Metaphor: ReFantazio reviews are out, which means that Atlus is now, once again, front and center of the gaming world. The game will be launching this week, and like many of my colleagues, I’m both excited and kind of afraid to jump into the 80 hour RPG when it drops. But I’ve been playing Atlus’ other critically lauded game in recent weeks, and for the first time, I’m finally starting to understand it.

As someone in this line of work, I can’t often justify playing games from the 2010s to myself when I could be playing recent releases and writing about them, but Metaphor’s impending launch made me feel like it was time to finally try to understand the series that made it what it is. I have friends who are big fans of Persona, and have been trying to convince me to play it since I was in high school, but I never actually sat down to give it a shot until Persona 5 Royal was put on Xbox Game Pass.

I only lasted a few hours before moving on to something else. It felt like a lot of work, and something wasn’t quite clicking for me. Since the combat starts out so simple, fighting enemies felt grindy and pointless, and the characters and settings I could interact with felt distant from me, too unfamiliar to grab my attention.

That changed when I went to Tokyo Game Show this year. At a mixer after the first day of the show, a new friend pitched Persona 5 to me convincingly enough that I promised I’d start playing it – I’d already bought Persona 5 Royal during a recent Steam sale and downloaded it to my Steam Deck, anyway, so I might as well. When I got home, I booted it up. I’ve played almost nothing else since.

It’s hard to put my finger on exactly what clicked for me this time round, but I think it was because when I first tried the game, I’d never been to Tokyo. Maybe it really is as simple as that. I’ve been to Tokyo thrice in the last year, and it feels more familiar now – I know how to navigate its intricate subways, what its streets and neighbourhoods look like, and more broadly, what its vibe is like. Persona 5 no longer feels far-flung and overwhelming in its depiction of Tokyo, because I recognise the places we go as I’ve been there myself. It’s not an abstract city, but a concrete one, matching up to my memories.

2:25 Related

I Already Know I'm Never Going To Finish Metaphor: ReFantazio

Persona 5 Royal has already defeated me, and Atlus' next RPG is poised to do the same.

Posts 11

I think it might also be because I’ve gotten more into turn-based games in the last year. Baldur’s Gate 3 was an induction into turn-based combat that opened my eyes to the potential of the genre, but I’ve also fallen in love with Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’s take on the style and the excellent Tactical Breach Wizards. I was a little resistant to Persona 5’s combat, but I’ve come around to it, and giving it enough time to develop into the system it becomes has done wonders for my interest in it. Just like Tokyo, turn-based combat now feels familiar.

I’ve fallen deeply in love with Persona 5 Royal, and it’s only served to make me even more receptive to Metaphor: ReFantazio. Unfortunately, this new love for Atlus’ iconic format means I’ll likely drop this wonderful game to start the studio’s new fantasy adventure, and I don’t know when I’ll get to return to Persona 5 Royal. Whatever happens, I’ve seen the light, and there’s no going back.

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Persona 5 Royal

JRPG Systems 5.0/5 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 94/100 Critics Rec: 98% Released March 31, 2020 ESRB M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence Developer(s) Atlus, P-Studio Publisher(s) Atlus Engine Proprietary Engine
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Persona 5 Royal adds even more to Atlus' hit RPG, including an extra semester, a new Palace to take on, and two new confidants. Two new endings add to the Phantom Thieves' story, and you'll be able to hang out in the Thieves' Den.

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