Atlus' 2024 new JRPG adventureMetaphor: ReFantaziois a refreshing and satisfying journey to work through. While it isn’t too derivative of any other games within the genre, it is most commonly compared toPersona 5 Royal.
This checks out since Metaphor: ReFantazio was worked on by a team who were previously closely tied to the development of the recent Persona titles, with their most recent game before this being Persona 5 Royal, the definitive edition of Persona 5. While there are clear differences between the two games, there are also plenty of similarities, so which game is better?
5Combat - Metaphor: ReFantazio
Thanks to its more free-form exploration, and smooth transitions into combat, Metaphor: ReFantazio comes out on top. Even though the combat ends up being relatively standard for a turn-based title, it has enough depth to stick out from others.
It’s made even better by the level of customisation possible for not just the protagonist, but every other party member as well. Compared to Persona games, where most party members fulfill a pre-determined role, each member in Metaphor: ReFantazio is much more malleable, while still standing out from each other with unique traits.
Combat In Persona 5 Royal
Even though it didn’t win this category, the combat in Persona 5 Royal is still plenty of fun, and it will keep you engaged from beginning to end. The turn-based structure is incredibly refined, and collecting Personas is as fun as it’s ever been.
The reason why it lacks behind Metaphor: ReFantazio is because quite early on in Persona 5 Royal’s campaign, you will have seen most of what the combat has to offer.After unlocking Showtime attacks, the combat will still remain engaging, but largely similar. For a game as long as this, it can begin to get a little repetitive in the later hours.
4Characters - Persona 5 Royal
The cast of Persona 5lives up to the high standards set by the rest of the series, and following the Phantom Thieves as they grow and develop doesn’t get old.
The heart of the Persona series is the characters, and even outside of the core party members, there are loveable NPCs that you learn more about with the series' refined Social Link system. It’s no wonder that the cast of Persona 5 remains so popular, and has managed to carry not just the mainline Persona 5 games, but also a handful of spin-offs, too.
Characters In Metaphor: ReFantazio
While it is slightly surpassed by Persona, the cast of Metaphor: ReFantazio is by no means a drag — you’ll be just as invested in their narratives and their place in the world at large.
A strength of the characters in Metaphor: ReFantazio is their diversity, with no two characters being easy to mistake for each other. It also helps that its protagonist is voice-acted (compared to the largely silent Joker), as it makes the character a lot easier to be invested in.
3Story - Metaphor: ReFantazio
While both Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona 5 Royal tell a fantastic story, Metaphor wins thanks to being slightly more focused. That’s not to say that the narrative told in Metaphor is completely linear, but its central theme of diversity (while occasionally a little on the nose) is always kept in mind.
Another strength is that Metaphor’s story is a little less predictable. Thanks to being an original IP, it’s harder to see where the story is going, but it also cleverly utilizes both the party members and the side characters to feel like consistent and active players in the overall narrative, not just their individual arcs.
Story In Persona 5 Royal
Persona 5 Royal’sstory is fantastic, and it’s part of the reason why the game has managed to remain so popular. However, a common complaint about both the original 5’s and Royal’s story is that it starts incredibly strong but lags a little in the middle.
The first arc of 5 does a fantastic job of establishing the game’s world and themes, but some of the dungeons in the second act start to blend together, slightly harming the game’s pacing. Both 5 and Royal have great endings, and Royal has an advantage over the original thanks to its completely fresh third semester.
2Music - Persona 5 Royal
Part of the reason why Persona 5 was such a cultural phenomenon was because of how much of a polished complete package it is, and a strong aspect of this is the game’s phenomenal soundtrack. While the modern trilogy of Persona games all have solid OSTs, 5’s stands out thanks to its distinct identity and plethora of unique tracks.
Whether it’s the bombastic opening and combat themes, or the more ambient jazzy music for day-to-day life, even years after finishing the game, its music still stands out.
Music In Metaphor: ReFantazio
Of course, it’s hard to judge the legacy of Metaphor: ReFantazio’s music thanks to its recency, but it still manages to put up a strong fight against one of the most recognizable and beloved soundtracks in gaming history.
Fully orchestrated soundtracks are more common in the Triple-A sphere than ever, and this fact doesn’t help a game stand out as much as it used to, but Metaphor: ReFantazio takes full advantage of every tool at its disposal, with the game’s combat theme standing out as a clear highlight.
1Winner - Both
It’s tricky to choose a definitive winner between Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona 5 Royal. While they have clear similarities, they also feel like they stand in very distinct categories too.
Persona 5 Royal is the definitive Persona experience, and a perfect entry point for the series. However, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a completely original project by the same team, and it shows that they’re capable of creating something unique and original, without feeling reductive. The title you prefer will likely depend on your personal tastes in style, with the distinct contrast between the Japanese high school and high fantasy settings appealing slightly more to different audiences.
