Director Katsura Hashino’s interest in the Metaphor: ReFantazio IP becoming a flagship series has been made known, and given the title’s overwhelming success for Atlus, it seems a question of if, not when, it will expand to other avenues. Where Metaphor could lead next has already been a point of contention among fans, however, as with the divisive nature of the re-release formula, it could be that the title sets its sights elsewhere. Following modern Persona‘s approach, the possibility of a spin-off isn’t completely off the table, though such a decision would need to contend with more than its story; the darker tone of Metaphor is tantamount to its world, and thus, a spin-off would need to consider whether it follows suit.
The setting of Metaphor: ReFantazio channels the influences of its dark, medieval theming, using Euchronia as a backdrop to express the tribal tension of its people. Death and poverty are rampant, anxiety is at a fever pitch, and the struggles of the Kingdom’s world are not lost on any of its constituents, a feat seen in each of its party member’s backstories. While Metaphor‘s narrative leaves room for downtime during its race for the throne, the overall tone of its story lends itself to its serious subject matter, accentuating the tribal persecution and imbalance in its world. A successor to Metaphor would likely deal with similar conflicts, though whether the same holds true for the original’s tone remains worthy of speculation.
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A Metaphor: ReFantazio Spin-off Would Need to Consider its Tone as Much as its Story, Genre
Staying or Straying From its Darker Tone
Modern Persona is not without its own dark themes. Death and injustice are emphasized in Persona 3‘s Memento Mori and Persona 5‘s taking of hearts respectively, though it can be argued that Metaphor: ReFantazio‘s world leans more closely into the disparities that are afforded by its medieval fantasy setting. It is for this reason why a Metaphor: ReFantazio spin-off might feel a bit jarring if it followed more strictly in Persona‘s shadow. For example, while Persona‘s dancing games work to the liveliness of their music and casts, seeing Metaphor‘s own characters on the dance floor would run the risk of being tonally dissonant compared to what its IP has established.
Finding Balance in a Potential Spin-off
Subverting the original IP’s tone wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing, but going a more light-hearted route could wind up undermining the tone set by Euchronia’s world. Metaphor does end on a hopeful note, and so it wouldn’t be completely out of the question to consider this approach, though how it would contend with this, and through what genre, would need to be carefully considered. Generally speaking, modern Persona‘s spin-offs often pave the way for fan-service moments, and thus can lean more into the comedic side of their offerings, even with the subject matter seen in titles like Strikers and Tactica that deal with trauma and loss. Still, it’s about finding the right balance.
Keeping the Efforts of Metaphor’s Party Intact
A completely serious plot without any sense of levity would be exhausting. Metaphor does a good job at balancing this, though if it leans more heavily into the light-heartedness that a spin-off could afford, then it would need to consider how far it would go. A Metaphor spin-off that considers the merriment of a new Euchronia working past its darker roots could be interesting, but would still need to keep in mind the Kingdom’s history if it wants to honor the original. Both the genre and context of the story would tie into this, of course, and could circumvent issues that have come up in titles like Tactica, where Toshiro’s comedic treatment feels reductive in the context of the game’s larger plot as his backstory is furthered.
Ultimately, Metaphor: ReFantazio‘s future remains uncertain in terms of where it will go. Whether a spin-off will be considered at all has yet to be answered, but if the Metaphor IP does indeed become a flagship series for Atlus, then it’s likely to capitalize as much as it can on its success. This wouldn’t necessarily infringe on quality, but it does raise questions about how many contexts its party will be placed in. If Metaphor‘s cast becomes just as popular as the Phantom Thieves, for example, then it could run similar risks of the IP becoming saturated to the degree of becoming tiresome. For now, however, this remains speculation, and with the high point that Metaphor has cemented, it only seems fair to consider that similar strengths are set to follow.
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
