Perhaps the most universal praise thatMetaphor: ReFantaziohas received is for its character writing, both in its main party and the wealth of side characters. The voices given toMetaphor: ReFantazio’s tribesare a testament to the diversity of the United Kingdom of Euchronia as a core theme of the game’s political intrigue, but they do more than just uplift the protagonist’s race for the throne. Each character’s backstory highlights the struggles they have endured, and as they learn from each other’s perspectives, the growth they demonstrate is that much clearer. As such, ifMetaphorgets a re-release, then it could derive strength from leaning even further into these relationships.
Metaphor: ReFantazioprovides myriad opportunities to spend time with the party. From its Social-Link-style bond events to its cooking lessons, the world of Euchronia and the gauntlet runner are the perfect conduits forMetaphor’s characters to express themselves in the highs and lows of what the Kingdom has to offer. Still, given that the game is centered the playable protagonist, much of the development ofMetaphor’s party revolves around him. This is a given, since the game is experienced through his eyes, though it also makes it so that outside of story pertinent moments, most of the party’s interactions are conducted one-on-one with him.
A Metaphor: ReFantazio Re-Release Could Further Highlight the Party’s Interpersonal Relationships
Accentuating Metaphor’s Moments of Levity
This isn’t to say that all interactions are with the protagonist alone; rather, that by the very nature ofMetaphor’s royal virtues and bond events, most characters are left to stand around waiting for the protagonist to interact with them. This accessibility works in favor ofMetaphor: ReFantazio’s social sim mechanics, most notably its calendar system, though it would be interesting to see how a potential re-release could iterate to further highlight the party’s agency and relationships with one another. The moments of levity inMetaphor, like Will, Strohl, and Hulkenberg shouting their grievances to make noise for Heismay, or even their dinner debriefs after dungeons, highlight how cultivating these party dynamics can work both to comedic effect and in strengthening their relationships.
Enriching the Gauntlet Runner Through Party Interactions
For example, events that trigger when walking aroundthe gauntlet runnerand show more of the party’s interactions could work to make the space feel as alive as its design. Perhaps walking into the gauntlet runner’s kitchen to find characters like Strohl and Heismay discussing their tribe’s dishes with one another, or Eupha and Junah talking in the common room about the music on Euchronia’s mainland versus Virga Island, could allow the protagonist to observe others' conversations while further enriching the party. The same could hold true for its books; showing Hulkenberg helping to teach Basilio to read and write in his literacy workbook could be a way to further demonstrate the disparity in academic upbringing between the two, evidencing how tribal differences can be bridged.
Highlight Character Growth Through the Party
For Heismay, who initially leans into his own prejudices toward the Paripus tribe as a result of the riot that killed his son, these smaller moments could work to highlight how his perspective comes to change. While the cinematic duringMetaphor’s decisive clash leans into this, actually showing him interacting with Basilio on the gauntlet runner as the two get more comfortable with one another could work to a re-release’s benefit. Given the traumatic way thatBasilio ends up joining the team, perhaps having Heismay offer him a fishing rod atop the gauntlet runner’s deck could show his sympathy for the character’s loss, which would be a conduit for Heismay to open up about his own past. Being able to observe these conversations without directly interfering could open a host of new perspectives, while driving home the idea that the party is becoming a stronger unit through broadening their world view.
It would be interesting to further consider the bonds betweenMetaphor’s main party and followers, too, during the times when the gauntlet runner is docked. This was evidenced in Maria’s bond events, which included a cameo from Neuras helping out, showing how the potential for interactions extends to all sorts of opportunities. Given howMetaphortakes care to make Euchronia feel like a living, breathing worldthrough its characters, leaning into how they interact not just with the protagonist, but with each other as well, could help to enrich a re-release in a way that justifies treading the same story. WhileMetaphordoes offer some fantastic character moments between the party, the ability to further highlight these moments outside the main narrative would only strengthen its approach.
