Metaphor: ReFantazio is a testament to the boundless, fantastical imagination of the developers at Atlus. The Shin Megumi Tensei developers managed to present a world that reflects the spirit of the critically acclaimed Persona series while simultaneously establishing its own identity through visually stunning locales, well-written characters, and a story for bleeding hearts and impassioned souls. A high fantasy sibling-in-law to the Persona series, Metaphor: ReFantazio's very existence purports intrigue into what the next Persona entry could be like, especially in one area: the combat.
Though the grand dungeons of Metaphor: ReFantazio are a drastic department from the warped realities the Persona protagonists tend to find themselves, they are no less sweeping and typically full of far more enemies than Persona. This is largely due to the overhauled combat system introduced in Metaphor that showcases fresh overworld mechanics that have yet to be seen in the Persona series. The action elements seen in Metaphor present a good case for some evolved final version to possibly rear its head in Persona 6, per swirling speculation.
A Metaphor: ReFantazio Sequel Seems Like a Matter of When, Not If
At this point, there is little doubt that Metaphor: ReFantazio will get a sequel one day, especially after some comments made by the game's director.
Metaphor: ReFantazio Enhances the Atlus Dungeon Crawling Experience
When faced with enemies in Metaphor: ReFantazio's overworld, players have the opportunity to assess their situation and gain preemptive combat advantage, depending on their approach and archetype equipped (which, in turn, changes the player's equipped weapon and attack overworld animations). Should an enemy prove weak to player strategy, a true turn-based combat sequence much more recognizable by Persona fans can begin in earnest, beginning with the player advantage.
That's nothing to say of Metaphor: ReFantazio's turn-based combat which can be outright skipped altogether if the player is significantly stronger than the enemy with a quick bop on the head, a mechanic that comes in handy when facing hordes of opponents. Even these lite action elements ingrained into Metaphor's dungeon-crawling gameplay support the concept of a more action-heavy subsequent release from Atlus. With the seamless blend into the flashy turn-based combat that already presents itself as an identifier of Persona's staple combat system, the connections are hardly unfounded.
Every Award Metaphor: ReFantazio Won at The Game Awards 2024
Metaphor Refantazio is a certified smash hit, and its astonishing performance at The Game Awards is just further proof of that.
The crux of the turn-based JRPG combat that is integral to Persona's namesake has seen tweaks and enhancements within Metaphor: ReFantazio as well, boasting new tactical and cooperative strategies within the combat's main stage; however, in speaking on the potential for its influence to reflect on the upcoming Persona 6, it is its investment in the overworld combat that begs attention. There are, of course, various creative ways Atlus might choose to approach a similar mechanic that falls more closely in line with canonical Persona combat encounters, yet as much remains to be revealed should Atlus even elect to take this approach.
Aspects of Metaphor's combat that could be seen in Persona 6:
- Weakening or clearing overworld enemies with attacks
- Synchronized party member special attacks
- Ability to interchange party members' personas
- Front and rear stage positioning
Ultimately, the idea is to flesh out the exchanges with hostile NPCs while holding fast to the iconic turn-based combat. Whatever form that ultimately ends up taking, it seems more likely to be a possibility now in Persona 6's combat system simply due to its introduction as a mechanic within Metaphor: ReFantazio, and considering its seamless integration within the gameplay, to not see it implemented in a subsequent title in some capacity would raise more eyebrows than applause.
Persona 6 Could Shake Up a Series Plot Trend By Following Metaphor: ReFantazio's Lead
Though Metaphor: ReFantazio has its twists, the use of Louis as a consistent villain raises larger questions about Persona's own adversary reveals.
The fast pacing of Metaphor in tandem with the increasingly quickened gameplay pacing of the Persona series as it expands may be an omen; the community certainly thinks so. With the "leaks" of supposed Persona 6 mechanics spreading like wildfire across gaming forums and Metaphor: ReFantazio well into its lifecycle, all eyes are on the horizon. While there has yet to be a formal reveal and Atlus has remained predominantly tight-lipped about what they're cooking, a Persona 6 reveal is largely speculated for this year, and, should Atlus continue the precedent, released in the relatively new future. Until that time, however, Metaphor: ReFantazio holds center stage and the potential premonitions of the game on plenty of fans' wishlists.
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
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
