Metaphor: ReFantazioisn’t aPersonagame, strictly speaking, but there’s no mistaking its influences. From its turn-based combat based on summoning iconic heroes, to its time management and relationship-building functions,Metaphor: ReFantaziotruly is the high-fantasy equivalent ofPersona. It would stand to reason, therefore, if its mechanics end up influencing futurePersonagames in turn. Right now, leaks and rumors suggestPersona 6is coming up next, but the highly successfulPersona 3 Reloadhas also sparked hope for aPersona 4 Goldenremake, and that game could benefit in quite a few ways by borrowing fromMetaphor.
Persona 4andPersona 4 Goldensort of come across as a transitional period forPersona.They bridge the gap between thePersona 3suite of games, which first introduced social sim elements and third-person dungeon-crawling, and thePersona 5games, which arguably feature the most streamlined and detailed social mechanics and dungeons yet. However, thePersona 4games still have some unique mechanics, like the party member follow-ups that can occur when an All-Out Attack doesn’t end a battle. This particular piece of teamwork is a must-have for aP4Gremake, should that ever happen, but it also has room for growth. Luckily, Atlus already has a clear blueprint for expanding on it, thanks to theSynthesis abilities inMetaphor: ReFantazio.
Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Synthesis Skills Could Translate into Persona 4 Golden Follow-Ups
Synthesis skills are perhaps the most powerful skills in aMetaphor: ReFantazioplayer’s arsenal, costing multiple Turn Icons (and often lots of MP) in exchange for devastating damage or game-changing status effects. They also require players to plan team comps carefully, since each Synthesis relies on certain Archetype combos.Persona 4 Golden’s All-Out Attack finisherswork similarly; players can only activate them if they have the combination of Chie and Yukiko, Yosuke and Teddie, or Kanji and Naoto in their party.
Running comps like these is well-worth the effort, since the follow-ups sometimes make all the difference when fighting big enemy groups or Golden Hands. While the follow-ups are useful, however, they’re a little restrictive, since there’s only three combinations total and no team comp can feature more than one combo. The extra damage they provide is useful, but it’s also rather basic.
This is where Synthesis can inspire Atlus to think bigger inaPersona 4 Goldenremake. Firstly, a remake could add a ton of new party member combinations, so players can activate combos with Yosuke and Kanji, Teddie and Yukiko, and every other possible combo – maybe even including the protagonist. Secondly, aPersona 4 Goldenremake could add unique effects to each of these combinations. For example, Kanji and Yukiko’s finisher might deal more damage than others, since they’re both high-DPS characters, while Teddie and Yukiko could heal the party on top of damaging the enemy. Even the existing combos can get upgraded this way; to make the most of its Junes theming, Teddie and Yosuke’s combo could drop extra money and items for each enemy defeated.
Of course, Atlus might be tempted to revamp this system in a way that’s much more like Synthesis and introduce activated team-up abilities, perhaps combiningPersona 3 Reload’s Theurgy skillswithPersona 5 Royal’s team-based Showtimes. This would definitely open up some more straightforward utility, but an upgrade toPersona 4 Golden’s All-Out Attack follow-ups is crucial regardless. It’s an entirely uniqueP4Gfeature that should be honored with its own gameplay improvements. AnyPersona 4 Goldenremake should work to improve the team-up feature it already has, rather than prioritizing an all-new team-up function.
It remains to be seen if aPersona 4 Goldenremake will happen anytime soon, if at all. It does seem inevitable, though, given thatPersona 3 Reloadwas such a massive hit, and thatPersonaproducer Kazuhisa Wada has expressed interest inPersona 1and2remakes, even while saying they’d be difficult to pull off.Persona 3 Reload’s big changes over the original game suggests aPersona 4 Goldenremake would look very different too, and if that’s the case, hopefully it includes All-Out Attack upgrades that borrow a thing or two from Synthesis skills.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
WHERE TO PLAY
From the creative minds behind Persona 3, 4, and 5 comes Metaphor: ReFantazio, a unique fantasy world, where your protagonist will journey alongside his fairy companion, Gallica, to lift the curse from the kingdom’s lost prince.Control your destiny, face your fears, and awaken magical Archetype powers that lie dormant in your heart. By awakening to an Archetype, you will unlock the power to channel and combine the abilities of unique job classes. Strengthen your bonds and build your party to take down powerful foes and discover the kingdom’s true nature.
