Metaphor: ReFantazio review – Eldan King

Over the last couple of years, Atlus has become the A24 of video games. Much like the famed film production company and distributor, the games developed by Atlus’s internal studios are weird, dialogue-heavy, and stylish. And Metaphor: ReFantazio, from Studio Zero, doesn’t stray from that template.

But compared to the Shin Megami and Persona games, Metaphor: ReFantazio feels like a breath of fresh air with its high-fantasy setting, riveting political drama, and incredibly imaginative worldbuilding. At the same time, it’s a release that tackles a subject that has barely been touched in this medium, weaving a compelling tale of adventure, anxiety, and idealism into one of the best games of the year, and creating an immediate all-time classic in the process.

Metaphor: ReFantazio starts innocently enough: the king of Euchronia–a kingdom populated by eight distinct human-like tribes–is dead and a race has begun to win the hearts and minds of people to crown a new monarch. Amidst power-hungry king-slayers and corrupt zealots, the unlikeliest candidate arises and joins a tournament to secure the throne and a better tomorrow for all of Euchronia’s citizens. It’s a simple enough premise, but one that hides twists and turns along the way as the grand story of Metaphor: ReFantazio unfolds.

The game unfolds as an adventure that is full of surprisingly heavy themes like racism and inequality, pulling no punches as it reveals a fantasy kingdom wracked with ugliness born from centuries of anxiety. Forget about subtext, Metaphor: ReFantazio goes all in on showing just how prejudiced anyone can be, and using the familiar gameplay loop of the Persona series, the new title allows you to slowly explore these themes in detail, gaining a clearer picture full of context.

That gameplay loop works well here, as you strive to find the perfect balance between growing your character, strengthening bonds, and taking a detour through dungeons infested with monsters. There’s also a lot less filler in this daily cycle–especially when compared to the Persona games–giving your journey a sense of welcome momentum instead of forcing you to spin your wheels with tedious activities.

But when it does come time to throw down against dragons and monsters that look like a grotesque Hieronymus Bosch painting come to life, Metaphor: ReFantazio takes a page from Shin Megami Tensei with its particular brand of turn-based combat. Going into a fight where you can exploit enemy weaknesses will net you extra turns in battle. And, coupled with its Archetype system, there’s an amazing level of flexibility here with the types of parties you can build.

Each character can access a class-based system of skills, each one offering not only specialized combat systems but tools that the other jobs can inherit. Advanced Archetypes push the ideas of this system to their extremes and are well worth investing time and resources into, as various combinations unlock powerful Synthesis attacks that have the potential to end a battle in a single attack. While there’s undeniably a sense of familiarity to the system, Metaphor: ReFantazio freshens things up with smart tweaks and an emphasis on figuring out the perfect composition for the situation at hand.

The other nice touch here is that you won’t have to worry about drawn-out runs through dungeons, as once you manage to widen the level gap between yourself and enemies, you can simply run up to them in real time and smack some XP out their body. There’s no need to engage in a turn-based battle with this system, as you slash your way through cannon fodder and reap the rewards, letting you power up at a decent pace for the more challenging encounters ahead of you.

On top of those smart refinements to the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona games, Metaphor: ReFantazio is also in a class of its own when it comes to its presentation. Atlus games have always featured a slick combination of influences, but Metaphor: ReFantazio is a cut above with its swords-and-sorcery art direction that looks like a killer combination of Renaissance art and anime inspiration. Even the menus are a sight to behold, with each one a masterpiece of design. You could open up a new wing in the Louvre showcasing Metaphor: ReFantazio’s gorgeous art, unique character designs, and wonderfully grotesque monster designs.

And then there’s the soundtrack: a strong contender for best of the year in this category. Long-time Persona composer Shoji Meguro works his signature magic here, weaving an enchanting collection of orchestral tracks that have a distinct classical theme to their design. The score packs an emotional punch, as it not only makes each battle feel intense, it also ties into Metaphor: ReFantazio’s story with each stirring melody you listen to.

But the real takeaway here are the questions that Metaphor: ReFantazio asks about fiction. Can fantasy have an impact on reality? What can we learn from our favorite pieces of fiction? Can our favorite works do more than just provide a temporary escape from the soul-crushing truths of reality? Metaphor: ReFantazio doesn’t twiddle its thumbs when answering these questions, as the game is a triumphant “yes” to all of these questions and more.

Heartfelt and sincere, Metaphor: ReFantazio is idealistic without feeling naive, hopeful but realistic. It believes in its message, charging headfirst into its themes, and is unwavering with its explorations of diversity and anxiety. That it manages to do this within a compelling meta-narrative and with a rich cast of characters is nothing short of impressive and inspiring.

Released on 11 October, Metaphor: ReFantazio is playable now on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series consoles and PC.