Metaphor: ReFantaziolabels its main quests as operations, an aptly chosen name, considering theJRPGalways gives us prep time before diving into our objectives.
In total, the game presents 10 operations. Some focus on specific regions, often tied to the Tournament for the Throne, while others delve into our party’s hidden agenda throughout the journey.
Each time we start a new operation, the game allows us to prepare, whether byforging bonds with followers, improving the protagonist’s virtues, completing side quests, or exploring dungeons.
We repeat this cycle until we’ve completed every Operation and reached the end of the game.
Since we’ll list every Operation, this article contains spoilers about the main story ofMetaphor: ReFantazio.
10Thwart Zorba’s Plan
Pretty Much a Boss Fight
The Operation Thwart Zorba’s Plan feels a bit odd because it seems shoehorned in. It’s one of the shortest, practically consisting of just one boss battle during our time at theRegalith Grand Cathedral.
After completing Necromancer Takedown, Zorba revives a human in Grand Trad’s square, and it’s up to the party to defeat the boss before it rampages through the capital like something out of Attack on Titan.
While it’s not the first human we face, theHomo Avadesis the first boss fight with creative gimmicks requiring more than just spamming the attack button. It’s also where we see how Atlus never holds back in designing bizarre creatures.
Being so short and easily integrated into another operation, Thwart Zorba’s Plan left me unimpressed compared to the others, though the human fight is engaging.
9Eliminate Virga Island’s Threat
Another One-Boss-Fight-Only Operation
This Operation follows a similar pattern to the previous one. In Eliminate Virga Island’s Threat, we’ve just obtained the Drakodios and left the Dragon Temple, but the game doesn’t give us a breather before thrusting us into another boss battle against a human.
The fight isn’t overly challenging but requires some strategy and attention to the boss’s aura to exploit its weakness. With Eupha freshly added to the party and her incrediblypowerful Summoner Archetype, use that to your advantage.
After the battle, Virga Island is safe, the Drakodio is in your possession, and the Operation concludes—short and lacking prominence.
8Obtain Drakodios
Prepare for the Worst Dungeon
The second Tournament for the Throne challenge involves retrieving a relic, leading us to the cradle of all relics, the Virga Islands. The Obtain Drakodios Operation sends us deep into the annoyingly lengthyDragon Temple dungeon.
The unique aspect of this Operation is its dynamic. While I enjoy Eupha and found learning about different religions inMetaphor: ReFantaziointeresting, I wasn’t overly invested in the Mustari’s lives.
My main enjoyment came from watching the group pursue their secret plans under Basilio and Fidelio’s scrutiny.
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A notable moment occurs in the Dragon Temple when we stumble upon Shinjuku, discovering various items referencing our contemporary world, feeding us mystery and intrigue.
However, I must reiterate that the Dragon Temple dungeon is so long it started to wear me out, affecting my enjoyment of the narrative. I just wanted to move on to the next story beat.
7Necromancer Takedown
The Calendar System Starts
We can consider theMetaphor’slengthy prologueover when the Necromancer Takedown operation begins. It’s here we gain complete control of our actions, and the calendar system kicks in, giving us a few days to prepare for the goal ahead.
You don’t have to use all the days before tackling the main dungeon. In fact, good practice inMetaphor: ReFantaziois completing the Operation’s objective first, then using the leftover days as you see fit.
Necromancer Takedown tasks us with stopping Zorba, a lackey of Louis, who aims to steal the king’s Royal Scepter and deliver it to Louis, his so-beloved general. We stop him, and in a final act, he revives the Homo Avades, setting up Thwart Zorba’s Plan.
As the first Operation we complete, it sets the tone for what’s ahead inMetaphor: ReFantazio. Experienced players can clear the Regalith Grand Cathedral in just one day, but given its size, don’t feel bad if you need more.
6Apprehend the Real Kidnapper
A Tale of Parenthood
After wrapping up events in Grand Trad, the party heads to Martira to score a noteworthy hunt, hoping to earn recognition in the Tournament for the Throne and win popular favor. Initially, the only active main Operation is rescuing the prince, but this changes when Heismay joins the party.
At first, it seems Heismay is responsible for kidnapping children, but when this turns out to be false, the Apprehend the Real Kidnapper operation begins, a pretty self-explanatory title.
The game grants us a few days to prepare before diving intoKriegante Castle, facing one of the weirdest bosses inMetaphor: ReFantazio, and uncovering the truth behind the kidnappings. This is also a pivotal moment to connect with Heismay and his struggles as a father.
The entire storyline surrounding this Operation is a gut punch, but it may hit even harder for parents. Joanna was in the wrong with her kidnappings and nurturing an evil human baby, but it’s hard to not feel sympathetic with a grieving mother.
