based Combat (with a twist)
In Metaphor, ReFantazio preserves Persona’s stylish and engaging turn-based battle system, but introduces an unexpected variation. Unlike Persona where battles in dungeons follow a sequence of turns to eliminate each enemy, Metaphor combines real-time and turn-based strategies. This means that instead of waiting for your turn to strike, you can engage enemies dynamically while still planning your moves strategically during specific phases in the battle.
In Persona, you reach a point where overpowered enemies no longer pose a challenge – it feels like a power fantasy! Metaphor takes this concept further, allowing you to truly exploit that feeling. With its smooth real-time combat system, there’s no need to fret about the issue of overleveling. Instead of taking turns, you can swiftly cut through weaker enemies, making delving into dungeons a much more enjoyable experience.
This game offers a surprising balance in its gameplay, which significantly reduces the monotony of battles, particularly in lengthy dungeons. However, this balance also means that you can’t rely solely on brute force to defeat stronger opponents.
Archetype System (just like Persona!)
In simpler terms, the standout aspect of ReFantazio lies in its Archetype system, which functions much like a ‘Class’ system found in many games. This system offers a wide variety of options, enabling you to assemble a formidable team of characters with unique abilities.
Character archetypes encompass a variety of close-combat champions such as the Warrior, versatile investigators known as Seekers, magical practitioners who summon the forces of nature (Mages), and many other diverse characters.
Think of the Archetype system as Persona’s… from Persona.
In the heat of the game, I find myself not bound to a single heroic role. Instead, I’ve got the Wild Card up my sleeve, allowing me to switch between various characters on the fly during battle. This comes in handy when I spot an enemy’s weakness, giving me the perfect opportunity for that thrilling finishing blow!
Forging Relationships
In a Katsura Hashino game, visual novel-like aspects are always present. Just like Persona, Metaphor features a diverse array of characters, each representing various walks of life. Ranging from your tiny, magical ally, Gallica, to the powerful and unyielding Strohl. The main character’s influence empowers this ensemble of heroes, guiding them through their journeys to the extremes of the world, facing destiny head-on and vanquishing an ancient curse.
Every character in this game has a distinct backstory waiting to be uncovered. Building connections with them allows you to gain their specific Archetype, boosting your battle prowess. However, it’s important to note that while these connections are deep, they are purely platonic in nature and the game does not involve romantic relationships.
Multiple Dungeons
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In the game Metaphor: ReFantazio, dungeons significantly contribute to the campaign’s progression. It’s important to note that you can’t possibly explore everything in a single playthrough due to the numerous dungeons scattered across its world. Some of these dungeons advance the story, while others are beneficial for leveling up or completing quests, and sometimes they simply serve as grinding grounds.
These mazes present their distinct riddles and hurdles, urging you to creatively combine Character Types and teammates to conquer them.
The game adheres to a schedule similar to Persona, allowing you to decide on actions for each day. It’s up to the player whether they want to explore additional content or not, as personal choice is prioritized.
Massive Fantasy World
In Metaphor’s fictional universe, there’s an uncanny ‘reflection’ of our everyday life. It combines elements familiar from our society with a touch of enchantment and mystery. For instance, you might spot someone using an e-cigarette in one of the towns.
By adopting this new viewpoint, you’ll find that folklore and myths become more relatable. During your journeys, you might encounter non-player characters with pointed ears, fairies, and even rodents.
In order to delve into this vast fantastical realm, the main character requires a means of travel. With the Gauntlet Runner at hand, navigation becomes effortless. Regardless if you journey towards the south, north, west or east, your reliable roaming companion proves indispensable for your escapades.
Employing the Gauntlet Runner expedites time, motivating players to effectively manage their scarce minutes throughout this enchanted realm.
Lovers of extensive Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) will find themselves comfortable in Metaphor: ReFantazio. As per the series director, Katsura Hashino, the game promises around 100 hours of gameplay, with even more for those who aim for completion. This exciting new title from ATLUS hits shelves on October 11, available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.
Additionally, you have the option to download a trial version that’s accessible on PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam platforms right now. Your progress in this demo will be saved, transferring over to the complete game when you decide to purchase it.
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2024-09-26 20:43