Sacred Symbols+, Episode 426 | Metaphor: ReFantazio Review Discussion and Spoilercast (Patreon)

For seven or eight years, a spin-off team at Atlus quietly toiled away on something new. Led by the director of Persona 3, 4, and 5 (and Catherine!), and buttressed by a small cadre of experienced talent that previously worked on all sorts of P-Studio fare, their efforts led to Metaphor: ReFantazio, an all-new JRPG released this past October. Metaphor is structured a great deal like a Persona title -- there are social links, a calendar, and other familiar trappings -- but in many other ways, it's markedly different. It's a game about the race to become king of a distant, fictional land, and yet it focuses on the very essence of being a normal, decent human being. To discuss Studio Zero's maiden effort, I (Colin) assembled three other people in our family to discuss Metaphor's story, gameplay, inspirations, and much more: Dustin, Brad, and Gene. Together, we unwind the mysteries of the Kingdom of Euchronia, a multiracial empire that's suffering from a mighty bout of anxiety. Maybe Thomas More can help?