The release of Persona 5 in 2016 was a pivotal moment for Atlus, catapulting a niche RPG series about high schoolers into the mainstream. Persona has become a veritable phenomenon, and at the same time, Atlus has become a household name. I know comparing things to Persona 5 can be a tired practice at this point, but its influence on Metaphor: Refantazio is clear to see, from the striking art style to the combat. Even with that Persona foundation, Metaphor feels like something fresh and new, Atlus using its expertise to create an expansive new world begging to be explored. This has the potential to be a cult classic, just waiting to be unleashed.
