Atlus, specifically the Persona team within Studio Zero, has gotten better with dungeons. In Persona 3, there was one repeatable dungeon without much variety. While there was repetition in Persona 4, there was at least theming to the multiple dungeons found within like Kanji’s bathhouse.
Metaphor: ReFantazio - Every Party Member, Ranked
There are seven different available party members in Metaphor: ReFantazio. When forming an effective combo, who should players choose?
They hit a high mark with the Mind Palaces of Persona 5 which were intricately crafted like the police station that turned into a casino. So, how did Metaphor: ReFantazio up the dungeon game? While they don’t reach the same heights as Persona 5, there are certainly some standouts. Let’s go through the biggest main ones in the game, ranking them by size, intricacy, layout, and general theming. There will be spoilers.
8 Giant Sandworm’s Belly
Escape Before Getting Digested
The Giant Sandworm’s Belly is one of the most unique dungeons in the game. While trying to track down Heismay in the Martira region who was suspected of kidnapping children, they will run into the boss, Greatworm Homo Butera. This boss battle is not too hard but in the end, it will swallow the party. Players then have to make it through the body in a short amount of time otherwise they will be digested. It’s the most Attack on Titan thing in the game as the horrors of being swallowed is something anyone can emulate with. Avoiding enemies is not too much of a problem but the acidic flooring is another story if players want to collect gear.
7 Montario Opera House
A Homage To Final Fantasy 6’s Opera House
The Montario Opera House is a small dungeon like the Giant Sandworm’s Belly. Fortunately, players don’t have to worry about a ticking clock even though in the story there is a pressing urgency. Will, the protagonist of Metaphor: ReFantazio, and Eupha have to race through the back rafters of this opera house so that they can stage themselves for an assassination attempt on Louis’ life. There are no boss battles or puzzles to speak of but there are guards, monsters, and chests to contend with. It’s a unique dungeon in that players only have two party members and this is deep into the game.
6 Louis’ Gauntlet Runner
It’s Time For A Bit Of Stealth
Louis’ Gauntlet Runner is parked in Port Brilehaven which is the first city the candidates for the crown are advised to reach. Having won the favor of Louis at this point in the story, players can come and go from his Gauntlet Runner freely. Their goal is to find a formula they hope can cure the Prince.
Metaphor: ReFantazio - 8 Best Followers, Ranked
Out of the 14 options that players have in Metaphor: ReFantazio, here are the best Followers to unlock and grab along for the journey.
But even with their newfound trust, they can’t go everywhere on the ship. That’s why this dungeon is a stealth mission that presents players with a top-down perspective in spots akin to stealth sequences in Metal Gear Solid. If spotted it is Game Over so players have to be careful. While interesting, it’s a rather short affair which is odd considering how much time players are given to complete it on the calendar.
5 Nord Mines
A Solid Tutorial Dungeon
The Nord Mines are technically a dungeon and one of the first players will traverse. There are treasure chests and enemies abound and even though it is a straight shot, there are winding paths. Players can even fight an optional boss via the Fire Dragon Mauna which is early for Metaphor: ReFantazio. That’s why it should be considered a dungeon even though it’s not that elaborate in design. It does what it needs to do, teach players about mechanics and exploration, and that’s good enough.
4 Kriegante Castle
Something Is Lurking Beneath The Grates
Kriegante Castle is the main dungeon of the Martira region and quite literally it is the dungeon of this castle. Specifically, players will have to trudge through sludge and monster-infested waters to unearth what is really going on in town concerning child kidnapping. There are some challenges too like a water sluice puzzle wherein players have to figure out the right combo to drain the water and move on. There are also stealth sections wherein players have to hide from a shadowy monster’s eyesight. These two elements easily help Kriegante Castle stand out.
3 Regalith Grand Cathedral
Take Me To Church
Even though the Nord Mines is technically a dungeon, the Regalith Grand Cathedral is a dungeon with a capital "D" or at least the ones Atlus fans are familiar with from the Persona series. This cathedral has been taken over by Zorba, one of Louis’ men, who has killed the royal guards and reanimated them as puppets.
It’s a huge dungeon too and easily one of the biggest in the game. Unless players are really good with their item management, this may take a few in-game days to complete. That said, it’s not too elaborate with its puzzles, making it a good introduction into the world of Metaphor: ReFantazio, again, acknowledging the merits of the Nord Mines too.
2 Skybound Avatar
More Terrifying Than The Moon In Majora’s Mask
The Skybound Avatar is technically the name of the moon which has taken the form of the late King. It is the final dungeon of the game and it incorporates many elements from previous dungeons. It’s a very Mega Man-like design choice by the developers. For example, there are the horrific ear monsters from the Dragon Temple and there are blocked paths players need to clear by smashing crystals like in the Regalith Grand Cathedral. It’s nice that each section is like a callback and players aren’t doing the same thing repeatedly. And even though the Tyrant’s Star is not directly attached to the Skybound Avatar, it deserves a quick mention as the final area of the lead-up to the showdown against Louis.
1 Dragon Temple
A Twist On The Fantasy Trope
The aforementioned Dragon Temple begins as a maze wherein players have to follow a light down a large set of staircases otherwise they will get warped back to the entrance. It’s a standard RPG trope, but then things get weird. Players will end up in what looks like a company building from our reality complete with elevators and other nods. In a pivotal scene, players can see a ruined street outside with destroyed busses overgrown with plants. This changes Metaphor: ReFantazio from a fantasy-based RPG to a post-apocalyptic one. This revelation makes the dungeon great along with the depths it will go. It will take players a long time to navigate the intricate corridors, especially with those patrolling ear monsters who are a nod to FOEs from another Atlus series, Etrian Odyssey.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Released
- October 11, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Studio Zero
- Publisher(s)
- Atlus
- Engine
- GFD
- Number of Players
- 1
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
- PC Release Date
- October 11, 2024
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- October 11, 2024
- PS5 Release Date
- October 11, 2024
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- How Long To Beat
- 65 Hours
- How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs)
- 104 hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 81.15 GB
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
