First Review is out [37/40] = 93%

[ez game ez life]

Famitsu published a review of Metaphor: ReFantazio and it looks really good.

Comments from Famitsu reviewers include:

- The overall gameplay feels almost the same as the Persona series.

- The thrill of reaching key climaxes is irresistible.

- The story is highly immersive, with intense developments.

- The battle system is similar to Persona, making it easy to get accustomed to, and offers a refreshing experience.

- The action elements before the turn-based battles are also a nice touch.

- There are many considerations throughout the game to make the gameplay smooth.

- Although it feels a bit long-winded at times, it gradually helps you get accustomed to the game’s world and systems.

- The coolness of the presentation is on another level.

- The game feels akin to a classic RPG, making it accessible to a wide range of players.

- It takes approximately 80 hours to complete, and 100 hours including additional challenges.

https://personacentral.com/metaphor-refantazio-famitsu-review/

[ShockedHearts]

good news, though I think reviewer times are often under what myself and other players get in games, they said 80 for persona 5 and I did 130.
they said 60 for persona 3 reload, I got 110.

I dont think im slow at all, but I do take time to ENJOY the game, thus I read all the dialogue I dont skip cutscenes, I play on a harder difficulty (I like the challenge and no I dont really struggle at all)

so while others might beat this game in the 80 hour estimated playtime, I will probably be reaching credits in like 130-150 if the pattern continues lol.

i think the 20 hour difference in story to side content completion is a massive guess on their part, doing everything in these games versus just the story is usually night and day in terms of speed. and considering most people spent 1-4 hours in the FIRST side dungeon (which is really small) I highly doubt 20 hours is ALL the side content lol.

[Nirh]

These comments are comedy, it’s like they were written by an otaku in charge of PR.

I hope whoever wrote “The thrill of reaching key climaxes is irresistible”, reviews a porn game next, I want to see what they come up with.

“Story with intense developments”
“COOLNESS ON ANOTHER LEVEL”

“similar to Persona, making it easy to get accustomed to, and offers a refreshing experience”. It’s both FAMILIAR and REFRESHING! Like a new brand of Coke?

[ShockedHearts]

Originally posted by Nirh:

These comments are comedy, it’s like they were written by an otaku in charge of PR.

I hope whoever wrote “The thrill of reaching key climaxes is irresistible”, reviews a porn game next, I want to see what they come up with.

“Story with intense developments”
“COOLNESS ON ANOTHER LEVEL”

“similar to Persona, making it easy to get accustomed to, and offers a refreshing experience”, It’s both FAMILIAR and REFRESHING!

specifically the quote saying it "feels long winded at times" is MOST LIKELY the gaps in time between major story events that all persona games have, aka the day to day life where you fill time to explore do side quests increase social stats hang out with friends etc.

likely this was stated because the reviewer saw this stuff as filler because they just wanted to experience the story and get the review done asap lol.

specifically because that complaint is actually an aspect of these games the fans like a lot and want more of in higher quality.

[ez game ez life]

Originally posted by ShockedHearts:

good news, though I think reviewer times are often under what myself and other players get in games, they said 80 for persona 5 and I did 130.
they said 60 for persona 3 reload, I got 110.

I dont think im slow at all, but I do take time to ENJOY the game, thus I read all the dialogue I dont skip cutscenes, I play on a harder difficulty (I like the challenge and no I dont really struggle at all)

so while others might beat this game in the 80 hour estimated playtime, I will probably be reaching credits in like 130-150 if the pattern continues lol.

i think the 20 hour difference in story to side content completion is a massive guess on their part, doing everything in these games versus just the story is usually night and day in terms of speed. and considering most people spent 1-4 hours in the FIRST side dungeon (which is really small) I highly doubt 20 hours is ALL the side content lol.

It's very similar for me. I always play games like this on the hardest level because I enjoy it more when I'm challenged tactically in the battles and might even have to grind a bit to progress. I also already know that I'll be spending a lot of time in the menus or trying out new party combinations. So if it says 100 hours for everything, then it's easily 150 or even 200 for me.

[ez game ez life]

Originally posted by ShockedHearts:

i think the 20 hour difference in story to side content completion is a massive guess on their part, doing everything in these games versus just the story is usually night and day in terms of speed. and considering most people spent 1-4 hours in the FIRST side dungeon (which is really small) I highly doubt 20 hours is ALL the side content lol.

A 20-hour difference between just following the main story and really doing everything else that's on the side doesn't make any sense at all from my point of view either.

[Splinter of Chaos]

Originally posted by Nirh:

These comments are comedy, it’s like they were written by an otaku in charge of PR.

I feel like people generally consider Famitsu a bit biased when it comes to Japanese games, but also consider that the quotes on this page are both summarizations and translations, not what the reviewers originally said.

Originally posted by ShockedHearts:

specifically the quote saying it "feels long winded at times" is MOST LIKELY the gaps in time between major story events that all persona games have,

I feel the line on the website properly contextualizes this:

> Although it feels a bit long-winded at times, it gradually helps you get accustomed to the game’s world and systems.

