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Metaphor: ReFantazio

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Metaphor: ReFantazio
Developer(s)Studio Zero
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Katsura Hashino
Producer(s)Junichi Yoshizawa
Designer(s)
  • Azusa Kido
  • Kenichi Goto
Programmer(s)Yujiro Kosaka
Artist(s)
Writer(s)
  • Yuichiro Tanaka
  • Katsura Hashino
Composer(s)Shoji Meguro
Platform(s)
ReleaseOctober 11, 2024
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Metaphor: ReFantazio[a] is a 2024 role-playing game developed by Studio Zero and published by Atlus in Japan and Sega worldwide. Metaphor: ReFantazio was first announced under the codename Project Re:Fantasy in December 2016, with no further information revealed until 2023.

The game is set in the United Kingdom of Euchronia, a medieval fantasy realm mirroring the contemporary real world, after the assassination of its former King. Years earlier, an assassination attempt on the Prince resulted in him being cursed and falling into a long slumber. The protagonist, Will, an orphaned boy of the magic-wielding Elda tribe and the Prince's childhood friend, participates in the Royal Tournament, held to decide the throne's successor, journeying across Euchronia to rally support from its people while searching for a way to lift the curse.

Metaphor: ReFantazio was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on October 11, 2024, in commemoration of Atlus' 35th anniversary. It sold one million copies on release day across all platforms and received acclaim.

Gameplay

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It incorporates multiple gameplay systems previously used in other Atlus role-playing games, featuring a hybrid system that combines traditional Press Turn–based battle mechanics during initiated encounters and boss fights with real-time action combat in the field. The game also features several social simulation elements prominently used in the Persona series, including time-sensitive activities structured after a day-to-day calendar and the "Follower" system, in which the player forges bonds with the locals of Euchronia's regions in order to increase public favor towards Will ahead of the election to decide the next King.

Synopsis

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Setting and characters

[edit]

Metaphor: ReFantazio takes place in the United Kingdom of Euchronia, a medieval fantasy realm that acts as a "mirror" to the modern real world. It consists of a union of various races called Tribes, including the Clemar, Roussainte, Rhoag, Ishkia, Nidia, Paripus, Eugief, Mustari, Fairy, and Elda Tribes. Despite efforts to unite the Tribes as equals, discrimination is rampant, with some Tribes, such as the Elda, suffering the most. After general Louis Guiabern assassinates King Hythlodaeus V causing chaos and unrest sweeps through Euchronia. On the day of the king's funeral, the Royal Magic, an unique form of magic only previously known to him, is reawakened and his spirit appears before the people to announce that a tournament will be held in order to decide the throne's successor. The protagonist, Will, is a boy of the Elda tribe who has been ostracized by society and endured discrimination and prejudice for being "tainted" with the inheritance of forbidden magic. Along with his fairy companion Gallica, who assists him with her knowledge and ability to sense magic, he embarks on a quest to lift the curse placed on his childhood friend, the Prince of Euchronia, whom was believed to have been assassinated by Louis years ago. Opposing them are Louis and his supporters as well as monsters called "humans" that terrorize the land.

Other allies aid Will and Gallica throughout the story. Along the way, they recruit disgraced Clemar noble Leon Strohl da Haliaetus, Roussainte Kingsguard Eiselin Burchelli Meijal Hulkenberg, Eugief knight Heismay Noctule, Nidia performer Juani "Junah" Cygnus, Mustari priestess Eupha Etoreika, Paripus officer Basilio Magnus, and Rhoag mercenary Arvid Grius. They have the power to call upon "Archetypes", inheriting the strength of past heroes, and are assisted by the mysterious author More, who helps them improve their Archetypes and gain access to new ones.

Plot

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With King Hythlodaeus V dead and the Prince's condition worsening, the Resistance orders Will and Gallica to assassinate Louis at the capital of Grand Trad to lift the curse. They recruit Strohl and Grius and plan to assassinate Louis at Hythlodaeus' funeral, during which Louis attempts to make a claim to the throne by presenting a human corpse to the crowd and claiming that only he can protect them. Hythlodaeus' spirit appears and reveals that before he died, he used the Royal Magic to organize the Royal Tournament, which will allow anyone to succeed him as king if they can earn the people's support. Grius attempts to assassinate Louis, but is stopped by the Royal Magic, which protects the candidates. Louis kills Grius and reanimates the human corpse, intending to release it in a false flag attack to scare the people into supporting him. However, Will and Strohl, along with Hulkenberg, destroy the human, after which the candidates begin their plots to win the throne. Forden organizes the Tournament for the Throne, in which candidates must perform tasks to win the favor of the people, but has rigged it in his favor.

