Coming from the creative leads of Persona 3, 4, and 5, Metaphor: ReFantazio is obviously borrowing plenty of elements from the Persona series, but Atlus’ upcoming RPG is also going to put its own twist in that formula in a number of ways, appropriately enough for an entirely new IP. Take, for instance, its blend of real-time and turn-based combat mechanics, or how it will handle exploration throughout its map. Another area where the fantasy RPG will differ from Persona games is how it’ll handle bonds.
Metaphor: ReFantazio will feature Followers system that, similar to Persona’s Confidants and Social Links, will allow players to deepen their bonds and friendships with a number of different characters. However, as confirmed by Atlus during a Q&A in a recent livestream (caught by Siliconera), unlike Persona, these bonds won’t involve any romances. Though deepening friendships with characters will allow you to learn more about them and unlock new Archetypes, they won’t become possible romance options for the protagonist at any stage.
Atlus recently revealed a host of new details on Metaphor: ReFantazio as part of a dedicated showcase, which also came with a release date announcement. The fantasy RPG launches on October 11 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PC. A Collector’s Edition has also been revealed.