Studio Zero provided some brief new details on Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Archetypes during the Summer Game Fest showcase. However, director Katsura Hashino went into much more detail in the latest livestream, outlining the 14 Archetype Lineages that players can expect. The last livestream revealed the Seeker, Mage, Thief and Brawler.
However, there’s also the Warrior, skilled in sword attacks; the Knight with its strong defense; the Healer specializing in recovery; the Commander, who employs formations and provides support; and the Gunner for long-range damage. You also have the Merchant, who unleashes “money-related” attacks and the Faker, who’s skilled in “tricky moves.”
As for the Evolved Archetypes, there’s the Masked Dancer, who can change skills and resistances freely with their equipment. The Summoner can summon monsters to aid in battle while the Berserker deals massive damage. Players will awaken these Archetypes with the help of More, a mysterious individual residing in the Akademeia.
When Archetypes are acquired, the tree in the Akademeia starts branching out. You can swap between Archetypes, and every party member has access to all. Upon gaining XP through battle and strengthening bonds, you can also unlock new tiers of Archetypes. For example, deepen your bond with someone of the Seeker Lineage, and you gain access to the Magic Seeker, who wields strong Wind magic and reinforces party members.
It can further evolve into the Soul Hacker, which possesses resistance penetration and MP recovery. Each Archetype tier has a unique model and artwork, making them stand out more.
Metaphor: ReFantazio launches on October 11th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC. Stay tuned for more details from the livestream shortly.