It is no secret that Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of the best new games of 2024. The hit role-playing game dives into serious discussion of racism and systemic oppression and is also one of the most enjoyable, depth-driven games of the year. A Metaphor in Fantasy is a short documentary on YouTube that gives players a chance to hear from the creators about their journey making Metaphor: ReFantazio.
Metaphor: ReFantazio was a passion project for the Atlus team. Many of the team had experience working on things like the Persona franchise but Metaphor: ReFantazio was an entirely new challenge. Everything from the setting, story, and general atmosphere had to be created fresh. Crucially, it also had to feel unique and different from previous Atlus games.
One of the most interesting bits of A Metaphor in Fantasy is hearing from composer Shoji Meguro. Meguro talks about his approach to the Persona series and how the goal was for that music to be easy to listen to and jam along with. The goal was approachable and fun music. For Metaphor: ReFantazio, Meguro wanted a more nuanced take. He wanted a soundtrack that was worth coming back to in order to discover new layers hidden in the music.
It is rare to get to hear from a composer about their musical approach like this. It also helps give a better appreciation for the wonderful soundtrack to the game. This same insight is given to Shigenori Soejima with his art direction for the game. Hearing from these creatives about why they chose the direction they did and how different it was for them is a useful tool when understanding and appreciating the art they created.
A Metaphor in Fantasy gives viewers the backstory of how the project came together. After the release of Persona 5, director and producer Katsura Hashino wanted to try something brand new. It is really neat to learn that there was not a solid idea of what he wanted to do, all he knew was that he wanted to put together a team to create a new idea. It gives insight into the game development process that the average player might not always get.
Hearing from the three main creatives of the game helps players understand the work that went into creating the project. The video is not super long, only 34 minutes, but even the limited commentary from the team is enough to truly appreciate all of the hard work they put in. It also leaves a taste for more, with lots of new questions to ponder when exploring the game itself.
A Metaphor in Fantasy is a rare look at the creative process of a game that truly pushes the boundaries of storytelling and gameplay. The hope is that fans and developers alike will watch this and push for more insight into the industry, giving players a better appreciation of the work they are playing and allowing creatives to tell their stories to the masses.
A Metaphor in Fantasy is available on YouTube and Metaphor: ReFantazio is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, and PC.
