Metaphor: ReFantazio continues to go from strength to strength.
We awarded this stellar turn-based RPG two spots on our list of the best video games of 2024; it bagged three wins at The Game Awards 2024 (Best RPG, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction; and now the game’s nominated for two awards at the 21st BAFTA Games Awards.
Ahead of the BAFTA Ceremony (streaming live today at BAFTA’s YouTube and Twitch channels 2 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. BST), we had the chance to speak with the game’s director, Katsura Hashino.
Via email, we got to learn more about how the team brought Metaphor: ReFantazio to life, focusing on how they designed their new fantasy setting, how they settled on its visual identity, and more.
Were you daunted by the prospect of launching this new title? And why did you want to explore a new fantasy setting?
When people think of RPGs from Atlus, many players will think of the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series of modern dramas. There are so many fantasy games out there, and with the intention of differentiating ourselves from them, we have continued to work on this series.
Starting a new project is always a little nerve-wracking, but starting with a blank canvas is also really rewarding. Katsura Hashino, Studio Zero
However, if we continue to do just that, there is a possibility that our potential will start to dwindle, and we felt that we had a problem. The starting point of the project was our curiosity about what kind of game we could make if we tried to tackle the fantasy genre, which is the mainstream, using our modern drama production methods.
When we asked the team what kind of RPG they wanted to make at the start of the project, everyone said they wanted to make a fantasy RPG. However, when we got into a discussion about why we liked fantasy so much, we couldn’t come up with a clear answer other than vague comments like “I’ve always liked it”.
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This really piqued our curiosity. It was the first step for us. As we discussed over and over again, we decided to create a story that would take place in a fantasy world but would also help us understand and guide us through the world we live in today.
Starting a new project is always a little nerve-wracking, but starting with a blank canvas is also really rewarding. The most important thing in launching a new IP is to establish a strong concept that we can believe in. Once we had that, I think we were able to enjoy the challenge of the work, even though it was difficult to see the right answer.
$46 at Amazon Metaphor: ReFantazio is a turn-based RPG from Atlus and Studio Zero. Released last fall, this is Atlus’ first-ever full-scale fantasy role-playing game. In Metaphor: ReFantazio, players are whisked away to the United Kingdom of Euchronia and become embroiled in the
‘We’ve created a world that feels really unique to us’ – Metaphor: ReFantazio director on bringing the RPG to life
