Metaphor: ReFantazio Review: Long Live the King!

Metaphor: ReFantazio is the latest turn-based role-playing game from Atlus. Developed by Atlus’ Studio Zero, it holds many similarities to the Persona series, although there are key differences, such as more action-oriented gameplay and a switch to a fantasy world. The end result winds up being one of the developer’s coolest and most customizable RPGs yet.

While it’s still a turn-based RPG at its core, there are a lot more fluid action elements. Your character can roll out of the way of attacks, completely defeat weaker enemies with sword strikes, and land combos to stun tougher enemies before moving into a turn-based battle. This winds up working really well, as it allows for dungeons to be filled with a variety of enemies, large and small, and gives the player some extra agency with how they go about exploring.

The main combat will feel quite familiar to Persona fans as you essentially have all the same options, ranging from team-up attacks to standard melee bashes. The big difference is that rather than using a persona in battle, characters awaken an “archetype” instead. What’s cool about this form is that you are able to customize each party member’s archetype into a different class, level them up how you wish, and determine what skills get carried over. It’s a fun way to really change up a stellar existing formula and reward experimentation, as players can come up with some great strategies that can then be pulled off in battle.

Metaphor: ReFantazio also takes full advantage of its fantasy world, introducing a number of different races and crafting a story that plays off the inherent problems with its class and race-based society. The story kicks into gear after the king has been assassinated, and a number of events lead to a popular election being held for the first time. The story is gripping from start to finish, with Atlus once again delivering a stellar script filled with great characters. Some parts are scathingly written, especially when they play off our expectations, such as calling the big boss monsters “humans” and seeing the characters dream of a utopia that seems a lot like current society, underlining how much we’ve dropped the ball.

After so many Shin Megami Tensei games with similar demons, it’s nice to see Atlus going all out within the fantasy genre. Of course, they’ve done the Etrian Odyssey games, so this isn’t completely new ground, but a lot of the “human” designs are wonderfully weird and creative. Studio Zero also did a great job of making the world and each dungeon interesting and regularly stunning to explore. There’s a real sense of wonder that comes with the world, and it’s one of the game’s strongest elements.

While it’s a bit reductive to constantly compare Metaphor: ReFantazio to Persona, it’s also hard not to do as there are so many parallels. From the in-game calendar that counts down until quests need to be completed to managing your days to improve your stats, any Persona fan will feel right at home. You’ll also find equivalents to social links and requests that you can undertake, and there’s even a system that measures your popularity, similar to how the public’s belief in the Phantom Thieves’ came into play. This isn’t a critique, though; it’s great to see these already fleshed-out systems used in another game with a very different style and setting.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is a stellar role-playing game and one of the best to be released this generation. Atlus’ latest foray into fantasy provides familiar trappings for Persona fans while changing the formula up enough for it to fully be its own thing. Studio Zero has produced a polished and exciting RPG that regularly surprises, both through gameplay and story.

SCORE: 9.5/10

As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 9.5 equates to “Excellent.” Entertainment that reaches this level is at the top of its type. The gold standard that every creator aims to reach.

Disclosure: The publisher provided a PS5 code for our Metaphor: ReFantazio review. Reviewed on version 1.001.000.