Sometimes the optimal play is to not play optimally at all. In Altusâs Persona-like RPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio, there are the class options youâd expect from the genre, so you might expect to be told the best possible choice to most enjoy the game. Itâs justâŠit doesnât work like that here. Itâs better
Iâve been giving tips about video games on the internet ever since I was old enough to type âhellom my name is timoby monbleau XDâ on whichever message board my dial-up connection could load first. Over that lifetime of experience, I typically see the same questions appear when it comes to RPGs like Metaphor: ReFantazio: âWhat are the best characters to use? What are the best builds? Which classes should I pick to make the game easier? Why do I see Mega Man in my dreams?â
Typically, my advice for questions like these is âexperiment and figure out what works for you!â Because, sure, thereâs always an optimal build, and thereâs always an optimal class to pick. But trying different party configurations is one of the most fun parts of a class system in an RPG, and I firmly believe that itâs okay to do 20 less damage per turn in the name of having more fun with your 70+ hour game.
Iâm here to give this same advice about Metaphor: ReFantazio, but not strictly because I value class experimentation more than optimal play. Actually, Metaphorâs classes (called âArchetypesâ in-game) are so well-designed that experimentation often is the optimal play. If youâre ready to begin your journey to become king, letâs break down why you shouldnât worry about whether or not youâre using the âbestâ class at any given time.