Atlus' new JRPG,Metaphor: ReFantazio, looks set to be 2024’s JRPG of the year, if not game of the year, at least to those more inclined to sink hundreds of hours into a single story-driven adventure. What makes it so unique, at least in today’s gaming culture, is that it’s not a sequel, reboot, or remaster, but an entirely original IP set in an original world featuring original characters. It’s a breath of fresh air, but more importantly, it’s a game with a huge leg up over Atlus' other beloved games, thePersonaseries.
Specifically,Metaphor: ReFantaziohas one unique advantage over its other stylish cousin,Persona 5. While that’s not to discredit the legacy thatPersona 5has left behind, the immenselyglowing reviews forMetaphor: ReFantazioposition it as the must-play JRPG and will perhaps usher in an even greater wave of fans than the jazz-infused school sim. Of course, it remains to be seen how well they do comparatively, but it’s clear thatMetaphor: ReFantaziohas the upper hand when it comes to enticing new fans.
How Metaphor: ReFantanzio Is Different From Persona
It Is A Completely Different Experience
Metaphor: ReFantazio’smain advantage over thePersonaseries, and specificallyPersona 5, is that it’s an entirely new IP devoid of any connection to Atlus' prior workoutside similar gameplay mechanics. This means players don’t have to have prior knowledge of a five-game-long series or expectations of certain features or stylings before jumping on board. Rather, they can begin playing knowing that they’re starting a new adventure that isn’t reliant on adhering to tropes and are getting a wholly unique experience.
Metaphor: ReFantaziodiffers fromPersonain many ways, from its bestiary to its new Archetypes that forgo the mechanics traditionally associated with their Persona counterparts. It alters combat, making it significantly more tactical, adding a real-time action system, and updating the visuals, giving it a more painterly quality while still offering the familiar Atlus' anime style.Many of the conventions typically associated with thePersonagames, and, to an extent, theShin Megami Tenseiseries, are absent inMetaphor, allowing it to be its own thing and thus one of thebest JRPGs in 2024.
Shifting setting, tone, style, and so much more allowsMetaphor: ReFantazioto be what thePersonafranchise could never be.
Of course, each game in thePersonaseries is its own entry, unique in its narrative and characters, although with roughly the same template, each one featuring largely the same monsters, style, tone, and character archetypes. This makes them unique in their own right, offering a perfect starting point no matter which entry is chosen, yet altogether familiar each and every time. They’re amazing games, but for newcomers,jumping intoPersona 5without prior knowledge of the series can feel a little alienatingand, in turn, makes returning to the previous entries even harder.
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Metaphor: ReFantaziodistancing itself from thePersonabranding allows it to forgo conventions and strike its own path, offering a wholly unique JRPG unlike any other. That’s not to say it doesn’t borrow from thePersonaseries - which it absolutely does - but what it does shed is noteworthy and enough to remove the baggage and expectations that thePersonabranding brings. Shifting setting, tone, style, and so much more allowsMetaphor: ReFantazioto be what the Persona franchise could never be.
Why Persona Fans Should Check Out Metaphor: ReFantanzio
There Is Still Some Of Its DNA Left
Of course,Persona 5is still an incredible game, one that has inspired many games, and even seen therise of indiePersona-likes. So, it’s no surprise thatMetaphor: ReFantaziodoes take a little inspiration fromPersona 5, namely with its in-game calendar systemthat gives players a lot of free time to go out and adventure, while also ensuring they’re kept on their toes as an impending doom is only ever days away. This will surely entertain those who adore Atlus' previous works and give them some form of connection to thePersonaseries.
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Additionally,Metaphor: ReFantaziofeatures a weakness system in combat that sees players earn extra turns by exploiting their foes' weaknesses. It also has the aforementioned Archetypes, which, while different from Personas, are, at least symbolically, similar.There’s a lot here then that fans of thePersonaseries will still enjoy, and even though it strays far from the majority of tropes and features that make up thePersonaseries, it does borrow thebest elements ofPersona 5.
Metaphor: ReFantaziotweaks a handful ofPersona’sintegral systems, such as Social Stats and Confidants, and renames them. Instead of Social Stats, players have Royal Virtues, and instead of Confidants, they have Followers.
It’s also very much an Atlus game, evident in its character design, epic plot full of nefarious villains, and slick menusthat are just as fun to navigate as the rest of the game is to play. Of course, the soundtrack is vastly different and takes some getting used to, with the battle theme especially feeling as contentious as pineapple on pizza. Nevertheless,Personafans can rest assured that they’re in for an amazing time withMetaphor: ReFantazio.
Metaphor: ReFantanzio Is Great, Even If You Hated Persona
It Ditches A Lot Of What Made Persona 5 Frustrating
However,for those who hatedPersona 5or any of thePersonagames,Metaphor: ReFantaziois absolutely different enough that it’s still a very enjoyable time. That’s what sets it apart from Atlus' other games, as it’s different enough to appease those that hatedPersonaor evenShin Megami Tenseibut similar enough that fans will feel right at home. Of course, players can download thehugeMetaphor: ReFantaziodemoto see for themselves how different it is from thePersonagames.
An excellent example of howMetaphoris ideal for those who hatedPersona 5is in the removal of the romance system, which gets rid of one of the more outdated parts of that game - characters swooning over a voiceless male protagonist despite barely knowing him is immensely boring. While somePersonafans may be disappointed by its absence, there are still social links in the form of Followers, which more than makes up for it. It’s a good compromise that still ensuresMetaphorcan focus on the more important and serious aspects of its story while entertainingPersonafans.
No matter where players sit on thePersona-hate-love-spectrum, there is absolutely something for everyone inMetaphor: ReFantazio. It’s a bold new JRPG that, thanks to its original setting and gameplay mechanics, sets it apart from Persona 5.Metaphor: ReFantaziois sure to build as big of a legacy asPersona 5, and that is, in large part, due to carving its own path in the already crowded and saturated JRPG market.
