There are still many big games scheduled to release this Christmas, and Metaphor: ReFantazio from Atlus is one of them. While the SEGA subsidiary really doesn’t want you to know the game is coming to PS5, it is on 11th October. This gameplay demo appears to be based on the Xbox Series X|S release judging by the button prompts, but that’s not massively surprising considering Microsoft has a marketing arrangement with the release.
Aside from some major performance issues, this demo has a bit of everything. You’ll see relationships being forged, turn-based combat, and even a bit of exploration. It really does appear to scratch the same itch as the Persona series, albeit in a fantasy setting. Our only criticism is that it looks a little outdated technically, even if the art direction is on point.

Are you sold on Metaphor: ReFantazio? (538 votes)
- Yes, I really don't need to see more
- Yeah, I plan on playing it
- I'm on the fence right now
- Nah, I'm not convinced
- No, it's just not my thing
[source youtube.com]
Comments 18
I appreciate that Atlus really wants people to see this game, but I feel like every week there is a new “hour long footage” of the game, or another 3 minute trailer. It almost ruins the hype because we are being over saturated with it early on. Regardless, I’ll be playing it day one.
Wow, how much more they going to show? Pre Orders must be really low.
Looks incredible. I'll get the real release in a year or so.
They've just dropped a trailer over on Playstations YouTube channel as well.
At this point, and knowing what kind of stuff ATLUS put in their trailers at times, I'll just wait for reviews and to find out how well (or how badly) they handle the time management part of it.
If it's like persona - and you either need to play with a guide or finish it multiple times - and as long as I expect I'm probably gonna pass.
A game has to be an absolute banger of an action game, which this isn't, for me to even consider doing more than one run at this point in my life. I don't want to sit through lengthy RPGs multiple times.
I already have a full time job.
@LikelySatan me too, I'll buy the complete edition for the nintendo switch 2 in 1-2 years
@breakneck Yeah it's already over 10k now lol.
Not sure yet, it’s looking too similar to Persona. I like the Persona series but was hoping for something a bit more refreshing from Atlus
Did they finally caved and dropped the trailer on PS channel too or not yet?
Definitely didn't want that 3:1 preorder ratio huh?
Bruh they dropping new footage and trailers every other day…. Save some newly discovered excitement for the release
I don't know why people are so shook by this strategy lol. It seems like Atlus has big Microsoft money for ad space after all their Game Pass deals. Atlus was already notorious for making trailers with mild spoilers, most of the time with multiple trailers per game.
I'll agree that I personally don't want to know more since I'm very interested in playing. I'm not gonna hate on them for putting lots of their marketing into gameplay stuff for people who aren't as easily convinced to buy a turn based rpg that isn't Pokemon or something. Seeing Morgana on a train in Japan is cute but I think this actually helps show people on the fence (& who don't buy basically anything Atlus makes) that this is a very high quality game.
@FraserG with all of the marketing for this game from Xbox, I’m curious why Pure Xbox hasn’t provided even a fraction of the updates that Push Square has on this game. Would be nice to see an article over there on this gameplay video. I know plenty of Xbox gamers would be interested.
I'm very excited for Metaphor! I don't understand what everyone is on about, though. I've only watched maybe two or three trailers. If you want to be surprised, then just stop watching the trailers. A very simple solution...
Atlas is trying to make a third series to go with SMT and Persona so it’s not shocking to me that they’re trying to earn trust with whoever is on the fence ahead of launch of a new product — especially since publishers are obsessed with preorder numbers. This was also obviously an expensive game so probably also their biggest gamble yet.
Ultimately if PushSquare wants they could just not make an article for each new piece of media that goes live but my guess is they’re getting a good click through rate and engagement numbers.
@Zeroo That's exactly what I'm worried about. I just got SMT V: Vengeance, which I waited for to get off the Switch. I don't want to wait for Metaphor, but I don't want to have to buy another copy in a few months because I was impatient...
@yohn777 yeah if there's something I want zero spoilers for, I don't pay attention to coverage. This made me want to play the game. Like I said though, I'll wait for the actual release.
Honestly the lack of romance is slightly disappointing given the setting and the wide vary of social links they are still using. This is basically persona 5 with a different skin and they took the romance out as to try and make this different but what it's going to be is a not as good version of persona 5.
Hopefully they add in more VA too as I noticed quite a bit is missing.
I will still enjoy the game as Atlus make quality games but it's dropped down my priority list.
I don't think this will review anywhere near as strongly as the persona of SMT games either.
I'm just not digging the aesthetic or the story here. The UI looks like they took the Persona 5 menus and intentionally ruined the clean look that made them so clear and usable.
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