Breakdown
- There won't be any romance in Metaphor: ReFantazio
- While players can build up their relationship with Followers, you can't romance them
- Atlus is differentiating their next major IP from Persona
Metaphor: ReFantazio might be a new Atlus RPG from the developers of Persona, but it won’t be including certain elements from the series like romance. This might be a deal breaker for some, especially those who wanted to romance the giant pink-haired rabbit lady, but that does differentiate the game from its predecessor.
During an Atlus stream that ended in a Q&A (via Persona Central), it was revealed that the game’s relationship system won’t include romance like in the recent Persona games. Players will meet various “Followers” in the game and build relationships with them, but romance will not be a part of that.
Since Metaphor: ReFantazio is a brand-new IP for Atlus, it does make sense for the game to differentiate itself from the company’s most popular franchise. While it is weird seeing Atlus add Persona DLC to the game, including alternate costumes for the characters, they are trying to differentiate the gameplay, at the very least.
There’s a lot of hype behind this new RPG, as its trailer dazzled everyone with gorgeous visuals and a unique setting. It also helps that this game is being made by the same people who worked on Persona 5, one of the best modern JRPGs in recent memory.
Unlike the previous Persona games, Metaphor: ReFantazio is going to have a unique combat system that mixes real-time combat with a turn-based system. Apparently, easier enemies will be handled in real-time, while harder foes will use a more familiar turn-based system. Let’s hope it feels more fluid during actual gameplay, since that sounds like it would cause a disconnect for players who might prefer the real-time or turn-based fighting.
At the time of writing, this new RPG is expected to come out on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, and PC. There are reports claiming that it will also be coming out on Switch 2 alongside Persona 3 Reload, but Atlus has yet to confirm this.
Metaphor: ReFantazio will be coming out on October 11. Fans can check out our review of Persona 3 Reload here, where we gave it a perfect score.