Summary
Persona 5is arguably one of the most popular JRPGs of the past decade, and part of this popularity comes from the political themes it explores, from abuse going unpunished in society to political corruption driving complacency. WhilePersona 6is still likely a ways off, Atlus is bringingPersonafans a different take on the themes of the series with a brand-new IP inMetaphor: ReFantazio. Although there are some clear parallels betweenPersona 5andMetaphor: ReFantazio, this new title seems to bring a unique twist on the major themes ofPersona 5thanks to a change in setting.
With the latest trailer forMetaphor: ReFantazioshown at the Game Awards 2023, players got a better look at the gameplay and world featured in this game. Fans ofPersona 5likely noticed the similar visual style present inMetaphor: ReFantazio, along with a new take on the typical turn-based combat of thePersonaseries that mixes in some action elements. The most obvious difference betweenMetaphor: ReFantazioand thePersonaseriesis the game’s more fantastical setting, giving it room to explore political themes in a new context.
Metaphor: ReFantazio Recontextualizes Persona 5’s Themes for the Medieval Fantasy Genre
Although the recent Game Awards trailer forMetaphor: ReFantaziowas brief, a recent video on Atlus' YouTube channel has given a more in-depth explanation as to some of the story and gameplay elements players can expect to see. In this video, the developers highlight the story at the center ofMetaphor: ReFantazioand how it will tackle some of the samepolitical themes asPersona 5. While other gameplay elements like the calendar system and the use of Persona-like Archetypes that characters will awaken to, there are clear connecting themes between its story and that ofPersona 5.
According to this video, thestory ofMetaphor: ReFantaziowill take place in a medieval fantasy land where the king has been murdered, and a spell has been cast that allows citizens to select their most popular choice for the kingdom’s next ruler. This new electoral system causes many potential rulers and nobles to exert their influence in controlling the outcome of this political campaign. In response, the player and their party travel around the kingdom attempting to gather electoral support, but are limited by the calendar system which is counting down towards election day.
From this plot overview, there are some clear parallels toPersona 5and its view of modern-day politics and corruption. LikePersona 5, it sounds likeMetaphor: ReFantazioplayers will face a cast of villains who are corrupt nobles seeking to rig the election in their favor. Additionally, a major theme ofPersona 5is fighting back against societal complacency, which was caused byYaldabaoth, the god of control, andMetaphor: ReFantazio’s quest to build political support from around the land mirrors this struggle from the perspective of a medieval kingdom.
It’s noted that magic does exist in the world ofMetaphor: ReFantazio, but only those with enough wealth to purchase magical tools can use it. This point will likely be crucial to the game’s plot, as it creates class divisions within the game’s world, further establishing the political themes.
Despite having a medieval fantasy setting,Metaphor: ReFantazioopts for themes related to the flaws of modern electoral systems in a subversion of the usual style of corruption associated with kingdoms. This plot gives the game a clear parallel toPersona 5while still being its own separate story, creating the best of both worlds for fans ofPersona 5and those looking for something totally new. Asmore information is revealed aboutMetaphor: ReFantazioleading up to its release, the political connections toPersona 5will likely become even clearer.
