As a game that I recently finished playing, Metaphor: ReFantazio has left an emotional impact on me through its ability to reinforce its overarching message through numerous unique stories. The game begins as a quest to save a curse-afflicted prince, but quickly turns into a journey for the throne of the kingdom itself. From the beginning, however, your party devotes this fight not as a means of seeking and gaining power or riches, but as a way to lead a lost country and people to a new united future. This sentiment of helping all in need is the major moral of the game, which is upheld throughout with the use of character-based storytelling. An important part of the game involves forming bonds with your followers, which consist of individuals of various tribes and walks of life you meet along your journey. Each of their stories is unique, ranging from a young girl learning to overcome discrimination for her mixed-tribe appearance to a disillusioned knight confronting the passing of his son and returning to his home village. Through the main character, the player acts as the driving force and inspiration for these characters to strive toward their goal or to overcome their emotions. While these interactions practically serve to develop the characters’ stories and unlock additional gameplay elements, they each work to support the greater message of the game itself.
