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Metaphor ReFantazio (PS5): COMPLETED!

Posted on 20/02/2025 Written by deKay

I seem to have really gotten back into long RPGs again in the last year or so. Sometimes they can seem daunting to start as you know you’ve 75 or 100 hours ahead to invest, and usually they’re a slow burn getting used to the mechanics. But, Metaphor came highly recommended and once Xenoblade 2 was out of the way I gave it a go.

I wrote a bit about it the other day already, so I don’t have a lot more to add now I’ve finished it except to say it continued to entertain, and there were plenty of plot twists along the way. Also, I was worried that going into the final area would lock off both the remaining time in the game (all events have deadlines, time passes each time you do anything, and you’ve a finite number of days to complete the game) and the ability to grind to level up, but luckily the game deals with that do you need not be concerned.

Overall, I’m not sure it’s a good as Persona 4, but then, very little is. It improves on the mechanics of that game, but as intriguing as the characters and world in Metaphor are, those in Persona 4 just beat it. It’s still amazing though.

Filed Under: Gaming Diary Tagged With: completed, Diary, persona, ps5

Metaphor: ReFantazio (PS5)

Posted on 12/01/2025 Written by deKay

It’s rare I post about a game before I’ve completed it these days, but I felt I had to write something about Metaphor: ReFantazio. I’m only about 10 hours in, with the last five of those being mostly spent in the first proper dungeon, so it’s early doors, but oh my, is this a game.

To begin with, I was a little disappointed in the graphics. I’m not All About The Graphics, as regular readers would know, but it’s sometimes nice to play a PS5 game and have All The Graphics. Sadly, although it’s pretty, for the most part so far Metaphor isn’t an improvement on Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Until it comes to the UI, where it is utterly mental. If you thought, as I did, that Persona 4 Golden had UI diarrhoea (in a good way), then get a load of the exploded fontbook that is the Metaphor menu system and battle UI. Everything moves and has different fonts and styles and it’s all circular and spirals and flashy overlays and and and… there’s no reason for it! It doesn’t affect the gameplay in any way! My guess is the UI designer got bored after their task on the game only took a week.

Look at that beautiful mess on the left there.

That’s the first thing that hit me. The second was more subtle to begin with and is to do with the Metaphor title. After reaching Grand Trad, the (first?) big city in the game, and chatting to everyone and finding out what’s going on, my mission, and the general state of various races, religion, and relationships, added to a class system and a man who wants to change everything and be King, the real story was then as subtle as a brick to the face. It’s all about real life issues and politics under the guise of fantasy and magic. Clever.

That aside, the gameplay is Persona. So I’m loving it. The dungeon I’m in might be big and hard but it’s so slick and the turn-based combat is tuned to be fast and clear and stupidly over the top. It’s a shame the graphics aren’t quite there, but as I said, not a big loss for me.

Filed Under: Gaming Diary Tagged With: Diary, metaphor, persona, ps5

December 2023 Update

Posted on 01/12/2023 Written by gospvg

Playing NOW

Persona 5 Tactica (XSX)

It's got mixed reviews but I'm enjoying it. I've not played a turn based xcom like game for a while (last was in 2021 Mutant Year Zero).

Forza Motorsport (XSX)

I've played the tutorial section and first cup but have not been back to it since Persona 5 Tactica was released. I expect I'll be playing this very slowly over 2024 in small bouts.

 

 

 

Playing NEXT

Assassin's Creed Mirage (PS5)

I managed to pick this up cheap £15 on facebook. I've not touched the PS5 since I purchased the XSX late August this year. I know I'm going to miss the XSX quick resume feature already.

 

Playing FUTURE

Starfield (XSX)

I think this needs a little bit longer to cook, reports of memory leaks/crashes, I'm going to a wait a while longer.

Spiderman 2 (PS5)

Not purchased it yet, will wait now until I've completed Assassin's Creed Mirage.

Baldur's Gate 3 (PS5)

Again not purchased, with the physical version being released in 2024 I'll wait for now, also you never know Microsoft may splash the cash and make it available on gamepass

Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth (XSX)

Probably the only game I'm going to buy on day one in 2024.

