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Metaphor ReFantazio became an instant sensation back when it was released in 2024. The turn-based action RPG is made by Altus, who also made the popular Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series.

Although the game’s combat is focused exclusively on turn-based battles, the developers were fixated on implementing a new system that would have taken away the frustration of grinding in the game. This new combat system, however, blew up in their faces and broke the game’s fighting mechanics.

Metaphor ReFantazio is made by the same developers as Persona | Image Credits: Sega

Let’s delve deeper into how the developers managed to mess up the fighting structure by trying to improve the experience of the players.

Metaphor ReFantazio‘s new combat technique backfired

It is no surprise that Metaphor ReFantazio uses a similar combat system to Altus’s other games like the Shin Megami Tensei franchise and its spin-off,...

Atlus, the Japanese video game developer has long been recognized for its rich, narrative-driven RPGs: Shin Megami Tensei and Persona. However, the company’s ambitions don’t end with these two powerhouse series. Instead of sticking to the tried and tested formula, it took a bold leap with Metaphor: ReFantazio.

Players have been enjoying the game since its launch. | Image Credit: Atlus

And if a recent discussion with Studio Zero director Katsura Hashino is anything to go by, the studio wants to elevate this new critically acclaimed title into a third flagship franchise under its name, paving the path for future DLCs and sequels. With impressive sales numbers and growing recognition, the game has the potential to make that leap.

Metaphor: ReFantazio might become the new flagship for Atlus

Since its release on October 10th, the game has been a success, quickly surpassing 1 million copies worldwide (announced by Sega). This...

2023 was a great year for Japanese RPGs and I didn’t think 2024 was going to match it. But I’m glad I was wrong. A peculiar trend of the video game industry in 2024 was the prolificness of remakes and remasters, and the Japanese RPG is no different. A few select publishers and developers dominated this year too, as they pumped out so many quality games. Related: Metaphor: ReFantazio Director Katsura Hashino Talks Creating a Fantasy RPG for a Modern World Not only did Atlus and Sega release Persona 3 Reload and the next entry in the Like a Dragon series, but Atlus also launched a new IP with Metaphor: ReFantazio , released an enhanced version of it’s best game from 2021, Shin Megami Tensei V , and still found time to publish a third-party game: Unicorn Overlord . Square Enix also had a busy year with the monumental Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and released...

Atlus has long been known for its beloved Persona series, so when it announced the release of Metaphor: ReFantazio, the initial assumption was that it would bear similarities to its previous games. However, the developers surprised everyone and opted for a radically different setting: a medieval high fantasy world with unique combat mechanics.

The game presents a stark contrast to the studio’s previous titles. | Image Credit: Atlus

After the game’s release on October 10, which received a positive response from the community, many began to wonder what drove the developers to pivot in such a different direction. As it turns out, the decision was deeply influenced by advice from Ikuto Yamashita, a key figure in Japanese anime history and the designer behind Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Advice That Shaped Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Fantasy World

In a recent interview with Polygon, Katsura Hashino shared insights into how he and his team...

Metaphor: ReFantazio developers were also not clear about why they were inclined towards developing a fantasy RPG in the first place and that too one that caters to the Japanese as well as the Western audience.

Metaphor: ReFantazio’s developers were curious about why they like fantasy. Image Credit: Atlus

However, that very reason fueled their curiosity to dig deeper and figure out what the game was about to become a few years later. It was released on 11th October 2024.

Metaphor: ReFantazio Developers Sat With Just A Blank Page The game caters to both Japanese as well as Western audiences. Image Credit: Atlus

Metaphor: ReFantazio has been shaping up to be a great game that is not only for the Japanese but the Western audience as well. This is a whole new IP from Atlas created from the ground up. The beginning of the ideation process sparked curiosity amongst the...

The nominees are officially in for the next installment of The Game Awards, which will go live with the winners on Thursday, December 12. Six games are in the running for Game of the Year, including Astro Bot , Balatro , Black Myth: Wukong , Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree , Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Metaphor: ReFantazio . Beyond that, there are a bunch of other categories to voice your opinion on, and voting is now open on the official website . Here's an overview of this year's nominees: Best Game Direction Astro Bot Balatro Black Myth: Wukong Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Metaphor: ReFantazio Best Narrative Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Metaphor: ReFantazio Senua's Saga: Hellblade II Silent Hill 2 Best Art Direction Astro Bot Black Myth: Wukong Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Metaphor: ReFantazio Neva Best Score and Music Astro Bot Final Fantasy...

Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of those rare video game gems that does not even wait for the player to actually start playing it before the appreciation for the title already begins to take over.

While Persona fans have been waiting for the sixth mainline installment, Atlus has been spending its time in the most effective way possible, as the debut title by Studio Zero has managed to create its own distinct path in the Jrpg space while simultaneously sticking to the strengths of what made the best entries in the series so memorable to begin with.

Which should not exactly be a surprise considering that veteran Persona developers were helming the project, but the end result has proven to be extraordinarily remarkable, bringing a brand new IP to the forefront of the genre and leaving an extremely strong impact that not many games have been able to achieve in recent times.

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the hit anime and visual novel, Steins;Gate , I sat down with producer Tatsuya Matsubara. Matsubara worked as a producer on the original visual novel, which is also launching on Crunchyroll Game Vault soon, as well as various other Science Adventure games like Chaos;Head and Robotics;Notes , and their anime adaptations. Note: This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and flow. Matsubara-san, thank you for your time today, could you please introduce yourself to our readers? Matsubara : Thank you very much for having me, my name is Matsubara and I’m the producer for Mages’ Science Adventure series of visual novels. I entered the industry 25 years ago originally as a graphic designer. I transitioned my position and role to Mages, where I became a director and finally now a producer of games. That actually leads into my next question, how did you...

“Metaphor ReFantazio is fantasy Persona” is the sentiment that circulated widely before Atlus’ latest RPG launched on Oct. 11, 2024. It’s an apt description on the surface, but an unhelpful one for folks who haven’t the foggiest idea what a Persona game is. Sure, Metaphor ReFantazio shares some basic things in common with Persona. They’re both turn-based RPGs with a big focus on characters and a penchant for using psychology to inform their fundamental ideas. They even come from the same development team.

However, simply leaving the discussion at...

It's no secret that everyone's been extremely excited for Metaphor: ReFantazio . The new fantasy RPG from the team that brought us Persona 3, Persona 4 and Persona 5 has been the talk of the gaming scene for months now. Starting today, it's available to play... and it's already sold more than one million copies. This count includes both shipped copies and downloads worldwide—and in some parts of the world, the day is still just beginning. Atlus celebrated with this cheerful art of Gallica, the protagonist's fairy companion: Related: Exclusive: Metaphor: ReFantazio Director Katsura Hashino Talks Creating a Fantasy RPG for a Modern World The game has already garnered a massively positive reception, with its various platform versions receiving between a 91-93 score on Metacritic. It has also won the Japan Game Award's "Future Division" award for two years running: both in 2023 and 2024. Metaphor: ReFantazio is now available for Xbox Series X|S,...

Just a few days away from the official launch of Studio Zero’s first game, formed by one of the directors of Atlus’ Persona series, Katsura Hashino returns to direct, but this time in a completely new franchise.

This project is called Metaphor: ReFantazio. Despite some similar combat mechanics and other features, this new title is entirely original and distinct, moving away from everything Persona has presented so far.

Even so, this legendary director created some of the most successful JRPGs in video game history. Before trying Metaphor: ReFantazio, here are the essential Persona games to play.

Revelations: Persona Revelations: Persona the first step into the Jrpg supremacy. Image via Atlus

Initially conceived as a spin-off from the Shin Megami Tensei series, this Jrpg initiated its ascent into the genre’s Hall of Fame by defying all previous conventions.

Shin Megami Tensei was a huge success in Japan, and that...

The upcoming Metaphor: ReFantazio will be arriving on various platforms in October, causing many to question if it will be available on the Xbox Game Pass service. There have already been some incredible day-one titles for Xbox Game Pass, making it more than reasonable to wonder if the next release from Atlus will be another. Metaphor: ReFantazio has many Persona fans marking their calendars, making any way to gain access to the game one to be aware of.

With key figures from the Persona franchise working on the title, including Director Katsura Hashino, it is little wonder that Metaphor: ReFantazio has attracted plenty of interest ahead of its release. It is worth noting that previews for Metaphor: ReFantazio have only heightened excitement for the title, having given tantalizing glimpses of an engaging, stylish game with plenty of narrative potential. Of course, this has only made people more eager to start playing as soon as possible,...

