If you're curious as to why Atlus chose the name Metaphor: ReFantazio for its forthcoming RPG, you're not alone. In fact, it was one of the first questions asked during a recent press event held by the studio in New York City, in which GameSpot and various other outlets were given the opportunity to play five hours of Metaphor: ReFantazio and chat with some of its core development team members.
The answer to the question is just as simple as it is intriguing: It's because the entire game itself is a metaphor, producer Junichi Yoshizawa explained. And though that might sound obtuse or perhaps even a bit hamfisted, it didn't take long for me to understand and appreciate just what he meant.
Whereas many fantasy worlds bear a resemblance to our own and contain themes and stories we recognize or relate to, Metaphor: ReFantazio is quick to emphasize and explore this connection. In the game's opening moments, for example, an unnamed voice asks you for your name--not what you want to name your character, but your name. He then asks how you view the idea of fantasy. This metanarrative pops up throughout, as the protagonist frequently turns to a novel he carries with him, one containing stories about a technologically advanced land with skyscrapers, roads, and humans living peacefully--a fantasy version of our own world. There are many ways this could go wrong; the game could feel preachy, cheesy, or annoyingly meta, for starters. And yet, what I played of Metaphor: ReFantazio avoided falling into any of those traps.
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