Metaphor: ReFantazio details ‘Fast & Squad’ battle system, party formation, gauntlet runner, facilities, more
The latest media blast for the October 11-due Japanese RPG.
Publisher ATLUS and developer Studio Zero have released new information and screenshots for Metaphor: ReFantazio introducing the game’s “Fast & Squad” battle system, dungeons, party and archetypes formation, followers, gauntlet runner, places, facilities, and more.
Get the details below.
■ Fast & Squad: An Evolution of Command Battles
Fast & Squad
The “Fast & Squad” battle system allows players to fight in dungeons in a way that has not been possible in turn-based battles to date.
Players can switch between real time action that directly attacks the enemy when navigating in the dungeon, “Fast,” and the turn base command battle, “Squad.”
Fae Sight
Fae Sight is an ability used by the protagonist’s partner, the fairy Gallica. It can detect its surroundings and understand the danger level of enemies.
It allows you to understand the strength of the monsters that await you in dangerous dungeons, allowing you to choose the way you fight.
Fast
“Fast” is an effective way to fight a lower-ranked enemy you have already fought previously.
On the field, you can also use the lock-on function, dash, and evade. If you wipe out enemies with “Fast” while watching out for their attacks, you will be able to comfortably proceed with your dungeon exploration.
In addition, since the “Fast” attack style depends on the Archetypes equipped by the player, finding a specific “Fast” fighting style that suits you will also be important in navigating the dungeons.
Squad
Enemies indicated in yellow or red through Gallica’s Fae Sight are monsters that pose a danger to the protagonist. Strong enemies cannot be defeated through “Fast” battle, so it is effective to shift to the “Squad” command battle.
Also, continuing to attack in “Fast” battle allows you to stun the enemy and start a command battle with an advantage.
Command Battle
In this game, command battles can be fought by configuring a party of up to four people.
The number of members in your party increases to seven as the story progresses, making it possible to create a variety of party configurations that fully utilize each character’s individuality.
While fighting in turn-based mode usually involves selecting actions from multiple commands, in this game, commands can be selected with the touch of a button, allowing the battle to proceed at a faster pace.
During command battles, the protagonists can transform into awakened Archetypes. Each Archetype has its own special skills, and equipping Archetypes with skills that strike the enemy’s weaknesses allows you to get the advantage in battle.
At the same time, each Archetype is unique and has various strengths and weaknesses, advantages and disadvantages.
In command battles, party configuration is the key to dungeon exploration. Furthermore, during command battles, players can make various choices, such as handing over their turn to the next member, switching between front and back rows, and switching party members. Players are required to assess the battle situation and use a variety of tactics to fight.
In addition, the difficulty level of battles in this game is intentionally made to be high, designed to emphasize the tension of deliberating and selecting commands to earn a great sense of accomplishment that comes with victory.
■ Dungeon Infested with Powerful Woes
A Labyrinth That Lures Travelers to Their Death
On your journey to claiming the throne as the protagonist, you will face numerous perilous dungeons.
Dungeons are filled with powerful enemies and numerous obstacles that stand in your way. However, valuable treasures and powerful armaments make it worth the challenge.
There are two types of dungeons in this work: “main dungeons,” which you’ll traverse as part of the main storyline and “side dungeons,” which appear in side quests and other challenges.
■ Awaken the Archetype, Heroic Images Residing in your Heart, and Fight!
What is an Archetype?
The protagonist faces their own fears, forming bonds with their supportive followers to awaken the power of heroic images, Archetypes, by building a relationship of trust.
By awakening Archetypes, the protagonists can transform into Archetypes during command battles if they have them equipped.
Archetypes are diverse, each with different abilities and personalities. There are a variety of archetypes, from the basic Seeker, who is an all-rounder in battle, the Mage, who strikes weaknesses with offensive magic, to the Thief, who can plunder resources. Players will have to decide which Archetypes to awaken and how to configure their members to create a stronger party.
The protagonist party members are rich in unique characteristics.
The Archetypes possessed by the party members and the combination of Archetypes will greatly change the strategy in Turn Based battles.