Quick Links Metaphor: ReFantazio Release Date Is October 11, 2024 Metaphor: ReFantazio Pre-Order Bonuses & Editions Metaphor: ReFantazio Confirmed Characters

Atlus and Studio Zero came together after their collaborations on Persona projects to create a new experience, Metaphor: ReFantazio. Explained as a version of Persona 5 where the word "no" was never uttered near the art department, the fantastical elements of the turn-based Jrpg are coming to fruition with a story about breaking a curse on a prince. It is a completely new universe for director Katsura Hashino, as previous Persona titles were set in similar modern settings.

Unlike previous titles in Hashino's repertoire, the plot of Metaphor: ReFantazio follows a story of unification to elect a new king. Using a gauntlet runner to travel to dungeons and towns across an expansive map, players take place in a Royal Tournament to help determine the new king and break the curse on the prince, the protagonist's childhood friend,...

Persona fans may have to wait a few more years for the next game but those desperate to scratch the itch for a compelling social system and turn-based combat should look out for one of October's biggest releases. Atlus and Sega have spent many years growing the Persona franchise into one of the most beloved Jrpg series on the market but the companies are now trying something different. Bringing along several key creators, Atlus aims to breathe new life into the formula by giving fans an entirely new world.

As pointed out by video game journalist Jason Schreier on X (formerly Twitter), Persona fans should pay attention to October 11 which is the release date of Metaphor: ReFantazio.

I feel like not enough people are talking about the fact that a new fantasy Persona game comes out in just one month https://t.co/6Woxhh16Rm Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) September 11, 2024

It...

Metaphor: ReFantazio draws inspiration from Persona and Shin Megami Tensei, aiming to combine their best elements with something new. The game features a dual-faceted narrative with dark themes and potential for interesting story twists. Combat in Metaphor involves exploiting weaknesses for extra turns and forging bonds for new transformations, blending Persona and Smt strengths with a fresh look.

When people compare Metaphor: ReFantazio to Persona, they're not doing so in a way that invites detractors. First impressions are everything when it comes to new releases, and to be observed alongside some of the Jrpg genre's very best is an indication of respect from on-lookers. The bar is being set very high, and Metaphor will need to surpass or redefine it to escape those comparisons coming to encapsulate how it's remembered; but as far as ideal starting points go, similarities to one of the all-time greats isn't the worst.

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If you’re a fan of RPGs, 2024 and beyond is shaping up to be an exciting time period. With a mix of highly anticipated sequels and brand-new titles and IPs, there’s a lot to look forward to.

Whether you’re a fan of deep, narrative-driven experiences like that of Obsidian’s, or prefer fast-paced action and level design similar to FromSoftware’s, or just want something to fill the void left behind by Persona, there’s something for everyone to look forward to.

5. Avowed Avowed suffered a delay and will now release on February 18, 2025. Image via Obsidian

Avowed is another highly anticipated RPG from Obsidian Entertainment. This game is set in the same universe as Pillars of Eternity and is set to deliver the same rich, immersive experience. Players can look forward to a deep, narrative-driven story with complex characters and a detailed world, just like the two Pillars games.

One of the most important parts of any game is its protagonist, and the creator of Dragon Quest understands this, as he has recently made a comment regarding the current state of the game’s protagonists and how they will soon need to change or disappear forever.

His main thought on this topic is that silent game protagonists are a dying breed due to video game graphics improving constantly throughout the years to the point they are too realistic for a silent protagonist to fit in, and sadly, he may be onto something.

Protagonists That Don’t Talk Seem to Be a Thing of the Past, According to Dragon Quest’s Creator Do silent protagonists belong in modern gaming? Image Credit: Square Enix

In the past, developers have decided to use silent protagonists in their games so that players can place themselves in the role of the hero and insert...

Atlus continues to bet on the popular Jrpg genre, and now the creator of the popular Shin Megami Tensei spin-off series will launch a new title. Katsura Hashino, director of Persona, presents Metaphor: ReFantazio, a title that will have similar mechanics to the previously mentioned series but with several differences and a completely different narrative.

According to newly confirmed details about the title, some fans are not happy with a mechanic that will be present. According to reports, players will not be able to explore all of the dungeons because the title will constantly change locations.

Metaphor: ReFantazio and Something Completely Different from the Persona Series Metaphor: ReFantazio confirms a feature that makes some fans angry.

Just a few months away from its release, Atlus is revealing more and more details about Metaphor: ReFantazio. Katsura Hashino, the director of the entire Persona series, has a lot of fans excited about this game.

With the imminent release of Metaphor: ReFantazio, many fans are still unclear about the differences between this saga and the previous one conceived by the same director. The creator of Persona and this new franchise, set to launch in the coming months, is Katsura Hashino.

