Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Manga Adaptation Takes an Unexpected Narrative Turn

The highly acclaimed JRPG Metaphor: ReFantazio has made its way to manga format through a partnership between Atlus and Shueisha, but readers are discovering significant narrative departures from the source material in its first chapter. The manga, now available through V Jump magazine, introduces several plot alterations while maintaining the core essence of the game’s story.

Metaphor: ReFantazio has been a remarkable success story for Studio Zero and Atlus, achieving record-breaking sales figures and garnering critical acclaim throughout 2024. The game’s excellence was further validated when it secured the RPG of the Year award at The Game Awards 2024, among other distinguished recognitions.

The manga’s debut chapter, freely accessible on Manga Plus, introduces notable changes to the original narrative. The protagonist, officially named Will, encounters a different fate during his journey to Grand Trad with his fairy companion Gallica. While the game features Hulkenberg as their savior from bandits, the manga places knight Strohl in this pivotal role instead.

Further alterations appear in Grand Trad, where Will’s encounter with Maria takes a new direction. The manga streamlines several game elements, removing Will and Strohl’s military involvement and their initial Archetype awakening sequence. This raises questions about how the manga will eventually incorporate the crucial Archetype system, which drives both character development and combat mechanics in the original game.

This creative adaptation follows Atlus’s established pattern of reimagining their games in manga format. While the opening chapters show significant differences, the manga is expected to maintain the core narrative elements of the original story, albeit with modifications to suit the medium. The successful adaptation could potentially lead to an anime series, following the path of Atlus’s Persona franchise.