Metaphor: ReFantazio Reviews
Metaphor ReFantazio is the culmination of everything that makes Atlus' turn-based RPGs so special. Sporting a fantastic cast of instantly lovable characters, a gripping tale that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster, and a robust evolution of its combat systems, Metaphor ReFantazio is a must-play for anyone with even a passing interest in JRPGs.
An excellent role-playing game with fantastic stories and a large scope, but which technically has room for improvement.
Review in German | Read full review
Metaphor: ReFantazio is an amazing game. I fully completed it in 75 hours and enjoyed it the entire way through. Though it may suffer from a few blemishes, such as its lackluster graphical fidelity in some areas and performance optimization issues, what it brings to the table is utterly compelling. It is a huge RPG adventure that celebrates Atlus’ history as it combines some of the best ideas from many of its previous titles into a lovely fantasy setting. The amount of detail put into Metaphor: ReFantazio’s worldbuilding and characters is captivating. Plus, the flow of its combat system’s interactions with the extensive Archetype job classes is a ton of fun. I’m always a big fan of when developers decide to tackle a brand-new IP, and Atlus knocked it out of the park with Metaphor: ReFantazio.
This is Atlus's magnum opus; a truly epic fantasy adventure that excels in every conceivable aspect.
Overall, Metaphor plays like a dream from start to finish. There's less downtime than Persona and fewer frustrating moments than Shin Megami Tensei, with the whole game feeling like a high-stakes road trip with your best friends. The road to the throne is a tough one, but it's one well worth walking.
Atlus has leveled up the Persona formula in every way. The world-spanning adventure of Metaphor: ReFantazio offers a diverse world to explore, deep and relatable stories to share with your party, an incredible combat system with unlimited possibilities of Archetype powers, and plenty of quality of life improvements to make sure you're spending more time playing the game and not wondering what to do next.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a wonderful new IP from previous Persona stalwarts. Sure, a few of the similarities are a little on the nose, but Studio Zero has executed enough tweaks for it to fly its own flag... and boy does it do that! It's a charming fantasy RPG with a lot of heart.
Metaphor: ReFantazio continues Atlus' generational streak of stylish, remarkable JRPGs. Persona and Shin Megami Tensei fans will feel at home but this new fantasy world is gracefully transformative and rife with meaningful subtext.
Metaphor: Refantazio is a masterfully crafted JRPG that combines political intrigue, rich storytelling, and strategic combat into a gripping and emotional experience. While the pacing can occasionally falter, and some areas may feel visually repetitive, the game’s strengths far outweigh its shortcomings.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is another banger RPG from ATLUS. It doesn't reinvent the wheel that Shin Megami Tensei and Persona have established as the studios bread and butter, but it iterates on them in unique ways with an undeniably fresh setting. It's hard not to applaud ATLUS for embracing something so tonally different from what they're known for nowadays.
I've always wanted Atlus to tackle political fantasy as a genre and of course when they finally do it with Metaphor: ReFantazio it's one of the best RPGs in years. This is the result of 20 years of incredible game craft that has taken shape in the best and most refined version of the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei formula that we've ever received. Probably the best we'll ever get. This is their magnum opus. With immensely satisfying and tactile turn-based combat, and a memorable cast of characters including the alluring and ever-intimidating villain Count Louis, you'll be taken by the world and story to explore within Euchronia. Much like the protagonist, you'll be compelled to save its people. Metaphor: ReFantazio is a crowning achievement under Atlus' long-running and award-winning belt. You should join them on the throne. The view is beautiful from up here.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of the best turn-based JRPGs I've played in quite some time. It’s a fantastic game, featuring breathtaking visuals and incredible sound—kudos to Atlus for that. However, I do wish the game had better pacing and a more seamless world structure.
Metaphor ReFantazio sets out to blend the best of its predecessors’ gameplay with an all-new setting, and the result is far greater than the sum of its parts.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a magnificent heroic fantasy JRPG, the likes of which we haven't seen for decades.
Building upon the concepts of Persona and Shin Megami Tensei, and refining them further, Metaphor: ReFantazio delivers a highly satisfying experience. In terms of story, it offers excellent character development, while its gameplay system introduces a wide range of class combinations, adding depth to the mechanics. That said, the overall story quality of Metaphor is not particularly groundbreaking, and it feels more like a refined take on traditional dungeon-crawling RPGs rather than an innovative or revolutionary creation.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a bold new IP from Studio Zero and Atlus, and one of the best at that. Familiar yet innovative, mature but not without moments of levity, with a slew of very functional new systems, this is one of the best JRPGS of the last years and surely GOTY material for this one.
Review in Italian | Read full review
If you can only play one turn-based fantasy roleplaying game this year, let it be this one. Swords and sorcery Persona is a marvellously executed pitch.
Metaphor: ReFantazio has memorable music, a safe take on a job class system, a charming cast that does not resort to being a dating simulator, and a snappy, fluid, and tactical turn-based combat system. Fantasy isn’t dead, it’s so back.
Atlus strikes gold again! With many thought provoking themes and ideas Metaphor just gives the player enough reason to believe that video games are an artform and could shape our future in many ways. Fast paced battles, a masterful score and an otherwordly art direction seals the deal for this epic JRPG adventure to be the most powerful contender for GOTY for sure.
Review in Turkish | Read full review