Metaphor: ReFantazio

Metaphor: ReFantazio was the game I was looking most forward to this year and it didn't disappoint. I'm glad that we have you wealth of options to choose how we want to play our RPGs, and I am especially glad that there is still a place for games like Metaphor: Re Fantazio, one that feels familiar and new at the same time. It has never been a better time to be a gamer.

Even with the flaws, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a masterpiece that sets a new standard for the classic JRPG genre, bringing over all of the expertise Atlus has with the Shin Megami Tensei series. A lesser game would have crumbled under the weight of such precariously loaded subjects — politics, governance, discrimination, injustice, religion — but Metaphor is able to navigate through them without becoming preachy or predictable. The epilogue in particular addresses the assumption that a hero who can fight villains would know anything about statecraft and tempers the game’s main conceit about the importance of fantasy. On that front, Metaphor’s maturity and self-awareness are real enough.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is genuinely a genre-defining release. Atlus has once again proven that they are kings in the genre (get it?), showcasing decades of effort and development history culminating in what I think is a deserving Game of the Year contender. Between Katsura Hashino’s direction, Shoji Meguro’s compositions, and everyone else that’s part of Studio Zero, Metaphor truly shines even in a year, and arguably decade, full of such excellent JRPGs. As an absolute must play this year, Metaphor: ReFantazio really blows it out of the water as something you should get your hands on if you’re a fan of the genre, and stands out as a premier entry point to the genre if you’re unfamiliar.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is ATLUS at the height of its powers, and it’s a game that any fan of the studio - or any JRPG fan for that matter, should play.

Taking the Persona formula and putting it in a different setting could’ve crashed and burned, but the team behind Metaphor: ReFantazio understood exactly what needed to change to make it work. The result is a game that has a sense of familiarity in its mechanics, yet innovates in ways that make it a distinct experience. On top of that, it pulls you into this brand-new world which is expertly crafted with larger-than-life personalities that pop off the screen and make for a thrilling adventure. I don’t know if Metaphor is planned to be a one-off or the start of a new series, but either way, it’s something special.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is everything one could want from a new entry into the RPG genre. It uses what came before it masterfully, and its few shortcomings aren't nearly enough to derail what is otherwise a masterclass in the genre. Give it a look if you love Atlus RPGs, or if you love the RPG genre in general.

Magnum Opus. The Latin expression is used to express a work of excellence in all aspects, usually being the pinnacle of an author or artist. If the composition of a team of renowned names from Studio P was already a clue that Metaphor was destined for great things, now with its release it is impossible not to have the feeling that this is the greatest work produced by Atlus yet. Absorbing everything that is best in the already historic Persona and Shin Megami Tensei franchises, Metaphor: ReFantazio is not only the best RPG of the year, but is also one of the big favorites for game of the year 2024.

Metaphor: ReFantazio draws a lot of inspiration from Persona 5, and it translates to many good things. It manages to evolve the JRPG genre both artistically and gameplay-wise. Metaphor: ReFantazio really is a turning point for japanese RPGs, a video game that hooks you to its universe from the very first minute thanks to an exhilarating plot and incredibly charming characters.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is the ultimate culmination of everything Atlus has learned from its best games and is a huge step forward for the future of its JRPGs. The delightful combat, incredible cast of characters, and intricate fantasy setting all make for a brilliant experience that no Shin Megami Tensei or Persona fan should miss out on. It’s certainly a game-of-the-year-worthy title and a smash hit for Atlus to end the year with.

A surprising narrative that has no problem touching on even rather delicate themes is the basis for creating an indispensable adventure for every lover of Japanese role-playing games. Metaphor ReFantazio is a sort of wild card that excels in every category, from the writing to the combat system, passing through a continuous series of surprises that will glue you to the screen for many hours. As far as I'm concerned, this is my choice for GOTY 2024, without even thinking twice.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is a fantastical adventure, brought to life in expert fashion by a team with all the experience and talent they needed to achieve a vision which truly feels like a culmination of the many lessons learned throughout their storied legacy.

A beautiful, 100-hour-long journey from beginning to end, Metaphor: ReFantazio takes the best elements of Persona 5 and somehow improves on them.

Metaphor: Refantazio is the culmination of everything that came before it. It's a mixture of Atlus' RPG track record crafted into something bold and new.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is another landmark game from the Persona team, with top tier combat and a gripping story that I couldn't stop playing.

A wonderful game from Atlus, Metaphor: ReFantazio is the perfect start for a new series of high quality JRPG's.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is an evolution and deepening of the structure of Persona 5. It is a wonderful turn-based combat game with a fantastic progression system. It is a work with a dazzling artistic section. It is an exciting world, one that we always want to know more about, in which we are presented with a diverse cast of characters that manage to earn our empathy. But above all, it is a game that manages to leave its mark by tactfully dealing with a lot of important topics, with sufficient complexity but without overwhelming them. It is a reflection on democracy, populism, totalitarianism and our role as citizens in society. It is a title that surprises by how it is able to mix the epic with politics and come out of it successfully. Metaphor ReFantazio is an optimistic game with a more transcendental objective than having fun and entertaining us: it wants to make us better people.

Atlus strikes gold again! With many thought provoking themes and ideas Metaphor just gives the player enough reason to believe that video games are an artform and could shape our future in many ways. Fast paced battles, a masterful score and an otherworldly art direction seals the deal for this epic JRPG adventure to be the most powerful contender for GOTY for sure.

Metaphor ReFantazio comes with an interesting story, an outstanding soundtrack, beautiful visual style, engaging gameplay and an exciting adventure. Everything you expect from the game is delivered with a wonderful package that guarantees hours of fun. For this developer, it's mostly more of the same, as it doesn't do anything truly original, but what it does is top notch.

