Summary
Atlus and the team behind some of the most recentPersonagames have given fans a look at their brand-new titleMetaphor: ReFantazioduring The Game Awards 2023, showing off some of the title’s gameplay and story elements. WhilePersonafans will have another game to look forward to during the wait forPersona 6,Metaphor: ReFantaziomay also fill the void left by another JRPG franchise. Fans ofFinal Fantasy 16should be excited aboutMetaphor: ReFantazioas it seems to blend many of the elements that made the Square Enix title popular with more traditional JRPG conventions.
AlthoughMetaphor: ReFantaziowas first unveiled at the Xbox Showcasein June 2023, the recent Game Awards trailer highlighted even more details about the game for players to get excited about. It’s clear that a lot ofPersona’s DNA is baked into the gameplay and visuals ofMetaphor: ReFantizo, but there are also a handful of new elements that help the game distinguish itself from Atlus' other titles. The combination of gameplay elements inMetaphor: ReFantazionot only presents the opportunity for a new JRPG experience but could also help continue the legacy ofFinal Fantasy 16.
Metaphor: ReFantazio Looks Like the Perfect Follow-Up for Final Fantasy 16 Fans
Metaphor: ReFantazio Combines Action Combat with Turn-Based Gameplay
From what has been shown ofMetaphor: ReFantazio, it appears to be combining elements of traditional, turn-based JRPG gameplay with action combat. Atlus is no stranger to these gameplay styles, with thePersonaseries utilizing the classic JRPG turn-based gameplay since its inception, and a title likePersona 5 Strikersmeshing hack-and-slash action combat with the series' iconic mechanics. With this pedigree of games under their belt, JRPG fans should be excited about what kind of experience Atlus can deliver with a game likeMetaphor: ReFantazio.
Despite the debate among genre fans between action and turn-based combat in JRPGs,Final Fantasy 16’s fully action-based combatdelivered a fast-paced and satisfying experience for players. While this gameplay hit all the right notes for some, others believedFinal Fantasy 16had shed the series' longtime identity with the transition to action combat. However, the combination of both types of gameplay may mean that players will get the best of both worlds withMetaphor: ReFantazio, potentially giving players who were disappointed byFinal Fantasy 16’s gameplay the kind of game they’ve been hoping for.
Final Fantasy 16’s Legacy Lives On with Metaphor: ReFantazio
The style of combat present inFinal Fantasy 16allowed players to experience aFinal Fantasygame like never before, trading turn-based strategy for views of fantastical set pieces amid the combos of its breakneck action gameplay. While many players have looked forgames likeFinal Fantasy 16to replicate the same feeling its action-packed combat gave them,Metaphor: ReFantaziomight finally be the game that delivers on that desire. It’s not clear yet just how the game’s combat will be split between action and turn-based segments, but it could potentially giveFinal Fantasy 16a run for its money.
The action segments ofMetaphor: ReFantaziolook like they could pack the same punch asFinal Fantasy 16’s combat with the flourish ofPersona 5’s visual style. This action-based gameplay could scratch the itch created byFinal Fantasy 16for fans of its combat, while the turn-based gameplay should satisfy fans of the classic JRPG combat that was missing fromFinal Fantasy 16. As moreinformation comes out aboutMetaphor: ReFantazio, it will likely become clear just how these two styles of combat will intertwine, likely demonstrating just how the game can satisfy fans of both thePersonaseries andFinal Fantasy 16.
