
Having first been announced by Atlus all the way back in 2016 as Project Re Fantasy, it's almost surreal to think that Metaphor: ReFantazio is finally here. The game's gone down a treat with critics — it's one of the highest-rated releases of 2024 — and the generous ten-hour demo seems to have won over a lot of potential buyers. Atlus has done it again!
We gave the RPG an 'excellent' 9/10 in our Metaphor: ReFantazio PS5 review. "Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of the most memorable RPGs we've played in years," we exclaimed. "While Metaphor takes obvious gameplay and structural cues from the developer's previous projects, it combines and refines those elements to make an epic, kingdom-hopping adventure that feels unique and deeply fulfilling," we concluded.
We've also written a big old Metaphor: ReFantazio guide if you're looking for some help with the game and its systems:
But as always, we want to know if you're playing the latest heavy hitter. Are you going on a fantastical adventure this weekend? Vote in our polls, and then embrace your own fantasy in the comments section below.
Are you playing Metaphor: ReFantazio? (1,242 votes)
- Yes, of course I'm playing it
- I plan on playing it later down the line
- Nah, I'm not sold on the game yet
- No, Metaphor just isn't for me
Are you a fan of Atlus' games? (1,055 votes)
- Yes, Atlus is one of the best developers around
- Yeah, I enjoy Atlus games
- Kind of, I like some but not others
- Nope, but I'll be playing Metaphor
- Nah, not really
- No, I just don't like Atlus games
Comments 47
Not yet; waiting for a huge sale on this one. I'm still busy with Cold Steel II, and three weeks from now YS X Nordics releases (Along with Dragon Age and Sonic X Shadow Generations), so it's already way too crowded for me haha.
But if I ever see it for sale around 30-40 euro's, I'm definitely picking it up
bought it but can't play as sold my ps5 to pay towards the pro, 4 weeks to go
It's a great game so far and I can see myself loving this game more than Persona especially as I'm a fan of Isekai/Fantasy settings. Hopefully Atlus don't trying and money grab this by releasing an upgraded version next year.
I’m still only 45 hours into Persona 3 Reload. This has been my most anticipated game of the year but I wanna at least see the finish line of Reload before I buy it.
It’s odd with them. While I overall enjoyed p5r. It’s tooooo dang long. No game should take 100 hours. Parts of it just dragged for way too long. Looking at you mind castle 5. I want to play this. But I just don’t have that kind of time to invest. 40 hour games is asking a lot these days
Love Atlus games, not a fan of their release practices, with the 'enhanced editions' normally not too far behind. I still couldn't help myself though, and I hate myself for it, but I'm loving it so far.
I'd love to play this, but I simply don't have the time to get sucked into another 100+ hour Atlus JRPG right now.
Still going through the demo and waiting for my copy to arrive. I'm liking the story so far.
Yes I'm playing it. And I will be playing it for a while. Games like this don't come around too often. Enjoy it everyone!
Atlus, Capcom, Square Enix, Nihon Falcom...some of these JPN game publishers/developers don't miss! Yay JRPGs!
Is there a poll option for "I'm not playing it because I have to adult but will play it until dawn later on?"
I spent 17 hours in the demo. The DEMO!. This is going to be longer than P5R, isn't it? I don't buy games at full price, ever, but I got way more hooked on the demo for this than I expected, and ended up preordering the PC version for a tiny sale at $61. Got it loaded on my Ally last night, ready to play today.
Got it on the mail a few hours ago, already installed it. I'm trying to wrap up the TLoU remake before getting into it since I probably won't touch another game for weeks once I do.
Can't wait.
I’ve never been able to get into SMT/Persona games, but I’m planning on trying the demo and seeing if this one is for me. I want to like Atlus’s output, but they just haven’t clicked with me. I’ve tried, believe me, I’ve tried. Just like with the Like a Dragon series, I’ve tried, but it hasn’t clicked. I’d say I might have some deep seated unconscious bias against Sega, but Puyo Puyo is one of my favorite games. It might be being self-aware of how massive the games are, so I keep my distance. I dunno. Or the games might just be so big, that I just fail on them due to my self-awareness? I dunno. There’s something.
So I will be trying Metaphor. Soon. Just not sure where it’ll go from there. I like the art style, so at the least I’ll watch the inevitable animation.
I really enjoy the Persona games and was looking forward to this. But after trying the demo I just couldn't get past the graphics. I think I'll wait for the royal edition. But it's definitely still on my list.
Not yet, but I will get this later. It does look pretty interesting and something I can get into. I’m just focused on other games at the moment.
Will definitely get it on a sale a bit down the line. Loved persona 5
With Atlus track record and I also learn my lesson from Catherine, P3, P4, and 5 which i bought the vanila version on day 1, this time i'll wait for Reload / Golden / GotY / Re-ReFantazio or whatever name they'll used for complete edition.
I enjoy Atlus games, but I enjoy Atlus games when they're finished; re-released 18 months later with more voice acting, content, balancing, etc.
I gotta wait a few days for my collector's edition but I'm definitely playing it once it's here
I am but my version ends after the prologue 😭. Hopefully I can get the better version soon tho. At least I can still enjoy the amazing music while running around in some areas doing combat
I plan on picking it up next Friday. Wanted to finish the Silent Hill 2 remake (I have) before starting this. I might jump back into the demo and finish that then carry over my save.
I couldn't help but notice the DLC costumes in the add on section, I'm not against them being available but am kinda disappointed it's mostly just more Persona skins. I would've preferred more original designs.
Just got off work about to start it proper, not transferring my lousy save from the demo over, don't want no problems.