The party enters the Tournament to gain Louis' attention and infiltrate his inner circle. For the first task, they must present the head of a monster, but with the monster bounties taken, they decide to take the head of a rogue knight accused of kidnapping and selling children. The party confronts the knight, Heismay, but discovers that the saint Joanna, who was feeding the children to a human resembling her child, framed him. Heismay joins the party and they kill the human before presenting Joanna to Forden, who is forced to execute her to save face. This causes Will to gain recognition from the public and Louis, who invites the party to a soiree where they convince him to recruit them while Will steals the curse's composition. Junah joins the party, revealing that she is an undercover Resistance agent spying on Louis.

For the second task, the candidates must collect holy relics. The party, under Louis' orders and accompanied by his lieutenants, brothers Basilio and Fidelio, find the spear Drakodios in an ancient temple containing ruins of modern buildings said to be from the "World Before", which predates Euchronia's history. After rescuing Eupha, they kill the human guarding Drakodios and obtain it, discovering that it bypasses the Royal Magic. They kill Louis using Drakodios, but it is revealed that he faked his death to steal Drakodios and use it to kill Forden, who cursed the Prince and framed him. Fidelio dies protecting bystanders from Louis' attack, convincing Basilio to join the party.

With Forden dead, the Senate nominates Junah's stepsister Rella as his successor, but during the ceremony to announce Rella's entrance into the Tournament, Louis beseeches Hythlodaeus into lifting the Royal Magic's protection while Rella reveals that she cursed the Prince. The party confronts Rella, who reveals that Forden coerced her into cursing the Prince by threatening Junah. After forcing the party to battle her, Rella announces to Euchronia that the Prince is alive before succumbing to her wounds, lifting the curse. In response, Louis issues a challenge to the Prince to duel him for the throne.

The party heads to the sanctum to meet the Prince, but discovers that he died after the curse was lifted. The spirit of the Prince's mother contacts Will and reveals that she had been guiding him along his journey and that he is the Prince's Archetype, housing his soul and born from his hopes and dream to change the world. Will returns his soul to the body to become the fully restored Prince, after which the party learns that the Elda Tribe are descended from the original humans from the World Before, which was destroyed after humanity discovered magic and fought over it. Over time, the survivors evolved into the current Tribes, with the "humans" being humans mutated by exposure to magic. The party concludes that Louis is an Elda, which has given him an understanding of magic and the past, and seeks to use the Royal Sceptre to transform Euchronia's inhabitants into humans and end the cycle of injustice.

The party returns to the capital to confront Louis for the throne. Afterwards, four endings are possible:

  • Fantasy Is Dead: If Will refuses to merge with the Prince's body, Louis takes the throne unopposed and destroys Euchronia, erasing it from history.
  • Fantasy Is Ruined: The party confronts Louis, who points out that the world is flawed and the only way to change it is to destroy it so he can rebuild it in his ideal image. He then asks Will to join his cause; if Will agrees, they rule over the newly created nation of humans.
  • Fantasy Is Only Fiction: Louis mortally wounds Will and More offers to transport him to the true "reality" of the World Before and leave behind the doomed Euchronia. If Will accepts, they transport themselves to "reality" and leave Euchronia to its fate.
  • Fantasy Lives On: If Will refuses to give up, he kills Louis, destroying him and the Royal Sceptre. Hythlodaeus pronounces Will as the new king and disappears along with More, who is revealed to be his Archetype, created to guide and assist Will in his journey. One year after Will's coronation, he and the party depart on another journey to find out how to solve Euchronia's remaining problems.

Development

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"Humans", the monsters in the game, were influenced by medieval painter Hieronymus Bosch (detail from The Garden of Earthly Delights).[1][2]

Following the Japanese release of Persona 5 in September 2016, the game's director Katsura Hashino, who had been involved in Atlus' tentpole franchise Megami Tensei as the prior game director for Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne (2003), Digital Devil Saga (2004), Persona 3 (2006), and Persona 4 (2008), as well as the creative producer of the publisher's 2nd Creative Production Department, later known as P-Studio, announced his intent to leave the development team and his duties with the Persona series, citing a personal desire to explore other projects due to what he considered a shift in creative direction with Persona 5.[3][4] On December 19, 2016, Atlus Japan revealed that Hashino was establishing a new internal development studio within the publisher named Studio Zero.[5] Their first game was announced two days later as Project Re:Fantasy, later renamed Metaphor: ReFantazio.

