What a trip!
Written by Jason Venter
Published May. 07, 2024
Now that Atlus is ready to talk about Metaphor: ReFantazio, its upcoming JRPG, the floodgates have opened. The company today revealed a bunch of details about the game's various editions, its battle system, dungeons, character bonds, town facilities, and more.
Due to launch on October 11, 2024, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a substantial new release from some of the creative talent for previous Atlus hits such as Persona 3, 4, and 5. I didn't pay the close attention I should have at the time of the game's big reveal, so a lot of the information in today's update is news to me even if the company already has talked about it.
First up, there's the matter of the Collector's Edition, which is packed with goodness relating to the game itself, as well as the 35th anniversary of Atlus. A standard physical edition is also on the way, but how can you settle for that when you could instead have this?
Does that all look as nice to you as it does me? The last time I can remember this team stepping away from its incredible efforts with Persona, the result was Catherine. It's safe to say such diversions don't come along often, so that might be an additional factor to consider while you decide whether to spring for the package put together specifically for collectors.
Today's info drop contained a lot of other information to sort through, rather than the usual drip feed a person sometimes expects from PR.
Highlights include the “Fast & Squad” battle system, which apparently allows players to shift between “Fast” combat commands in real-time and more traditional turn-based stuff with the “Squad” approach. From the sound of things, you'll be able to adapt the play to suit your style in a lot of cases, and explore dungeons speedily if you rely heavily on the “Fast” approach. Me, I'm a sucker for turn-based combat and always have been.
Over the course of the campaign, the player party grows to include seven members. There are a variety of archetypes, which offer strengths and weaknesses that must be considered in order to progress. For the “Squad” approach, it will be particularly important to consider the party configuration, since unit placement and turn order are vital (and in some cases, malleable). Winning such battles is supposed to feel like a real accomplishment, for the strategic players out there.
The game will feature “perilous” dungeons of two types: the main variety that move the story forward, and side dungeons that play a role in various side activities. Over the course of their adventure, the protagonist meets and befriends numerous people who become his followers. The shared bonds allow him to awaken new Archetypes, and in turn, new abilities.
Dungeons apparently aren't the only hazard, since the game involves large wastelands between points of more lasting interest. While roaming the wilderness, players can pilot a large armored vehicle known as a "gauntlet runner. It's essentially a mobile base, here you can participate in various activities and interact with your friends.
When players come across towns, they can look forward to several recurring facilities, including a recruitment center that functions as “guilds” might in other JRPGs. Accepting and completing quests will allow players to earn lucrative bounties, relative to the danger involved. Additional facilities include taverns (complete with informants who may impart important information), weapon and appraisal shops, and a traditional inn.
From the sound of things, the game will feature elements to make it feel like a road trip through a fantastic world. Locations will include developed cities, pastoral towns, and numerous places in between, each with local attractions and events. The ultimate goal is to build a substantial following within six months, so time is of the essence. To me, it sounds like the game might well benefit from multiple playthroughs.
Metaphor: ReFantazio comes at an important time, with Atlus celebrating 35 years. The developer's tradition of excellence (and the attendant success) leads me to expect great things from the game when it arrives this October on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. Are you looking forward to experiencing it?