Cyberpunk 2077 (XSX)

With the complete edition releasing soon will definitely be playing this in 2024!

Star Wars Jedi Survivor (XSX)

The XSX is now my preferred console for multiplatform releases because of quick resume. I was hoping for a decent Black Friday deal but will wait for the inevitable gamepass release.

Other titles on my wishlist are

Midnight Suns

Metal Gear Solid Collection 1

Shadow Gambit - Cursed Crew

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

 

Playing Backlog

In no particular order I own the following I still want to play.

Judgment

Life is Strange

Sackboy

Persona 5 Strikers

Lost Judgment

Outer Wilds

Shadow Tactics

Disco Elysium

Empire of Sin

Bioshock Collection

Dragons Dogma Dark Arisen

Like A Dragon Ishin 

Filed Under: Gaming Diary Tagged With: Assassins Creed Series, forza, persona, Playstation 5, XSX

December 2023 Update

Posted on 01/12/2023 Written by gospvg

Playing NOW

Persona 5 Tactica (XSX)

It's got mixed reviews but I'm enjoying it. I've not played a turn based xcom like game for a while (last was in 2021 Mutant Year Zero).

Forza Motorsport (XSX)

I've played the tutorial section and first cup but have not been back to it since Persona 5 Tactica was released. I expect I'll be playing this very slowly over 2024 in small bouts.

 

 

 

Playing NEXT

Assassin's Creed Mirage (PS5)

I managed to pick this up cheap £15 on facebook. I've not touched the PS5 since I purchased the XSX late August this year. I know I'm going to miss the XSX quick resume feature already.

 

Playing FUTURE

Starfield (XSX)

I think this needs a little bit longer to cook, reports of memory leaks/crashes, I'm going to a wait a while longer.

Spiderman 2 (PS5)

Not purchased it yet, will wait now until I've completed Assassin's Creed Mirage.

Baldur's Gate 3 (PS5)

Again not purchased, with the physical version being released in 2024 I'll wait for now, also you never know Microsoft may splash the cash and make it available on gamepass

Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth (XSX)

Probably the only game I'm going to buy on day one in 2024.

Cyberpunk 2077 (XSX)

With the complete edition releasing soon will definitely be playing this in 2024!

Star Wars Jedi Survivor (XSX)

The XSX is now my preferred console for multiplatform releases because of quick resume. I was hoping for a decent Black Friday deal but will wait for the inevitable gamepass release.

Other titles on my wishlist are

Midnight Suns

Metal Gear Solid Collection 1

Shadow Gambit - Cursed Crew

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

 

Playing Backlog

In no particular order I own the following I still want to play.

Judgment

Life is Strange

Sackboy

Persona 5 Strikers

Lost Judgment

Outer Wilds

Shadow Tactics

Disco Elysium

Empire of Sin

Bioshock Collection

Dragons Dogma Dark Arisen

Like A Dragon Ishin 

Filed Under: Gaming Diary Tagged With: Assassins Creed Series, forza, persona, Playstation 5, XSX

Persona 4 Golden (Vita): COMPLETED!

Posted on 08/09/2017 Written by deKay

I did wonder, three years ago when I bought Persona 4 Golden, whether I’d ever end up completing it. It was on the Vita, which I didn’t play. Supposedly it was a hundred hours long. It felt, some 15 hours in, like I was still in the tutorial. There were so many other games.

It fell by the wayside, despite me enjoying it. Then, around four months ago, I went back. I could have started from the beginning again, and perhaps, with hindsight, maybe I should have done, but after one hundred hours I’d completed it. Persona 4 Golden was great.

Persona 4 Golden

When I’d paused on it way back when, I was struggling to comprehend the Persona system. I wasn’t really enjoying the pressure to save people from the fog before the days ran out. Building social links seemed unimportant and there were better things I should be spending my time doing. How wrong I was.

