Metaphor: ReFantazio Shows that Persona 6's Cast Could Benefit from One Narrative Change

Metaphor Refantaziois rather different from thePersonafranchise, but the two IP are nevertheless inextricably linked, much in the same way thatPersonawill always be an offshoot ofShin Megami Tensei. LikePersona,Metaphor Refantazioplaces a heavy emphasis on protagonist-NPC relationships, tasking players with nurturing bonds with each party member (and beyond) to unlock a bevy of benefits, both in and outside of combat.

But one central piece of thePersonalife simulation puzzle is missing inMetaphor Refantazio: romance subplots. In thePersonaseries, the player can choose to romance most of their opposite-sex Social Links, which can provide a deeper and more meaningful connection between the player and the game world. While manyPersonafans were disappointed by the omission of such romance features inMetaphor Refantazio, the high-fantasy story proved to be just as riveting and intimate without it, thanks to its exceptional character writing. But still, it’s not like romance couldn’t have worked inMetaphor, on some level, and perhaps a happy medium can be found inPersona 6.

Metaphor ReFantazio Tag Page Cover Art

Persona 6’s Characters Could Benefit by Putting Romance On the Back Burner

Metaphor Refantazio’s Cast Isn’t Defined by Romance

It’s generally quite obvious when a character is romanceable inPersona. EvenNPCs like Yukari inPersona 3or Ann fromPersona 5, whose romance arcs don’t officially start until much later in the game, are introduced as love interests in some way, be that through observations, jokes, or romantically charged interactions. The fact that just about every character who is the opposite sex as the protagonist can be romanced also sets a certain expectation: it’s reasonable to assume that most male-female relationships inPersonagames have romantic potential.

This isn’t howMetaphorhandles its player-NPC relationships, though. With no romance mechanics to speak of, each character is given some extra breathing room, not being quite so defined by their relationship with the protagonist. The player-character is there to help guide them on their individual journeys, certainly, but being with him, at least in a traditional committed relationship, isn’t part of their end goals. Moreover, with players understanding that these relationships are meant to be platonic, a more natural dynamic between protagonist and NPC is encouraged, as players aren’t always striving to achieve the victory state of romanctic fulfillment.

A romantic connectionbetween Eupha andMetaphor’s protagonistis strongly suggested, but their dynamic is far removed from the ever-evolving, choice-driven romance plots ofPersona.

How Persona 6 Can Adapt Metaphor Refantazio’s Platonic Approach Without Adopting It

Romance is a staple inPersonaat this point, so whileits absence inMetaphoris excusable and even a nice change of pace, it shouldn’t be missing inPersona 6. Having said that, there are ways that the nextPersonagame could leverage the aromantic elements ofMetaphor’s character writing without excising romance altogether.

Some of the best romance options in thePersonafranchise, like Mitsuru inPersona 3, don’t start out as romantic, either explicitly or implicitly. PerhapsPersona 6could make these relationships the norm, rather than the exception, starting off each relationship as platonic and only later having them evolve into something more. Additionally, by making romance less universal and more unexpected (e.g. not including a romance subplot for the overwhelming majority of opposite-sex Social Links), players could naturally gravitate toward specific NPCs and interact with them in a more organic way, rather than just shooting for the romance reward right off the bat. Through this more subtle and restrained approach,Persona 6could offer not only better characters, but better romance stories as well.