Summary
A strong year for Sega RPGs continues, asMetaphor: ReFantaziohas been dated for October 2024. This is the latest title from Studio Zero, the Atlus and Sega-owned development team behind thePersonafranchise. In many ways,Metaphor: ReFantazioresembles aPersonaspin-off, building off of the gameplay loop and art style that was last iterated on inPersona 5 Royal. WithPersona 3: ReloadandLike A Dragon: Infinite Wealthpaving the way forMetaphorat the start of the year, excitement for this new yet familiar venture will only grow as its release approaches.
Metaphor: ReFantaziotakes place in the high fantasy United Kingdom of Euchronia that, as the title suggests, parallels reality in subtle ways. As both the prince and the ruling king have been struck down, a tournament to choose a new ruler has been invoked. The protagonist is an underdog hero from a persecuted tribe, who, in order to fulfill his mission of helping the comatose prince, is participating in this contest of strength and popularity alongside a growing group of allies. It’s refreshing to seeMetaphor: ReFantazioleavePersona’s high school stomping groundswhile retaining its strengths, but the space it has entered is far from empty.
Persona and Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Settings Are Worlds Apart
Urban fantasy is a rare and complicated genre to tackle, especially in video games, butPersonamade it its staple. Japan has been producing other games featuring school life simulations and relationship building for a long time, butPersonamade the jump of combining high schoolwith a dungeon-crawling fantasy RPG. Despite being a spin-off of the somewhat more traditionalShin Megami Tenseifranchise,Personastruck a chord with many players, and its setting has gone on to inspire not only several indie RPGs, butShin Megami Tensei 5itself.
Metaphor: ReFantazio Is Betting On Its Brand of Fantasy
Stepping out of this comfort zone might seem reasonable forMetaphor: ReFantazio, but it comes with risks. The game retains many of modernPersona’s elements, and it’s easy to link both of them through appearance alone, soMetaphor: ReFantaziouses its genre to distinguish itself. Sizable audience overlap could still occur, but there’s no telling exactly how much there will be.Metaphor’s genre shift should at least distinguish itself from the aforementioned 2024 Sega RPGs, which is good, but it’s also doing so by treading on grounds fraught with constant competition.
Competition In Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Genre Is Fierce
High fantasy is the go-to setting for many RPGs, with examples being made around the world all the time. Japanese high fantasy RPGs alone include theNi no KuniandFire Emblemseries’, both of which have narratives, aesthetics, or mechanics comparable towhatMetaphor: ReFantaziohas inherited fromPersona. On top of that, high fantasy is also the realm of industry giants, likeFinal FantasyandDragon Quest. Disconnected from the IP its creator is known for,Metaphor: ReFantaziois taking a dangerous gamble, albeit one that it’s equipped to handle and has everything to gain if it works.
Metaphor: ReFantazio Could Thrive In The Face Of Adversity
It would be reductive to ignore all the strengths inherited fromPersona, as well as unique traits like the addition ofMetaphor: ReFantazio’s real-time field combat.Metaphoris also not just a cookie-cutter fantasy setting, with modern architecture and instances of futuristic technology present, like severalFinal Fantasyentries. There’s also the matter of its story, which synergizes with its setting to replacePersona’s high school students with free-range protagonists concerned with long-distance travel and public relations. If all goes well,Metaphor: ReFantaziocould be a breath of fresh air for thePersonafandom and a perfect jumping on point for newcomers, not to mention a successful franchise in its own right.