Metaphor: ReFantazio features Persona character artist Shigenori Soejima and music composer Shoji Meguro. Other key staff include producer Junichi Yoshizawa, writer Yuichiro Tanaka, and gameplay designers Azusa Kido and Kenichi Goto.[6] Alongside the game's reveal, Japanese publication Weekly Famitsu released an exclusive interview conducted between them, Hashino and Atlus company director Naota Hiraoka. The latter outlined the importance of Project Re:Fantasy as a new IP for Atlus, affirming that the goal behind creating Studio Zero was to "aim even higher" with original projects that could stand separately from either the Megami Tensei or Persona franchises, though the development team's formation was previously stifled due to the people of interest to the company being committed to other projects at that time, which partly led to Hashino's selection to serve as creative producer and game director for the project after finishing Persona 5.

Hashino explained Studio Zero's intentions of creating a role-playing game rooted in traditional fantasy aesthetics, reflecting on his awareness of the publisher's reputation for creating RPGs with contemporary backdrops to counter developers who were more comfortable with the fantasy genre as it went mainstream. Hiraoka additionally spoke to Soejima and Meguro's involvement in the project, calling them both "indispensable" members of the Persona team who would continue to hold their respective roles at P-Studio, but were brought onto Studio Zero and Project Re:Fantasy due to a shared desire between Hashino and Hiraoka to have their talents serve another project away from their typical contributions.[7][8] On December 23, Atlus opened the official website for Studio Zero, with a foreword from Hashino and an unveiling for further staff involved in the studio and Project Re:Fantasy beyond Hashino, Meguro and Soejima. At this time, Atlus was recruiting locally for more staff to join the game's development, including programmers, planners and designers.[9]

A second concept video for the game was released in December 2017 alongside the announcement that Studio Zero was developing the enhanced re-release Catherine: Full Body for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. Alongside the teaser, a new developer message from Hashino was released online, where he clarified the team was "very much in the middle of development", but not to the point where they could divulge specifics regarding the title's gameplay, though the teaser was meant to infer elements of the game itself.[10] In later interviews, Hashino stated that he would have more to share on the game following the Japanese release of Full Body in February 2018.[11][12] In the November 2019 issue of Game Informer, Shigenori Soejima affirmed his enthusiasm for being involved in the game's development, describing the challenge presented regarding defining "what exactly is fantasy and how can we bring a meaningful fantasy game into this world?". He also asserted that the game was in a state where a concrete direction had been decided upon and the team were moving forward with it. A second interview between Weekly Famitsu and Naota Hiraoka in July 2021 included further anecdotes regarding the game's progress, whereby Hiroaka stated, “PROJECT Re FANTASY is progressing little by little, and we hope to deliver it when the timing is right.”[13]

Story and themes

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Katsura Hashino stated that the primary keyword he thought of when devising the narrative and setting for Metaphor: ReFantazio was "utopia", and exploring themes regarding the dissonance between an ideal fantasy setting and the real world, where goals such as achieving equality are unattainable.[14][15] Hashino and the writing team took into consideration the variance in perspective on topics such as justice and reason, and wished to create a world with characters who did not adhere to strict values of what was morally right or wrong. This allowed them to deviate from the "clear-cut dynamics" previously presented with the narratives in the Persona series, which often involved morally incorruptible teenagers confronting evil adult figures.[16] Despite wishing to largely deviate from conflicts and finer themes previously explored in the Persona games, Hashino wished to retain the player-driven sensation of living through and experiencing another world much like the school life component of the aforementioned series, but wanted the experience to evoke a trip with set intervals for activities, rather than a long journey.[17] Another main theme explored in the game's story revolves around personal anxieties, with the characters having arcs built around "realizing their inner strength, as well as fighting their anxieties and fears by finding personal ground with others."[18] The game's lead scenario planner Yuichiro Tanaka, who reprises his duties from the Persona games directed by Hashino, took inspiration from political clashes in the real world, which he believed to be sourced from the different ways people confront anxiety, leading him and the writing staff to devise the concept behind the tribe system in Euchronia, with disparate communities interacting with their fears in different ways.[19] Unlike the social mechanics of the Persona games, which enabled the ability for the protagonist to become romantically involved with their party, Metaphor: ReFantazio eschews such relationships in order to retain the realism of the scenario. Hashino explained that the game pivoting towards an adult-centered narrative and the royal election as a backdrop meant focusing the strengthening of bonds on garnering support from the different regions around Euchronia, meaning it was important to prioritize the support of communities unto the protagonist over the "back-and-forth of romance."[20][21]

