Summary
Metaphor: ReFantaziohas now been officially released, and just likeAtlus’other games in recent years,it’s an absolute banger. We can safely say that Atlus would not have been able to make such a good game if it hadn’t tweaked and perfected Metaphor’s formula without years of experimenting with other JRPGs likePersona, Soul Hackers,Shin Megami Tensei, and Devil Summoner, and Atlus has acknowledged this by including little nods to each series in the game.
One place that you’ll find a bunch of references to Atlus' other titles isin Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Archetypes system, which isthe game’s own take on the classic Job system. After you’ve spent a considerable amount of time in Metaphor: ReFantazio, you’ll be able to evolve the Archetypes that your party members use, and these evolved Archetypes are where you’ll find your neat little references.
Metaphor ReFantazio Archetypes Include Persona And Soul Hackers Easter Eggs
For example, players will eventually come across a character who has a special ability to create masks (we’re being as vague as possible to try and avoid spoilers here), and the mask they equip gives them the skills of specific Archetypes. These masks will have pretty familiar names for Persona fans, and familiar tarot art will flash across the screen when they’re forged. If that was too subtle for you, the name of this person’s evolved Archetype is “Persona Master”.
Metaphor: ReFantazio even manages to sneak in a couple of references to other massive franchises, as you’re able to nab achievements/trophies called “Hey, Listen!” and “Monster Hunter”, referencing both The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Monster Hunter respectively.
During our time with the game, we also managed to spot another couple of cool nods to other Atlus games too. For example, the evolved Archetype of the Summoner tree is called Devil Summoner (after the series of the same name), and the class can even be used to summon various monsters that will be very familiar to Atlus fans, though they have different names.
Finally, another reference can be found in the game’s Seeker skill tree, as the name of the evolved Archetype is Soul Hacker, again a reference to the series of the same name. They’re not very subtle Easter eggs, but they’re still cute little nods to Atlus' past titles that havehelped shaped Metaphor: ReFantazio into the brilliant game it is today. Here’s hoping that Metaphor becomes a series that’s looked back on just as fondly in the future.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
WHERE TO PLAY
From the creative minds behind Persona 3, 4, and 5 comes Metaphor: ReFantazio, a unique fantasy world, where your protagonist will journey alongside his fairy companion, Gallica, to lift the curse from the kingdom’s lost prince.Control your destiny, face your fears, and awaken magical Archetype powers that lie dormant in your heart. By awakening to an Archetype, you will unlock the power to channel and combine the abilities of unique job classes. Strengthen your bonds and build your party to take down powerful foes and discover the kingdom’s true nature.