In a recent interview, this director explained why this new saga is entirely different and highlighted the main differences from the other popular Atlus franchise. He mentioned how the relationships between characters will aim in another direction.

Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona Are Very Different, Clarifies Its Director Metaphor: ReFantazio director talks about the differences with Persona.

Having originated as a spin-off of the Megami Tensei saga, the Persona games became so successful that they even surpassed the numbers and quality of the original titles that inspired this franchise.

Persona 5 was considered by many to be one of the best games of recent years. Atlus has...

The Summer Game Fest has something to offer for every kind of gamer, as the event showcases video games from various genres all at one place, and the 2024 edition was no different. A game that has been under development since the year the studio was founded nearly eight years ago, things are finally shaping up for Metaphor: ReFantazio, as the Persona series creators presented a new deep dive into some of the features the upcoming title will be accompanied with.

And although the similarities to the franchise that birthed it are clearly visible in the latest trailer, it still seems like a strong contender in the Jrpg genre.

Summer Game Fest Brings the Persona Creators Back for Their Next Title

From social simulation elements to inner powers, the Persona creators showcase their next title at the Summer Game Fest.

Although developer Studio Zero, a subsidiary of Persona’s Atlus, has...

More details emerged for Metaphor: ReFantazio —the new RPG from Studio Zero, director Katsura Hashino and other Persona team members—during a special developer livestream today. In addition to showing off the first hands-on gameplay, a new trailer debuted along with a release date and the start of physical pre-orders. Metaphor: ReFantazio launches on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Windows and Steam on October 11, 2024. Check out the trailer that highlights the story and more below. Metaphor: ReFantazio - The King's Trial Trailer Related: Persona Dev’s Metaphor: ReFantazio Game Reveals Fall 2024 Debut With Fantasy-Filled Trailer Here's the full showcase: Atlus also revealed pre-order incentives—including a bunch of in-game items—as well as the contents of the Collector's Edition version. Pre-orders are live for that and the standard physical release, and here's an rundown of what comes in the special set: Metaphor: ReFantazio Collector’s Edition Contents: Base Game...

At The Game Awards 2023, we were shown a new trailer of Metaphor: ReFantazio by Atlus. This game is highly sought after as the persona team works on a new fantasy video game. We got some specifics as to who is working on this game and from where they come into play: Director – Katsura Hashino Character Designer – Shigenori Soejima Composer […]

The post Metaphor: ReFantazio Gets New Details And Gameplay first appeared on The Outerhaven.

As promised, Atlus has announced plans to launch long-awaited Jrpg sequel Persona 5 in Japan on September 15 – and there’s a new trailer to boot.

Once the countdown clock came to an end earlier today – 5/5, incidentally – the developer hosted a livestream revealing those Japanese release plans. Although at the time of writing, there’s no mention of when Persona 5 will make its way west. One consolation for fans though is that the sequel will feature at E3.

Slated to arrive across both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, an “Anniversary Edition” of P5 will hit Japan to commemorate 20 years since the first game launched. Now, two decades since the Shin Megami Tensei series made its bow, Atlus has all hands at the pump in anticipation of Persona 5.

Revolving around a group of teens claiming to be the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, Game Director Katsura Hashino revealed that the studio is “going with a challenge...

Mark those calendars, folks; developer Atlus has posted a Persona 5 countdown website in anticipation of a major reveal.

Scheduled to expire on Thursday, May 5, all signs point to the announcement of an official international release date for the hotly-anticipated Jrpg. Once pegged for a late 2015 launch, Atlus pushed Persona 5 back into 2016 and currently, the title is on course to debut across PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 at some point during the summer.

In keeping with series tradition, Persona 5 follows a ragtag group of high school students who stumble upon the Isekai-Navi, a mystical item that allows the main players to infiltrate the hearts of other citizens and seize any hidden malicious intent, going on to become the self-proclaimed Phantom Thieves of Hearts.

Game Director Katsura Hashino revealed the creative team are “going with a challenge that fuses together a juvenile school setting that is as large as life, together with a picaresque romance.

by Joseph Leray

Index Corporation, the Japanese parent company that owns Atlus, registered a domain name for "persona5.jp," which may indicate (be still my heart!) an impending announcement for the next game in the "Persona" series.