There should be an option for
"Yes, am Atlus fan kinda, but never played their games, cause they seem too daunting/ hardcore, but I plan on buying Metaphor (and their other hits)
I will definitely will.my backlog of video games is huge right now.word up son
No for two reasons 1. Im playing Persona 3 Reload and 2. Will wait for the DLC/ New Version
I played about 2 hours of the demo and enjoyed it for what it is. Definitely held my interest more than Persona 3 or 5. Although I grew up loving turn based RPGs from Dragon Warrior 1 on NES all the way to Dragon Quest 11, the formula just doesn’t hold my interest anymore. Now I like open worlds like Breath of the Wild, RDR2, Cyberpunk 2077, and the game that started it for me; Skyrim.
Atlus has trained me to wait for the Royal or Golden or whatever edition.
@StrickenBiged Yeah the question is will they go Royal/ SMT Vengeance or The Answer DLC
I generally really like Atlus games, but I'm in no rush to get this. It can stay on my wishlist for the moment as there's other games I'm more eager to get.
I'm burnt out on RPGs for now. I have such a heavy backlog of them that I want to get in to and enjoy, but they're not holding my interest right now. I'm craving some new Resident Evil - Silent Hill 2 remake is excellent (despite a couple small technical issues). I'm looking forward to getting my copy of Conscript, then I may finally try Evil Within 1/2 again.
This one will probably wait for a couple years, but it looks and plays fantastic.
It already feels like there are a dozen versions of Persona floating around out there, honestly I'm not really excited for basically another version of a Persona game with a different skin.
I would love to. Preordered physical, but it will arrive on Monday at best.
Played the first couple of hours, it's got potential
@NEStalgia Cool! Let me know how it works on the Ally. I hope to make some space soon in it to install this massive game (86 gb or so), but with P5R, P3R, Alan Wake II, Control, Hellblade II (I know, I know, I'm those few lost souls who loved that one), both Octopath I&II and some other massive ones I didn't recall right now, it will be difficult. And I don't want to fry a micro SD putting it on my Ally! (Tbf, I think they fix this issue...at least, I think so).
@HarmanSmith From the demo (and that was before a patch was added to enhance its performance at least a little on PC) it runs just fine on the non-extreme Z1 Ally. Played 17 hours in the demo including the optional dungeon (but couldn't beat the OHKO boss of it) It's not a super performer by any stretch, I could get about 30-40fps plugged in in Turbo mode, but for a game that infamously grinds 4090 to 45fps for reasons no one can explain, I thought it played fantastic on the little Ally (and of course would be better on the Extreme Z1 version.) I think unplugged it's still better than SMTV was on Switch as an exclusive lol.
It's I think 86GB installed but needs 93GB to unpack (37GB download, unpacks to 86.) It took FOREVER to unpack it though, I had to leave the Ally running for like an hour or so, because that's a very big file to decompress for that little CPU!)
Yeah, on mine I have Metaphor, FFXIII + mods, MH Stories 2, Live A Live, P5 Strikers, Triangle Strategy, Little Kitty Big City, Harvestella, Rune Factory 5, Octopath 2, AC: Unity, SMTV, P3R, Prince of Persia: Lost Crown (Awesome on Ally btw, 120fps in turbo!), and I might be forgetting a game or two on there. I had to remove Soul Hackers 2 and Armored Core 5 to fit Metaphor lol.
I thought the "fix" for the SD slot was selling the $800 Ally X?
I'll let you know after I can dig into the full game with the patch if it's even better now tonight, but even if it's the same, it's completely playable and doesn't feel stuttery or anything. Looks good too, despite low settings.
There needs to be an option for:
"I would be but my pre-order is late and I am very disappointed"
I will wait a year or so but am playing Persona 3: Reload as a homage.
I will when the real game is released!
It's the only game I'm playing atm besides HSR and ZZZ. So far it's been amazing and the new best RPG of the year imo. Very pleased with the English voices and combat overall. Atlus did a fantastic job with Metaphor
@MikeOrator Your retailer did not pay attention to the number of days remaining to complete the main quest objective.
Hmm... i dunno.
Will try this fabled demo and then will wait for a sale. It still feels like discount persona to me.
The graphics are horrendous though
I enjoyed the demo and I know Atlus games pretty much follow the same formula but it just felt like I was playing a knock-off Persona game. I've only ever played P3P, P4 and P5, though so my opinion will probably be based as ignorant to the Atlus hardcore.
@scoobdoo Yeah they used the old proprietary engine and Persona 3 Reload used Unreal Engine 4
Not yet, because Ys X takes priority for me this month. That game releases in two weeks, and there is zero chance I'd be able to finish Metaphor in time for that.
Awaiting the Re-elected Edition in a year to eighteen months, been burned by the re-release happy Atlus too many times.
Absolutely. For their first foray into a fantasy sword and sorcery settings, ATLUS absolutely killed it with Metaphor.
The archetype system is really fun to mess around with as I'm a sucker of mixing and matching abilities to make the perfect class of my party. And the charming and relatable characters are surprisingly still present albeit being a fantasy settings. The demo doesn't do it justice as just like every other ATLUS titles before, Metaphor doesn't really shine well till you finished the first dungeon and actually get out of the first city. The new exploration and travel mechanic was such a joy to experience.
I have to say it's also the darkest ATLUS story yet, especially for a JRPG standard. Some of the bond stories and dialogues absolutely made me ugly cried.
And you bet I will get the enhanced or whatever definitive edition they'll be releasing to follow up this game. Hopefully Metaphor will be one of their permanent IPs next to SMT and Persona, because they truly have a gem here.
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