Though the merits of turn-based combat have long been demonstrated in the Persona series, there’s something to be said about how well its tenets can be applied to a real-time battling system. Persona 5 Strikers demonstrated this promise through its take on the musou genre, blending hack-and-slash gameplay with the fundamentals of P5‘s combat mechanics, showing a deft hand in merging the two without compromising one or the other. The way it considered its source material was vital to bridging the Persona 5 name with such a different conceit, and while Metaphor: ReFantazio doesn’t go the musou route itself, its action elements show how much Studio Zero considered these mechanics in accordance with its own gameplay.
Metaphor: ReFantazio‘s turn-based battle system is involved enough, given the sheer range of strategic value offered in its Archetypes and the lack of constraints on its party’s classes. Still, anyone familiar with turn-based RPGs knows that there comes a time when level grinding is a must, and having to consistently transition between the open world and battlefield can be an extra hurdle in an already lengthy process. It is for this reason that Metaphor‘s real-time combat is so effective, both in its time-saving and in its consideration of the dungeon travelling process. Being able to save MP by foregoing turn-based battles, particularly when overlevelled, can make preparing for bosses far easier, while the weaponry that can be wielded by the protagonist speaks to the Archetypes’ own range of specialties.
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Persona 5 Strikers’ Take on the Musou Genre
Because of the nature of the musou genre, Strikers puts more emphasis on the frenetic, action-oriented side of its combat, though it still gives Joker and the rest of the Phantom Thieves the ability to pause for summoning, letting them dish out elemental AoE attacks or deploy buffs and status ailments to disrupt the course of battle. Its use of the full party bears similar weight to Metaphor‘s range of weapons on the protagonist, as Strikers lets players oscillate between the crew, having them crack a whip against foes as P5‘s Ann or deal devastating Judgement Cuts with Yusuke’s katana. This marriage of two mentalities, hack ‘n’ slash and turn-based, lets Strikers lean on the strengths of Persona 5‘s combat while demonstrating the global applicability of features like Baton Pass and Showtime, making its own battle system more nuanced.
Metaphor’s Real-Time Combat, Weapon Versatility
Though Metaphor: ReFantazio places more emphasis on its turn-based combat, its real-time battling manages to work in service of this system while still retaining its own sense of self. As the protagonist, players can strike through enemies with the Prince’s sword or conjure up magic with the Mage’s staff, taking into account their equipped Archetype. Though it would have been easy to keep its open-world combat tightened to Will’s starting sword, Metaphor instead considers its Archetypes’ functionalities, showing how their respective weapons differ in range and speed of attack. Beyond surprising an enemy by striking from a stealth point like in Persona 5, the way that Metaphor encourages tactical nuance speaks to the versatility of its real-time combat offerings in accordance with the ambush system.
It helps that Metaphor: ReFantazio‘s weapons have an incredible range of versatility on the turn-based side of combat as well, taking into consideration their unique abilities, like the Faker Archetype’s “Gambler’s Anelaces,” which trades low accuracy for always dealing a critical hit. Even in the dungeons alone, however, Metaphor shows how its weapons stand out, and once players reach the team’s full strength, its real-time combat can be a true echo of Strikers‘ own, letting Will zip around dungeons like the spires of the Dragon Trials, taking down its barrage of skeleton soldiers and other creatures.
Action-Oriented Combat in Atlus’ Future
Metaphor‘s real-time combat does not overshadow its turn-based offerings. Rather, the two work together, just as Strikers exemplifies, showing how disparate systems can work in service of each other. As a reminder of Strikers‘ own strengths, Metaphor raises the larger question of whether action elements will resurface in Atlus’ future. There’s merit to the concept of another Persona spinoff under the musou umbrella, considering how well Strikers managed to pull off its gameplay, though Metaphor‘s handling could also indicate mainline Persona following its more subdued approach, complementing the series’ turn-based foundations.
RPG
JRPG
Action
Adventure
- Released
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October 11, 2024
- ESRB
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T For Teen // Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
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Studio Zero