The long winded line relates to the frequent tutorialization of systems that people who have not played Atlus' previous titles will not be familiar with. I think this was the original line:

> “アトラスRPG”を遊んだことのない人でも迷わずに楽しめるようなユーザー誘導が秀逸。少々冗長的に感じるものの、ゆっくりじっくりと本作の世界観およびゲームシステムに慣れさせてくれる。
(https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/51648/reviews/)

[REBirthTheEdge]

Let's go boys!!!

[ShockedHearts]

Originally posted by Splinter of Chaos:

Originally posted by Nirh:

These comments are comedy, it’s like they were written by an otaku in charge of PR.

<3

that makes more sense, I can agree that the persona games do tend to tutorialize you for WAY too long.

you can be damn near 30% through persona 3 reload and still be getting pop-ups on how something works in tartarus. its like bro I know ive defeated like 6 bosses and played for 40 hours at this point lmao.

[マックス・オルロフ ウ]

Who even listens to critics these days? Most critics demand SGW garbage in games and a bunch of delusional inclusivity. Think for yourself based on gameplays and reviews. If anything, you can get your money back.

[ShockedHearts]

Originally posted by マックス・オルロフ ウ:

Who even listens to critics these days? Most critics demand SGW garbage in games and a bunch of delusional inclusivity. Think for yourself based on gameplays and reviews. If anything, you can get your money back.

based off of my 40+ hours in the demo I agree with most of what the above review says, atleast within the first chapter of the game. if it keeps up the same pace its looking to be amazing.

[Nirh]

Originally posted by ShockedHearts:

specifically the quote saying it "feels long winded at times" is MOST LIKELY the gaps in time between major story events that all persona games have, aka the day to day life where you fill time to explore do side quests increase social stats hang out with friends etc.

It reflects well my experience with the demo actually, I’m a little after the 2nd boss and so far the game has been a long tutorial.
Not to say it wasn’t entertaining, great music and funny “human” bosses design make for a pleasant spectacle RPG.

I assume the story will be the weak point. I mean, so far: (OPENING CUTSCENE AND VERY EARLY SPOILERS FOLLOW if anyone cares)

Pretty dude attempts to kill the king’s heir, leaves him crippled and … he isn’t even kicked out of the royal palace? Just because they didn’t have definitive evidence? King bro, that’s not how monarchies are run. Or democracies.
That he comes back and kills the king is hilarious in its predictability. Truly natural selection at work.

Elsewhere, protagonist risks his life (and mission, if survival wasn’t motivation enough) for a book, gets thrown off a cliff, survives without a scratch, proceeds to suddenly acquire mythical powers in time to survive again because he has a heroic heart I guess.

Magic dude with cat shows up and is like: KID I’M AMAZED YOU ARE AMAZING LET ME BE YOUR FOLLOWER and everyone else becomes his follower too and he awakens mystical powers in his followers … Jesus is that you?

Thankfully, we got a boss that eats himself to heal, and another’s that’s a bird with a ugly man face and … glasses. And they are humans. That makes the story more credible, homestly no /s

Edit:
Just to be clear I like the demo. It’s still funny that both the game story and review quotes feel a bit unhinged.

[ez game ez life]

Originally posted by Splinter of Chaos:

(https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/51648/reviews/)

Thank you very much for the original link!

[ShockedHearts]

Originally posted by Nirh:

Originally posted by ShockedHearts:

specifically the quote saying it "feels long winded at times" is MOST LIKELY the gaps in time between major story events that all persona games have, aka the day to day life where you fill time to explore do side quests increase social stats hang out with friends etc.

It reflects well my experience with the demo actually, I’m a little after the 2nd boss and so far the game has been a long tutorial.
Not to say it wasn’t entertaining, great music and funny “human” bosses design make for a pleasant spectacle RPG.

I assume the story will be the weak point. I mean, so far: (OPENING CUTSCENE AND VERY EARLY SPOILERS FOLLOW if anyone cares)

Pretty dude attempts to kill the king’s heir, leaves him crippled and … he isn’t even kicked out of the royal palace? Just because they didn’t have definitive evidence? King bro, that’s not how monarchies are run. Or democracies.
That he comes back and kills the king is hilarious in its predictability. Truly natural selection at work.

Elsewhere, protagonist risks his life (and mission, if survival wasn’t motivation enough) for a book, gets thrown off a cliff, survives without a scratch, proceeds to suddenly acquire mythical powers in time to survive again because he has a heroic heart I guess.

Magic dude with cat shows up and is like: KID I’M AMAZED YOU ARE AMAZING LET ME BE YOUR FOLLOWER and everyone else becomes his follower too and he awakens mystical powers in his followers … Jesus is that you?

Thankfully, we got a boss that eats himself to heal, and another’s that’s a bird with a ugly man face and … glasses. And they are humans. That makes the story more credible, homestly no /s

oppositely I think the prologue is really engaging and well told, its obviouslt teaching the mechanics because its... the start of the game, and needs to ground you in the world and concepts asap so you can get on with the game.

and in a 100+ hour rpg the first few hours obviously and almost always will be long winded, because once its done your reigns are let loose and you can do what you want.

so none of that is really a critique from my perspective personally. thats just video game design at its finest.