Archetype Configuration
When a party member awakens a new Archetype, said Archetype will be available to swap with other Archetypes. By analyzing the dungeon you’re headed to and the enemies that dwell there, equip party members with appropriate Archetypes that fit the situation, allowing you to face even stronger foes.
■ Bonding with Followers Will Be Your Source of Strength
Form Bonds, Earn Supporters
The protagonist will meet and befriend various people over his journey. As he continues to deepen these bonds, these followers will become his strongest supporters. Interaction with these followers is also an important part of the journey, as the strengthening of these bonds can lead to Archetype awakenings as well as the acquisition of various other abilities.
Followers’ Stories
Interacting with followers will unlock their side stories and allows for a deeper storytelling experience.
Each follower has their own unique story and background, and following their stories in addition to the main story is part of the appeal of this game. It’s up to the player to decide which followers to prioritize interacting with. The way the journey is spent will greatly influence party development and the story experience.
■ The “Gauntlet Runner,” a Leg of the Journey
No one can safely travel the dangerous area between large areas, referred to as wastelands, as bandits and monsters roam there.
A “gauntlet runner” is a large armored vehicle designed to move safely through such a wilderness. It is a vehicle with a self-propelled mechanism powered by magic, or a “mobile base”, if you will. The protagonists will travel around the country in their gauntlet runner to gain support.
Spending Time in the Gauntlet Runner
While on the road in your gauntlet runner, you can take various actions in the vehicle, as if it were a campervan. You may cook, read a book, talk with your friends, or take a nap if there is nothing to do. Inside the vehicle, the protagonists can use multiple areas such as the war room, kitchen, lounge, and other facilities, and by stepping out onto the deck, they can experience the vastness of the world they are traveling through in their gauntlet runner, making the journey a travel experience on itself.
The variety of activities and events that occur with gauntlet runners is a unique feature of this game.
■ Places to Visit Along Your Journey
The Old Castle Town Martira
Martira, Old Castle Town, is a pastoral town that is a complete shift from the Royal Capital.
This town is famous for its local cuisine using a specific type of larvae, served to entertain tourists.
At first glance, the town appears peaceful, but the surrounding desert is home to a monster called the “Giant Sandworm”, instilling fear among the residents, not to mention a certain incident that is also endangering them.
The protagonists will be confronted with the events taking place in this town.
■ Events at the Places of Stay: Various Facilities in Town
Recruitment Centre and Bounties
In each town the protagonists visit, there is a facility called the “Recruitment Centre,” where requests such as defeating monsters threatening the town are posted.
There are chances of obtaining valuable items as well as bounty rewards by completing the requests. However, be warned that these requests will be dangerous, so it will be important to be careful in which ones to accept.
Tavern and Informant
Each of the towns the protagonists visit has a tavern, a place where the people of the town relax.
The protagonists will probably stop by the tavern for a meal during their stay in various areas.
In these taverns, there are also informants who sell a variety of information. The information available ranges from local specialties to information on the demons that haunt the area.
Although information can be expensive at times, it is important to use the informants to find out enemy traits in preparation of dungeon exploration and use this information to form a more effective party.
Weapon and Former Shops
In addition to acquiring them in dungeons, equipment for party members can also be obtained at weapon and armor shops in town.
In addition to buying and selling armor, you can also have unidentifiable loots from the dungeon appraised. It will be a must-stop shop before and after exploring dangerous dungeons.
Inn
You can relax after a tiring trip at inns. It is a good place to check if there is anything left to do in the day’s activities and to think about future travel plans.
In this game, it is a place where you can choose to end the day and welcome the next.
The protagonists must “conquer the main quest within their designated period of stay” in each region, but side quests will be key in making that happen. Side quests are requests from people you meet on your journey to hunt, explore, investigate, and earn various rewards for completing them. You’ll encounter strong enemies as part of some these quests, while others offer rare equipment. Among the abundant side quests, players are free to choose which ones to take on first.
To complete the main quest by the deadline, utilizing side quests will be an important option in strengthening the party.
■ Field Map
Town Map
Opening the map allows you to check the places you have visited previously.
The map shows the player’s location, and the player can instantly move to their desired spot by selecting a registered location within the town their currently in. This function allows for convenient traveling around large cities and their various facilities.
