Metaphor: ReFantazio is the newest game developed by Studio Zero and published by ATLUS. Studio Zero is a division of ATLUS that has developed games such as Catherine: Full Body and now the new exciting addition, Metaphor: ReFantazio, its first game since 2016. ATLUS is the mastermind behind franchises such as Shin Megami Tensei and Persona.
In a brand-new character showcase, players are introduced to some of the rivals and allies they can expect to meet in this new universe. The showcase uploaded to YouTube via Official ATLUS West is 18 minutes long and has a disclaimer that the footage shown is a mixture of in-game footage and footage developed for the sake of a trailer.
The video focuses on the protagonist, a character who is participating in the Royal Tournament but also finds himself at the bottom of the social ladder. The Royal Tournament is an event where all participants vie for kingly power. The protagonist is unlikely to be king simply based on his personality and social status.
In this video, the director Katsura Hashino of Metaphor: ReFantazio introduces some of the characters and explains ways in which the protagonist can increase his favor and popularity with the people. Hashino describes the way that social bonds with specific characters can affect the abilities and archetypes your protagonist will have, which can allow the protagonist to become stronger over time depending on what relationships you choose to build on.
The King is introduced very early into the game, before the protagonist attends his funeral. Once that happens, the King’s face appears in the sky, and sets the challenge of winning the most favor in order to become king, in an event called “Tournament for the Throne.” To try and gain favor, the candidates have to travel to each major city within the Kingdom to try and win favor from the citizens, and try to prove why they are worthy of being king.
To win favor, they have to compete in challenges. One of these challenges is called the “Exhibition of the Brave” where candidates have to try and bring in the biggest monster head they can. For those who fail, they will be eliminated from the competition, which can include the protagonist if they fail the challenges given to them.
While they haven’t given specific dates, there will be more live streams on the ATLUS West YouTube channel where they do further deep dives into the game’s development and what players can expect going forward. For now, you can watch the character showcase on their YouTube channel to learn more about the beginnings of the story, and what you can expect from some of the characters in the game.
