Famitsu shared an interview excerpt with Metaphor: ReFantazio Director Katsura Hashino in which the developer talked about some of the themes present the upcoming fantasy RPG. The full interview will be available on the January 4, 2024 issue of the magazine, which will release on December 21, 2023 in Japan. [Thanks, Famitsu!]
Hashino said that the core theme surrounding Metaphor: ReFantazio are “ideals vs reality.” However, since ideals are a very personal thing, Hashino said that the game does not have a simple answer to which values are right and wrong. The developers hope that players will not get stuck thinking about the current state of the game’s world, nor will accept it without questioning. Instead, they want players to interact with the various tribes and characters during their journey, and bring back with them their own feelings and thoughts.
When asked if there will be elements in the game that try to paint one of these clashing ideals in a more sympathetic light, Hashino answered that the synopsis of the game makes the assassins of the king seem like the main antagonists, but at the same time these characters may have a point in their reasoning.
Hashino added that these elements are different from the themes of “children vs adults” and “justice and evil” depicted in the Persona series, and that he’s been meaning to create a story that would allow players to understand the motivations of the opposing side. The protagonists have “ideals” of justice, but the ideologies of opposing side seem more “realistic,” and this is what makes the core theme of the “ideals vs reality” so important in Metaphor: ReFantazio.
On the topic of the 8 tribes of the world of the game, Hashino said that some of the problems between these races are deep-rooted. The main character seems to be the only one motivated by an idealized sense of justice, wanting to help those in need. Because of this, those considered outsiders to their own race are inspired by the protagonist to join in his travels, eventually leading to a party made of different tribe members.
Metaphor: ReFantazio will come to the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC in Fall 2024. The official website for the new Atlus RPG is already open. The full Famitsu interview with director Katsura Hashino will be available on December 21, 2023.
