Metaphor: Refantazio is a masterful game on several fronts, but it would be nothing without its characters. The game's colorful and absurdly lovable cast is something that players have come to expect from Atlus thanks to the Persona franchise, which excels in this same area, but Metaphor's handling of Basilio, the loyal and intimidating yet soft-hearted Paripus, is particularly special and effective.
Spoilers ahead for Metaphor: Refantazio, Persona 3, and Persona 5.
Basilio is one of Metaphor: Refantazio's most unlikely allies: core members of Louis' team, Basilio and his older brother Fidelio are initially positioned as antagonists. Immediately and unabashedly suspicious of the player-character, the Paripus brothers are steadfast in their commitment to Louis and his mission, and don't fully buy into the main party's cover story about helping Louis cinch the throne. This is the status quo of the game's story for several hours before Fidelio and Basilio realize the folly of Louis' philosophy and choose to side with the player, and this complex, lengthy, and dynamic relationship is what makes Basilio a more effective late-game companion than his counterparts in the Persona series.
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Metaphor: Refantazio: Why Basilio Is Better Than Persona's Late-Game Party Members
Players Get to Know Basilio Early On
Basilio and Fidelio are both introduced fairly early in Metaphor Refantazio's main story, with the player's first meaningful interaction with them being during the Port Brilehaven arc. As previously mentioned, the brothers are hostile and bearish toward the player's party from the outset, though Basilio is certainly more sympathetic and trusting than Fidelio. Still, it takes several in-game hours, including the complete Virga Island arc, to develop the relationship with Basilio to the point where he actually joins the party.
By having Basilio serve as something of an antagonistic force during the Virga Island arc, keeping a watchful eye on the player, Metaphor: Refantazio is able to develop him as a character in interesting, logical ways. For instance, his loyalty and dedication are front-and-center during this part of the story, as is his clear preoccupation with morality and ethics. Players see these qualities in action, but in support of the opposing party, which establishes Basilio as a key player in the story long before him becoming an ally even seems like a possibility. Thus, when he does eventually join up with the player, he's already well-defined, meaning that the game can spend more time on developing his relationship with the party rather than expounding upon his baseline personality.
Why Persona's Late-Arrival Party Members Aren't as Good as Basilio
Characters like Persona 5's Haru Okumura and, to a lesser extent, Persona 3's Fuuka Yamagishi and Aigis, are stunted by their lack of development in relation to other core party members. Allies such as Yukari or Ryuji are essentially alongside the player from the very beginning of their respective stories, meaning that the bond between them and the protagonist is generally well-realized by the time these late arrivals come along. It can therefore be hard for the newcomers to feel as well-integrated in the story and overarching party dynamic, at least at first.
But this could be remedied if, like Basilio, they were introduced earlier, even if they don't cozy up with the player right away. More often than not, Persona introduces these characters shortly before they are added to the party, meaning that they have less time to be developed independently of the player-character and their goals. By learning from Metaphor: Refantazio's approach to establishing Basilio, future Persona games can provide an even stronger, more well-defined roster of strong central characters.
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.
- 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
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 81.15 GB
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
