ATLUS and Studio Zero have premiered a new 21-minute showcase for Metaphor: ReFantazio, diving deep into Archetype (class system) customisation, battle tactics, special moves, skill inheritance, and online interactivity. This deep dive comes directly after its brief appearance at the Summer Game Fest presentation headed by Director Katsura Hashino. Check out the showcase below!
Metaphor: ReFantazio‘s protagonist will gain access to a facility known as the Akademeia, overseen by someone who will help players extensively customise their classes, known as Archetypes. The game will contain over 40 different Archetypes, with the majority capable of evolving from basic to more advanced ones through story progress, battles, and deepened character relationships. Each Archetype brings a unique suite of skills and abilities that grow in complexity and strength as they evolve, both affecting real-time and turn-based battles in significant ways. In addition, Archetypes are accessible to all playable party members, guaranteeing a high level of customisation.
Positioning is a key element of battles in Metaphor: ReFantazio, with all characters needing to be put in either the front or back row. Specific Archetypes can only use abilities in certain row positions and can influence their fellow party members’ positions to aid them. Every Archetype will also have a unique “Fast Action”, which is a move that will allow players to eliminate weak enemies quickly in real-time based on the class’ core offensive abilities. This ranges from a quick sword strike, an area-of-effect magic blast, long-range enemy sniping, and more.
Metaphor: ReFantazio Screenshots
To help balance combat, players will be able to access special moves known as Synthesis. Each Synthesis move uses the protagonist and the chosen party member’s turns to fuse abilities, changing the tide of battle through offensive or defensive techniques.
By changing Archetypes, players can also inherit mastered skills—a legacy feature from the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series. This adds even more options to help players create their own unique Archetype variations. While exploring dungeons, you can also check out and switch to other players’ Archetype compositions.
Hashino confirmed that each Archetype sports a unique character design, primarily crafted by character designer Shigenori Soejima. Yuji Himukai, well-known for his work on the Etrian Odyssey franchise, also contributed to the design of several Archetypes.
A cavalcade of information, no? Every single thing I hear about Metaphor: ReFantazio only deepens my excitement and appreciation for it. As with most ATLUS titles, it constantly oozes style with such ease.
Metaphor: ReFantazio will launch on October 11th for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store. Players can pre-order it both digitally and physically via its official website.
Stay tuned to RPGFan for all news RPG and Summer Game Fest!
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