Metaphor: ReFantazio [Xbox Series X] | REVIEW

With both Persona and Shin Megami Tensei under their belt, there’s no doubt that Atlus have established themselves as the most on-form modern RPG development studio. And now, with the release of the utterly superb Metaphor: ReFantazio, it’s easier than ever to see why some consider them the greatest RPG development studio of all-time.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Metaphor: ReFantazio takes place in the United Kingdom of Euchronia, where the land is in a state of disarray following the death of its monarch, Hythlodaeus V. The prince cannot take the throne due to a curse that was brought upon him, so it’s up to the player (who just so happens to be a childhood friend of the prince) to try and bring an end to the curse. However, with the United Kingdom of Euchronia made up of different tribes where inequality runs rife, as well as the turbulations of the political conflict following the king’s death, it won’t be an easy journey.

That really is putting the narrative in a nutshell, because honestly, there’s so much depth and detail to be found across Metaphor: ReFantazio’s storytelling that it’s incredibly difficult to sum it up briefly. There are so many tantalising characters, intriguing scenarios, and a lot of political depth to be found that it’s hard not to find yourself completely invested in its world, whilst each twist in the plot brings with it genuinely absorbing surprises that are sure to keep players invested until the very end.

The best part of all is that it never feels overwhelming, which is a credit to the game’s writing. Metaphor: ReFantazio is a BIG game, and whilst there’s a lot to take in, there was no point where I felt confused about where the story was going or didn’t understand a character’s motives. The game isn’t shy in exploring multiple dark themes that are relatable in modern society either, so it definitely brings a distinct vibe to the medieval fantasy setting. It all comes together to make for one of the most exciting and engaging narratives that I’ve come across in an RPG for a long, long time.

“Metaphor: ReFantazio is a mesmerising RPG experience that further establishes the team at Atlus as the kings of the genre.”

It’s not just the storytelling that excels in Metaphor: ReFantazio though, with the turn-based combat offering the perfect blend of action and strategy to ensure each encounter is packed with thrills. It is worth noting that enemies on the overworld can be dealt with quite swiftly though, with players able to strike them before initiating combat. If you’re strong enough to overwhelm them? Great, they’ll die instantly. But if not? A combat encounter is initiated.

The crux of the game’s turn-based combat is based around each party member’s Archetype, which are similar to your typical RPG classes in that they grant specific abilities, powers, and elements upon their user. Players unlock these Archetypes by increasing their social links with followers in-game (more on that in a bit) and are then able to develop each Archetype into more powerful and sophisticated forms that enhance their capabilities. You can equip different Archetypes for each member of your party, allowing you to fine-tune their skillset to offer diversity and flexibility to deal with any situation you find yourself in in-combat. It’s a system that becomes more intuitive and offers more room for customisation as you progress, and honesty? I loved it, with the expansive selection of Archetypes (there are 44 in all) not only a treat to utilise but also rewarding to unlock as you progress further through the game.

Combat itself embraces a conventional turn-based approach, with the player’s party and enemies taking it in turns to strike. There are some elements in play that will be familiar to fans of Atlus’ other RPGs though, such as exploiting an enemy’s weakness to get another turn for a character (which is often imperative to your success, but also be utilised by enemies to gain an advantage over your party too). There are also other technical aspects that flesh out combat, such as Guarding to prevent an enemy from exploiting a weakness, using Synthesis Skills that utilise the capabilities of two Archetypes that unleash more damage upon foes, or being able to stack buffs and debuffs to maximise their effect, with Metaphor: ReFantazio’s combat offering a lot of depth that ensures it remains engaging until the very end. I’d argue it’s the best turn-based combat that I’ve seen in an Atlus RPG, and, if I’m being honest, it’s some of the best that I’ve seen in any RPG, period… it’s THAT good.

It’s all strengthened by some fantastic dungeons and set pieces that stand out as some of Atlus’ best work. Whilst I’ve enjoyed recent titles such as Persona 3 Reload and Shin Megami Tensei V, it has always been the dungeon design that has felt like one of the weaker aspects, but they feel more intuitive and varied here to ensure each is enjoyable to explore and offers their own individual stand out moments. It ensures that the gameplay never feels like it starts to drag, and given that Metaphor: ReFantazio can easily take over 70 hours to beat, it’s quite the impressive feat.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Outside of the strong storytelling and excellent combat, Metaphor: ReFantazio also brings with it the time-management and social aspects seen in the Persona series – this means you have a set amount of time across each day (which make up weeks) to complete dungeons, spend time with followers to improve bonds (and unlock further Archetypes), complete side quests, and so forth. There’s also a Royal Virtues system in place that sees five different aspects of your character develop: Courage, Wisdom, Tolerance, Eloquence, and Imagination. There are individual tasks to complete and choices to make that’ll affect these, with each opening up new abilities, questlines, and followers as they increase.

So yeah, there’s a lot going on in Metaphor: ReFantazio – a lot of which will feel VERY familiar to Persona fans. It still manages to stand out on its own merits though, and I actually think that the time-management is a bit easier to get to grips with when you get the ball rolling. That being said, it did feel like the game EXPECTED you to be experienced with it beforehand, with it not going into a lot of the ins-and-outs of the system as well as the stakes. But when you do get stuck in? It makes the adventure more engrossing than ever, and adds that personal touch to the experience that Atlus seem to have mastered.

Presentation-wise, Metaphor: ReFantazio is simply gorgeous, with the medieval-fantasy world making for a delightful setting packed with mesmerising sights that continually ramp up the style as you progress. The UI is fantastic too, and whilst it might not be as bold or eye-popping as that seen in the Persona series, it does have its own unique vibe that adds an extra sense of flair to each battle. And, of course, the soundtrack is packed with absolute bangers, though that’s par for the course these days when it comes to an Atlus RPG.

Developer: Atlus
Publisher: SEGA
Platform(s): Xbox Series X|S (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC
Website: https://metaphor.atlus.com/