"It's definitely harder than Persona": Shin Megami Tensei lead explains that his new JRPG Metaphor: ReFantazio needed more challenge or else "it won't feel right"

GamesJRPGMetaphor: ReFantazio"It’s definitely harder than Persona": Shin Megami Tensei lead explains that his new JRPG Metaphor: ReFantazio needed more challenge or else “it won’t feel right"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesJRPGMetaphor: ReFantazio"It’s definitely harder than Persona”: Shin Megami Tensei lead explains that his new JRPG Metaphor: ReFantazio needed more challenge or else “it won’t feel right"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Atlus) With only a few months left before Atlus releases its highly anticipated new JRPGMetaphor: ReFantazio, the mastermind director behind Shin Megami Tensei and its successful spin-off series Persona discusses what sets the upcoming game apart from its predecessors. Metaphor: ReFantazio arrives this fall, marking its monumental spot as the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei team’s first original title since Atlus' Studio Zero was formed in 2016. It isn’t a spin-off nor is it officially related to either JRPG series, and despite similarities, it features a plethora of new mechanics - including challenges that even hardened Persona stans may find difficult. Speaking to GamesRadar+ during theSummer Game Fest, director Katsura Hashino reveals more on Metaphor: ReFantazio’s crucial challenges and how its difficulty compares to the developer’s other iconic JRPGs. “I think the setting of the game, the type of game you’re making, and the difficulty are not separate things,” Hashino explains. “They’re completely intertwined. There are games you play that are way too easy and it’s not fun, and there are games that you also play that are so hard that they’re just brutal and not fun either. When you’re making the game concept, the difficulty you want to have in that game is part of that concept.” Looking back at the Shin Megami Tensei games, Hashino says that the series was “quite hard” - with good reason.“Unless it’s challenging, unless it’s really meaty, it wouldn’t be rewarding enough,” the dev says, recounting howShin Megami Tensei 3 was “the hardest game” he ever created. As for Metaphor, Hashino says that “in terms of where it places on the difficulty scale, it’s definitely harder than Persona.” The reason behind this greater difficulty lies within “the concept of the game” having “elements that make it more difficult in general,” the director describes, going on to detail said elements. “You have different Archetypes, different party combinations, different areas you can go to, the freedom to explore a world and take on different dungeons and different enemies, and choose what you want to fight,” Hashino explains. “This means that unless we make it so that there will be challenge at parts, it won’t feel right, it won’t feel like it’s worth playing. There’s definitely a part of that in Persona and both those aspects, the elements of the game itself and the freedom that you have.” For any lore lovers or more casual players overly concerned about the difficulty proving to be too much, Hashino says “don’t worry” - there are “multiple difficulty modes” to choose from in Metaphor: ReFantazio. Atlus' new game may be shaping up to be one of thebest JRPGs, and it hasn’t even launched yet. Withcombat blending real-time and turn-basedmechanics,over 40 jobsto choose from, astunning UI, and much more,Metaphor: ReFantazio actually feels more stylish than Persona 5already. Is JRPG a good word? Persona 5 director and character designer weigh-in ahead of their new game Metaphor ReFantazio: “You can call this a JRPG if you want” Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more TOPICSSummer Game Fest TOPICS CATEGORIESPC GamingPS5Xbox Series XPlatformsPlayStationXbox CATEGORIES More about jrpg How Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth represents the best of Final Fantasy’s past while charting a course for the future How Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth represents the best of Final Fantasy’s past while charting a course for the future Latest See more latest► Most PopularOne of Sonic 3’s writers threatens us with a good time in a future movie: “We gotta get Big the Cat in there in some capacity"This nifty gadget turns any M.2 SSD into a portable drive, but it’s great for when you’re upgrading your PC tooLeague of Legends co-creator responds to report that Arcane was a “financial miss,” says “people think we make things like Arcane to sell skins, when in 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review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic 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action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5 Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”