WhenMetaphor: ReFantazio was first properly unveiledto the world, I honestly didn’t give it much thought.
The new Studio Zero team at Persona publisherAtlushas crafted something special.
Oct. 17, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.
Metaphor: ReFantazio has been running very smoothly for me, so there aren’t any fires here.
ET Updated with my final review score for and thoughts on Metaphor: ReFantazio after completing the game.
This review was made possible thanks to a pre-release review code provided by SEGA and Atlus.
The companies had no input and did not see the contents of this review prior to publication.
What is Metaphor: ReFantazio?
There’s also a Collector’s Edition for$149.99 at Best Buy, too.
Stability is also top-notch, with no crashes or major flaws.
Metaphor: ReFantazio has been running very smoothly for me, so there aren’t any fires here.
it’s possible for you to read myguide on playing Metaphor: ReFantazio on gaming handheldsfor more info.
For me, though, the artdesignoutweighs any weaknesses in the style.
There are some stunning environments in this game, and each character feels visually and deliberately distinct.
This game can be absolutely stunning thanks to its incredible art design, but the visual style is inconsistent and might put some people off.
Each menu feels wholly unique to Metaphor: ReFantazio, which is not an easy thing to accomplish.
Audio design is also solid for monsters, combat, and the world in general.
It’s the kind of soundtrack you don’t even need the game itself to enjoy immensely.
This is a good example of how the game looks outside of its carefully animated cinematics.
Years earlier, the one and only crown heir also vanished and was presumed killed.
Instead of a violent coup, Louis is instead thrown into the Tournament for the Throne.
The longer the story became, the more I enjoyed it.
The young crown prince, not long before tragedy struck and he was cursed.
Characters are also well written and voiced, and really add a lot to the narrative delivery.
To start, Metaphor: ReFantazio is not an open-world game.
When you’re exploring dungeons, you’re not simply wandering around waiting to be dragged into battles.
In order to save his prince and help realize his ideal for a perfect world (which looks an awfully lot like a utopian version of our world), our protagonist will have to suffer through myriad trials.
When you are dragged into these turn-based fights, Metaphor: ReFantazio’s gameplay truly shines.
The result is a very diverse, dynamic combat system that allows for practically infinite strategies.
Metaphor: ReFantazio continues to introduce new facets to this combat dozens of hours in.
Confronting your fears and anxieties and embracing your heroic ideals can help you channel an ancient and powerful magic — but it all starts with the protagonist.
That’s bound to deter players who care more about the gameplay than the story.
Turn-based combat is also a boon for those who may struggle with challenging games that demand high physical coordination.
Accessibility-wise, matters are also mixed.
It does make me a little sad that the game doesn’t look like this all the time, but I understand why.(Image credit: Windows Central)
I had certainly hoped for more from such an established studio in this department.
I already addedPersona 3 Reloadand the rest of the Persona series to my Microsoft Store wishlist.
There’s so much to learn and explore in Metaphor: ReFantazio, and plenty of secrets I’ve yet to uncover.(Image credit: Windows Central)
During your travels, you’ll be confronted with all the ugly, horrific truths of this broken world and attempt to align them with your idealistic views.(Image credit: Windows Central)
All of those ideals stem from this book on a possible future world, too, which your protagonist carries with him everywhere.(Image credit: Windows Central)
Your foes will range from literal walking teeth to massive dragons, plus everything in between and not a small amount outside of that.
The Royal Capital, Gran Trad, is the first major hub you’ll have access to.
Once you become stronger to a certain degree over enemies, you’ll be able to handle them in real-time without much struggle.
You’ll need to form new bonds with companions and followers to fully explore the depths of your magical abilities.(Image credit: Windows Central)
The most monstrous opponents in Metaphor: ReFantazio are the humans, and, yes, that name does matter.(Image credit: Windows Central)
As your protagonist progresses, you’ll have opportunities to evolve him and his royal virtues, which will allow him to interact with the world and people in new ways.(Image credit: Windows Central)
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a relatively easy game to get into, but there are some rough edges.
Metaphor: ReFantazio has consumed my waking hours, and it’s one of my favorite games I’ve played in a long time.
