Summary
- A Metaphor: ReFantazio demo has begun rolling out in the West for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
- The demo will include around five hours of gameplay, with all progress carrying over to the full release next month.
- According to players, the demo clocks in at around 60GB on Xbox and 23GB on PlayStation 5.
During the Tokyo Game Show, Atlus revealed a demo for Metaphor: ReFantazio, its next major release. The demo was initially only available in Asia and is now coming to the West, beginning to roll out today, September 25. By tomorrow, the Metaphor: ReFantazio demo will be available globally on all PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is Atlus' next large-scale RPG. The game is being developed by Studio Zero, a subsidiary helmed by Katsura Hashino, the creator and director of the Persona series. Because of this, comparisons between Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona seem inevitable, despite the themes of the two games being quite different. There are still undoubtedly many features drawn from Persona to be found in this new JRPG, such as Social Links and a calendar system that limits the number of actions players can perform each day before advancing the main story.
The Metaphor: ReFantazio demo will allow players to experience the entire prologue of the game and will feature approximately five hours of gameplay. Atlus has confirmed that progress from the demo will carry over to the full game upon release. Five hours might seem like a lot for a demo, but according to the director, Metaphor: ReFantazio's duration is similar to Persona 5, meaning the main story alone could offer around 100 hours of gameplay. The demo is nearly 60GB on Xbox and 23GB on PlayStation 5, according to players.
Metaphor: ReFantazio Demo Rolling Out Today, September 25
According to Atlus, the demo will include the first four dungeons and the ability to unlock seven of the more than 40 classes available in the game, called Archetypes. It will also give players the chance to interact with six of the game's followers. While many have dubbed it a high-fantasy Persona, Hashino has stated that Metaphor: ReFantazio will feature its own unique mechanics, and those have made the game more challenging than Persona, with its difficulty justified by the game's overall concept.
One key difference from Persona is the game's Social Links system. While Persona allows players to form emotional bonds with NPCs, it has already been confirmed that Metaphor: ReFantazio won't feature romance. The director explained that since the protagonist's dynamic with NPCs is one of a ruler and follower, given the game's theme of an electoral race, there was no room for romantic relationships. However, according to Hashino, the Social Links interactions will still have some lighthearted moments, and the RPG won't be entirely serious from start to finish.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 93 /100 Critics Rec: 98%
- Released
- October 11, 2024
- 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
WHERE TO PLAY
From the creative minds behind Persona 3, 4, and 5 comes Metaphor: ReFantazio, a unique fantasy world, where your protagonist will journey alongside his fairy companion, Gallica, to lift the curse from the kingdom’s lost prince.
Control your destiny, face your fears, and awaken magical Archetype powers that lie dormant in your heart. By awakening to an Archetype, you will unlock the power to channel and combine the abilities of unique job classes. Strengthen your bonds and build your party to take down powerful foes and discover the kingdom’s true nature.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
