Metaphor: ReFantazio (PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PS4) (October 11, 2024)
- Thread starter Responsible Allen Iverson
- Start date
How many hours in are you? To me if a game is like 70+ hours then it can take a few hours before it starts to really click. Same with Expedition 33, it took me about that amount of time before it clicked and I started liking it.
Naw E33 was lit like 30 minutes in.
Even the early story set up bits were lots more interactive and interesting.
This was like a full anime OVA before i ever did anything significant gameplay wise.
It’s an interesting Anime so i’m down for giving it a chance, but if ima play for 70 hours ima need the gameplay side of things to get a lot better
it took me the 1st few battles to like Expedition 33, this game, i didnt like the combat and turned it off after 2 hours
I am loving Trials of Mana though and I've only played it 2 hours
Lol I hated that game just from the demo. Felt corny. This game though's battle system/depth opens up the more you play. It's not a flashy type of game as soon as it starts. 2 hours is barely anything.
When it comes to Metaphor... it looks like Persona 5 which i havent beat and I rather be playing over this
tripleaamin
All Star
I still need to play Expedition 33, but man finished this last night, and this was just 
Storytelling was great. Writing was great with both in terms of character writing, but also with themes being presented. The 3 notable ones were
Louis is definitely easily one of the best JRPG villains we have gotten as of late.
World Building was excellent, even with the big reveals happening near the endgame. It really builds itself well. Game did a good job at keeping you on your toes in thinking, What am I really seeing? Is this how it really is?
Persona gameplay is pretty mediocre. Even the higher difficulties are a snoozefest. In Metaphor, it presented a decent challenge that wasn't super difficult, but it still was enough to keep you engaged. The whole class system with archetypes I loved and the flexibility I look to dive into when I do a NG+ Regicide run. I do admit the music was not on par with Persona.
I have to admit I am a bit concerned about how Atlus can top this from a storytelling perspective because the nature of the Persona series feels too restrictive unless they change the formula. Though with how big Persona is I doubt this happens.
I really want to see the games behind Metaphor to work on SMT. As SMT V felt really really flat after playing Nocturne. Even if the gameplay was outdated the atmosphere & themes presented in Nocturne were good. Nocturne is a good example of how you do a minimalist story in a JRPG where gameplay is the focus.
Storytelling was great. Writing was great with both in terms of character writing, but also with themes being presented. The 3 notable ones were
- Class & Equality
- Political & Corruption
- Anxiety & Power.
- The protagonist being Elda highlights most of them. Because of the twist that happens near the close of the endgame, I do think it could have built on him more, but you can feel how much people are against him and willing to turn on him in the blink of an eye. Having the mother & father watching over him the whole time was a nice touch.
- Strohl's arc gets handled quite early as it has typical what it means to be a noble. But it is executed well. I did love his bond quest. Understanding who his parents were & what they did for him even pushes forward his early character arc. Also for him to understand Louis and his motivations were also a nice touch.
- Hulkenberg was a showcase of how much the political corruption surfaced because she had to question her ideals. Seeing her bounce back was quite solid to add.
- Heismay's introduction to the story is where the story really came to shine. The anxiety of losing his son was unbearable & he basically gave up on life. All because of how fukked up the class system is. It was easy for people to make him out to be a villain, and he didn't care. The parallels to Joanna's struggles were brilliant imo. Instead of falling to grace like him he would fight for his son. Also, his bond quest was great, focusing on the Eugief tribe & showing how even they outcasted him. Even highlights more on how he views the protagonist like a son. Carrying his now dead son in his heart, but also at the protagonist like a son since he saved Heismay in many regards.
- Junah def felt the weakest of the main cast. I do like how calculating she can be in her introduction. However, her whole arc with her sister felt rushed. I think the emotional impact is there, but the mage academy should have been an arc with a dungeon. I guess it had to be cut out. Also her bond quest felt just weird. Didn't really explore her tribe too much, and focusing on her point as a songstress was so odd.
- Eupha much like Strohl had a simple arc. For her being blind to her religious customs. Much like the people who followed Sanctism were blind in following their teachings. When in reality, with what Forden was doing. I do like the nod of her taking off the mask when she finally realized this. Her bond quest was more of a followup. It was fine, but nothing special.
- Basilio & Fidelio like Heismay were absolute highlights for this game. For them they thought Louis's ideals matched with what they wanted. Though they travel with the protagonist & see how the bottom people like Mustari are really like. Basilio questions siding with Louis, even Fidelio mentioning it is too late for them to backout. Then the point in the Altabury arc when they really realize that Louis will stomp on the weak was great. Fidelio was the icing on top
. Also really liked Basilio's bond quest as it highlights what their situation was like before they met Louis. - Alonzo, Maria & Brigitta's bond quests I really liked. Brigitta's bond quest really is where you really see for the first time the corruption of the church and all of the bullshyt about them. Alonzo is a fascinating character. Kind of shows that in the realities of the world trickery is needed. To also see him lose everything, but able to push that forward was great. Maria you really see how fukked up the world is for a child without parents. Honestly without the protaginst it's scary to think where she would be.
- The fairies and Galica are probably the most underutilized component of the game. Wished the time gave them a bit focus in the Ancient Eldan Sanctum portion of the story. Though that part was beefy, so it is understandable.
Louis is definitely easily one of the best JRPG villains we have gotten as of late.
- A lot of JRPG's have this issue of having the best villain not be endgame. Xenoblade 3 is an example of this. Despite everything the protagonist was doing along the scenes nothing really fazed him. The biggest drop of him faking his death, so he could kill Forden. The manner is in a way he was almost manipulating the main party to his own advantage. That is terrifying in a way.
- Also loved how they used Forden to really show why Louis is how he is. Forden is more the root cause & is why Louis is the way he is. Forden going after the Elda because of the prince is what made Louis believe power trumps all. The stronger should preside over the weak. While Louis turned evil he turned into an interesting character as you understand why he is like that.
- Ultimately the point of lacking trust is his biggest flaw. But you can't blame him as he lost everything because of Forden. Unlike the protagonist, he did not have a support group, and you can tell he kept his followers at a distance. If they wanted to be used for his advantage he wasn't gonna deny them.
World Building was excellent, even with the big reveals happening near the endgame. It really builds itself well. Game did a good job at keeping you on your toes in thinking, What am I really seeing? Is this how it really is?
Persona gameplay is pretty mediocre. Even the higher difficulties are a snoozefest. In Metaphor, it presented a decent challenge that wasn't super difficult, but it still was enough to keep you engaged. The whole class system with archetypes I loved and the flexibility I look to dive into when I do a NG+ Regicide run. I do admit the music was not on par with Persona.
I have to admit I am a bit concerned about how Atlus can top this from a storytelling perspective because the nature of the Persona series feels too restrictive unless they change the formula. Though with how big Persona is I doubt this happens.
I really want to see the games behind Metaphor to work on SMT. As SMT V felt really really flat after playing Nocturne. Even if the gameplay was outdated the atmosphere & themes presented in Nocturne were good. Nocturne is a good example of how you do a minimalist story in a JRPG where gameplay is the focus.
Last edited:
tripleaamin
All Star
