Whenever I review films or video games, I have a certain grace period to abide by for when I have the articles out. For films, it's a week. For video games, it ranges between two weeks and a month depending on the game's length. Any time after that is too late. Now I usually don't do this, but for once as a belated Christmas present to y'all, I'm going to break said rule once. Not just because I'm running behind on articles and the fact that October specifically was a hectic month, but because the two games I'll discuss today absolutely deserve it.
I wanted to wait until I completed both games. But because these are both long campaigns (60-80 hours apiece easily) and I have limited time with my schedule, this matchup will have to do for now. As you probably guessed, two JRPG's are the focus of today's Versus matchup. We've got Square Enix's action RPG, "Final Fantasy VII Rebirth", the 2nd of 3 games remaking the original 1997 JRPG. We're looking at that one against Atlus's new "traditional" JRPG "Metaphor: ReFantazio". As you might have guessed, I'm still playing the latter.
Round 1) Presentation
Four years ago, a big double bill came in the form of "Final Fantasy VII Remake" and "Persona 5 Royal". "Rebirth" carries over the highly detailed graphics of its predecessor "Remake". Much lusher environments this go around, since we're exploring the area outside of Midgar as opposed to just the area of Midgar in "Remake". You explore more water based areas (namely Junon and Costa del Sol) alongside some desert (Cosmo Canyon) and jungle (Gongaga) lands. Each area has their own means of traversing with new types of chocobos.
If you're in a mountainous area for example, you'll access chocobos specialized in rock climbing. And because we have a wider range of environments to play around in, that means you witness more variety and higher fidelity with the presentation. Like "Persona 5" and the majority of Atlus's work, "Metaphor: ReFantazio" is proud to flaunt its anime roots, and showcases a cel-shaded animation style reminiscent of the "Sly Cooper" games. In other words, expect a very stylized aesthetic to the visuals of "Metaphor: ReFantazio".
This is most noticable in the art direction, where literal paint strokes appear to be moving and swirling in the background. The character animation (both 3D and 2D) sees the Atlus team at their most lavish and intricate. As with good anime, we see a vast range of expressions from the characters. There's an article floating around about whether Atlus will continue to put as much effort as they do into their menu screens for equipping items, weapons, gear, etc. Their valiant effort's still appreciated in my book, on every facet of their production.
If you're more into graphics pushing the boundaries in realism, "Final Fantasy VII Rebirth" is for you. If you dig the anime style more and the freedom that comes with that, then "Metaphor: ReFantazio" will satisfy you on that front. I did notice a few minor hiccups with the performance mode in "Metaphor". Nitpick aside, these games run smoothly at 60 fps, which is what I look for with games of this generation. Picking a winner from these two wasn't easy, since each has its own unique style. "Rebirth" just barely wins it for its smoother frame rate.
Round 1 Winner) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Round 2) Audio
Regardless of the outcome here, the teams on both games should be proud of their work. The orchestral music in each of these titles are amazing. I was rather pleasantly surprised by the soundtrack to "Metaphor: ReFantazio". The moment I started to download this title, I was treated to a small sample of the game's music and was instantly amazed by every aspect. I didn’t expect this title to have a choir, let alone having it be great and yet here we are. The soundtrack is key to setting a game like "Metaphor" apart from its peers.
"Rebirth" retains the exceptional quality of the music to "Remake" and builds on its foundation. The song that plays as you're discovering these divine intel locations is jaw-dropping in its epic range and scope. You'll bet that there are multiple bits of the soundtrack that are on my personal playlist. The voice acting in both titles are both well done. For my money, the supporting actors, namely the ones playing our protagonist's confidants and rivals, put out the best work. "Metaphor" has more regional diversity with its voice cast, which is appreciated.
