You really have to be a juggernaut of a game company to launch your own back-patting parade for finishing your game and sending out your gold master for publishing/digital distribution. To have two juggernauts combining their efforts for one livestream celebration? One can argue it’s an ego trip, but it also shows both companies’ confidence in their upcoming game. You have to give props to Japanese game companies for treating an already-finished game with such a celebration.

The companies in question? Sega and Atlus. The game? Metaphor: Refantazio, a new IP and new Japanese role-playing game that combines real-time and turn-based combat, features a fantasy coat of paint, and is made by the crack team responsible for the game-changing Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5 JRPGs. So naturally, a final livestream of their own game talking about the final steps in releasing the title is part and parcel of a project 5 years in the making.

Sega invited the media to check out the live Atlus presentation at Shinagawa’s Club EX at Prince Hotel. Here’s a recap on what we witnessed live:

A Monk Singing The Main Theme of Metaphor: ReFantazio

Atlus hired a professional to do the chants in one of Metaphor’s more chilling themes. Composer Shoji Meguro is channeling his works back in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey, but with a few more hopeful orchestral arrangement since it’s a supposedly less-dire situation kind of game.

Highlights of the Metaphor ReFantazio @Atlus_jp event at Shinagawa: live performance of the main theme, cosplayers showcase, and main leads developers interview. #atlus #jrpg #metaphor pic.twitter.com/MuAL1dseqL

— Kakuchopurei (@Kakuchopurei) September 25, 2024

In any case, they had the same monk back for the second half of the livestream because we can’t get enough of the more ominous soundtrack.

The Game Leads Talking About The Final Steps In Completing The Game

Director Katsura Hashino, designer Shigenori Soejima, and composer Shoji Meguro were all on stage being interviewed by the Atlus emcees you’ve seen in past Atlus livestreams. The trio were very candid with their responses and urged players to take their time playing the game, looking through the details of their work in Metaphor. Shigenori Soejima said that the fantasy clothes he made for the characters are his best works so far; he encourages players to really skim through their detail and appreciate them.

Metaphor Demos In Tokyo Game Show 2024…And Outside!

The developers also showed off a lengthy demo of Metaphor: ReFantazio, featuring bonding scenarios with your companions (Hulkenberg in this case), a few battles, and a ton of cutscenes & exploration via cross country trip using a giant “land ship”. The demo is available for play at Tokyo Game Show 2024 this week at Sega’s booth, but the big surprise came after: the Prologue demo is available for play right now for consoles and PC (Steam).

Just like most JRPG demos these days, your demo progress will carry over to the full game.

Metaphor Figures And Nendoroids Announced

Kotobukiya will be making a statue of Gallica and Junah. Good Smile will be making a Nendoroid of the main hero. Check out the prototypes below in all their non-coloured glory.

A Metaphor Manga Is In The Works

This manga adaptation will be illustrated by Y?ichi Amano (Akaboshi: Ibun Suikoden, Ana no Mujina) and published by Shueisha. It will be serialized by monthly magazine V Jump.

Metaphor: ReFantazio will be out for PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5 on 11th October.