Metaphor: ReFantazio ReViews have been released, and the Persona sequel looks like 2024 RPG's unanimous hit

Lewis Parker, a PC Gamer contributor, gave Metaphor: ReFantazio a 95% rating in his review. This is also shaping as one of those moments where everyone reviewing a video game shows their cards, and realizes that they all came to the same conclusion. Here's an overview of some of the major reviews:

• Metacritic: PC 92% / PS5 94%
• OpenCritic: 93%
• GameSpot: 10/10
• VGC: 5/5
• Eurogamer: 5/5
• GamesRadar: 4.5/5
• IGN: 9/10
• PCGamesN: 9/10

Metaphor: ReFantazio received praise from critics for its handling of themes such as racial and politcal oppression. Jessica Cogswell, writing for GameSpot argued that Metaphor is Atlus's strongest and most sincere. It's a game that reminds of you the idealist, the person you would like to be and how fantasy can influence reality. Ed Nightingale of Eurogamer and Lewis Parker, in our review, highlighted how Metaphor explores oppression through the protagonist being a member an oppressed subgroup in the game’s fantasy society.

Reviewers compared Metaphor to Persona 5 in terms of gameplay, with a particular focus on its version Persona's system of social links. Lewis described Metaphor as "a social simulator and a turn based RPG" in our review. Michael Higham, IGN's Metaphor Review, wrote that the game’s Royal Virtue and Bond/Follower systems are "adaptations of Persona’s social stats and social links, but refined."

Ed Thorn, from Rock Paper Shotgun, offers a more cool, dissenting review. He criticizes Metaphor's focus on combat, and contrasts its sincerity, seriousness, and humor with Persona's coolness and sense of humour: "If anime is your thing, you'll appreciate Metaphor's earnestness, and its main lesson: Racism's bad! Be nice to one another! Democracy Rules!"

Even Thorn's review was positive. It appears that Studio Zero is continuing its streak of JRPG hits. Metaphor: ReFantazio launches later this week, on October 10. You can wishlist the game or check out the demo on Steam.