One Metaphor: ReFantazio Feature is a Step Back After Persona 3 Reload

One Metaphor: ReFantazio Feature is a Step Back After Persona 3 Reload

As a lifelong fan of JRPGs and particularly Atlus games, I’ve seen my fair share of iconic characters and captivating stories unfold across various dimensions and realms. But let me tell you, nothing quite prepared me for the immersive experience that is Metaphor: ReFantazio.


2024 has been a successful year for Atlus, starting with the launch of “Persona 3 Reload” and continuing with games such as “Unicorn Overlord”, “Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance”, and more recently, “Metaphor: ReFantazio“. Known for crafting vast worlds and cherished characters for gamers to immerse in, “Metaphor: ReFantazio” certainly lives up to that reputation. Yet, it appears to fall short in one aspect compared to the standard set by “Persona 3 Reload” earlier this year.

Although it isn’t part of the Persona series, Metaphor: ReFantazio can be easily likened to Atlus’ other renowned franchises due to the commonalities in their gameplay mechanics. The game shares a combat system similar to Shin Megami Tensei and a calendar system like those found in Persona games. What sets Metaphor: ReFantazio apart is its social mechanics, allowing players to form bonds with characters, boosting their combat abilities – much like the Social Links in the Persona series. However, it’s worth noting that Metaphor: ReFantazio doesn’t offer as many voiced lines during Follower rank-up events as Persona 3 Reload.

Persona 3 Reload’s Fully-Voiced Social Links Were a Tough Act for Metaphor: ReFantazio to Follow

In terms of a remake, Atlus aimed to make Persona 3 Reload the ultimate edition of the original PS2’s Persona 3, even though it lacked the popular female protagonist feature found in Persona 3 Portable. To enrich the content within Persona 3 Reload, they significantly revamped the game’s renowned Social Links by incorporating fully-voiced dialogues for key rank-up events. Consequently, Persona 3 Reload boasted the highest number of voiced dialogue lines among all games in the series.

In the footsteps of exceptional vocal performances in “Persona 3 Reload”, it’s not unexpected that “Metaphor: ReFantazio” doesn’t utilize voice acting as extensively. For instance, the absence of voice acting during most Follower rank-up scenes is noticeable when contrasted with the fully-voiced scenes in “Persona 3 Reload”. Consequently, the top-notch vocal performances in “Metaphor: ReFantazio” are not showcased as much within the game as those in “Persona 3 Reload” are.

In the early stages of building a relationship within the game ‘ReFantazio’, dialogues are present. However, when it comes to advancing in rank, these spoken interactions become less frequent or are absent altogether.

Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Voiced Protagonist Lines Help Make Up the Difference

In contrast to Persona 3 Reload‘s Social Links, which have a higher count of voiced Follower rank-up scenes, Metaphor: ReFantazio provides a more vocal experience for its protagonist. While Persona series’ protagonists often have dialogue lines, they are usually restricted and consist mainly of the protagonist announcing the name of their summoned Persona. In contrast, during conversations in Metaphor: ReFantazio, players can choose a response, but this time around, the protagonist will actually speak those words, making the other characters’ reactions more dynamic.

In contrast to other games, ReFantazio’s metaphor allows the main character to deliver lines of dialogue that are influenced by the player’s choices. This feature enables the protagonist to develop into a more dynamic character, one that can be molded somewhat by the player’s decisions about dialogue. This depth adds significantly to the protagonist’s role in the quest for Euchronia’s crown. Although ReFantazio doesn’t match the extent of voiced dialogue found in Persona 3 Reload, its innovative use of voice acting sets a standard that future Atlus games, such as perhaps Persona 6, might want to emulate.

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2024-11-01 13:34