Again in 2002, Iron Maiden launched certainly one of their now quite a few ‘best hits’ albums, Edward the Nice. Kicking off with Run to the Hills and ending with the long-lasting Rock in Rio model of Concern of the Darkish, the album was my first style of Maiden’s intensive again catalogue. It was hypnotic to me, scrumptious, heady, over-the-top, camp. Imagine it or not, I bought the very same feeling from Atlus’ upcoming RPG, Metaphor ReFantazio, once I performed it at Gamescom Latam this week. Let me clarify.
For those who’re not acquainted with Atlus’ current output, the Japanese developer excels at making correct RPGs, and I really feel it helps to liken them to music genres. The latest launch, Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance, is like metalcore – edgy and indignant and loud – and appears like a correct hardcore PS2 sport (complimentary). The Pesona video games – with a remake of its moody, emo third entry hitting cabinets earlier this yr – are a bit poppier than their mother or father collection. The pop punk to MegaTen’s metallic edge.
So what does that make Metaphor ReFantazio, the peculiar new IP from Atlus and Sega as a consequence of launch later this yr? Most likely prog rock, to be trustworthy. However hey, hear me out – prog is nice now! The best way it samples all the perfect bits of the opposite genres, groovy bass traces and chugging riffs and clear and harsh vocals melding collectively to convey you one thing that sounds kinda acquainted… however is wholly its personal beast.
That’s Metaphor ReFantazio. For those who’ve bought even a lot as a passing familiarity with Atlus different video games, you’re going to recognise numerous the constituent elements right here. That oh-so-moreish Press Flip battle system that feels wholly copped from SMT3. A very daring and distinctive music route from Shoji Meguro that, truthfully, sounds extra like the oft-overlooked Shin Megami Tensei: Unusual Journey than something extra mainstream. Character designs that seem like Persona fell into the washer with a JRR Tolkein ebook.
You see why I’m saying it appears like a heavy metallic Biggest Hits album? None of those components really feel notably new – it performs, sounds, and appears a bit like stuff I’ve performed earlier than – however that’s not a foul factor in any respect. In actual fact, I like it. It’s cherry-picked all the perfect bits of earlier initiatives to serve up a good, enjoyable curio of a sport that’s all killer, no filler. Again-to-back chart-topping concepts, with not one of the guff to carry it down.
You understand how numerous bands will slap a bonus observe on the finish of their Biggest Hits to encourage extra gross sales or get you to re-buy a load of music you already personal? Effectively, ReFantazio sort-of does that with a mechanic. Enter ‘archetypes’, or – to nick a little bit of Ultimate Fantasy jargon – ’jobs’. Totally different specialisations your important forged of characters can equip and progress (by way of Persona-like social hyperlinks, principally). Confirmed varieties are as follows, with a fast bio on what they do:
Seeker – a flexible, adaptable, your ‘beginning class’
Mage – goal weaknesses with magic, get extra Press Turns
Thief – steal, mug, and use multi-hits
Brawler – rise up shut and clobber your foes
Warrior – extra aggressive and DPS-focused
Knight – simply don’t name it a tank
Healer – your bog-standard white mage by some other identify
Commander – gives buffs and might help transfer social gathering members about
Gunner – sits within the again row and peppers enemies from afar
Service provider – bear in mind the transfer ‘Nab Gil’? That, however an entire class
Faker – feint and magnificence it out
Having the ability to slot into these jogs my memory most of, oddly, Ultimate Fantasy X-2. Seeing the forged in Metaphor stylishly morph and twist into their completely different archetypes jogged my memory of watching Yuna and her end-of-the-world idol group dance into completely different jobs as you beat up the remnants of definitely-not-the-Catholic Church in Spira 2.0. That’s certainly one of my favorite FF battle methods, because it occurs, so it appears like Atlus is even cribbing a number of samples from different artists, at this level.
Not that I’m complaining. I solely bought to do a number of mobs and a boss in my time with the sport, however already you’ll be able to see how the rhythm works. You’ll be able to even go for real-time fight to batter mobs of enemies, reducing via the low-level chaff that may make grinding via Atlus dungeons an actual chore ( you, Tartarus). For those who’re buff sufficient, simply mash the motion button a number of instances and dispatch mobs in a second, as a substitute of transitioning to a squad battle.
And right here, there’s a brand new degree of tactical catnip we’ve not seen in an Atlus title earlier than: entrance and rear positions within the social gathering. Obtained a gunner? They’re ineffective up entrance, pop ‘em within the again and get a knight to protect them. Have a service provider toss cash from the again while a soldier pokes with a sword. Type a defensive ring round your Commander while they bestow ludicrous buffs throughout them. The potential for tactical foreplay is heady. The implementation is butter-smooth. The best way Atlus goes to make ‘boss encounter puzzles’ with it has me drooling.
Taking part in this sport on a busy present ground just isn’t sufficient. I would like it yesterday. Atlus, I’ve lengthy attested, is likely one of the greatest to ever do it, and its present reign of supremacy seems to be getting into its experimental section with Metaphor: ReFantazio. However this isn’t going to be like Fleetwood Mac going from Goals to Tusk, it’s like Muse going from Showbiz to Origin of Symmetry; Atlus has perfected its devices, and now it’s actually time to jam.
Metaphor: ReFantazio launches October 11, 2024 for Xbox Sequence X/S, Microsoft Home windows, PlayStation 4/5 and Steam.
