Metaphor: ReFantaziois a great game for a number of reasons, not the least of which being its bold reinvention of the formula established byShin Megami Tensei, and later polished byPersona. Through careful tweaking and attention to detail, Atlus managed to craft a system wherein build-crafting, turn-based combat, and progression all feel remarkably refreshing, exciting, and gratifying. Pairing these strengths with a wonderful story, lovable characters, and an enthralling fantasy world,Metaphor: ReFantaziohas been hailed by many as an instant classic.
But like with every wildly successful and boundary-pushing game,Metaphor: ReFantazioposes a difficult question: where does Atlus go from here? Despite its clear differences, one could be forgiven for callingMetaphorsomething of a sibling or cousin ofPersonaandShin Megami Tensei, as its melding of social simulation mechanics and segmented progression systems is clearly derived from those games. And yet,Metaphor’s presentation of these concepts feels considerably more elegant and satisfying, removing much of the randomness and waste associated with the gameplay of its predecessors. With this new base to work from, Atlus ought to consider tackling another genre space, leveraging its now-iconic style of game design.
Metaphor: ReFantazio Sets the Stage for an Atlus Mech Game
Metaphor’s Archetype System Could Easily Be Applied to Mechs
Metaphor: ReFantazioreplaces the well-established Persona systemwith Archetypes: a variety of distinct magical entities that function similarly to the different jobs in a series likeManaorDragon Quest. Each party member can be assigned a different Archetype between battles, and they each level up independently of their respective character. What this means is that players can spec into different builds based on playstyle, but there is still some degree of flexibility thanks to the pre-baked attributes of the swappable Archetypes.
There’s a lot more to the Archetype system than what’s been outlined above, but suffice it to say that each Archetype functions similarly to themech suits featured in a series likeArmored Core. They all have unique strengths, vulnerabilities, and appearances, which allow them to each serve a unique purpose on the battlefield. Plus, the Archetype user is effectively “inside” the magical entity during battles, which is a clear parallel to how mechs function in popular fiction. At the risk of sounding reductive, Archetypes are basically magical mechs, which makes it easy to imagine what a more traditional adaptation of this long-standing trope by Atlus could look like.
A game with a combat and progression system similar toMetaphor’s, but with mechs instead of Archetypes, could be fruitful indeed. A covert, lightweight mech could be this theoretical game’s equivalent to the Thief Archetype, for instance, while a heavy, tank-like mech could be the stand-in for the Knight Archetype. The point is that there’s just as much potential for a creative and iconic job system within this mech framework as withinMetaphor’s high-fantasy premise, and this potential should be realized.
Atlus' signature approach to progressionwithin social sim mechanics could also apply to a sci-fi mech game: bonding with certain NPCs could result in them fixing up a particular mech or providing upgrade materials, rather than the soft-magic justifications given for leveling up Personas and Archetypes.
A Proper Sci-Fi Game from Atlus Would Be Novel and Exciting
Atlus already has some familiarity with science fiction concepts.Persona, Shin Megami Tensei, and evenMetaphorall have touches of sci-fi here and there, though none of these franchises fully dedicate themselves to the genre. This loose commitment to broader genre conventions is part of what makes Atlus games so unique and memorable, but there’s nothing wrong with embracing such conventions from time to time.Atlus' hit-and-missSoul Hackersexplores light sci-fi elements, but the studio could really double-down on the genre with a mech-based premise, which would synergize nicely with its design tendencies.
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.
