At the recent Gamescom event, the sneak peek into the upcoming JRPG Metaphor: ReFantazio, developed by Atlus, had many awaiting a thrilling taste of what's to come in 2024. However, this one-hour demo provided to attendees fell short of expectations, primarily due to its pacing and the nature of content showcased.
JRPGs, especially from Atlus, are known for their intricate narratives and engaging gameplay mechanics that typically unfold gradually. It's common for these games to have a slow start, focusing on grounding the player in the game’s world with character introductions and backstory. Unfortunately, this approach doesn't always translate well into an exciting demo experience, particularly in a bustling venue like Gamescom.
The demo began with a dramatic cutscene setting a dark and intriguing tone: a king murdered in his bed, introducing a plot of vengeance. This scene did its job to captivate, but what followed was less engaging. The majority of the demo involved navigating through numerous tutorials and lengthy dialogue exchanges. While these elements are crucial for understanding and appreciating the full game, they made for a monotonous and passive demo experience. To witness more action and explore the game mechanics, attendees found themselves skipping dialogues—not an ideal way to experience any narrative-driven game.
Metaphor: ReFantazio seems to break some traditional molds by treating the player and the protagonist as separate entities within its narrative—a promising feature that could introduce unique gameplay and storytelling dynamics. In a refreshing change, characters such as the protagonist are voiced, adding depth and personality that were less pronounced in Atlus’s previous titles like Persona 5 or Persona 3 Reload.
Shortly into the demo, once control was handed over to the players, one could explore a new city searching for guardsmen. Accompanying the protagonist is a pixie-like character, Gallica, who features abilities like Fae Sight for revealing enemy information and guiding the player to objectives. These mechanics hinted at the more interactive and engaging aspects of the game, which unfortunately were only briefly touched upon in this demo.
Gameplay in Metaphor: ReFantazio allows for customization and strategizing through a system where players can allocate upgrade points across various attributes such as strength, magic, and endurance. Combat is designed around taking turns, where all actions of the party must be queued up before the enemy can make their moves. This system seems to encourage thoughtful planning and strategy, which could be a core appeal of the game.
From what little was experienced of the actual gameplay mechanics and the combat system after navigating the slow start, there's a hint that Metaphor: ReFantazio will evolve into a rich and immersive experience. However, the demo at Gamescom was perhaps not the right glimpse to showcase the potential of a game meant to unfold over 100+ hours.
Previous impressions from other events like the Summer Game Fest in June have described Metaphor: ReFantazio as bold, brash, and brilliant, with intricate systems and visually stunning designs. These impressions suggest that, once past the initial slow sections, the game is likely to offer a rewarding experience.
The takeaway from this Gamescom demo is that while Metaphor: ReFantazio has all the markings of becoming a standout RPG, first impressions might not do justice to the depth and breadth of what the final game aims to offer. For enthusiasts and fans of Atlus games, there is still much to look forward to, despite a tepid demo experience. The true essence of Metaphor: ReFantazio remains to be explored beyond its initial hours, necessitating patience and a deeper engagement once the full game releases.
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