Atlus’ Metaphor: ReFantazio initially drew inspiration from classic fantasy, such as Lord of the Rings, but the development team ultimately decided to abandon that approach in favor of creating a more original world.
In a conversation on the Official Xbox Podcast, director Katsura Hashino explained how traditional fantasy initially influenced the project, but how it eventually stifled the team’s creativity.
“At the very beginning of the development of Metaphor: ReFantazio, we looked into traditional fantasy culture,” Hashino said, referencing the works of Tolkien and Lord of the Rings.
“We researched not just what traditional fantasy was, but why it was written the way it was, and what inspired it to be written in that manner.”
However, as the team attempted to incorporate these elements into the game, they realized it wasn’t working.
“We threw out all of our ideas of it and realized we couldn’t really make a game in the traditional fantasy mode,” Hashino continued.
“It wouldn’t feel original to us. It would lack the uniqueness that defines our work, and it was becoming difficult for us to express the creativity we wanted in this traditional fantasy setting.”
Halfway through development, the team made the decision to discard their earlier inspirations and begin anew.
“We stopped the research and started this original creative endeavor,” said Hashino. “We took things we personally liked and found ways to bring them into the game.”
In a separate interview, Hashino spoke about the importance of human stories in his games, from Metaphor: ReFantazio to Persona.
He emphasized his desire for the player to feel a connection to the creators behind the game. “I want something—even if it’s incomplete or rough—to give me a glimpse of the humanity behind it,” he said. “I want to feel the emotion that inspired its creation.”
Touching on Persona, Hashino noted the contrast between the anime-style characters and the realism of the stories they tell. “The gap between the realism of the characters and the anime aesthetic is a key part of the experience,” he explained.
“You may first see these anime-style characters and worlds, but there’s a very real foundation to them. Looking beyond the anime and finding the realism is a special aspect of our games.”
This blend of fantasy and human emotion carries into Metaphor: ReFantazio, which, despite being set in a high fantasy anime world, presents characters who grapple with deeply human issues in a world marked by prejudice.
Atlus’ latest RPG launched last week and broke records by selling a million copies on its first day, making it the company’s fastest-selling game to date.
