August 28th 2024.
The world of Japanese role-playing games has been dominated by long-standing franchises, with Atlus being one of the most renowned publishers. However, their latest creation, Metaphor: ReFantazio, is causing quite a stir in the gaming community. This high fantasy adventure promises to surpass their previous works, such as Persona and Shin Megami Tensei, with its unique storyline and gameplay. And with four hours of gameplay already under our belt, we can attest to its potential.
The battle system in Metaphor: ReFantazio is a blend of turn-based and real-time action. Its stunning anime-style visuals are set in a fantastical realm known as the United Kingdom of Euchronia. This is a departure from Atlus' usual virtual Tokyo setting and shows their dedication to creating a whole new game world. Producer Junichi Yoshizawa spoke at length about the challenges and rewards of crafting a completely original IP, which required an extensive amount of world-building.
Director Katsura Hashino also shed light on the game's underlying theme of overcoming anxieties and realizing inner strengths, a concept that is relevant in today's society. He also mentioned a controversial aspect of the game, where players take part in an election to become the next king of Euchronia.
During our hands-on session, we were introduced to the game's protagonist, a friend of the comatose prince who is on a mission to deliver a message to one of the prince's allies. As we traveled with a fairy named Gallica, we learned more about the world of Euchronia, a place where discrimination against those with powerful magic abilities is prevalent. But before we could fully participate in battles, we had to enlist in the army and acquire a device to wield magic.
As we journeyed towards our destination, we encountered various characters, each with their own unique personalities and stories. When we reached the northern fort, we were faced with a boss monster that had slaughtered all the troops stationed there. This was our first taste of the game's transformation mechanic, where our character becomes a powerful fighting machine with access to different abilities and a vast upgrade tree.
After defeating the boss, we joined forces with a soldier named Grius and continued towards our goal. Along the way, we discovered the game's archetype system, similar to Final Fantasy's job system, where players can switch between classes to utilize different abilities. These archetypes can also be learned from other party members, adding a strategic element to battles.
Our second phase of gameplay took us deeper into the game, where we were embroiled in a race to become the new king of Euchronia. This added a new element to the game, where we had to gain followers by completing quests and interacting with NPCs. These interactions also increased our attributes, which were crucial in the election race.
One of our side quests took us to an archaeological site, which required us to travel in a gauntlet runner, a fortified truck. This journey provided opportunities to bond with our team members and engage in a battle with a rival candidate, who was swiftly put in his place after a good whipping.
With its fast-paced turn-based battles and intriguing storyline, Metaphor: ReFantazio is shaping up to be a must-play for JRPG fans. We can't wait to see what else Atlus has in store for us in this epic adventure.
The gaming world is abuzz with excitement as JRPG specialist Atlus makes a bold move to outdo their highly acclaimed Persona series. Their latest masterpiece, Metaphor: ReFantazio, promises to be a high fantasy adventure that will captivate players and potentially become the developer's magnum opus.
Despite being well-known for their Japanese role-playing games, Atlus, like many publishers, has relied on their long-standing franchises such as Shin Megami Tensei and Persona for several decades. However, with Metaphor: ReFantazio, they have taken a leap of faith by creating a completely original IP that still maintains elements from their previous works. The game's unique gameplay and breathtaking graphics have already piqued the interest of fans, and we were lucky enough to have a four-hour hands-on experience.
One of the most notable features of Metaphor: ReFantazio is its turn-based battle system, although it also incorporates real-time action. As expected, the game boasts stunning anime-style visuals, but what sets it apart is its setting in the imaginary United Kingdom of Euchronia, a high fantasy world that is a departure from the usual virtual Tokyo seen in Atlus games.
According to producer Junichi Yoshizawa, Metaphor: ReFantazio is the culmination of their years of experience creating Persona and Shin Megami Tensei games. While it still draws inspiration from those titles, it's a more ambitious project that required extensive world-building and lore creation, which the team found both challenging and enjoyable.
Director Katsura Hashino added that the theme of anxiety emerged during the game's development, which explores characters overcoming their fears and discovering their inner strength, a relevant theme in the 21st century. Another unique aspect of Metaphor: ReFantazio is the inclusion of an election, where the player's character can run for the position of Euchronia's next king, a feature that could spark some controversy among players.
During our two-and-a-half-hour playthrough, we were introduced to the game's story and its intriguing world. Euchronia is in a state of chaos after the death of its king, who was killed by the villainous knight Louis. The heir to the throne, the comatose prince, has also been cursed by Louis, leaving the kingdom in a precarious position. As the player, we took on the role of the prince's friend, tasked with enlisting in the army to deliver a crucial message to one of the prince's allies. We also learned that our character belongs to the Elda tribe, an outcast group known for their powerful magic, and is the sole survivor of a massacre that wiped out our village. Discrimination is a prevalent theme in Metaphor: ReFantazio, adding depth to the game's narrative.
Accompanied by a fairy named Gallica, our journey began as we set off for the capital, GrandTrad, to fulfill our mission. Gallica, although unable to participate in battles, proved to be a valuable ally with her ability to sense magla, the game's equivalent of mana. As we couldn't engage in combat until we enlisted in the army and obtained a magic-wielding device, we spent our early moments engaging in conversations with other characters, giving us a glimpse of the richly populated world of Euchronia. We also met Strohl, who became our first battle party member after enlisting.
The real action began when we reached the northern fort, only to find it under attack by a powerful boss monster. After defeating some smaller enemies, we underwent a transformation that turned us into a formidable fighting machine, granting us access to our first archetype and a massive upgrade tree. Along with Grius, a soldier we were tasked to contact, we made our way to the capital, encountering more of the game's systems, such as archetypes, which are similar to Final Fantasy's job system. We also learned that our characters can learn archetypes from other party members, providing a vast array of combat options.
As we progressed through the game's dungeon-like mines, we encountered Captain Klinger, a character who proved to be a double-dealer working for the evil Louis. Although effectively a mini-boss, his appearance gave us a taste of the game's intrigue and treachery, adding a layer of excitement to the gameplay.
The second part of our hands-on experience took us further into the game, and it was here where Metaphor: ReFantazio truly shone. By this point, we had entered the race to become the next king, which involved acquiring followers by traveling the country, having meaningful conversations, and performing good deeds. These interactions increased our attributes, crucial for competing in the election.
As we took on a side quest to find a ring in an archaeological site in the desert, we boarded a gauntlet runner, a fortified truck that provided plenty of opportunities for bonding with party members and engaging in battles with rivals. On one occasion, we even had a political debate with one of our competitors, who proposed punishing the youth and rewarding the elderly, a comical encounter that left us laughing.
Overall, our experience with Metaphor: ReFantazio left us highly impressed. Its turn-based battle system felt modern and intuitive, with the option to switch archetypes adding depth to combat. The game's narrative delves into relevant themes such as anxiety and discrimination, while its world-building and lore creation are a testament to Atlus' expertise. With its intriguing storyline and breathtaking visuals, Metaphor: ReFantazio proves to be a promising addition to the JRPG genre and a potential magnum opus for Atlus.
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