Metaphor: ReFantazio is a 2024 role-playing video game by Atlus, set in a fictional fantasy world. It centers on a protagonist who sets out on a quest to save a prince from a curse by defeating an aspirant for the throne called Louis Guiabern, accompanied by several allies from different tribes. His allies include the fairy Gallica, the clemar Strohl, the roussainte Hulkenberg, the ishika Neuras, the eugief Heismay, the nidia Junah, the mustari Eupha, and the paripus Basilio. He also receives assistance in the development of powers called Archetypes from an amnesiac named More, and can form relationships with these characters as well as others. In addition to these tribes, there are creatures such as humans who roam the land, their designs inspired by the imagery found in the work of Hieronymus Bosch. Each person belongs to a different tribe, including the elda, clemar, roussainte, rhoag, ishika, mustari, nidia, paripus, and eugief.
The story and characters were directed and created by Katsura Hashino, and the characters and Archetypes were mostly designed by Shigenori Soejima, both having previously worked on the Persona series. Hashino aspired to make a fantasy story, reading various fantasy stories to prepare himself, but wanted to ensure that his characters and world were not seen as copies of anything. Metaphors cast has been generally well received, with multiple critics enjoying how the characters of different tribes were able to demonstrate different aspects of their society. The English localization was also praised, particularly in its authenticity to different regions of the United Kingdom. Criticism of the characters included Stephanie Liu of Siliconera suggesting that its racial allegory felt "forced," and critics wishing that there was more voice acting.
Concept and creation Metaphor takes place in a fantasy setting called the United Kingdom of Euchronia, where people fight with a magical power called magla. This world exists in contrast to a fantasy novel that mirrors it, and according to director Katsura Hashino, the team worked to create an "underlying feeling of connection between the [fantasy and modern] worlds." When designing the fantasy world of Metaphor, the game's creator, Katsura Hashino, stated that he was moved while researching fantasy stories (such as The Lord of the Rings) by a piece that read "Fantasy does more than immerse us in empty worlds of fiction. They exist because there's something about our world we want to change, and they help us reimagine something new." He added that this helped informed multiple aspect's of the game's development, including its characters.
The game was originally intended to be more akin to The Lord of the Rings, featuring dwarves, elves, and other races. Artist Shigenori Soejima created designs for this version of the game's characters, but according to Hashino, they felt too ordinary. They discussed how they could make them more interesting, the characters became more interesting to them. When designing the characters, Hashino stated that he was careful to not imitate the works he read, as it may be seen as a copy. Hashino also stated that anxiety was a central focus of the game, and that a fantasy setting helped make these anxieties less specific than in a modern setting. Hashino also aspired to avoid having romance elements like in the Persona series, believing it would be out of place in a fantasy story compared to Persona, which involved teenagers. The characters are around teenage age, but face more difficult issues than typical teenagers according to Hashino.
Each character in Metaphor belongs to one of multiple fictional tribes, including elda, paripus, roussainte, rhoag, clemar, eugief, nidia, mustari, and ishika, each having varying levels of similarity to real-life humans. These tribes each have different physical features, and some have higher positions in society than others. Elda, mustari, and paripus are considered second-class citizens in the kingdom, while clemar and roussainte are considered superior. Most of these races have human-like appearances, with the exception of the eugief, who are shorter and have animal-like faces and other animal features. Paripus, clemar, and ishika also have animal-like features (animal ears, horns, and wings respectively), except with human proportions. Roussainte are noted for their height and long ears, while rhoag are noted for markings on their skin. Nidia have larger pupils and a true form that they conceal, while mustari have a third eye and often conceal their face with a helmet as part of their customs. Elda have no dissimilarities with humans. When designing the different tribes, Hashino stated that he based them on Japanese personality traits; one is based on older Japanese people who "try to push their values on young people and make them follow in their tracks," while another is based on people who "have trouble speaking their mind and putting their emotions and their thoughts out there."
Aside from these tribes, the world is populated by other creatures, including immortal beings called fairies, monsters called humans, and dragons. The humans were inspired by the designs from "The Garden of Earthly Delights", a work by artist Hieronymus Bosch. The English localization gave certain characters and races different accents depending on their tribe; residents of the town Martira have Scottish accents, while residents of Virga Island have a Welsh accent.
Certain characters are able to utilize powerful magic called "Archetype," involving the summoning and utilization of heroic archetypes, such as healers, warriors, mages, and knights. Archetypes are largely utilized by the protagonist and his allies. The main characters fit certain archetypes as well. These Archetypes each have unique designs, most designed by Soejima while some were designed by Yuji Himukai of Etrian Odyssey fame.