Marketing and release

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Metaphor: ReFantazio was officially unveiled in June 2023 during Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase video presentation, where it was slated to release for Windows and Xbox Series X/S.[22][23] Later that month, a "Special Celebration Livestream" featuring the Persona Stalker Club was streamed on YouTube where the game was separately confirmed to be in development for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.[24][25] A second trailer unveiling additional gameplay, character and story details premiered during The Game Awards 2023 pre-show in December 2023.[26] That same month, an end-of-year livestream was broadcast by the publisher featuring guest appearances from the game's Japanese voice cast, and unveiling additional details on the story, characters and gameplay.[27] Starting in April 2024, Atlus held a series of "ATLUS Exclusive" livestreams dedicated to introducing various aspects of the game ranging from systems to narrative content.[28] A second trailer focused on the game's various Archetypes, titled "Awaken" was released alongside the second ATLUS Exclusive stream in June 2024, followed by a full story trailer the next month.[29][30] A third trailer centered on the election system, titled "Travel Beyond Fantasy" was published online in late August 2024.[31] A fourth trailer titled "United Kingdom of Euchronia" was also released that month.[32]

The game's first playable demo was made available to the public during ATLUS Fes 2024 in June, allowing players to sample three isolated scenarios from the game's story focused on the protagonist's awakening to his first Archetype, an early dungeon, and a boss fight from towards the mid-point of the game.[33] This demo was also brought to Summer Game Fest the same month.[34] A second demo featuring the game's first hour of narrative and gameplay was playable to the press during the week of Gamescom in August 2024.[35] SEGA and Atlus released a full downloadable "Prologue Demo" on September 25, 2024 for all platforms, allowing players to experience the full opening chapter of the game comprising 5 hours of gameplay, including the first four dungeons, seven out of the game's 40 unlockable Archetypes and six Followers, with save data from the demo able to be transferred to the full release.[36][37]

Metaphor: ReFantazio is scheduled to release for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on October 11, 2024.[38][39] In addition to the standard release, a special Collector's Edition will be distributed, which alongside a physical copy of the game will include a special steelbook case, a two-disc soundtrack an art book, a set of metallic pins, a sticker sheet, and a cloth map of the United Kingdom of Euchronia.[40] The Collector's Edition is also bundled with a digital history book and soundtrack commemorating the 35th anniversary of Atlus, themed around their prior releases.[41] The digital Collector's Edition contents are also available as part of the Atlus 35th Digital Anniversary Edition.[42] All pre-orders will grant the player access to the downloadable content (DLC) Archetype EXP Chest Set and Adventurer's Journey Pack containing various early-game items for the starting playthrough, while the Collector's Edition and Digital Anniversary Edition will come with vouchers for the game's additional standalone DLC content.[43]

Downloadable content

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Eight pieces of day one downloadable content (DLC) are set to be distributed alongside the launch of the game. They will be bundled as part of a "Costume & Battle BGM Set DLC" pack which comprise costumes and custom music inspired by prior Atlus titles. These include sets inspired by the six main Persona games, as well as packs inspired by Shin Megami Tensei IV (2013), Shin Megami Tensei V (2021) and the Etrian Odyssey series.[44]

Tie-in media and merchandise

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On September 19, 2024, the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team announced a collaboration with Atlus in promoting the game by featuring the design of the protagonist and their driver Nico Hülkenberg for their F1 vehicles during the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.[45]

A manga adaption was announced on the game’s Twitter account. It will release chapters in Shueisha’s V Jump magazine, and will be drawn by Yoichi Amano.[46]

Reception

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Critical reception

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Metaphor: ReFantazio received "universal acclaim" from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic,[47][48][49] while 99% of critics recommended the game, according to OpenCritic.[50] The Verge praised the game's handling of the themes of racism and discrimination, finding it tackled such subjects with "refreshing nuance".[63]

Sales

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Metaphor ReFantazio sold one million units on the same day it launched, becoming the fastest-selling game developed by Atlus.[64]

Awards

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Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2024 Golden Joystick Awards Best Visual Design Pending [65]

Notes

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  1. ^ Japanese: メタファー:リファンタジオ, Hepburn: Metafā: Rifantajio
  2. ^ Based on 22 reviews
  3. ^ Based on 41 reviews
  4. ^ Based on 27 reviews
  5. ^ Based on 58 reviews

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Myers, Maddy (October 13, 2024). "We need to talk about the 'humans' in Metaphor: ReFantazio". Polygon. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  2. ^ Broadwell, Josh (October 11, 2024). "'Metaphor ReFantazio' Is a Surprisingly Political and Very Timely JRPG". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  3. ^ Frank, Allegra (May 4, 2017). "Longtime Persona director hands off series after more than a decade". Polygon. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
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