Metaphor: ReFantazio
Atlus’ latest social sim RPG has been praised for its overtly political framing, deep turn-based battle systems, and for having one of the most memorable parties we’ve seen in ages. Above all that, what still sticks out most to me is its framing of fiction as a tool to make a better reality.
What strikes me most about its narrative is how it actively engages with how we write, read, watch and play fiction as a way to project the best version of ourselves into a world in which we otherwise feel powerless. As someone who often projects myself into the games I play and mediates on my own experiences in the fiction I write, some of Metaphor’s late-game turns struck a chord. Atlus’ examining the boundaries between fact and fiction feels sewn through every piece of Metaphor’s fabric, and it makes for the best tale the Persona team has spun in recent years. — Kenneth Shepard