Now, before we all get twitterpated over thoughts of next-gen demon fusing and social linking, domain registries don't generally mean much. As Joystiq points out, Index doesn't own "persona3.jp" or "persona4.jp," so they may just be squatting on the domain to protect their intellectual property. And even if "Persona 5" does exist, games get cancelled all the time without so much as an official press release. To life a line from Jules Winnifred, be cool.

"Persona 5" rumors have been making their way through the collective grapevine since, gosh, 2009: Atlus' internal "Persona 4" team reportedly reunited for a new game years ago, and "Persona" director Katsura Hashino has gone on record a few...

Developer: Atlus Persona Team Publisher: Atlus Platforms: XBox360 & PS3

Vincent likes his girlfriend. Katherine’s pretty, smart, and successful. Trouble is, she’s starting to talk about long-term commitment, something Vincent’s spent his entire life avoiding. Since romantic complications are the last thing he wants to deal with, Vincent meets his friends for their regular night of drinks. Little does he know that he’s about to be blindsided by a beautiful, seductive, irresistible freight train named Catherine. Suddenly, he’s hung over in bed next to the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen, unsure about the previous night’s events. Was it just making out, he wonders, or did something more serious happen between them? Should he tell Katherine? Will he ever see Catherine again? Vincent’s about to find that a stumble on the staircase of love can turn into a horrific, fatal plummet…

You can...

Deep Silver is dishing up some treats for Valentine's Day by offering an exclusive artbook and soundtrack CD with pre-orders of Catherine. This adult-oriented horror adventure is definitely one way to spend that special day!

Game Synopsis

Vincent likes his girlfriend. Katherine's pretty, smart, and successful. Trouble is, she's starting to talk about long-term commitment, something Vincent's spent his entire life avoiding. Since romantic complications are the last thing he wants to deal with, Vincent meets his friends for their regular night of drinks. Little does he know that he's about to be blindsided by a beautiful, seductive, irresistible freight train named Catherine. Suddenly, he's hung over in bed next to the most beautiful woman he's ever seen, unsure about the previous night's events. Was it just making out, he wonders, or did something more serious happen between them? Should he tell Katherine? Will he ever see Catherine again? Vincent's...

After Catherine was released a few months ago to big success, attention turned to what developer Atlus was working on next. Turns out Atlas is working on multiple titles, however most important for fans is that Persona 5 is in development. There were very little details released about the game except that many of the same people who worked on previous Persona titles will be returning.

“with the usual staff members in place. That includes Katsura Hashino as director, Shigenori Soejima as character designer, and Shouji Meguro as main composer.”

In addition, Atlas is teaming up with the creators of BlazBlue, Arc System to work on a 2D Persona fighting game called; Persona 4 The Ultimate In Mayonaka Arena which will have characters from both Persona 3 and 4. Finally, Atlus also announced they will be porting over Persona 4 to the Ps Vita in Spring 2012 under the title of Persona 4 The Golden with these...

"Persona 5" became a speculation target last year when producer Katsura Hashino blogged that a "Persona 4" team reunion was in the works. Well, it's 2010 now, and Hasino has confirmed that a new "Persona" game is next on their to-do list.

"We are preparing to start work on the next 'Persona,'" Hasino told Dengeki PlayStation, according to a translation by Siliconera. Platform information didn't get clarified, but "Persona 4" came out on the PlayStation 2, so the PS3 may be a safe bet. Hashino reportedly said that standard gameplay elements will return for the new "Persona" with a few new features included as well.

Whatever it looks like, social simulator RPG fans will have something to look forward to when all is said and done. "Persona 5" will surely amass some collection of fighting, dating and wacky anime-style quirks in whatever it eventually becomes. For now, if you don't feel like waiting out the "Persona 5" dev cycle,...

Following the completion of "Persona 3 Portable" on the PSP, the game's developers plan to reform their team from "Persona 4," and their project may be a big step up in scope. The role-playing series, which saw its creators split up after finishing "Persona 4," would be ripe for a fifth installment, and "Persona 5" would definitely warrant the reunion.

The creative team members who left to work on a new mystery title have nearly finished their new creation, and they will reunite with Atlus' "Persona 3 Portable" crew in 2010 for a project that may be larger, "Persona 4" producer Katsura Hashino blogged, according to a translation on andriasang.com.

Given that "Persona 4" came out on the PlayStation 2, a "Persona 5" on the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 would be a sensible guess for what Atlus has in store. The U.S. doesn't have an overabundance of social simulator RPG's on consoles, so the niche market would probably welcome...