A Journey Around the World
In order to save the cursed prince thought dead, the protagonists decides to partake in the “Royal Tournament”. To become the king, they need to be the most popular in the country, and in order to win the trust of the people of the country over powerful rivals, the protagonist embarks on a journey around the world.
The time limit to decide for the next king is about six months. Will the protagonists be able to gather the trust of the people in the given time? And what can they accomplish in that period?
Realistic Daily Life on the Road
In this game, the concept of “dates” exists so that players can enjoy a realistic experience of daily life while traveling. In today’s world, travel often has a fixed itinerary, such as three days and two nights. Similarly, players can enjoy spending time at each place of stay in this game as if it were a modern person’s travel experience.
During the journey, the protagonists will visit a variety of places, including bustling, developed cities like the Royal Capital, pastoral towns, and waterfront cities. And at each place of stay, various encounters and incidents await: the people who live there, unique facilities, local specialties, and sometimes monsters that threaten the locals.
What to do, when to do it, and where to go within a limited period—the choice is entirely up to the player. The “realistic sensation” of travel unique to this work can be enjoyed to the fullest.
■ Places Along the Journey
Royal Capital Grand Trad
The capital of the Kingdom of Euchronia, which is where this game takes place.
A city where many people come and go and where various Tribes live. The well-maintained streets and bustling markets give an impression of splendor.
On the other hand, there is an execution site in the backstreets of the town, and people with nowhere to go cower by the side of the road.
In the world of this game, the gap between rich and poor and discrimination are widespread. Even here in the Royal Capital, various problems have arisen, and it seems that more than just a few people are living with anxiety.
■ Challenges for the ATLUS’ 35th Anniversary
A Commemorative Work as the Culmination of ATLUS
ATLUS is a consumer game company that was founded in 1986 to plan and develop home video games.
The Persona series, the flagship title of the company, has sold more than 22 million copies worldwide (as of March 5, 2024), and has gained the support of many users both in Japan and overseas. And in 2024, ATLUS will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the launch of its own brand.
ATLUS has been involved in several games that take place in the modern age, such as Shin Megami Tensei and Persona, providing players with a unique setting and experience.
With gaining worldwide support from Persona 5, ATLUS now takes on the “fantasy RPG” genre.
This game is a “fantasy drama” that could not be fully depicted within the framework of a modern story. This commemorative work is not simply a nostalgic return to our roots—rather, it is the culmination of ATLUS as a commemorative piece of work, taking our policy of “originality and empathy” and presenting it to players in this “fantasy RPG” genre form. “If you stand still in fear, you will not be able to move forward.” The scenario and gameplay are built around such a message.
Metaphor: ReFantazio will be created and delivered with the same mindset as the previous titles up to Persona 5: a unique experience that will satisfy curiosity.
■ Accomplished Creators Gather
The previous title, Persona 5, sold more than 6.4 million units worldwide.
A completely new fantasy RPG from proven creators who have won accolades at numerous game awards.
Director: Katsura Hashino (Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, Persona 3, Persona 4, Persona 5)
Character Designer: Shigenori Soejima (Persona 3, Persona 4, Persona 5)
Composer:Shoji Meguro (Persona 3, Persona 4, Persona 5)
Pedigree
Persona is a JRPG series in which players experience familiar events such as school life, friendship, and romance in a modern Japanese town, while simultaneously confronting ocular incidents such as mysterious rumors and urban legends. The story is about a group of boys and girls who meet and grow up after awakening their Personas (the “other self” that lies dormant inside them and appears in the form of an “inherited god or demon”) and defying numerous difficulties.
This series has sold a total of 22 million copies worldwide. Of these, Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5 were directed by Katsura Hashino, with Shigenori Soejima as the character designer and Shoji Meguro as the composer. Persona 5, the latest in the numbered series, has been the biggest hit in the series, selling more than 6.4 million copies worldwide and receiving worldwide acclaim.
Renowned Artists Join
In addition to the creators of the Persona series and other popular ATLUS titles, leading artists are participating in this work, providing a unique art and sound experience for you to experience.
