The 2023 Game Awards hosted a new look at Atlus' Metaphor: ReFantazio, the next RPG from Studio Zero. The trailer gives more glimpses of the game's fantasy setting, as well as the Royal Tournament, its great contest. Atlus also detailed the five of the main characters found in the RPG.
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The new trailer for Metaphor: ReFantazio is the first substantial public look at the game since its reveal earlier this year. The game achieved
It lays out the basic premise of the story. The king has been assassinated, and a new king must be selected. Those who wish to claim the crown must participate in a Tournament to determine who will inherit the throne.
Footage of battles, cutscenes, and exploration gameplay was shown. The game appears to incorporate both real-time and turn-based elements into its battle system. The protagonist appears on the field and hacks at groups of enemies in real time, but also triggers a mechanic that transitions to a turn-based battle UI reminiscent of Persona 5 and Persona 3 Reload.
Exploration gameplay also includes movement about town, where the protagonist can engage with NPCs and deliver speeches to the populace as part of their candidacy for the throne. A home base type of area is also visible, in the form of a large-legged transport of some kind. The trailer closes out by featuring a metamorphosis of some kind, with a character manifesting or transforming into a giant, mecha-like combat form.
Metaphor: ReFantazio will debut on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, and PS5 in Fall 2024.
Story
Our story takes place in The United Kingdom of Euchronia, where the assassination of the king brings chaos and unrest to the land.
Then, one fateful day, a magic known only to the king called the Royal Magic is invoked, and the world becomes embroiled in a royal tournament for the throne.
In the midst of this, the protagonist, together with his partner, the fairy Galica, must find a way to break the curse that has been placed on the prince that the kingdom believes to be dead. To do so, they depart on a journey across the vast land.
They will discover that in order to achieve their goal, they must participate in the tournament for the throne, and this great task shall require them to ally with many friends and followers of the various tribes inhabiting the world.
Characters
Protagonist
Together with the fairy, Galica, he embarks on a journey to lift the deadly curse placed on his childhood friend, the prince of Euchronia.
He is a boy of the elda tribe, branded as a ""tainted"" people by the state religion who believe they have inherited dangerous and heretical magic. Being so rare among the populous, they are detested and discriminated against throughout the kingdom."
Gallica
Not only a traveling companion, Gallica is the guide who helps the protagonist carry out his mission to save the prince. Although she is too small to participate in battles, her knowledge of magic and ability to sense magla is superior to the protagonist due to her fairy nature. She doesn't mince words, but she is a reassuring ally on his journey.
Strohl
He is a young man of the clemar tribe who meets the protagonist in the recruitment centre for the State Army. A smart young man with a strong sense of justice, he hails from a noble family. And yet, it seems his circumstances are complicated, as it is rare for a noble to enlist in the army alongside commoners.
Hulkenberg
A knight of the roussainte tribe and former member of the royal family's Kingsguard who served by the prince's side. Despite her young age, she excelled in the use of various weaponry, and was assigned to the personal guard of the prince. But when the prince was attacked, she failed to protect him and set out to wander, carrying the stigma of this failure in her heart.
Heismay
A former knight of the eugief tribe. He has acute perception compared to most others, due in part to the eugief trait of being sensitive to sound.
With an appearance that differs greatly from other tribes, it's not uncommon for eugiefs to be discriminated against—and it seems Heismay is no exception, his past his own burden to bear.
