I had the opportunity to try out the new action fantasy RPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio, at Summer Games Fest. Developed by the creators of Persona and Shin Megami Tensei, this game incorporates elements from both renowned titles and is suitable for both newcomers and RPG enthusiasts.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is set in the Kingdom of Euchronia, where people battle their inner demons. As a member of the Elda Tribe facing prejudice due to their upbringing, the main character, along with his compassionate fairy Gallica, embarks on a quest to break a deadly curse placed on the kingdom’s prince. The hands-on demo revealed gorgeously animated cutscenes with voice-overs and text dialogues, showcasing Atlus’s trademark flashy style.
The dungeon exploration in the second part of the demo provided ample opportunities to test the game’s mechanics, including the battle system and Archetypes, akin to job classes, which determine the character’s weapon and abilities. Archetypes can be leveled independently and swapped out, allowing you to experiment as you unlock more in the respective Lineage trees.
Combat is turn-based, with a set number of turns before enemies retaliate. Players can employ powerful team-up attacks called Synergies and adjust their party’s positioning in line-based formation. Additionally, the Fae Sight feature allows players to assess the difficulty of enemy encounters and even defeat weaker enemies without engaging in turn-based combat.
Beyond dungeon diving, players can engage in social simulations on the Gauntlet Runner, building relationships with party members, crafting items, and enhancing their stats. These social sim elements, reminiscent of the Persona series, were particularly appealing to me, and I’m eager to strengthen bonds with the characters in the full game. Although my time with the game was brief, I anticipate further town and world exploration, as well as NPC interactions in the complete release.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is set to be released on October 11 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on Steam.
