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Metaphor: ReFantazio Review

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In life there are few topics as divisive as politics and religion. People have strong opinions on the way the world is and how it should be, and when these opinions clash, rarely do the ensuing conversations occur peacefully. 

So it’s no surprise when games use political and religious discourse as the stage for their experience, especially as video game storytelling has matured over the years.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is explicit from the start that these themes make the foundation for the story you are about to spend the next 80 hours experiencing.

Metaphor ReFantazio Review 1
Metaphor ReFantazio is impeccable

Experience is the right word too because everything in Metaphor: ReFantazio, from the gameplay to the graphics and sound design, are impeccable. Many people are going to be coming to this game after the critical success of the Persona games, which I myself am guilty of, but Atlus has taken their experience from not just those, but also the Shin Megami Tensei games as well, applying that knowledge to make an exciting and fun JRPG that is hard to put down.

The story’s protagonist is a blue haired boy, one who has the power to awaken Archetypes; manifestations of ancient magic that have been lost to the world. By forming bonds with new allies, they also gain access to their own Archetype, allowing them to wield this awesome magic as well. These fantastical transformations are exciting to watch and as over-the-top as you would expect in a JRPG.

Metaphor: ReFantazio’s combat system is incredibly engaging. There’s a careful balance between difficulty and tedium, that is walked perfectly. In the overworld, your fairy companion Gallica allows you to scan the environment and see the levels of any enemies that you have previously fought. Weak enemies can be quickly disposed of in the overworld, while those of comparable or greater strength will trigger a battle sequence.

Battle sequences are designed so that both allies and enemies can perform hard hitting attacks that cause extreme damage. Turn icons dictate the flow of battle, with each action taking up an icon until none are left. By targeting weaknesses, bonus actions can be granted to your band of adventures. However, missing attacks or hitting resistances has the opposite effect and can see your turn disappear before your very eyes.

Metaphor ReFantazio Review 2
The madness of battle

Every character has access to every Archetype, and while some are better suited for specific Archetypes than others, it’s possible to have any character in any role. And there are dozens of Archetypes once you factor in the sub-classes of each one, which allows for a ton of experimentation and variety in playstyles. 

Metaphor takes things a step further though, by introducing synthesis moves. These are special attacks and abilities that only come into play when specific Archetypes are fielded together. It’s a system that rewards trying new combinations and keeps things interesting, even after dozens of hours of play.

And those dozens of hours are backed by an incredible orchestral soundtrack, a beautiful world, and engaging story. Following the death of the king, as major parties begin vying for power, an ancient spell subverts the expected succession of ruler. Instead of being appointed by those in power, the king has forced the kingdom to adopt the democratic process. Anyone can be the ruler of the kingdom, so long as they have the people’s support.

You find yourself in the running as you attempt to right the wrongs of the world. Poverty, discrimination, and unabashed cruelty are rampant problems in the kingdom, and for a game called Metaphor, it is fairly blunt in its portrayal of socio-economic injustices. But while there are plenty of moments of idealistic platitudes, Metaphor: ReFantazio is very quick to point out that lofty ideals on their own do not make a kingdom. Wealth does not make an individual evil, institutions of power can and will breed corruption, and the cruelties one suffers may be a cause for sympathy, but they do not excuse acts of revenge.

Metaphor ReFantazio Review 4
A world to explore

These themes and more are continually explored as you cross the world on the back of a gauntlet runner; a mobile base that allows you to explore new cities and dungeons. Atop this moving stronghold, you come across new sights while overcoming new foes and challenges. During your excursions, you have access to a variety of activities that can buff your band of adventurers. You can also take advantage of the downtime to interact with allies, furthering your social bonds, developing the relationship, and increasing your strength.

Every minute of Metaphor: ReFantazio feels productive. It’s as if Atlus took a look at their previous entries and asked, “how can we streamline these mechanics without watering down the experience?”. It’s something that have succeeded in doing.

For example, in previous titles, social bonds would often have filler interactions to increase an arbitrary relationship level, and then you could progress their story. Now, as long as your virtue requirements are met – virtues being your personal stats that can be improved by various activities and quests – you can progress the bonds without needing to waste days on unnecessary filler. Metaphor: ReFantazio also has an easy to reference prompt that allows you to see how much more experience is needed to improve your virtues. This makes it easier to manage time and target specific virtues based on the in game time allotted.

This makes the time management aspect of Metaphor: ReFantazio more accessible and digestible for fans. Granted, if you are not a fan of time management, then this system may not be for you, even with the improvements. That said, I’d imagine fans of JRPGs, and the Persona games especially, are going to love the quality of life improvements that Metaphor: ReFantazio has implemented in these mainstay systems of the series.

Metaphor ReFantazio Review 3
The JRPG of the year

As a side note, these systems were by no means unbearable or even unpleasant in the Persona games. Our very own Paul Renshaw gave Persona 5 Royal a 5 out of 5 in review and I wholeheartedly agree with that assessment. If you were introduced to Atlus’s work through that game, then Metaphor: ReFantazio is your next must have game. It’s a game experience that no other series captures quite like Atlus can.

Even if you’ve never played the Persona or Shin Megami Tensei games, and you just like JRPGs, then Metaphor: ReFantazio still delivers in spades. The diverse cast of characters and their, let’s be honest, dorky behavior makes them a band of loveable goofs that you can’t help but enjoy. However, the game knows when to pause for serious story beats by tugging at your heart strings and tackling serious subject matter.

As gamers are burdened by a barrage of games that lack polish and require several updates at launch to make them playable, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a breath of fresh air. Across hours of playing, performance never was an issue and it’s refreshing to have a game that could never receive an update and would still feel like a complete experience. 

Metaphor: ReFantazio is the JRPG of the year, and you’d be remiss to pass on it.


Metaphor: ReFantazio – A New World Unfolds from the Minds Behind Persona – https://www.thexboxhub.com/metaphor-refantazio-a-new-world-unfolds-from-the-minds-behind-persona/

Buy Metaphor: ReFantazio now – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/metaphor-refantazio/9N5DV8310XP7/0010

SUMMARY

Pros:
  • Art and sound design are astounding
  • Engaging and fun story, that isn’t afraid to get dark/serious
  • Fast paced and fun combat
  • Several dozen hours of great gameplay
Cons:
  • Um???
Info:
  • Massive thanks for the free copy of the game, SEGA
  • Formats - Xbox Series X|S (review), PS4, PS5, PC
  • Release date and price - 11 October 2024 |£59.99
Ryan Taylor
Ryan Taylor
Grew up playing the Nintendo 64 where I fell in love with the Legend of Zelda series. As I got older though my console of choice changed, first to PS2, and then finally to the Xbox 360, which I've been playing on for over a decade now. And since my first day booting up my Xbox, I've upgraded consoles and even built a gaming PC. Because at the end of the day I just love gaming.
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<b>Pros:</b> <ul> <li>Art and sound design are astounding</li> <li>Engaging and fun story, that isn’t afraid to get dark/serious</li> <li>Fast paced and fun combat</li> <li>Several dozen hours of great gameplay</li> </ul> <b>Cons:</b> <ul> <li>Um???</li> </ul> <b>Info:</b> <ul> <li>Massive thanks for the free copy of the game, SEGA</li> <li>Formats - Xbox Series X|S (review), PS4, PS5, PC <li>Release date and price - 11 October 2024 |£59.99</li> </ul>Metaphor: ReFantazio Review
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