Between slower, turn-based games and the faster pace of action experiences, not everyone’s tastes are going to be the same. For many Japanese developers, this has been a tricky balance to get. Amidst ongoing concern that turn-based systems are becoming obsolete, the Atlus developers of Metaphor: ReFantazio believe that this is far from the truth.
Lead battle planner Kenichi Goto shared his perspective on the situation in a recent interview with PC Gamer. “I don’t think it’s a matter of which one’s better than the other: I think both turn-based battles and action battles can coincide and live in the same atmosphere,” Goto said. However, he acknowledges that turn-based RPGs are starting to feel outdated, a sentiment echoed by many players and fans.
However, instead of completely transforming Metaphor: ReFantazio into an action RPG, Atlus opted to modernise the turn-based system, making it feel fresh and exciting. Through extensive balancing and experimentation, they arrived at a hybrid approach, incorporating action RPG elements to streamline and simplify the player experience.
From a design perspective, the goal of integrating action mechanics was never to replace turn-based combat but rather to reduce the number of encounters players must go through. The heart and soul of Metaphor: ReFantazio still lie in its turn-based system. Furthermore, turn-based gameplay allows Atlus to showcase their signature high-quality UI and animation — elements that have long been a strong point of their RPGs.
Goto firmly believes that turn-based RPGs will remain relevant as long as developers continue to innovate. He emphasises that there is no “magic bullet” to make turn-based RPGs instantly appealing, but as seen with Metaphor: ReFantazio, there are opportunities to refresh the genre by understanding modern player expectations while staying true to the developers’ vision.
With Metaphor: ReFantazio receiving positive critical and commercial reception in 2024, it serves as strong evidence that turn-based RPGs still have a place in the gaming industry for years to come, and we could not be happier.
