Metaphor arrives: ReFantazio, the first fantasy RPG from Atlus and the new proposal from those responsible for Persona

Big day for Atlus. After finding success with Persona, a saga that over time has managed to conquer the West, comes Metaphor: ReFantazio, the first fantasy RPG from the Japanese company that is available today for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series and PC through Steam in exchange for 69.99 euros. This is the new proposal from Studio Zero, the team led by Katsura Hashino, a veteran of the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona sagas who has also been involved in Catherine, Dragon’s Crown and 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim.

The story of Metaphor: ReFantazio takes place in the Unified Kingdom of Eucronia, a medieval fantasy kingdom that, after the murder of its monarch, is experiencing a turbulent time. When so-called royal magic, known only to the king, is invoked, the world prepares for a tournament that will decide the successor to the throne. The main protagonist is a young man from the Elda tribe, a town branded as cursed by the official religion because its members are heirs of forbidden magic, who decides to participate in the tournament to catch the king’s murderer and break the curse that falls on him. about the prince, the legitimate heir and a childhood friend.

Together with Gallica, a fairy with a great knowledge of magic and the ability to perceive it, our hero embarks on an adventure during which he will awaken the Explorer archetype. Throughout this journey the protagonist will have the help of Strohl, a young nobleman from the Clemar tribe who has a strong sense of justice; Hulkenberg, a former member of the royal guard who served alongside the prince; and Heismay, a former knight of the Eugief tribe with highly developed perception. They travel through the kingdom aboard an armored ship and during the trips they can complete some mundane activities such as reading or cooking.

When it’s time to venture into a dungeon and fight, Metaphor: ReFantazio will deploy a turn-based combat system mixed with real-time action where archetypes play a key role. Each member of the group has an archetype. Archetypes are awakened during combat and allow the skills of each class to be channeled and combined. As party members form a bond, new archetypes will be earned and more strategies in combat will be available to you. All kinds of skills will also be unlocked.

Regardless of the activity they engage in, Metaphor: ReFantazio players must keep in mind that the clock is ticking. During the day you have to delve into dungeons and search for treasures, while at night it is time to strengthen relationships, forge bonds and improve virtues.

The launch of Metaphor: ReFantazio is very important for Atlus, which with this game launches what could be a new franchise of fantasy RPG games. Unlike with the first Persona installments, with this new saga the Japanese publisher simultaneously addresses all Eastern and Western markets, and does so with a game localized in multiple languages. This strategy has worked with Persona, whose sales and success outside Japan have skyrocketed with the fifth installment and the remake from Persona 3.

The press has given its approval to Metaphor: ReFantazio with an average score of over 90 out of 100, which places this title among the strong candidates for game of the year. Anyone who wants to try it on their own can do so with a prologue demo.