Atlus has been widely regarded as a standard for producing high-quality and innovative RPGs for a number of years now. Metaphor: ReFantazio is the next big RPG from Atlus games and is the studio’s take on the classic high fantasy setting. Yesterday, the first gameplay showcase was revealed along with a variety of details surrounding the game.

Metaphor: ReFantazio’s story will involve building up an alliance to support your claim to the throne of a magical kingdom. In contrast to the typical hereditary line of succession, the world of Metaphor adopts a democratic model. This means you’ll have to compete with dozens of rivals from various places and social backgrounds on your quest.

In terms of gameplay, you can expect a focus on complex turn-based combat similar to Persona and Shin Megami Tensei. Metaphor: ReFantazio also contains some light-action RPG elements as low-level enemies can be defeated quickly on the overworld. The turn-based combat will play out extremely similar to Persona with each character able to harness the powers of various Archetypes that bestow powerful attacks.

Traversal is another key aspect of the world and players are encouraged to explore using their Gauntlet Runner. This heavily armored vehicle acts as a home base and is equipped with various amenities, like a kitchen or library that can be explored during downtime travel. As is the case in Persona, Metaphor will also revolve heavily around time. Both main quests and side objectives will have a limited time frame to complete, but can of course be taken on in any order allowing for unique player experiences.

The biggest update came in the form of an official release date, set for October 11th, 2024. The team plans to offer the first playable builds of the game in June. Additionally, pre-orders of both the standard and collectors edition are now live. pre-ordering the game will net you an Archetype EXP chest and an Adventurer’s Journey pack which contains in-game currency and utility items.

As is the standard, the collector’s edition will contain exclusive merchandise along with the base game. These items include an art book, soundtrack, metallic pins, a cloth map of the game’s world, and a sticker sheet. Also included are some items that will celebrate Atlus’ 35th anniversary as a studio such as a digital history book, and a greatest hits soundtrack.

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