5Infiltrate the Charadrius
Mission Impossible-esque Operation
The Infiltrate the Charadrius operation is the kickoff for the hidden agenda driving our group and the main reason the protagonist entered the Tournament for the Throne.
The party must search theSkyrunner Charadrius, Louis’s airship, for the prince’s curse formula and, hopefully, a cure.
This mission introduces some twists to the gameplay, adding stealth segments—nothing too critical for those who dislike sneaking in the shadows. There are also two distinct paths to take within the Charadrius, leading to different boss fights.
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This Operation is thrilling, making us feel like we’re part of aMission Impossibleadventure. When everything seems to be going according to plan, it all falls apart. The protagonist has to sky-surfs outside the Skyrunner and is soon discovered by one of Louis’s lapdogs.
Thankfully, Junah reveals his allegiance to our side, aiding both the Operation and our defense when questioned about why the protagonist was on Louis’s Skyrunner instead of enjoying the luxuries of the soirée.
My minor gripe is Junah’s casual awakening of her Archetype power, which feels less impactful than the other party members' awakenings.
4Save the Country
The Last Operation
Save the Country is the last Operation, tasking you to conquer the final dungeon, Tyrant’s Star, and face Louis in his most megalomaniacal form.
There’s no big mystery here. It’s the final opportunity to prepare, finish remaining quests, tackle secret bosses, obtain thebest weapons inMetaphor: ReFantazio,and confront the big baddie.
As the final Operation of a JRPG, expect plenty of revelations, action-packed cutscenes, emotional drama, and perhaps some plot armor to keep the gameplay mechanics intact.
Ultimately, this Operation’s impact is reflected in the game’s ending, making your experience with it heavily dependent on your reaction to the conclusion.
Familiar with JRPGs, I had a good idea of what to expect and enjoyed the ending. However, I understand why some might not. It wraps up with a happy resolution for the protagonist, which might feel far-fetched, considering the mature themes of loss, discrimination, and hardship throughout the game.
3Skybound Avatar Conquest
The Power of Democracy
With the people on your side and no more opponents in your way, Louis drops all subterfuge and heads to the royal palace to enact his plan. Naturally, as the story’s hero, you must stop him in the Skybound Avatar Conquest operation.
The world is descending into chaos. A crimson sky looms, and it’s intriguing to see NPC reactions to this, even as many still resent you.
However, the standout aspect of this Operation lies in the Skybound Avatar. Functionally, it’s similar to other dungeons inMetaphor: ReFantazio, but the narrative flourishes, making it unique.
At various points, you’ll encounter stairways blocked by the anxiety of the population, and it’s revealed that the Royal Scepter feeds on this anxiety. As you destroy mechanisms drawing populace anxiety, you’ll see some of your followers rallying the people to support the protagonist.
As the anxiety dissipates, pathways open, symbolizing the people breaking free from Louis’s brainwashing and siding with the protagonist.
2Prepare for the Final Battle
Not Exactly Final
After completing Eliminate Virga Island’s Threat, the game takes us to Altabury Heights, delivering plot twist after plot twist—some more convincing than others, but all gripping.
There’s no new Operation during this stage, as we’re in the final stages of Save the Prince from Death’s Curse.
Following Rella’s sacrifice and her revelations about the church, the stage is set for a direct confrontation between the protagonist and Louis, culminating in the Prepare for the Final Battle operation.
Your task here is to strengthen your bonds, gear, levels, and archetypes. Louis is one of thehardest bosses inMetaphor: ReFantazio, and the fight can be tricky for players who haven’t delved into the JRPG’sside content.
The Operation’s highlight comes after the battle. With his rhetoric and theatricality, Louis turns nearly the entire world against the protagonist by briefly transforming him into a human. Forced to retreat, the party flees to the Ancient Eldan Sanctum to regroup.
1Save the Prince from Death’s Curse
The Game’s Main Objective
The ultimate goal ofMetaphor: ReFantaziois to save the cursed prince, and the game makes this clear from the outset. The Save the Prince from Death’s Curse operation accompanies us throughout the JRPG as we tackle other main missions, recruit party members, and explore countless dungeons.
To avoid blatant spoilers, I won’t delve into the story beats of this Operation. However, this mission is exceptional as it underpins all the protagonist’s actions, motivates other characters to join the group, and provides a clear direction for all our escapades.
Metaphordiffers from many JRPGs, where antagonists, motivations, objectives, and the plot shift throughout the journey.
Metaphor: ReFantazioknows its story from the very beginning and sticks to it, only raising the stakes, building the world, and immersing the player every step of the way.
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