The only thing I wished "Metaphor" did differently was to have the voiceover work all the way through as opposed to 50-60% of the game. I can only gripe so much on that front as there's plenty of content to chew on and only so much resources you can use in a timely manner. Another tough match all around. "Rebirth" just barely has the upper hand for being fully voiced all the way through. But considering how much I dig the soundtracks, voiceovers, sound effects, etc. for both titles, there are no losers in this category either.
Round 2 Winner) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Round 3) Content
Anyone that's brand new to the JRPG genre will find each of these two titles very welcoming in their own respective ways. If you're not into the turn-based combat of JRPG's, then "Rebirth" provides a sweet spin on the formula. You can pause mid-combat at the press of a button to use items or spells to help you overcome your adversaries. Not only does that make a huge difference to the immersion, but it doesn't interrupt the flow of combat within the gameplay. You can also easily switch between characters instantly as well.
I wish now after playing "Rebirth" that more RPG's would follow this game's lead with their combat. That's not to say traditional turn-based combat should be phased out. On the contrary. That style of gameplay can still be exceptional, provided that you bring innovative gameplay mechanics to the table. In the case of "Metaphor", it does something I personally haven't seen any traditional RPG do before. It mixes and matches between hack-and-slash combat for the weaker enemies and turn-based combat for the tougher foes.
Though you'll be used to more turn-based battles, it does make progressing through the game's dungeons much more user-friendly. Atlus has always done a stellar job at making traditional RPG's more inviting to newcomers as evidenced by their success with "Persona 5 Royal". More importantly, they keep their experiences fresh and fun. "Metaphor" takes much of what worked in their "Persona" games and throws in new elements of its own that we didn't know we needed, like the mix and match combat I was discussing earlier.
The social simulation portions always reward you with increases to your stats in "Metaphor", while also exploring the back stories of your party members. As with many of the best RPG's, you can customize all of your party member's abilities to how you best see fit in both titles. You'll want to spent time with your comrades, and not just because it will obviously help you with increasing necessary stats and unlocking abilities. The characters in these deep and satisfying narratives are all well established and easy to identify with.
"Rebirth" has the strongest story elements in the original 1997 title all updated and fleshed out further. The Gold Saucer date sees many branching paths, depending on how you treat your allies. You're treated to fun and heart tugging dates, especially for those who land Aerith or Tifa. Watching each of them online via YouTube is bound to satisfy. "Metaphor" is a rarity in the game industry nowadays: an original story that isn't a follow-up. Its story and protagonists have underlying relevance in our current political and social climate.
We witness our group's attempts at helping a comatose prince reclaim his throne. The journey they embark on has each member challenging and questioning the stark yet subtle complexities of the land they're fighting for. I saw a review online that said how this game talks about subjects most people try to avoid talking about in public, but in a way that's respectful to all involved. I guess you could say that's been a hidden genius for Atlus between "Persona 5" and this title. Neither game is afraid to go out on a limb and take a chance.
This game sheds a light on corruption in the church and government in a way that's easy to digest and understand. It shows what can happen when our fears get the better of us, and the decisions we make. There's a frankness that's also somehow reassuring at the same time. Add some captivating story arcs for the likes of Hulkenberg, Heismay and many of our protagonist's other allies and foes, and it's "Metaphor" that just barely has the edge in content. From a gameplay and story perspective, it's a better standalone experience.
Round 3 Winner) Metaphor: ReFantazio
Final Verdict:
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: 9.5/10
****CRITIC'S CHOICE****
Metaphor: ReFantazio: 9.5/10
****CRITIC'S CHOICE****
With "Rebirth" having a slight edge in visual and audio quality, and "Metaphor" being a more innovative standalone experience for newcomers, the decision to pick a winner was tough. So tough that as yet another belated Christmas present to y'all, my advice is this. Regardless of which one you play first, check both games out, especially since they serve as strong introductory points to the JRPG genre. And if anyone asks why you didn't pick just one, tell them it was a special gift courtesy of The Film Pub. So have a happy holiday on us.
WINNER: DRAW
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