As I’ve mentioned before, the Wii U game Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE gave me a better understanding. It’s the same sort of game (in fact, it’s a spin off of the same core series Persona is), but with everything simplified. Not easier, just less complicated. This worked in my favour – easing me into the Persona way of doing things. Going back to Persona 4 Golden with this knowledge let me concentrate on the differences, and I took to the Social Links properly, soon reaping the benefits.

The core game is pretty standard JRPG faire. Wander dungeons, fight baddies in turn based and element-sensitive combat. Level up. Fight harder baddies. And so on. If this was all of the game, it’d be pretty uninteresting, but the the interactions between dungeons add several layers to it. Not just story, but interest, secrets and humour. The characters are wonderful and full of depth, especially those who open up as you advance your relationship with them.

Speaking of relationships, it seems that most of the girls in the game can become romantically linked to you. Quite early on your mate Yosuke quizzes you on whether you prefer quiet and clever Yokiko or tomboyish but shy Chie. I picked Chie, and although you don’t actively pursue anyone, some time later my dialogue choices netted me her as a girlfriend. Which was great, until I decided to hug Rise because she was crying (the alternative was literally to stand there and watch) and suddenly I was a two-timing tart. Oops.

Over the course of a year (in the game), your team expands as you rescue more people from the fog. Teddie, Kanji and Naoto are added to your dungeoning party, although I never really bothered to enlist them. As time progresses you close in on who is responsible for the kidnappings and deaths although naturally, the obvious culprit isn’t to blame. In fact, nor are several other people, including three who actually confess. There are a number of endings, presumably bad if you miss the real villain.

I avoided some because I’d already realised that the obvious ending wasn’t the true ending, and then stumbled past another false accusation: There are a number of dialogue options you need to choose and luckily I picked the right ones to progress. I’d also been tipped off that I’d need to max out Marie’s Social Link, so having managed all that the final dungeon was revealed and upon completion, the true ending.

Or so I thought. Until I was corrected on Twitter and it seems I’d missed a further revelation. A reload, a careful conversation with everyone and an exploration of everywhere, and finally, the final final dungeon. And the Real True Ending Honest This Time No Really.

Persona 4 Golden feels like a teen drama mixed with A Nightmare on Elm Street, Love Hina, and Eerie Indiana. It’s emotional, surprising, with tonnes of firepower. Funzo, in game form. At times, it’s confusing. Or it’s addictive, stressful, funny and disappointing. Not being able to complete your planned dates, book reads, shopping or cinema trips because you’re panicking you have to kill some demons in time can annoy you, because who wants time management and a diary in a game? Eventually I realised that there’s time for most things, and getting The Important Stuff Done isn’t too hard. It’s an incredible game.

Now I don’t know what to do. Four solid months of Persona is a lot to give up. There’s New Game+ of course, but that’s not really more Persona. There’s Persona 5, but that’s not on a portable console so wouldn’t get half the attention this did. I’m tempted to go back to Tokyo Mirage, but then I look at the backlog of titles 100 hours of Persona caused, so who knows.

The post Persona 4 Golden (Vita): COMPLETED! appeared first on deKay's Gaming Diary.

Filed Under: Gaming Diary Tagged With: completed, persona, Post, Vita

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93: A Playdate In The Back Room of Ann Summers
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Blood is the unintentional theme of this episode, not just in the titles and contents of the games but also in that it’ll make your ears bleed. Maybe? Frankly, I wouldn’t risk it. All that mess for no real benefit, and we wouldn’t want a lawsuit on our hands anyway.

However, should you decide to listen against our strong advice not to, you will find that deKay, Toby, Kendrick and (Fresh Blood) Harry have prepared some tasty meats to sate you. Discussion about the coming Season 2 of Playdate games, rumours about the new PlayStation handheld console (and, relatedly, the PS6), Ys/Trails in the Sky crossover remake shenanigans, and the death of PS+ Stars, the rewards scheme you’ve never heard of until just now. Plus, additional snacks in the form of these games.

93: A Playdate In The Back Room of Ann Summers
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91: Slippers Go Under Defeat
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