During the night, a showcase entirely dedicated to Metaphor: ReFantaziothe new ambitious JRPG from Atlus, where for the occasion the Japanese studio has finally revealed the release date of the game, set forOctober 11, 2024 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4 and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store.
The announcement was accompanied by new information and a unreleased trailer, titled The King’s Trail, which gives us a further taste of the combat system and settings, hints at the plot and a mix of cinematic sequences. You can find it in the player below.
The new details revealed by Atlus
Starting from the plot, from the Atlus presentation we learn that Metaphor: ReFantazio is set in the fictional United Kingdom of Euchronia, where the assassination of the King has sown chaos in the country. As if that weren’t enough, the ancient “royal magic” is invoked, a sorcery that gives away the Tournament of Thrones: the election of the new ruler, which allows any individual, regardless of race or social status, to become the new King, thus sparking a heated struggle for power.
In all of this, the protagonist, accompanied by the Gallic fairy, will have to find a way to break the curse that grips the prince, the legitimate heir to the throne, who is believed dead throughout the country. To do this he will travel the kingdom, make alliances and personally participate in the Tournament of Throne.
Gameplay side, the game focuses on a turn-based combat system, but the developers have also incorporated the possibility of attacking enemies and dodging their blows in real time, and then entering a real turn-based battle. However, when you hit enemies in real time who are much weaker than the player’s party, they will be eliminated instantly, a dynamic introduced to avoid breaking the rhythm of the game too much and not boring players with clashes that are too easy.
Metaphor: ReFantazio has a job system, called Archetype, with characters that can cover various classes, each characterized by different strengths and abilities. Confirmed archetypes include warrior, wizard, thief, the brawler, and the seeker (a sort of jack-of-all-trades).
The game environments, both the cities and the wastelands that surround them, are vast and to speed up travel, players can use magic to transform the protagonist’s sword into a sort of hoverboard. Furthermore, by opening the map in the city you can instantly reach any point of interest. Outside the inhabited centers, the protagonists will travel on the Gauntlet Runner, a sort of gigantic airship that also acts as a mobile operational base. During the game we will explore a large number of dungeonsboth mandatory and optional, more than we’ve seen in any other Atlus title, according to the studio.
Metaphor: ReFantazio has a system based on dates and the passage of time. For example, traveling to a destination or doing certain tasks will take a certain number of days. The player is free to spend the time available as he wants, but the main missions have a predetermined deadline, a mechanic that will certainly not be alien to anyone who has played the Persona series.
What do you think, did what you saw convince you? Will you be purchasing Metaphor: ReFantazio at launch? Let us know in the comments.
Tags: Metaphor ReFantazio release date announced PS5 PS4 Xbox trailer details
