Atlus and Studio Zero reveal how Lord of the Rings was part of the inspiration behind Metaphor: ReFantazio’s high-fantasy setting.
The developers of Metaphor: ReFantazio recently revealed one of the inspirations behind the JRPG’s setting, citing J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings as one of its initial references. Metaphor: ReFantazio is the latest JRPG from Atlus subsidiary Studio Zero, with the game having a number of former developers from the Persona series spearheading the game. Much like Atlus’ past works, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a JRPG that has turn-based combat accompanied by other time management and social building mechanics.
When comparing Persona and Metaphor: ReFantazio, one of the biggest differences is the setting. Unlike Persona, which is an urban fantasy RPG that takes place in relatively modern day Japan, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a part of the high-fantasy genre. Many have cited the completely different setting compared to Persona as a welcome change of pace.
