Played on an LG C3 55” OLED Display via Steam, AMD 7900 XTX and i9-10900k.
Publisher: SEGA
Developer: ATLUS
The Kingdom of Euchronia is teetering on the brink of collapse. Years of strife have drained its people, breeding mistrust and deepening societal divisions. A rigid, oppressive hierarchy governs the land, with racial prejudice and fear ruling daily life. As whispers of monstrous abominations spread, threatening the safety of both city dwellers and rural folk, the nation’s leadership lies in ruins. The prince, cursed into a perpetual slumber, is presumed lost. The king, assassinated in his chambers, leaves a fractured nation behind. Two dominant factions vie for control:
The Sanctist Church, a powerful religious order, clings to its reign by sowing fear and marginalizing those deemed “lesser.” Meanwhile, the formidable Louis Guiabern rallies an army that prizes strength and merit above all else, discarding the weak in the pursuit of dominance.
Metaphor: Re Fantazio plunges you into this tumultuous world just days before the late king’s funeral. You step into the shoes of a young Elda—a race despised by society and reviled as unholy abominations. Scorned by the populace, shunned by the powerful, and forced to endure the worst the kingdom has to offer, your journey begins with only a loyal fairy companion, Gallica, by your side. Together, you embark on a desperate mission: uncover the secrets behind the prince’s curse by seeking an unknown ally in the Euchronian army.
But in a land where your kind is seen as expendable, the army has no qualms about sending you straight to the front lines. Here begin’s the trademark Atlus tutorial, an exposition-heavy dive to explain and set-up it’s richly built high fantasy world that fuses biomechanical marvels with knights, elves, and magic.
After five hours of setup, the stakes skyrocket as the late king’s magic triggers a kingdom-wide democratic race. In a bold twist, the next ruler will be decided not by birthright but by earning the favor of Euchronia’s divided populace. From here, the game fully opens up, propelling you into an epic 60-hour adventure filled with political intrigue, harrowing dungeon crawls, and battles that span the kingdom’s breathtaking landscapes.
At the heart of your journey lies the aforementioned biomechanical marvel: the Gauntlet Runner. This cutting-edge blend of technology and magic serves as your mobile base of operations, an indispensable companion as you traverse the sprawling landscapes of Euchronia. With cities, settlements, and dungeons spread far and wide, travel isn’t instant—it’s a journey. Fortunately, the Runner is more than just a vehicle; it’s a home.
Outfitted with an array of amenities, the Runner becomes a hub for both survival and strategy. A bath provides temporary stat boosts, essential for tougher battles ahead, while the kitchen lets you prepare meals to carry into combat. A small onboard library offers more than just lore; reading its books builds Virtues, a unique mechanic acting as skill checks for unlocking quest opportunities and furthering side narratives.
Life aboard the Runner isn’t just about preparation—it’s about building a connection with your party. Whether sparring to hone combat skills, helping keep watch from the crow’s nest, or gathering around the fire for heartfelt conversations, these moments strengthen your bond with each companion. These relationships grow naturally, making each interaction feel meaningful as you uncover their struggles and triumphs, only compounded by how different each companion is in terms of design and personality. From the stalwart Roussainte Heisenberg to the contemplative Eugief Heismay, each member is as colorful as they are unique – creating one of the most engaging and interesting party compositions in an Atlus game yet.
The world of Metaphor is absolutely captivating to explore, with every location offering a unique blend of visual splendor and narrative depth. From bustling cities to serene villages, the places you visit are living, breathing reflections of Euchronia’s fractured culture.
Take Port Brilehaven, a coastal city where massive floating spheres of water dominate the skyline, creating a surreal, otherworldly atmosphere. Or venture to Eht Ria, a small tribal town scattered across the islands of the Prismatic Sea, where coral reefs can be barely glimpsed above the waves, glowing under the golden sunlight in a breathtaking display. Then there’s the holy city of Altabury Heights, nestled high in the mountains. Its red and yellow, autumn-like foliage glistens beneath a gentle snowfall, blending tranquility with divine reverence.
Each location pulses with life, its culture, politics, and architecture interwoven into the fabric of its design. The struggles of the citizens, the structures of power, and the natural surroundings combine to create dynamic microcosms of a world in turmoil. Every city offers a new layer of understanding, further immersing you in the kingdom’s plight and providing reasons to inspire change.
But exploration comes with challenges. Lurking threats and political unrest abound, and it’s here that Metaphor shines brightest with its masterfully crafted combat system.
Whether you’re fending off monsters spawned from the kingdom’s darkest nightmares or clashing with rival factions, combat is more than a test of skill—it’s a reflection of your journey. Early on, you unlock your first Archetype, a manifestation of a legendary hero from ages past. Archetypes grant unique skills, allowing you to tailor each character’s abilities to your playstyle. Over time, you’ll unlock additional Archetypes and the ability to carry over skills, crafting a personalized vision for each party member.
itself is a finely tuned chess match. Positioning matters—characters in the front row deal and take more damage, while the back row offers reduced offense in exchange for some brief defensive safety. These decisions cost Press Turn Icons, a finite resource dictating your turn’s actions. Striking weaknesses or executing special abilities earns extra icons, while missteps can quickly deplete them. Every battle demands strategy, whether balancing buffs and debuffs, managing status ailments, or repositioning teammates to avoid enemy attacks targeting specific rows.
Mastering these intricacies is no small feat, but the payoff is immense. By the endgame, you’ll face some of the most challenging yet fair encounters in the JRPG genre, where the stakes are higher than ever. These battles elevate the narrative without a single wasted line of dialogue, showcasing the escalating tension and gravity of your journey through sheer gameplay. The game demands—and rewards—your full engagement, offering a combat system that feels as alive and dynamic as the world it inhabits.
Metaphor: Re Fantazio is a triumph of storytelling, world-building, and gameplay—a rare blend where every piece feels meticulously crafted to serve the greater whole. From its sprawling, politically charged landscapes to its deeply personal character arcs and intricate combat systems, the game offers an experience that is as emotionally resonant as it is mechanically rewarding.
What sets it apart from others in the genre is how effortlessly it balances its many elements. It doesn’t just ask you to engage with its systems—it invites you to live in its world, to feel the weight of its conflicts, and to reflect on the choices you make as you guide your party through their trials. Each step of the journey feels meaningful, from exploring breathtaking cities steeped in culture and conflict to honing your strategy in battles that test your wit and resolve.
By the time the credits roll, you won’t just have completed an adventure—you’ll have truly experienced one, full of growth, hardship, and triumph. This isn’t just a game; it’s an unforgettable odyssey that reminds us of the power that one person has in the face of overwhelming odds. It asks us not to just fight on, but to look at our differences and celebrate them, coming together to create a better world.
