With the promise of a novel new fantasy setting and with the sport being heralded as the subsequent massive property from Atlus, expectations are naturally excessive from Metaphor: ReFantazioand new tidbits revealed by its builders proceed to color a promising image of the way it’s shaping up.
In a current stream hosted by Atlus — which additionally featured director Katsura Hashino, character designer Shigenori Soejima, and composer Shoji Meguro — new particulars concerning the upcoming fantasy RPG’s story and setting have been revealed (through ResetEra).
Metaphor: ReFantazio is being touted as an epic excessive fantasy story and can see gamers step into the footwear of a protagonist that deviates from the heroes you could be used to seeing in RPGs from Atlus.
“With this protagonist, there was a sense that we needed to painting somebody that we have not been in a position to painting in our earlier video games, resulting from their trendy settings,” says character designer Shigenori Soejima (transcript through Gematsu). “Total, we needed an androgynous and heroic protagonist, somebody who appears like he is about to alter the world, with a design that emphasizes his regular and resolute gaze.”
The protagonist might be accompanied by Gallica, a fairy who’s described as “classically implausible in some ways”, however has a “extra trendy aesthetic” the place her character design is confirmed. In line with Soejima, the Studio Zero improvement crew acquired the “preliminary inventive momentum” they wanted to design the sport’s characters based mostly on the setting after finalizing Gallica’s look.
Metaphor: by ReFantazio the story will revolve round a kingdom by which the king and his son have died, leaving an influence vacuum and a consequent bid by many to step in as the brand new ruler. The protagonist is one in every of these characters vying for the throne, and in an try and be elected the subsequent king, you’ll journey the world in an armored tank to realize help in your trigger.
Gamers will meet characters from completely different races, as befits a fantasy setting, whereas additionally, you will assist the numerous residents you meet in your travels in varied methods. Performing these favors will earn you their help and strengthen your ties with them, which might apparently be the purpose of this sport In particular person Social hyperlinks.
In line with director Katsura Hashino, “worry” and going through one’s fears would be the central theme of Metaphor: by ReFantazio historical past.
“All through my time at Atlus making RPGs, we have all the time considered the central themes of every sport as underpinning all the things, however one key phrase to Metaphor: ReFantazio it is ‘going through your worry,’” says Hashino. “Since we have been primates, people have all the time handled worry as a elementary a part of our shared expertise. Relying on the particular person, worry can paralyze somebody or even perhaps trigger them to say no, however generally it may possibly additionally push folks ahead. It is a core emotion we expertise as people, and relying on how we take a look at it, it may possibly push us someplace outdoors our consolation zones. It is a key idea that we attempt to discover Metaphor: ReFantazio.
“’Worry’ might look like a easy theme, however as a result of it is so easy, we hope folks do not stroll away considering, ‘That was a enjoyable, momentary escape. Now let’s return to actuality, the place nothing has modified.’ Somewhat, we genuinely need folks to really feel one thing of their life, possibly even really feel inspired or empowered by taking part in this sport. On this manner, the expertise is wealthy and significant, at the same time as leisure, and we’re not compromising the Atlus philosophy in the direction of RPGs, and we’re nonetheless providing one thing new and enjoyable to our followers. That was actually the last word purpose for us.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is about to launch in 2024 for PS5, Xbox Collection X/S, PS4, and PC. The sport is at present within the fine-tuning phases of improvement.
