Metaphor: ReFantazio, the spiritual successor to the Persona series from developer Atlus has received an official release date of 11 October 2024. The turn-based RPG is set to launch on consoles and PC, bringing a fresh spin on the Shin Megami Tensei formula from the team behind recent Persona games. New gameplay was also released for the game.
The release date announcement for Metaphor: ReFantazio was accompanied by a lengthy 25-minute gameplay showcase hosted by director Katsura Hashino, which showed off the gameplay, score and other elements players can expect. For the most part, it seems to resemble Persona 5 in a lot of ways, though smaller details ultimately make it a new experience for fans of the franchise and genre in general.
The official description for Metaphor: ReFantazio reads:
“From the creative minds behind Persona 3, 4, and 5 comes Metaphor: ReFantazio, a unique fantasy world, where your protagonist will journey alongside his fairy companion, Gallica, to lift the curse from the kingdom’s lost prince. Control your destiny, face your fears and awaken magical “Archetype” powers that lie dormant in your heart. By awakening to an “Archetype,” you will unlock the power to channel and combine the abilities of unique job classes. Strengthen your bonds and build your party to take down powerful foes and discover the kingdom’s true nature.”
Key Features:
- Go on quests, dungeon dive, & hunt for treasures by day. Strengthen relationships, build bonds and increase virtues by night. Choose your actions wisely, time management is key to achieving your goal.
- Ride your “gauntlet runner” to faraway dungeons and towns across an expansive world. Discover beautiful landscapes accompanied by captivating music, immersive UI and anime cutscenes.
- A unique battle system combining turn based and real time action grants strategy and exhilaration at every turn. Party customization through “Archetypes” provides freedom to personalize your adventure.
- A mysterious and exciting story unfolds in a world where people must fight their own anxiety. Join the high-stakes Royal Tournament that promises hours of captivating exploration and discovery.
While it does have a lot in common with the Persona games, Metaphor: ReFantazio seems to be doing away with the high school setting – something that Persona 6 will reportedly stick with. Players can instead expect a high-fantasy adventure role-playing game that should cater to both a niche audience and new players.
Metaphor: ReFantazio releases on 11 October 2024 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Source: Atlus
