The devil is in the details when it comes to creating excellent games Metaphor: ReFantazio gets a lot of those details right.
Atlus’ attempt to create a game that clearly shares the tried and tested Persona DNA, but stands out as a unique franchise, has already impressed the critics. There’s a lot to love between the compelling fantasy world and endearing character moments. But for me, I love one single screen: the post-win summary screen.
Metaphor: ReFantazio has turn-based battles where you put together a team of fighters with different roles and specialties. While the game allows players to defeat weaker enemies with real-time combat in the dungeon, you’ll still be fighting plenty of regular turn-based battles. Every time you win a battle against a group of monsters, the screen will flash to a victory screen. It shows your party walking against a red and white background, and information such as how much experience and money you’ve earned from the battle.
It sounds kind of simple, but I really can’t get over how good it looks. The composition and the broad color scheme immediately captivate my attention; The characters strut confidently in perfectly animated, fluid slow motion; and best of all, you’ll be rewarded with extra boosts and a banner that says “Victory Unscathed” if the enemy doesn’t deal damage to your party.
I really like the post-battle screen, but the UI and menus in general are also stunning. The pause screen makes the main character look like a dreamy watercolor painting coming to life. According to Katsura Hashino, who has also directed several Persona games Metaphor: ReFantaziothe menus take a lot of time to create and are “actually very annoying” because the team creates a unique design for each menu.
“Whether it’s the store menu or the main menu, when you open them, it runs a completely separate program and uses a separate design to create it,” Hashino told The Verge.
For me, details like the menu or the post-battle screen shine like jewels in the crown Metaphor: ReFantazio. There’s an undeniable confidence that shines through in the little things, and I think this is a central part of what makes the game so special. Some battles or parts of the game can get very tough. You need all the encouragement you can get, and every time I see the screen I feel ready to save the world one fight at a time.