Again in 2002, Iron Maiden launched certainly one of their now quite a few ‘biggest hits’ albums, Edward the Nice. Kicking off with Run to the Hills and ending with the enduring Rock in Rio model of Worry of the Darkish, the album was my first style of Maiden’s in depth again catalogue. It was hypnotic to me, scrumptious, heady, over-the-top, camp. Consider it or not, I acquired the very same feeling from Atlus’ upcoming RPG, Metaphor ReFantazio, after I performed it at Gamescom Latam this week. Let me clarify.
When you’re not acquainted with Atlus’ latest output, the Japanese developer excels at making correct RPGs, and I really feel it helps to liken them to music genres. The newest launch, Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance, is like metalcore – edgy and indignant and loud – and looks like a correct hardcore PS2 sport (complimentary). The Pesona video games – with a remake of its moody, emo third entry hitting cabinets earlier this 12 months – are a bit poppier than their father or mother collection. The pop punk to MegaTen’s metallic edge.
So what does that make Metaphor ReFantazio, the peculiar new IP from Atlus and Sega attributable to launch later this 12 months? Most likely prog rock, to be sincere. However hey, hear me out – prog is sweet now! The way in which it samples all the most effective bits of the opposite genres, groovy bass traces and chugging riffs and clear and harsh vocals melding collectively to convey you one thing that sounds kinda acquainted… however is wholly its personal beast.
That’s Metaphor ReFantazio. When you’ve acquired even a lot as a passing familiarity with Atlus different video games, you’re going to recognise numerous the constituent components right here. That oh-so-moreish Press Flip battle system that feels wholly copped from SMT3. A extremely daring and distinctive music path from Shoji Meguro that, truthfully, sounds extra just like the oft-overlooked Shin Megami Tensei: Unusual Journey than something extra mainstream. Character designs that appear like Persona fell into the washer with a JRR Tolkein e book.
You see why I’m saying it looks like a heavy metallic Best Hits album? None of those parts really feel notably new – it performs, sounds, and appears a bit like stuff I’ve performed earlier than – however that’s not a foul factor in any respect. The truth is, I find it irresistible. It’s cherry-picked all the most effective bits of earlier tasks to serve up a good, enjoyable curio of a sport that’s all killer, no filler. Again-to-back chart-topping concepts, with not one of the guff to carry it down.
You know the way numerous bands will slap a bonus observe on the finish of their Best Hits to encourage extra gross sales or get you to re-buy a load of music you already personal? Properly, ReFantazio sort-of does that with a mechanic. Enter ‘archetypes’, or – to nick a little bit of Closing Fantasy jargon – ’jobs’. Totally different specialisations your predominant forged of characters can equip and progress (by way of Persona-like social hyperlinks, principally). Confirmed varieties are as follows, with a fast bio on what they do:
Seeker – a flexible, adaptable, your ‘beginning class’
Mage – goal weaknesses with magic, get extra Press Turns
Thief – steal, mug, and use multi-hits
Brawler – rise up shut and clobber your foes
Warrior – extra aggressive and DPS-focused
Knight – simply don’t name it a tank
Healer – your bog-standard white mage by another title
Commander – offers buffs and might help transfer get together members about
Gunner – sits within the again row and peppers enemies from afar
Service provider – keep in mind the transfer ‘Nab Gil’? That, however an entire class
Faker – feint and elegance it out
With the ability to slot into these jogs my memory most of, oddly, Closing Fantasy X-2. Seeing the forged in Metaphor stylishly morph and twist into their totally different archetypes rang a bell in my memory of watching Yuna and her end-of-the-world idol group dance into totally different jobs as you beat up the remnants of definitely-not-the-Catholic Church in Spira 2.0. That’s certainly one of my favorite FF battle methods, because it occurs, so it looks like Atlus is even cribbing a couple of samples from different artists, at this level.
Not that I’m complaining. I solely acquired to do a couple of mobs and a boss in my time with the sport, however already you’ll be able to see how the rhythm works. You may even go for real-time fight to batter mobs of enemies, slicing via the low-level chaff that may make grinding via Atlus dungeons an actual chore ( you, Tartarus). When you’re buff sufficient, simply mash the motion button a couple of occasions and dispatch mobs in a second, as a substitute of transitioning to a squad battle.
And right here, there’s a brand new degree of tactical catnip we’ve not seen in an Atlus title earlier than: entrance and rear positions within the get together. Received a gunner? They’re ineffective up entrance, pop ‘em within the again and get a knight to protect them. Have a service provider toss cash from the again while a soldier pokes with a sword. Kind a defensive ring round your Commander while they bestow ludicrous buffs throughout them. The potential for tactical foreplay is heady. The implementation is butter-smooth. The way in which Atlus goes to make ‘boss encounter puzzles’ with it has me drooling.
Enjoying this sport on a busy present flooring isn’t sufficient. I want it yesterday. Atlus, I’ve lengthy attested, is likely one of the finest to ever do it, and its present reign of supremacy appears to be like to be getting into its experimental section with Metaphor: ReFantazio. However this isn’t going to be like Fleetwood Mac going from Goals to Tusk, it’s like Muse going from Showbiz to Origin of Symmetry; Atlus has perfected its devices, and now it’s actually time to jam.
Metaphor: ReFantazio launches October 11, 2024 for Xbox Collection X/S, Microsoft Home windows, PlayStation 4/5 and Steam.
