Metaphor: ReFantazio (2024)

I was playing this game pretty consistently for 2 weeks in February, but as of writing, it has been 3 weeks since I've played it. I got about half way through (the native island where there is like a dragon and I have to save a 3 eyed girl) and I just kind of stopped, but I am hoping to pick it back up soon. Just writing down some of my thoughts before picking it back up again. I didn't have a particular reason I dropped it, I did do a mini-dungeon that kind of annoyed me because it was harder than I thought lol, but that isn't a reason I dropped it. I think my work was just getting a little busier and my friends and I were playing a lot of OW, so I fell off playing a bit, but hope to start back up soon.

To start with what I think about the game, it is basically my first actual JRPG I've ever played, and my first Atlus game that I've played (lots of my friends are Atlus fans and wonder why I started with Metaphor, I just think the setting is much cooler than a high school), and I will say so far, I have been enjoying it gameplay wise. Aside from the dungeon that I last played being pretty difficult (although it is kind of my fault with how I prepared for it), I think it has been a good time. The "job" system in this game is a little foreign to me, I don't really feel a reason to switch characters' jobs and some roles seem weird and figuring out synergies is a little annoying, but there are some moments where it just clicks and is quite fun.

The environment is pretty cool and the art direction of the world and the UI is fantastic. Honestly, the biggest dissapointment are the anime cutscnesn, they look very amateur and way worse than just in-engine cutscenes.

The characters are pretty great, I have a lot of fun with the social links and character progression they go through. The scializing in general and gaining the attributse I think is pretty fun.

The story so far is pretty good, I don't think it's anything groundbreaking, but I am having a good time following it. I honestly prefer the smaller parts of the story than the bigger king selection process, but at the same time, I really like Louis as an antagonist.

Overall, I have quite enjoyed the game so far, and before I am like one of my friend's who chronically does not finish single player games, I am hoping to get back on the game and finish it my early April.

68h

Un juego que consigue perfeccionar la formula de Atlus, ahora también con muchas más localizaciones y unas mazmorras más completas ya que son todas a medida (incluso las más secundarias). Los confidentes son siempre más de lo mismo, algunos más interesantes otros menos pero ninguno malo de por sí. Especial mención a Maria y a Strohl que han sido sin duda mis favoritos. Al final del juego te dan practicamente un mes "libre" para terminar todos los vínculos, subir de nivel y hacer secundarias. Yo conseguí hacer todo y pude perder el tiempo (aunque me quedé unos niveles más bajo de lo que me habría gustado para el boss final). También cabe mencionar que los MP son DEMASIADO importantes al final del juego. En general un muy buen juego, con buena banda sonora y una historia que sin ser nada del otro mundo saca un poco de lo de siempre y te hace tener alguna que otra duda.

9/10

Junah's special class is vastly more complicated than every other class I've found so far, and I'm not even sure if it's any good, but I kinda love it! Very much feels like the combat designer's pet project that they were determined to jam into the game.

Also, I haven't been super hot on most of the soundtrack, but the theme for Virga Island rules and is teaching me about South Indian classical music:

Still having a jolly time with Metaphor, but the UI surrounding equipment and the job system is pretty rough. Nine or more button presses just to switch out a single job is simply too many, especially considering how heavily dungeons incentivize switching. And changing jobs frequently auto-equips subpar items, as well, which requires a whole other trip into the menu.

Kinda baffling how clunky it all is, when other parts of the UI feel incredibly snappy.

Metaphor's fun so far! I like the cast, the faster pacing compared to the Personas is lovely, and it's rad that they removed P5's artificial roadblocks which prevent players from clearing dungeons in one day.

But it does also feel a bit stale, with very little going on structurally or narratively that sets it apart from the established Atlus formula.