Metaphor: ReFantazio Developers Embrace Creativity in Medieval Setting

Katsura Hashino, the director of Metaphor: ReFantazio, recently shared insights into the team's creative approach to designing the game's medieval setting. While Metaphor: ReFantazio draws inspiration from high fantasy and incorporates many traditional medieval elements, the developers at Studio Zero decided to prioritize creativity and flexibility over strict historical accuracy.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is the latest JRPG offering from Studio Zero, a division of Atlus, known for its acclaimed series like Shin Megami Tensei and Persona. Players familiar with these games will recognize some signature elements in Metaphor: ReFantazio, but this title ventures into new territory with its distinct medieval fantasy world. For those eager to experience it, a demo is currently available ahead of the official launch on October 11.

Setting Metaphor: ReFantazio Apart From Other Atlus Titles

One of the most notable differences between Metaphor: ReFantazio and Atlus’s other popular franchises lies in its setting. While games like Persona and Shin Megami Tensei often feature modern-day environments, Metaphor: ReFantazio transports players to a completely new epic fantasy realm.

In a conversation with Gamer Braves, Hashino discussed how the development team initially tried to stay true to medieval conventions when building the game's world. He described debates on details like whether structures should feature rivets or screws and how much glass would realistically be present in a medieval town, considering that glass was a luxury during that era. However, as development progressed, the team decided to let go of these constraints and embrace the creative possibilities of a high-fantasy setting, allowing for a more imaginative experience.

Breaking Free From Reality in Metaphor: ReFantazio

Hashino explained that one of the primary motivations behind creating this fantasy world was to show that "the reality we live in does not have to always be the same." Many games that strive for historical accuracy in their medieval settings, like Kingdom Come: Deliverance, have faced criticism for their rigid adherence to realism. Similarly, Final Fantasy 16 encountered backlash over its Europe-inspired medieval setting.

Given these challenges, the decision to focus on creative freedom in Metaphor: ReFantazio seems to be the right choice, enhancing both the game's storytelling and the distinctiveness of its fantasy universe.

Exploring Themes of Anxiety and Empowerment

In the same interview, Hashino delved into the deeper themes of Metaphor: ReFantazio, explaining that the game revolves around the concept of anxiety. Characters in the game symbolically remove their hearts before awakening to a newfound power, representing their struggle to overcome inner turmoil. Hashino described this process as “grabbing your heart, pulling it out, and telling your heart to ‘ganbare,’ meaning work hard or do your best.”

This thematic focus aligns with Atlus's tradition of building RPGs around central ideas that resonate throughout the game's narrative, visuals, and character development. Fans of Atlus titles can expect Metaphor: ReFantazio to deliver a similar level of depth, much like the thematic storytelling seen in the Persona series, and it's likely that future titles like Persona 6 will continue this approach.

Metaphor: ReFantazio Gearing Up for a Spectacular Launch

With its release date set for October 11, Metaphor: ReFantazio is generating significant buzz among JRPG enthusiasts. Players who have already explored the demo have praised the game’s compelling world-building, engaging characters, immersive gameplay, and distinctive musical score. Although some players reported minor performance issues on the PC version of the demo, Atlus has promised to address these problems to ensure a polished experience when the game officially launches.

As excitement builds for the release, Metaphor: ReFantazio is poised to make a strong impression on JRPG fans, offering a captivating blend of fantasy, innovation, and narrative depth that sets it apart from its predecessors.