Thick Thighs Save Lives
NeoGAF's Physical Games Advocate Extraordinaire
Developer: Atlus (Studio Zero)
Publisher: SEGA/Atlus
Release Date: October 11, 2024
Platforms: PlayStation 4 & 5 | Xbox Series (Play Anywhere) | PC (Steam Deck Playable)
Genre: JRPG, Adventure, Story rich, Turn-Based Combat
Standard Edition - $69.99 USD | €69,99 | £59.99
Atlus 35th Digital Anniversary Edition- $99.99 USD | €99,99 | £89.99
Premise
Metaphor: ReFantazio takes place in the United Kingdom of Euchronia, which is set in a medieval fantasy realm that acts as a "mirror" to the modern real world. The assassination of its King sparks chaos and unrest throughout the kingdom, while also invoking a unique form of magic only previously known to the King, known as the Royal Magic. These events end up setting the stage for a tournament to be held across the world in order to decide the throne's successor. The main protagonist is a boy of the Elda tribe who has been ostracized by wider society for being "tainted" with the inheritance of forbidden magic and is often subject to discrimination and prejudice as a result. He is to embark on a quest to lift a curse placed on his childhood friend, the crown prince of Euchronia whom the kingdom believes was assassinated over ten years ago. Throughout the journey, he will be accompanied by a fairy companion named Gallica, whose immense knowledge and ability to sense magic aids him on the path ahead.
Other allies aid the protagonist and Gallica throughout the narrative. The main party comprises Strohl, a nobleman of the Clemar tribe who meets the protagonist at the State Army recruitment center, Hulkenberg, a knight of the Roussainte tribe formerly acting as part of the Royal Family's kingsguard and harboring considerable guilt for her inability to protect the Prince, and Heismay, a former knight of the bat-like Eugief tribe who is sensitive towards sound and endures similar discrimination from other tribes in the kingdom due to his physical appearance.
Gameplay
Metaphor: ReFantazio incorporates social mechanics from the Persona series, such as the Followers and Royal Virtues systems, both descendants to the Social Link and Social Stat systems, and a calendar. There are also a variety of activities that function virtually the same way in Persona, with other similar mechanics like the weather that instead differ by location. Additionally, Metaphor: ReFantazio utilizes combat mechanics from the Shin Megami Tensei series, such as the Press Turn system.
The Archetype system, although similar to Personas, is the game's job-change foundation, and the Archetypes in themselves are equippable entities with their own unique skillsets and stat boosts. Any party member can equip any Archetype, including use the same class multiple times, though they first awaken to a specific one; however, Archetypes cannot be switched mid-battle. Archetypes can also evolve 2 times from their original form, and are connected to a lineage. Also, Synthesis allows to combine the powers of 2 or more Archetypes to deal one powerful attack, at the cost of multiple turn icons.
While exploring dungeons, the protagonist can switch between and mix real-time and turn-based combat. It is recommended to attack enemies in real time to initiate player advantage while switching to turn-based battle, but at the risk of letting the enemy attack first via the same method. Otherwise, it is possible to play it safe and jump straight to turn-based combat. In real time, the Archetype the protagonist has equipped determines how they attack.
The game also has a party formation system, where combatants can stay in either the front or back row, which determines how much damage the user deals and takes: while going on the back row specifically reduces the user's physical-based attacks, they're protected from the damage dealt to them by all affinities. There are methods to change the party formation for everyone at the same time, and there are Archetypes, like the Gunner, that specialize in attacking from a distance. Some skills can only be cast in the back row.
Metaphor also has various technical differences in comparison to how the flow of battle plays. The available equipment is not only based around the Archetypes in terms of who can equip what, but the power of the weapons themselves influence the user's attacks no matter their affinity. Also, guarding, while having similar functions to other entries, such as reducing damage taken and protecting from having one's weakness exploited, it doesn't negate the weakness multiplier itself.
While traveling over the United Kingdom of Euchronia, the protagonist can establish a travel route and select which way to traverse. Travelling is directly intertwined with the calendar, as travelling takes time and the protagonist can perform Gauntlet Runner activities while waiting, leading to multitasking between the two. In addition to cities and dungeons, the map is decorated with villages, camps and sights. Certain boss battles might be interrupted by mandatory battles, both minor and major.
On the activities the protagonist can perform on the gauntlet runner: he can cook, read, clean, do laundry, spend time with companions, and in certain situations fish and bathe. The effects of these activities vary from giving Royal Virtue coins and direct battle stat boosts to producing items. Towns that the party visits also have a variety of activities: in Martira for example, the protagonist can bungee jump and milk cows.
Playable Characters
Protagonist (Will)
The protagonist of Metaphor: ReFantazio, canonically known as Will primarily, is a young man of a fantasy background. He is of the Elda tribe, a race defined by no distinguished characteristics and an impossibly rare tribe.
Due to unfolding events that lead to a public election that is decided by people's faith, the protagonist joins as a candidate and embarks on a mission to save the prince, his best friend since childhood, from a curse by assassinating the perpetrator Louis Guiabern.
Gallica
Gallica is a major character in Metaphor: ReFantazio. She is a fairy and the protagonist's partner and companion, accompanying him since the beginning of his journey. Though outspoken, she is also kind towards the protagonist. She does not participate in combat because she is a fairy, but is very knowledgeable on town.
Strohl
Leon Strohl da Haliaetus, known also as simply Leon Strohl, is a major playable character in Metaphor: ReFantazio. He is of the populous Clemar tribe and the son of the Count of Halia, a noble. He enrolls in the State Army and meets the protagonist at the recruitment center.
Strohl has complicated circumstances as it's rare for a noble to enlist in the army. He seems to hate "Humans," the monsters of Metaphor: ReFantazio.
Hulkenberg
Eiselin Burchelli Meijal Hulkenberg, or Eiselin Hulkenberg for short, is a major playable character in Metaphor: ReFantazio. She is a knight of the populous Roussainte tribe, and was a former member of the royal family's Kingsguard who served, but failed, to protect the prince after his attack, wandering the kingdom in shame. After hearing of King Hythlodaeus V's death, she returns back in combat.
Heismay
Heismay Noctule is a major playable character in Metaphor: ReFantazio. He is a former knight of the Eugief tribe, distinguished by unique appearance and abilities as well as their small population, causing them to be discriminated against. Heismay is no exception to this prejudice, as he carries a painful past like a burden.
Junah
Junah is a major playable character in Metaphor: ReFantazio. She is a songstress of the Nidia tribe known for having the most beautiful voice in the United Kingdom of Euchronia. She has an important background as in her private life, she is deceived by Louis Guiabern and is rumored to be a close aid of his.
Eupha
Eupha is a major playable character in Metaphor: ReFantazio.[1] Living in Virga Island, she is a priestess of the Mustari tribe, in a position similar to that of a princess; within the indigenous beliefs that many of the Mustari adhere to, she is considered sacred as a central figure, and has been entrusted with a special sacred object. She is specifically a priestess of the "Dragon God Religion," and she's allowed to meet that god face to face and communicate with them.
She has excellent senses even among the Mustari, who already have a high aptitude for magic, and her ability to see Magla with her three eyes surpasses that of a fairy.
Standard Edition, Collector's Edition & Digital Deluxe details
Media
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