While Metaphor does not soar to the highs that Persona 5 did, this game is a truly exceptional RPG. Its turn-based combat is a lot of fun to engage with, the dungeons are massive and a ton of fun to explore. The characters have the same emotional depth that Studio Zero is known for, and its grandiose story will leave you on the edge of your seat. Metaphor: ReFantazio is a special game and it is worth your time.

If it's an imperfect game for an imperfect world, that in itself is something to aspire towards. [Issue #404, p.104]

Atlus clearly decided to mark their 35th anniversary with a bang. With Metaphor, they took one of their most fan-favorite formulas and transitioned it to an engaging, top-notch fantasy experience, with only a few, quite minor, stumbles along the way. JRPG fans the world over will delight in this well-crafted experience, even if a few of the most die-hard Persona fans might find issues with the battle system. I’ll take that a step further and say that this is a great JRPG entry point for Western players who are more used to the RPGs made in the States or Europe. It’s worth a play for almost anyone who can spare the potentially triple-digit hours needed to get through it.

Metaphor: ReFantazio feels like another classic ATLUS RPG, with some enough new to stand out. The game is loud and proud with its message, and though it sometimes can write in circles, it features some real heartwrenching moments, loveable (and hateable) characters, and some classically engaging turn-based RPG mechanics.

ReFantazio enchants with its stunning art direction and layered story, though it occasionally slows down. The Archetype system and strategic battles remain engaging, while the real-time combat feels less refined. A must-play for JRPG fans.

Rather than revolutionizing the Persona 5 formula, Metaphor ReFantazio refines it to offer a memorable and addictive journey that is so hard to let go of the controller. In this baroque fantasy universe, Metaphor still stands out from its predecessor by the richness of its gameplay, its original artistic direction and its more political message than ever. But above all, the new title from the Hashino-Soejima-Meguro trio looks like the culmination of the Persona formula with its mastery of rhythm and its additions of comfort of life such as its real-time combat. The result is one of the best role-playing games of 2024 that has everything to be the Persona 6 that does not say its name that we have been waiting for eight years.

The latest RPG is a good adventure worth its salt but carries even bigger potential. It’s hard not to imagine a follow-up title based on scenarios like steampunk or drawing from darker horror. With ReFantazio, Atlus is mostly unencumbered by traditional tenets of Persona—and that may be its biggest strength.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is an amazing game. I fully completed it in 75 hours and enjoyed it the entire way through. Though it may suffer from a few blemishes, such as its lackluster graphical fidelity in some areas and performance optimization issues, what it brings to the table is utterly compelling. It is a huge RPG adventure that celebrates Atlus’ history as it combines some of the best ideas from many of its previous titles into a lovely fantasy setting. The amount of detail put into Metaphor: ReFantazio’s worldbuilding and characters is captivating. Plus, the flow of its combat system’s interactions with the extensive Archetype job classes is a ton of fun. I’m always a big fan of when developers decide to tackle a brand-new IP, and Atlus knocked it out of the park with Metaphor: ReFantazio.

Studio Zero hits very hard with its new IP, taking the codes of the Persona series, but twisting them in all directions to make something truly unique. The skeleton is the same as that of Atlus' flagship series, but ReFantazio will turn it into something completely different, thanks to its striking universe, serving a scenario that touched us deeply. Regardless of its interface oversights, outdated technology or limited bestiary, thanks to Metaphor, Fantasy is stronger than ever.

Metaphor ReFantazio is the culmination of everything that makes Atlus’ turn-based RPGs so special. Sporting a fantastic cast of instantly lovable characters, a gripping tale that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster, and a robust evolution of its combat systems, Metaphor ReFantazio is a must-play for anyone with even a passing interest in JRPGs.

Refining the Atlus RPG formula of weaving tough turn-based combat into compelling social sim mechanics, Metaphor: ReFantazio doesn’t just send a powerful message across its political drama, it becomes a beautiful expression of the real impact storytelling can have on all of us.

Building upon the concepts of Persona and Shin Megami Tensei, and refining them further, Metaphor: ReFantazio delivers a highly satisfying experience. In terms of story, it offers excellent character development, while its gameplay system introduces a wide range of class combinations, adding depth to the mechanics. That said, the overall story quality of Metaphor is not particularly groundbreaking, and it feels more like a refined take on traditional dungeon-crawling RPGs rather than an innovative or revolutionary creation.

In short, this game feels like watching a fun, full-length anime. It seamlessly blends the systems of Shin Megami Tensei and Persona, while clearly delivering its story. Not only is it appealing to Atlus fans, but it’s also easy for newcomers who have never played their games before to dive right in.

Metaphor feels like an evolution of both the Persona and SMT series in the best ways. It builds on what’s come before in both, and synergizes everything together in a cohesive package. It also boasts some of the best gameplay found in any turn-based JRPG, with style to spare. While its world is beautiful and the cast lovable, it sadly never feels like it gets past the surface of anything, and pulls its punches in the final act. Despite this it remains a fantastic experience, and offers a worthy new frontier for Atlus to explore.

Metaphor: ReFantazio aims for too much at first but turns out to be a variety-packed adventure with the usual Atlus mix.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is truly unique and benefits from both a rock-solid development pedigree and a vision for original ideas. Genre connoisseurs will find more of what they love and newcomers will have a truly memorable first-time experience.

Strong fantasy 'persona' with a clever combat and class system and an immediately gripping story. Technology and parts of the progression seem a bit dated.

As a whole, Metaphor: ReFantazio is quite charming and fun. It’s interesting to see so many familiar elements from Shin Megami Tensei and Persona in this sort of high fantasy game.