Metaphor: ReFantazio Switch 2 Impression

Metaphor: ReFantazio is a title deserving of all the accolades it has received.  The opening portion of the story and gameplay match the highest expectations of an RPGamer who hadn’t experienced the title yet.

Atlus knows how to make compelling turn-based games.  Being able to experience their expertise in a fantasy world has been a dream come true.  Metaphor: ReFantazio is a spectacle, from gameplay to the soundtrack, the dev team finds multiple ways to showcase its fantasy world of Euchronia as an exciting journey to undertake.  RPGamer got the opportunity to see how well the journey translates to the Nintendo Switch 2, and over twenty hours in, it still feels like a title that meets the highest of expectations from its accolades.

Metaphor: ReFantazio follows the story of a player-named member of the Eldan race, traditionally considered rare and bad luck to most of the world, who is friends with the believed-dead prince of the United Kingdom of Euchronia.  The player is sent to the capital with a message to kill General Louis.  Louis is charismatic, rose quickly through the ranks, believes that might is right, and he killed the king after trying to kill the prince.  Louis’ charisma and ability to defeat the monstrous Humans that strike fear in the populace of Euchronia are the main reasons his beliefs hold any sway.  From the moment the journey starts unfolding, there are twists and turns, not the least of which is the appearance of this world’s Humans.  It is a gritty world where survival is far from guaranteed, and there are stark class divides between the various races.  It is a bleak world, but the player is a source of hope, one who brings a bit of accountability and honour to a lawless land, with each step of the journey filled with pain and suffering.  Guiding these characters through this wonderful world has been a treat every step of the journey so far, and one that is expected to continue at a high standard of storytelling.

That dear Strohl is a human, or the final form of the avid birdwatcher. Maybe both.

These expectations are sky-high because of all the accolades that come with Metaphor: ReFantazio.  Game of the Year winner has been thrown around frequently, and for those lofty standards to be met so thoroughly is a wonderful feeling to have.  After so many accolades have been sent this title’s way, what is left to say overall, except how it fares on a new console that’s typically known for not being as powerful as its current competitors.  Can it still hold up two years after release, and is there anything here to sway those that haven’t played the title yet?  Well, debuting at a fraction of its original retail price is a good start, so those waiting to experience the title on Nintendo hardware have that as a selling point, along with the near-universal praise of those that enjoy the genre.

Metaphor: ReFantazio has a lot happening on screen at any given time.  The world feels expansive, with sweeping shots across acrid deserts, to alleyways that showcase the impoverished living conditions of the unfortunate in Grand Trad, as well as panoramic shots of the architectural marvel that is the grand cathedral.  There’s always something happening as day after day there are people to speak with, dungeons to dive into, and plot points to progress.  These story moments can happen in quiet locations or through sweeping cutscenes; swapping between all the different screens can take a few noticeable seconds to load, but maintains full immersion in a way that keeps players glued to their Switch 2.

An Opening Volley mid-swing.

There is a lot of combat in Metaphor: ReFantazio.  Locations are populated with plenty of enemies, designed to wear down players’ magic points and consumables.  This is done to force players to retreat before finishing the dungeon and take another day to continue.  There is a ticking clock that provides some stress, but the timeframe is generous enough that it doesn’t hinder the gameplay.  Some of these enemies can be defeated on the dungeon map with quick slashes in action combat, while more difficult foes can be struck enough times to get an Opening Volley where enemies are hit once by a party member and stay stunned for a turn.  Enemies follow an easily discernible patrol pattern, and it is reasonably easy to keep them on screen to avoid surprise attacks.  Overworld strikes from both enemies and players are fluid, and the transition to squad battles is seamless.

Animations on Synthesis attacks and other abilities are snappy enough and a joy to experience every time so far.  The speed at which the game gives new archetypes for party members to swap into is quick, meaning there’s a variety of ways to approach combat, giving players something new to experiment with often.  Experimentation is also needed because it isn’t always easy to figure out what enemies are weak to, and a few wrong attacks can mean the difference between an easy route and a devastating defeat, especially against bosses.  Overall, the combat system is varied, but it does punish players for not diving into its mechanics, because enemies are not pushovers.  The mix of difficulty and variety maintains a high level of entertaining engagement, and seeing how combat combinations evolve through the game is a highlight.

If state officials looked into matters that closely, it must be true.

Many important story moments, as well as every cutscene, are voice-acted.  The animation on this is impeccable and draws players into the unfolding story, while the voice acting hammers home the feeling with gusto.  There are a few moments of levity and comedy that are acted just as nicely as those that have a more serious tone.  The soundtrack is always impressive, with choral singing mixing in with brass percussion instruments to constantly evoke powerful imagery on its own that greatly adds to the magical fantasy world of Euchronia.  There is plenty more of both the visuals and soundtrack to experience, and even in handheld, the Switch 2 is able to showcase the full presentation in a way that makes every new locale a joy to experience.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is a title deserving of all the accolades it has received.  The opening portion of the story and gameplay match the highest expectations of an RPGamer who hadn’t experienced the title yet.  This is Atlus at its best, rolling through amazing gameplay and presentation, but adding the wrinkle of a new fantasy world to dive into.  There’s a lot to this title and plenty to experience, and it is worth every single moment so far.  It is a world to get lost in and experience every twist, turn, and heart-filled moment, giving this Switch 2 port the perfect means and opportunity for those who haven’t dived in yet to experience this wonderful title for themselves.

Disclosure: This article is based on a copy of the game provided by the publisher.