ReFantazio Merits Its Own Take on Persona’s Iconic Spin-Off Series

After earning a Game of the Year nod at The Game Awards 2024 and sweeping accolades at various other award events, it’s no surprise that Metaphor: ReFantazio was among the standout games of the previous year. Even before hitting the shelves, Metaphor: ReFantazio was already generating buzz, largely due to its ties with the Persona series. As it basks in its success, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for Metaphor to draw further inspiration from the Persona playbook.

Persona is well-known for its recurring themes and a vast array of spin-off titles. These spin-offs vary widely, with some existing as single entities while others expand into multiple entries. Due to one of its standout features, Metaphor is in a fantastic position to emulate one of the most prolific of these Persona spin-offs.

Some of the newer Persona spin-offs are still in the early stages of exploring the series deeply. For instance, Persona Tactica hasn’t ventured beyond Persona 5, even though it launched a little before Persona 3 Reload. Curiously, the long-standing Persona Arena series has yet to feature Persona 5 characters. However, the Persona Dancing series stands out as the leader among these spin-offs.

While the original Persona games do have their own dedicated following, it’s really from Persona 3 onward that the modern Persona saga gained its identity. The Persona Dancing series started with Persona 4: Dancing All Night back in 2015, then continued with Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight in 2018.

Although it doesn’t officially fall under the Shin Megami Tensei umbrella, Metaphor: ReFantazio’s combat system certainly borrows from its predecessors. As awards season rolled around, the narrative was highly praised, but staying true to the Persona and Atlus reputation, Metaphor: ReFantazio’s soundtrack was among the most memorable aspects. It even earned a Best Score and Music nomination at The Game Awards 2024, just missing out to Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth. Metaphor’s stellar soundtrack alone should warrant its own rhythm game spin-off. Despite sharing some of the same level of acclaim as Persona’s music, their appeal isn’t quite identical.

Persona is famous for its catchy tracks, while Metaphor leans towards a more operatic musical style. Persona’s music often blends hip-hop and jazz, suiting its modern, stylized settings perfectly. Contrarily, Metaphor’s fantasy environment is complemented nicely by its grander soundscapes. Yet, it’s still possible that a Metaphor-themed dance game could be worth the gamble.

The Persona Dancing games have successfully adapted tracks that on paper might seem ill-suited for a rhythm game, with some songs achieving notorious status in the process. These games work not only due to the music, but also because of the character interactions they create. Characters perform unique duets, and best of all, each game’s story fits within the series canon. While Metaphor’s music may pose a challenge, its characters have the potential to shine.

The acclaim for Metaphor’s story can largely be attributed to its intriguing cast. A villain like Louis from Metaphor: ReFantazio might seem too serious for dancing, yet this incongruity only enhances its appeal. Persona Dancing has cemented its legacy partly due to its catchy music, but also for the fun of seeing characters like Tohru Adachi dance. Metaphor: ReFantazio should embrace this opportunity while it’s fresh, striking while the iron is hot.