Highlights
- Metaphor: ReFantazio combines traditional turn-based JRPG gameplay with action combat, potentially offering a unique and satisfying experience for fans of both styles.
- The game’s combat could fill the void left by Final Fantasy 16, offering action-packed gameplay with Persona-inspired visuals and turn-based segments for fans of classic JRPG combat.
- Metaphor: ReFantazio aims to deliver a game that captures the fast-paced action and fantastical set pieces of Final Fantasy 16 while also satisfying fans of the Persona series with its unique blend of gameplay elements.
Atlus and the team behind some of the most recent Persona games have given fans a look at their brand-new title Metaphor: ReFantazio during The Game Awards 2023, showing off some of the title’s gameplay and story elements. While Persona fans will have another game to look forward to during the wait for Persona 6, Metaphor: ReFantazio may also fill the void left by another JRPG franchise. Fans of Final Fantasy 16 should be excited about Metaphor: ReFantazio as it seems to blend many of the elements that made the Square Enix title popular with more traditional JRPG conventions.
Although Metaphor: ReFantazio was first unveiled at the Xbox Showcase in June 2023, the recent Game Awards trailer highlighted even more details about the game for players to get excited about. It’s clear that a lot of Persona‘s DNA is baked into the gameplay and visuals of Metaphor: ReFantizo, but there are also a handful of new elements that help the game distinguish itself from Atlus’ other titles. The combination of gameplay elements in Metaphor: ReFantazio not only presents the opportunity for a new JRPG experience but could also help continue the legacy of Final Fantasy 16.
What Project Re Fantasy Rumors Got Right and Wrong About Metaphor: ReFantazio
With Metaphor: ReFantazio’s reveal, many of the game’s rumors can finally be put to rest as some were right but most were not.
Metaphor: ReFantazio Combines Action Combat with Turn-Based Gameplay
From what has been shown of Metaphor: ReFantazio, it appears to be combining elements of traditional, turn-based JRPG gameplay with action combat. Atlus is no stranger to these gameplay styles, with the Persona series utilizing the classic JRPG turn-based gameplay since its inception, and a title like Persona 5 Strikers meshing hack-and-slash action combat with the series’ iconic mechanics. With this pedigree of games under their belt, JRPG fans should be excited about what kind of experience Atlus can deliver with a game like Metaphor: ReFantazio.
Despite the debate among genre fans between action and turn-based combat in JRPGs, Final Fantasy 16‘s fully action-based combat delivered a fast-paced and satisfying experience for players. While this gameplay hit all the right notes for some, others believed Final Fantasy 16 had shed the series’ longtime identity with the transition to action combat. However, the combination of both types of gameplay may mean that players will get the best of both worlds with Metaphor: ReFantazio, potentially giving players who were disappointed by Final Fantasy 16‘s gameplay the kind of game they’ve been hoping for.
Final Fantasy 16’s Legacy Lives On with Metaphor: ReFantazio
The style of combat present in Final Fantasy 16 allowed players to experience a Final Fantasy game like never before, trading turn-based strategy for views of fantastical set pieces amid the combos of its breakneck action gameplay. While many players have looked for games like Final Fantasy 16 to replicate the same feeling its action-packed combat gave them, Metaphor: ReFantazio might finally be the game that delivers on that desire. It’s not clear yet just how the game’s combat will be split between action and turn-based segments, but it could potentially give Final Fantasy 16 a run for its money.
The action segments of Metaphor: ReFantazio look like they could pack the same punch as Final Fantasy 16‘s combat with the flourish of Persona 5‘s visual style. This action-based gameplay could scratch the itch created by Final Fantasy 16 for fans of its combat, while the turn-based gameplay should satisfy fans of the classic JRPG combat that was missing from Final Fantasy 16. As more information comes out about Metaphor: ReFantazio, it will likely become clear just how these two styles of combat will intertwine, likely demonstrating just how the game can satisfy fans of both the Persona series and Final Fantasy 16.
Final Fantasy 16
- Released
- June 22, 2023
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- How Long To Beat
- 36 Hours
- Metascore
- 87
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
