Atlus once again showed how much it understands superior game development when it released Metpahor: ReFantazio. Combining the elements of an immersive narrative and simple JRPG mechanics earned their game high praise from almost everyone in the gaming community. Clocking in at nearly 90 hours of gameplay, the high tensions arising from every political power presented in this fantasy adventure have audiences at the edge of their seats!
Like most Atlus games, Metaphor: ReFantazio looks promising regarding emotional catharsis after playing through its story. After finishing it, why not try out these games made by Atlus for more examples of masterful storytelling in video games?
Persona 5 Royal
While Atlus has been developing countless video games for years, one title earned them the distinction of being one of the industry's powerhouses. The fifth installment of Atlus' illustrious series, Persona 5 Royal, is a re-release with surprises that no one will see coming. See what we did there?
Building on the original Persona 5, Royal expands the compelling ideas and executions that made the game a must-play among JRPG fans. Some of the cumbersome mechanics in the original game were streamlined in this re-release, along with other additional gameplay improvements. However, the most significant addition to Royal is a new semester that adds two significant characters to the story and a new Palace to complete.
Of course, we can't talk about Persona 5 Royal without the music! The wild acid jazz soundtrack complements its already striking visuals, making Persona 5 Royal not just one of the best games in history. It is also one of the most stylish! It's guaranteed that Last Surprise will get stuck in anyone's head when they put in a couple of hours in Persona 5 Royal.
Persona 3 FES/Persona 3 Reload
It can be argued that the Persona series started to gain popularity among JRPG fans and players during its third installment. From here on out, it can be said that Persona 3 FES paved the way for the following games in the series, from the gameplay to its themes.
Speaking of themes, Persona 3 FES is known throughout the gaming community as one of the darkest games that Atlus has ever developed. The main cast, most of which are composed of students, dealt with the daunting task of conquering Tartarus. Once the 'Dark Hour' strikes in the real world, Tartarus appears while also letting in harmful entities known as Shadows in the real world.
While Persona 3 Reload is a remake for modern gaming platforms, the best way to truly experience its dark and heavy narrative is by playing Persona 3 FES. The epilogue, 'The Answer,' expands on the original narrative, which isn't included yet in Reload.
Persona 4 Golden
At this point, it shouldn't be a secret that the next Persona game isn't rainbows and sunshine. Following the incredibly grim Persona 3, Persona 4 Golden is yet another game by Atlus that has impressionable youth take on the world's problems once more.
Persona 4 takes place a year after the events of Persona 3's 'The Answer'. This thrilling murder mystery in a rural town was nothing new to the Persona narrative agendas, but it doesn't mean Persona 4 isn't exciting. Some even consider Persona 4 as the best Persona game, which isn't a common argument among the fandom. It can also take a turn to gruesomeness when it wants to, which Atlus does masterfully throughout the 80-hour narrative.
Shin Megami Tensei IV
The Shin Megami Tensei series is an integral project defining Atlus as a creative and imaginative game developer with a unique vision. It is Atlus' answer to its contemporary JRPG giants, Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. And like both these franchises, it has attracted a sizeable audience that always looks forward to what the next installment has to say.
Shin Megami Tensei IV is one of the most profound games ever created. It makes insightful statements and observations about social injustices, amplified by its meticulous gameplay depth. It can be subversive at some points, which is the mark of impressive artistry.
Catherine: Full Body
Catherine: Full Body is yet another showcase of Atlus' unique video game creation vision. It sticks out from their catalog because the game has a grounded premise compared to the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona titles. And yet, it remains such a popular game because of its inherent outlandishness!
The player is Vincent, a guy in a relationship with Katherine. Their relationship has been stagnant for a while. Enter Catherine, a woman who might be the girl of Vincent's dreams. As Vincent navigates through his dilemma, a dark presence chases him in his nightmares, which he must escape every time he sleeps. Catherine: Full Body adds another woman for Vincent in the form of Rin, short for Qatherine, of course.
Another standout from Catherine: Full Body is its gameplay. Instead of an RPG like most Atlus games, Catherine: Full Body is an action puzzle game where Vincent must push and climb blocks to escape his nightmares. The gameplay is engaging enough that it even birthed an esports scene!
Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir
Atlus also possesses impressive prowess as a game publisher. After all, they were responsible for publishing Demon Souls. Yes, THAT Demon Souls from FromSoftware. More importantly, however, they birthed the studio Vanillaware. This humble studio was once part of Atlus itself.
One of their most successful games is Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir, a remaster of the original for modern consoles. This sprawling action-adventure game stands out for its highly detailed art and characters in 2D during a time when the PlayStation 2 rendered 3D graphics at a decent pace. Despite its graphical limitations at the time, Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir does not compromise on its gameplay and narrative.
Metaphor: ReFantazio's successful release is an excellent reason to celebrate Atlus's history and games. All of Atlus's games have a certain weight to them, and their narratives are deep enough to warrant their immense load times. They each stand as a testament to video games being a formidable artistic medium; Atlus has proven time and time again that they can deliver an immersive experience they can truly call their own.