Metaphor: ReFantazio's Support Skills Puts Ball in Persona 6's Court

As Atlus' latest IP,Metaphor: ReFantaziohas taken a bold step forward in redefining the traditions established by mainstay systems inSMTandPersona. While there are theories connecting it to the larger history encompassed under theMegami Tenseiumbrella, this title has come with an entirely new set of skills with names to match. With the upcomingPersona 6still on the horizon, however, it has become a matter of speculation whether these new skills fromMetaphor: ReFantaziowill factor into the future of Atlus' biggest series.

Historically, there has been a dynamic of differing difficulty between the mainlineSMTand what is technically a spin-off inPersona. This is mainly due to howShin Megami Tensei’s Press Turn systemcan be more punishing than what One More provides inPersona, incentivizing varying uses of shared skills. Now thatMetaphorhas set a new precedent with what it has introduced, the relationship between all these Atlus titles might only be able to remain if they adapt to the changes.

Metaphor ReFantazio Tag Page Cover Art

Metaphor ReFantazio’s Expanded Array of Support Skills Defies Atlus' Existing Conventions

Buffing and Debuffing Multiple Stats at Once

Holdover support skills thatPersonainherited fromShin Megami Tenseitypically raise or lower one of three stats for three turns. There are single-target skills like Tarukaja, which raises Attack, and multi-target options like Matarukaja for the same effect, butMetaphorhas added skills that affect two or more stats in one use. These range from a simple increase of both Attack and Defense from Vitalja, to skills like Dynast Formation, which powerfully buffs four stats for the entire party.

Stat Effect Ranks Contrast Persona’s Binary System

As specified in their descriptions, theskills ofMetaphor: ReFantaziocan stackup to three ranks depending on how many levels of a stat they raise or lower. Compared toPersona, where skills can overwrite each other instead of adding up in the same way, there is more flexibility to lean into these boosts over simple offense. While that approach might be in line with the latter’s simpler nature, maintaining it in the same way while moving pastMetaphorcould be a jarring lack of progression.

Persona 6 May Feel like a Step Back if It Doesn’t Innovate on Support Skills

Leveraging the Disparity in Challenge Between Atlus' Franchises

The primary reason that a concept like being able to affect multiple stats at once with support skills feels balanced inMetaphoris that the game’s difficulty tends to be more in line with the level ofSMToverPersona, so these end up as necessary tools instead of overkill. If this feature comes toP6without an appropriate adjustment to its challenge, it has the potential to trivialize the existing systems under the forgivingOne More system of turns inPersona. Exploiting weaknesses to knock enemies down and inflict All-Out-Attacks on them is the optimal route for many battles as it stands, and that entire focus could end up subverted or encouraged depending on how support skills are handled. Despite this, the growing age of the spin-off series may have made it better suited for the greater level of strategic depth that can come from iterating on both ends.

Evolving While Maintaining the Accessibility of Persona

It may risk defeating the original purpose of the franchise ifPersona 6finds itself approaching the complexity of its mainline counterparts by following in the footsteps ofMetaphor: ReFantazio’s support skills, but it could also act as a bridge for players to learn about the more nuanced mechanics of buffs. If these non-offensive skills are pushed to the forefront of the upcoming title, they could cement themselves as core to Atlus' future in RPGs.