Summary
The officialMetaphor: ReFantaziomanga has been released, and the first chapter has already introduced changes to the game’s story. Atlus partnered with Shueisha to publish theMetaphor: ReFantaziomanga monthly inV Jumpmagazine, and some readers have noticed that the narrative quickly differs from that of the game. These changes were likely made to optimize the story for the manga format, and it remains to be seen if more adjustments will follow in the coming chapters.
Metaphor: ReFantaziowas developed by Studio Zero, a subsidiary of Atlus. The JRPG took the industry by storm, breaking sales records for Atlus titles and earning some of the highest fan and critic scores of 2024. On top of that,Metaphor: ReFantaziowon RPG of the Yearat The Game Awards 2024 along with several other accolades, further solidifying its excellence. Since its release, in addition to receiving updates to enhance the gameplay experience, Atlus has been working on its official manga adaptation.
The first chapter of theMetaphor: ReFantaziomanga is already available for free on theManga Plus website. Those familiar with the story will quickly notice that the introduction has made some changes when compared to the game. In the beginning, before the protagonist, whose canonical name is now confirmed as Will, arrives in the capital city of Grand Trad alongside his fairy companion Gallica, they are ambushed by bandits. In the game, they are rescued by Hulkenberg, but in the manga,the noble knight Strohlcomes to their aid.
Metaphor: ReFantazio Manga Now Available
When Will arrives in Grand Trad, he crosses paths with Maria before she’s kidnapped. Alongside Strohl, Will helps rescue her. He then takes Maria to the Hushed Honeybee, where Gallica meets Grius, and they immediately start planning Louis' assassination for the next day. The entire plotline in which Will and Strohl join the army, face a human, and awaken their Archetype powers was removed, streamlining the game’s events and adapting them to the manga’s pacing. It remains to be seen when the manga will introduceArchetypes inMetaphor: ReFantazio, as they serve both as the catalyst for the characters' development and as the source of their power to fight the game’s villains.
This isn’t the first time Atlus has adapted one of its games into a manga series and made changes to the narrative. Although the beginning ofMetaphor: ReFantazioin manga form differs from the game, the main events will likely follow the same continuity, even if some parts are cut to improve pacing. In the future, the manga might be adapted into an anime series, just like severalPersonatitles. While there’s no news yet about Studio Zero’s next project orplans for a sequel toMetaphor: ReFantazio, fans can relive the fantastical tale by following the manga.
