In this episode of Game Pass Grab Bag, Andrew, Keith and Liz (she’s back everyone!) dive into the highly anticipated Metaphor: ReFantazio, a turn-based JRPG from Atlus Studio—the same team behind the Persona franchise. With its bold visual style, layered narrative, and intricate combat system, ReFantazio sets out to be a genre-defining title. But does it live up to its ambitions, or does it get lost in its own world-building?
Scores
Andrew: 88 – Game
Keith: 80 – Pass
Liz: 80 – Game
Average: 82.7
🧙 The Setup: A Cursed Prince, a Nameless Hero, and Societal Struggles
Metaphor: ReFantazio opens with a classic JRPG premise: a nameless protagonist is drawn into a quest to save a cursed prince and restore balance to a fractured world. But beneath this archetypal setup lies a deeper narrative—one that tackles themes of racism, societal hierarchy, and the tension between warring tribes.
It’s ambitious storytelling, but not without its flaws. The hosts note that while the story is rich in lore, it takes hours to fully open up, with a heavy emphasis on exposition and dialogue in the early game.
“It takes so long to get rolling,” Keith laments, echoing the frustration many players may feel during the drawn-out introduction.
🕹️ Gameplay Mechanics: Deep, Tactical, and Sometimes Tedious
Atlus brings familiar turn-based combat to the table, but with a few twists. Players can swap character classes on the fly, customize party archetypes, and manage a resource-heavy battle system that rewards planning over button-mashing.
The game features a day-night cycle, dynamic companion system, and limited customization options due to oddly strict naming filters. The community aspect—where players can share character builds—is a standout feature, but it arrives later in the experience.
“You really have to manage your mana,” Andrew notes, emphasizing how strategic the boss fights can be.
Despite the depth, not all mechanics land smoothly. The game requires players to bench characters later in the story, which left Keith feeling frustrated about losing party members he’d invested in.
“I hate that when you have to bench people.”
🧩 Storytelling & Dialogue: Too Much of a Good Thing?
One of the most polarizing elements of ReFantazio is its dialogue system. On the surface, it mimics Persona’s social links and branching choices, but dig deeper and you’ll find that many of these dialogue choices have no real impact on the story.
“I cannot stand fake dialogue choices,” Keith says bluntly.
The game’s reliance on long dialogue sequences—even for minor events—can bog down the pacing. Andrew admits that after several hours, he started skipping lines, a rare admission for a JRPG fan who usually relishes world-building.
Still, there are bright spots. Some companions offer rewarding story arcs, and your interactions with them can unlock unique skills or bonuses during battle. The game rewards patience, but only for those willing to endure its slow burn.
🎨 Art, Audio & Atmosphere: A Feast for the Eyes, Not Always the Ears
Atlus doesn’t miss when it comes to art direction, and Metaphor: ReFantazio is no exception. The environments are varied and richly detailed, with fantasy-meets-steampunk elements that feel fresh and inspired.
“I like this game’s art style,” Andrew says. “It’s definitely got personality.”
On the audio side, opinions are more mixed. While the soundtrack contains some standout tracks, transitions between scenes and music choices can feel jarring at times—pulling players out of the immersion.
“This must be a fantasy game,” Keith quips, reacting to one of the more dramatic musical shifts mid-battle.
🧠 Final Thoughts: Who Is This Game For?
Ultimately, Metaphor: ReFantazio is not a game unless you are a JRPG die-hard—players who don’t mind slow starts, dense systems, and lengthy lore dumps in exchange for complex world-building and tactical combat.
For everyone else? It may be a tougher sell.
“Overall impressions are mixed,” the hosts agree. There’s brilliance here, but it’s buried under hours of slow-moving setup and repetitive dialogue.
✅ TL;DR – What You Need to Know
- Genre: Turn-Based JRPG
- Developer: Atlus Studio (creators of Persona)
- Platform: Game Pass
- Premise: A nameless hero must save a cursed prince in a world divided by class and race.
- Gameplay: Tactical combat, character class switching, day-night cycle, and social mechanics.
- Highlights: Strong art direction, deep combat system, and meaningful companion arcs.
- Lowlights: Slow pacing, unimpactful dialogue choices, inconsistent audio design.
- Final Verdict: A rewarding journey—but only for those with time and patience.
🔊 Sound Bites from the Episode
“This game has too much racism.”
“I started to skip this dialogue.”
“This is a cool person.”
“I think it’s a neat feature.”
“This is a game, if you’re not a JRPG fan…”
🎙 Want more honest reviews and off-the-cuff opinions on the latest Game Pass titles? Subscribe to Game Pass Grab Bag wherever you get your podcasts—and stay tuned for our next deep dive!
