Metaphor: ReFantazio, the next big RPG from Persona 5 director Katsura Hashino, is already a massive experience. However, its battle system has its intricacies, especially when factoring in the Archetypes. In a new livestream, Hashino confirmed that combat is like Shin Megami Tensei 3. Exploit weaknesses and get more turns, but the enemy can do the same.
Factoring in formations is also key since each Archetype does different things when placed in the back (even the Knight, which can attract enemy attacks). However, the highlight is perhaps Synthesis, which allows for combining two party members’ Archetypes. It results in powerful attacks but also provides unique effects, like the Seeker gaining attributes that aren’t otherwise available.
The trade-off is consuming an action from the ally’s turn. Exploiting weaknesses is thus essential for additional actions. Of course, there’s Special Synthesis, where three characters can team up for massive damage, though the condition for activation changes based on the party composition. It encourages trying out various team compositions, but you can also inherit learned Skills when switching from one Archetype to another to encourage experimenting with different options.
Interestingly, changing the Archetype also affects the weapon used in real-time Fast combat. The Seeker grants a one-handed sword, perfect for quick strikes. However, the Warrior confers a greatsword for harder hits and ensures the user can’t suffer pre-emptive strikes. The Mage’s staff allows for more range and affects enemies surrounding the player, perfect for clearing out rooms, while the Gunner uses a crossbow.
Launching on October 11th, Metaphor: ReFantazio will be available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PS4 and PC. Pre-orders are currently available – check out the Collector’s Edition.
