As a seasoned gamer with a soft spot for the intricate narratives and strategic gameplay of Katsura Hashino’s creations, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of Metaphor: ReFantazio. Having played my fair share of Persona games, I was curious to see how this new title would carve its own niche without leaning too heavily on its predecessor.
Before the debut of “Metaphor: ReFantazio”, there was a lot of talk about how this game would stand out from director Katsura Hashino’s past work on the “Persona” series. As Studio Zero’s first original project, many assumed that “Metaphor: ReFantazio” would share some similarities with the “Persona” franchise. These assumptions proved correct. Instead of simply being a fantasy version of “Persona”, however, “Metaphor: ReFantazio” rethinks and reinvent key aspects of that series, including the Calendar system which has been the backbone of the franchise since “Persona 3”.
In the game series known as “Persona,” the fundamental gameplay pattern has long been shaped by the Calendar system. This system acts both as a tool for players to organize their time and as a crucial part of the protagonist’s and their companions’ daily lives, making it a unique blend of assistance and challenge. While many players appreciate the structure and guidance provided by this system, some find it restrictive or frustrating due to feelings of being pressured or missing out on certain aspects enforced by the Calendar system. Interestingly, in “Metaphor: ReFantazio,” the game has been thoughtfully adjusted to cater more to the player, providing a more balanced experience with the calendar system.
The Calendar System Never Feels Oppressive in Metaphor: ReFantazio
In terms of Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Calendar system, it’ll seem instantly recognizable to fans of the Persona series. Each day usually starts with the protagonist and their companions planning strategies, followed by two sections where the player can explore any activities at will. Special days with narrative elements or set deadlines, however, require the player to visit specific locations or finish certain tasks, thus giving players a heads-up about when significant plot events happen and motivating them to ensure their party is well-prepared by those dates.
In contrast to the fast-paced narrative of the Persona series, Metaphor provides players with ample time, sometimes weeks or even an entire month, between major story missions. This allows for exploration and completion of larger dungeons in phases, similar to those found in Persona, which can be revisited at a later point. On the other hand, smaller dungeons designed for Bounties and side quests are usually quicker to traverse, taking only one day to explore. Additionally, if players choose to spend a day fostering relationships with allies or enhancing the Kingly Virtues, they can make substantial progress in just one day without feeling like they’ve overlooked any critical aspects, as both activities play significant roles in shaping the Archetype tree.
The Return of Persona 4’s Weather Events Adds a Layer of Strategy to Metaphor’s Calendar
In the game “Metaphor: ReFantazio,” after being missing from “Persona 5,” weather events similar to those used in the Calendar system of “Persona 4” reappear. These weather changes not only introduce an extra strategic element during pre-dungeon preparation, going beyond just deciding on party composition and Archetype selection, but they also help manage the additional time offered in “Metaphor” by incorporating a risk/reward mechanic. On unfavorable weather days, enemies dish out more damage and players don’t get extra turns for capitalizing on enemy weaknesses. However, the trade-off is that the party earns substantially more experience points.
In this game, players have greater freedom to explore and decide their actions based on extended playtime and weather conditions. If a character isn’t strong enough to confront tough enemies with increased health and no additional turns, the player can opt to invest the day in improving relationships and virtues instead, then return to adventure when weather permits without fearing they’re missing out or making hard choices. The game’s Calendar system, to some extent, alleviates the fear of missing out commonly experienced in the Persona series, making it more welcoming for players.
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2024-10-14 14:03