ATLUS is a studio thatJRPG fanatics know and lovefor two standout IPs in particular. The catalyst of their success,Shin Megami Tensei, and their beloved flagship franchise,Persona.
The developers have hung their hat on these two series for some time, but it seems there is a new kid on the block looking to cement itself as the new JRPG of the moment.
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Metaphor ReFantazioputs its best foot forward in that regard, offering a very similar format to the Persona series in terms of combat, dungeon crawling, and life simulation mechanics. However, this title offers an overarching theme and narrative that feels like atraditional medieval JRPG filtered through ATLUS' creative lens.
It’s a stunning new title that is well worth exploring, but it can be daunting for those unfamiliar with ATLUS' past works. So, in a bid to make this as smooth sailing as possible for newbies, here are some helpful tips to help you through the beginning hours ofMetaphor: ReFantazio.
1Stick With The Story Initially
The first thing I would say is that the beginning of this game is a slow burn, asmany ATLUS games tend to be. The gamefocuses heavily on exposition and world-buildingin the opening hours, and as a result, there isn’t much the player can do to gooff the beaten track.
The game will slowly drip-feed you new mechanics, skills, and points of intrigue, assuring that you never feel overwhelmed or like you have too many things on your plate at once.
So, because of this,you can focus on the main path of progression without fear that you’ll miss anything important.
When exploring beginner dungeons, you should still explore thoroughly, but even if you don’t, you won’t miss anything that is too vital.
2Be Aggressive, Dont Get Ambushed
Much like inPersona 5, the aim of the game when it comes to initiating combat is to ensure that you are dictating the pace of the fight and not being caught on the back foot.
This can be done by sneaking up on your enemies and landing a melee combo on them, which should allow you to initiate a group battle when they are stunned and, in turn, allow your team to attack first.
Failing to do so, and allowing the enemy to attackwill lead to you being ambushed and enduring enemy attacks before you can respond, costing you vital HP. So, watch enemy patrol patterns and plan accordingly to catch them napping.
Note: Seeing as you gain extra XP and rewards for ‘Unscathed Triumphs’, it pays to be the first to strike, as this makes it more likely that your foes won’t be able to land a hit.
3Fight The Fire Dragon Mauna
As you make your way through the Yord Mines, you will eventually come to an area where you stumble across a Dragon.
This leaves you with a dilemma, as you can either carefully sneak around the area and avoid the fight altogether or take on the huge beast and show off your combat prowess.
While it’s definitely safer and easier to avoid the fight,I would urge you to take on the dragon when given the opportunity, as this will allow you to gain a bunch of MAG and XP. But more importantly, you’ll get your hands on the Dragon’s Indignation.
This rare weapon will suit Strohl down to the ground in the early hours of the game and offers brilliant physical damage relative to anything else you’ll have access to. So, don’t fear the Drake and take their treasure for yourself.
4Switch To The Healer Archetype Early
Before long, you’ll gain access to an area known as the Akedemia, which is effectivelythis game’s Velvet Room equivalent.Here, you will be able to study new Archetypes and complete requests for More, and as the game progresses, you’ll gain even more reasons to visit this mysterious library.
It’s easy to get bogged down in the details early on, so here’s one simple tip you can action immediately. As soon as you unlock the Healer Archetype courtesy of Maria’s Bond,you should study and equip this immediately.
This is because you’ll be up against various undead enemies in the Grand Cathedral dungeon, and these guys hate Light attacks.
Not to mention, you’ll be able to complete More’s first request early if you get the Healer rank up to ten fast. Plus, having a healer is a great asset during long dungeon runs, as self-preservation is key. So, in short, the Healer is a must-have early on.
5Use Your Hero Incense
Speaking of ranking up your respective Archetypes, there are two ways to go about this. You can gain ranks by using each Archetype in battles, but you can also raise the rank of your various Archetypes by using certain items you can acquire throughout your adventure.
Through exploring, finding items in dungeons, or completing requests,you’ll be able to acquire items like Hero’s Incense and Hero’s Fruit.
When used via the items menu, you will be able to grant a certain amount of XP to any character’s studied archetypes.
This is particularly useful if you want to raise the XP of an Archetype that is grossly underleveled or one that you don’t use quite as much as some others, allowing you to stay well-rounded and ready for any eventuality.
6Stock Up On MP Refill Items
When completing dungeons, there are very few ways to replenish your MP, and because MP is the most important resource in battle as it allows you access to your most powerful skills, synergies, and abilities.A lack of MP can force you to cut your assault on various dungeons short,and thus, waste the finite amount of time you have before deadlines.
So, I would suggest that you take the time before you visit any dungeons to try and acquire as many MP replenishment items as you possibly can. Just remember, the further you get in each individual dungeon run, the better, so pack plenty of these items ahead of time.
7Spend MAG On Set Skills
MAG can be spent on various things when visiting the Akedemia, including but not limited to studying and unlocking new Archetypes. However, I would suggest that players don’t completely exhaust their MAG on studying these new archetypes,as unlocking Set Skills can be a great way to bolster your existing setups.
This is essentially a previously learned skill belonging to one of your existing archetypes, which can be unlocked for a different archetype if you’re willing to part with some MAG for the privilege.
This can make healers more offensively capable, give Warriors more utility, and generally just make your team much more versatile. So, make use of these and don’t leave your set skills empty, as that would be a waste.
8Visit Shops And Upgrade Gear
As you work your way through the early game, you’ll find various new pieces of gear that are well worth equipping to make yourself bigger and stronger.
However, the game never urges you to do this, meaning some players may end up sticking with their default gear for longer than they need to.
So, when you acquire a new weapon, piece of armor, or accessory,be sure to head into your equipment menu and equip any items that suit your character and offer a buff of some description.
Plus, when you get to the city and gain access to the various shops dotted around the place, it can be beneficial to purchase the weapons and armor they have in stock, as this is almost guaranteed to be better than what you have early on.
9Use Synthesis Skills To Handle Groups
For the first few hours ofMetaphor: ReFantazio,you’ll only have access to attacks that make use of one character at a time, and these attacks will only attack or affect individual enemies.
However, when you meet Hulkenberg, and she joins your party, you’ll gain access to Synthesis attacks.
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These are attacks and skills that eat up a lot of MP,but can be incredibly effective when it comes to dealing with large groups of enemies, effectively allowing you to one-shot them before they have a right to reply.
Take the Healer Archetypes Mahama attack, for example. An incredible attack to deal with the undead enemies in the first large dungeon in the game.
Don’t go crazy with these, as MP doesn’t grow on trees, but in a pinch, these can be superb.
10Use Formation Tactics For Preservation
One thing thatMetaphor: ReFantaziolightly touches on, but equally, can be very easily dismissed and forgotten about, is the formation mechanic.
This allows you to send your party members to the back or front line in battle. This can be altered in the formation menu and allows you to begin the fight in whatever starting formation you like.
It’s a mechanic you’ll want to get your head around early,as keeping all of your party members on the front line by default can lead to you taking unnecessary damageand being overwhelmed by large groups and tough enemies.
It’s essentially a mechanic that forces you to assess when to attack and when to exercise caution, and you would do well not to rush blindly into every encounter attacking wildly.
