Role-Playing Games of the 2020s, Part 3 Codexery

Metaphor: ReFantazio

A fantasy RPG set in a medieval realm mirroring the real world.

Last updated

The game sold one million copies on release day and received widespread acclaim for its narrative, worldbuilding, visuals, gameplay, and themes.[1] The role-playing game Metaphor: ReFantazio combines dungeon crawling and social simulation mechanics that were present in earlier Atlus titles.[2]

Making and release

Following Persona 5's Japanese release in September 2016, director Katsura Hashino announced his intent to leave the Persona team and explore other projects.[3] Hashino explained Studio Zero's intention of creating a role-playing game rooted in traditional fantasy aesthetics.[4] Metaphor: ReFantazio was officially unveiled in June 2023 during Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase.[5] Two days after that announcement, the studio's initial project was revealed with the codename Project Re:Fantasy.[3]

Shigenori Soejima, known for his character art in the Persona series, and composer Shoji Meguro both worked on Metaphor: ReFantazio.[6] Keisuke Honryo, the chief priest of Myōhō–ji temple, chanted the game's lyrics, which were composed in Esperanto.[6]

What the cited sources add

The developers stated that the title "Metaphor" was chosen to convey the dichotomy of mirroring a fantasy as well as the real world.[7] Lead Scenario Planner Yuichiro Tanaka, Lead Daily Systems Planner Azusa Kido, and Lead Battle Planner Kenichi Goto joined Producer Junichi Yoshizawa from Studio Zero.[7] The developers described Metaphor as more of a journey through the world, while Persona tends to mainly stay in one city.[7] Hashino told Famitsu that Atlus had dared to create series set in contemporary times to counter the typical fantasy genre.[8]

Studio Zero was created "with the goal of creating a new IP and aim even higher" according to the Famitsu interview.[8] The developers stated that Metaphor opts for a more classical approach to storytelling compared to Persona.[7]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Metaphor: ReFantazio" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons Reviews", OpenCritic, 2023-07-27 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Metaphor: ReFantazio" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Thorn, "Metaphor: ReFantazio review: like a brilliant fantasy Persona, only with one major catch", Rock, Paper, Shotgun, 2024-10-07 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Metaphor: ReFantazio" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Frank, "Longtime Persona director hands off series after more than a decade", Polygon, 2017-05-04; Ahmed, "Precious Moments, Hype and High School: A Conversation with 'Persona 5' Director Katsura Hashino", Vice, 2017-04-04; Romano, "Atlus' PROJECT Re FANTASY concept video and artwork, Studio Zero official website opened [Update]", Gematsu, 2016-12-23 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Metaphor: ReFantazio" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Romano, "First details on Atlus' new fantasy RPG, 'PROJECT Re FANTASY' [Update]", Gematsu, 2016-12-21; Valens, "Famitsu unveils Atlus' new fantasy RPG: Re Fantasy", CGMagazine, 2016-12-21 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Metaphor: ReFantazio" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bonifacic, "'Metaphor: ReFantazio' is a fantasy RPG from the team behind 'Persona 5'", Engadget, June 11, 2023; Castillo, "Project Re Fantasy Resurfaces as Metaphor: ReFantazio; Persona 3 Reload, 5 Tactica Confirmed", RPGFan, 2023-06-11; Romano, "Metaphor: ReFantazio also coming to PS5, PS4, and Steam", Gematsu, 2023-06-15; Romano, "Metaphor: ReFantazio director, character designer, and composer discuss ATLUS' large-scale fantasy RPG", Gematsu, 2023-06-20; LeBlanc, "Metaphor: ReFantazio Gets Fall 2024 Release Window In New Trailer" en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Metaphor: ReFantazio" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Park, "The year's smartest game asks: Is civil democracy just a fantasy?", The Washington Post, November 20, 2024; Clay, "Metaphor: ReFantazio Developer Q&A", RPG Fan, August 28, 2024 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Clay, "Metaphor: ReFantazio Developer Q&A", RPG Fan, August 28, 2024. facts only, no text reused. rpgfan.com
  8. Valens, "Famitsu unveils Atlus' new fantasy RPG: Re Fantasy", CGMagazine, 2016-12-21. facts only, no text reused. cgmagonline.com

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Metaphor: ReFantazio (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Test yourself

Three questions drawn from this entry’s sources. Pick an answer to check it.

1. Which company developed "Metaphor: ReFantazio"?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Studio Zero.

2. In what year was "Metaphor: ReFantazio" first released?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is 2024.

3. Which company published "Metaphor: ReFantazio"?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Sega.

Answers checked against the source article

Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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