Main characters The main characters share the goal of defeating the antagonist Louis Guiabern and saving the prince from a curse, with most of them able to participate in combat. Protagonist
The protagonist is a young eldan boy who can be named by the player (though his canon name is Will), and is called Captain by his allies. He is the first to awaken to an Archetype, and regularly cooperates with an amnesiac librarian named More. He is a close friend to a cursed prince, and embarks on a mission to cure him of this curse, which is believed to be caused by a noble named Louis Guiabern. He recruits Strohl, Hulkenberg, Heismay, Junah, Eupha, and Basilio along his journey. He is also accompanied by a fairy named Gallica, who provides support in battle and as a companion. With the cooperation of his allies, he seeks to take the throne to defeat Louis.
After nearly killing Louis, the protagonist is transformed into a human by Louis, who claims that humans are the true form of eldans. This causes his popularity to plummet, while Louis has the prince killed after his location is discovered. It is eventually discovered that the protagonist and the prince are one and the same, the protagonist having been created from the prince's desire to travel the world despite his limitations. Upon this discovery, the prince's soul merges with the protagonist, causing them to become one entity. The protagonist eventually regains his popularity and defeats Louis.
When designing the protagonist, Soejima stated that he wanted to depict a new kind of protagonist that they could not do in past games due to the modern setting. He wanted the character to be androgynous and heroic looking who "looks like they're about to change the world." They aspired to make him a character that would be easy for players to resonate with.
Leon Strohl da Haliaetus
Strohl is the first party member to join the protagonist, joining him in combat before awakening to the Warrior Archetype after nearly being killed by a human. He is a clemar noble seeking revenge against Louis Guiabern for the destruction of his village. Aided by the protagonist, the two work to obtain the inheritance of his late parents, growing to understand what it means to be a noble along the way. He eventually finds his inheritance, using it to help the survivors of the village attack in getting housing.
Arvid Grius
Arvid Grius is a member of the rhoag tribe and an eventual companion to the protagonist. As part of the protagonist's plan, he was meant to meet up with the protagonist to save the prince. Grius awakens to the ability to use an Archetype some time later. He is married to an innkeeper named Fabienne, and is the father to Maria, a young girl. He is killed during the initial attempt to assassinate Louis, who is protected by the King's magic, and his corpse reanimated to fight the protagonist by Zorba. His soul is allowed to rest after he is defeated.
Eiselin Burchelli Meijal Hulkenberg
Hulkenberg is a member of the roussainte tribe and former Kingsguard who judges herself harshly for the prince falling victim to the curse, her main focus being to break said curse upon learning of his survival. She manages to channel the Knight Archetype after joining the protagonist. She eventually learns the truth that the protagonist is a form created by the prince, and upon the prince's soul entering the protagonist's body, treats him with reverence. She originally beat out another knight to become the leader of the Kingsguard, who resents her for abandoning her position. Learning that he had become cruel and oppressive in his position, she challenges and defeats him, having him arrested for his crimes.
Heismay Noctule
Heismay is a former member of a covert group called the Shadowguard and a eugief. He is first met while the protagonist is hunting a bounty placed on him for the disappearance of children in a village, only to discover that he is being framed by a member of the Sanctist Church named Joanna, the actual culprit. Before the events of the game, his son was killed, causing him intense grief. He joins him in stopping these crimes, and awakens to the Thief Archetype in the process. He expresses his sympathy for Joanna, who did this after her baby was killed for being mixed-race, driven mad by her loss. The protagonist assists him in finding an appropriate burial place for his son's bones, attempting to have him buried at his home village, only for the villagers to steal the bones and hide them away to keep him from leaving him there. Heismay eventually decides that he does not want to bury him, choosing to turn his bones into a necklace so they can be together.
Juani Cygnus
Juani "Junah" Cygnus is a nidia who is first seen singing as part of an election event, and is revealed to be a member of Louis' entourage. She is later seen sneaking around Louis' gauntlet runner, a large vehicle, and is revealed to have been working with Grius to break the prince's curse. She joins the protagonist after discovering their shared goal, awakening to the Archetype of the Masked Dancer. She has an adoptive sister named Rella, who is a figure in the Sanctist Church. Rella is eventually revealed to be responsible for the prince's curse, having been made to do so under duress as a child by Forden in order to protect Junah from him. Junah eventually manages to defeat Rella, who accepts her death gracefully due to her belief that the protagonist will be a better king than Louis.
The protagonist assists her in getting prepared for a singing performance, only for a jealous competitor to plot to ruin her for taking her spot. The woman eventually backs down, but becomes unable to speak due to being hurt by someone who was trying to hurt Junah. Junah eventually reveals that all nidia have child-like forms, using magic to change their form. She eventually manages to help the woman regain her voice, and helps her get a singing job.
Euphausia Etoreika