Atlus is back with Metaphor ReFantazio, attempting to innovate while maintaining the essence of its beloved Persona series. Unlike Persona, where characters can shift archetypes mid-battle, Metaphor emphasizes strategic preparation by allowing team customization only between fights. This fresh approach has been well-received, with over 85,000 peak players on Steam and 88% positive reviews shortly after launch. With high expectations, fans anticipate Metaphor to potentially contend for Game of the Year honors.
Creating a game from scratch can be a daunting task, especially when the development studio is already renowned for its past successes. The challenge lies in generating innovative concepts that captivate and engage audiences while also maintaining the essential elements that made their previous titles a hit.
This is the position in which Atlus currently finds itself. Following the tremendous acclaim of the Persona series, the studio aims to enchant its fans once again with the arrival of Metaphor ReFantazio. Notably, Atlus has made substantial changes to the combat system this time around!
What Makes Metaphor ReFantazio’s Combat Stand Out?
If you’ve experienced the popular Persona 5, you’ll recall that the character Joker can seamlessly switch archetypes during battles, allowing for swift adaptability against foes. While this ability is convenient, it also constrains combat preparation and limits the offensive strategies of allies, whose attacks are often more restricted.
In contrast, Metaphor ReFantazio adopts a different approach. Players and their teams will not have the capability to change roles mid-battle. Instead, they can customize skills more extensively in between combat encounters.
This choice by the developers emphasizes strategic planning and preparation, elevating these aspects significantly beyond what the Persona series typically offers. This transformative change brings a fresh layer of depth to the gameplay, enabling it to carve out its own identity distinct from its predecessors.
This innovative feature has been met with enthusiastic approval from the gaming community, steering clear of the repetitive gameplay loops often found in its series.
How Has Metaphor ReFantazio Been Received?
Considering Altus’s dedication to delivering a unique experience while retaining the core elements that have made Persona such a beloved franchise, it begs the question: Has the game met the high expectations of its developers?
On Steam, the reception has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly for a niche turn-based game like Metaphor ReFantazio. The game achieved an impressive peak of 85,961 players, a remarkable achievement for a title published by SEGA. Furthermore, the player feedback has been incredibly favorable.
With over 10,000 reviews submitted in the short span of about ten days post-launch, the game boasts an impressive 88% positive rating.
This gamble has clearly paid off, and many fans speculate that this game has the potential to be a strong contender for the coveted Game of the Year title!
Originally announced nearly eight years ago alongside two artworks and the promise of “Persona fantasy,” Atlus’s Studio Zero is now set to deliver Metaphor ReFantazio on consoles and PC. With approximately 130 hours of gameplay clocked in, it’s time to share our final thoughts on this highly anticipated JRPG.
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