Metaphor: ReFantaziowill feel very familiar to fans of ATLUS games over the years, as it offers the same calendar system, life-sim mechanics, and turn-based combat that we know and love. This naturally means you can expect a cast of party members to get to know throughout the adventure.
Metaphor: ReFantazio: How To Cook All Recipes
Fortunately, everyone in the party is a master chef and can cook meals with extraordinary effects.
If we exclude the player character, Metaphor has seven party members in total. Each of these characters leaves a mark on the player throughout the journey, especially if you take the time to work through and raise each of their bonds.
However, the question remains: In a popularity contest, which of these party members comes out on top? Well, from our subjective and biased point of view, we intend to give our take.
If you’re looking for a list that ranks these characters based on their battle acumen, then you might want to check out ourEvery Archetype Ranked list, as this list is purely concerned with ranking these party members based on the strength of the characters.
Also, we aren’t including Gallica because they aren’t really a contributing or playable party member.
Spoilers: We are going to be revealing major plot points, so if you want to see these play out for youself, then you’d better bounce!
During the battle against the Human at Northern Border Fort
Standout Moment
The assassination attempt on Louis
If you want to leave a lasting impression as a character in a JRPG character, then the best thing you may do is kick the bucket, and Grius doesn’t waste much time before doing just that.
Grius is only with the party for a short amount of time, as you’ll barely be settled in Grand Trad before the gruff Scotsman bites the dust by Louis' hand.
Yet, despite only being around for the opening hours, Griu’s death is a pivotal moment where you truly mourn the loss of the grumpy old sod.
Thankfully, you do get to carry on the Mage lineage without him, but the ripple effects of his passing, like taking care of Maria and such, only add to his legacy.
But ultimately, as he’s so briefly involved, it would be unfair to put him ahead of the established party members.
6Hulkenberg
When first entering the Grand Regalith Cathedral
Reaching a higher state of being by eating Dragon Tear Fruit
I just want to point out that all of the party members in Metaphor have their moments, and none of them are inherently bad as characters. However, of all those listed, Hulkenberg is the one that flirts with that label the most.
Hulkenberg is a pretty one-note character. A strong female knight with a thirst for battle, a mind of tactical warfare, and a deep fascination when it comes to different cuisines from across the land.
However, despite trying to cast her as a hard-as-nails warrior with a hidden soft side, she comes across as a one-dimensional individual used as ‘the straight man’ to deliver more serious plot beats, and lacks real star power or standout moments.
Effectively, she is Metaphor’s vague imitation of a character like Lae’zel fromBaldur’s Gate 3, but in the end, Hulkenberg lacks the depth to hold a candle to characters like her.
At the Recruitment Center before leaving for the Northern Border Fort
Strong-arming Lord Hydran into housing the former residents of Halia
It’s hard to try and split Strohl and Hulkenberg in truth, as they aren’t all that different. They are both bold and brave individuals with a keen sense of justice, and they both had very ‘well-to-do’ upbringings. But in the end, we think Strohl edges it.
Mainly because they are a driving force within the group, often taking the initiative and proposing bold plans to help the player ascend to the throne.
Not to mention, they have a much more compellingBond storyline, and they have a few more layers than Hulkenberg, as Strohl isn’t afraid to show his true emotions.
Metaphor: ReFantazio: How to Beat the Varmareno Coliseum
Time to show the world that a King’s sword is mightier than the pen.
In the end, he’s a little too middle of the road in terms of character design to ever get close to the rest of the pack, but all in all, he’s a great companion to have by your side.
At The Dragon Temple, during the Virga Islands Operation
Defeating and capturing the Dragon God
In a world full of various fictitious creeds and cultures, you could easily argue that the Mustari are easily the most interesting of the lots, with old world, tribal ideals that challenge the established norms of Sanctism. And at the heart of it all, you have their priestess, Eupha.
You would have thought for all the world that Edeni would serve as Virga Island’s companion at first, but when the player reaches the dreaded Dragon Temple, you get to see just how interesting Eupha and, by extension, the Mustari people are.
Her background is interesting, but even she herself is a fun character to get to know as you effectively indoctrinate her into the world outside of her archipelago bubble.
She’s an innocent, caring, and intelligent individual, but equally a powerful ally who can fend for herself, making her a brilliant party member within this stacked roster.
At the Nightprowler beforeheading to Louis Skyrunner
Protecting the innocent Sanctists at the Opera House
It might surprise some that I include Basilio in the top three, especially considering that he doesn’t join your party until the game is all but drawing to a close. But we got to know Basilio plenty well before that, which practically led to me fist-pumping when he decided to join the team’s ranks.
It’s only fair that we also mention Fidelio’s impact, as these two really come together as a double act, and their relationship really serves as the core reason why Basilio is so lovable.
At their core, they are Louis' henchmen, and initially, they act as such to the letter, but over time, we get to know the softer side of each character and their true wants and desires.
Which, of course, leads to the heartbreaking conclusion of our time in Alterbury Heights, and only cements our burning hatred for Louis.
Plus, Basilio and Fidelio’s respective voice actors give an incredible performance throughout, bringing some Scouse representation to the gaming medium, which is something we can all get behind.
At Grand Trad when the Tournament of Kings is announced
Her performance during the Relic ceremony at the Opera House
It wouldn’t be an ATLUS game without a striking blonde bombshell, now would it? This game’s iteration of this comes in the form of Junah, a companion of Louis and the nation’s songbird.
As an Irishman, I did struggle to get past the atrocious accent, but if you may put that to one side, you will get to know a character who is more than just a pretty face with a good set of pipes.
She’s a firecracker who moves to the beat of her own drum; she has a secret past that slowly reveals itself over the course of the adventure, which is nothing short of captivating, and through her Bond storyline, you get to see that she’s as altruistic as they come, even if she’s not that keen on flaunting it.
She’ll always keep you guessing, and guarantee a flamboyant performance, whether in battle or not. Which is, in a nutshell, why she’s a standout character.
Within the Sandworm Cave during his Bounty Mission
His heart-to-heart with Lady Joanna
Perhaps this comes from my own personal bias, but I can’t help but love Heismay. Maybe it’s the Alan Rickman-esque tone with which he speaks. Perhaps it’s how cool the Eugeif people look, or perhaps it’s the fact that he’s practically a ninja.
There’s a lot to love, but I think in the end, it comes down to the dark nature of their storyline, and how they boldly shoulder their shortcomings, their baggage and their hardships and forge a path forward anyway.
Their Bond storyline is riveting as they try to make peace with their son’s death, and their involvement in the battle against Joannain Kriegante Castleis moving.
And yet, even with all the seriousness of their narrative, they are still warm and likable, without needing to be goofy like Hulkenberg or Strohl to evoke this feeling.
He’s the character I want a little vinyl figure of more so than any other, and I think that speaks volumes. For me, Heismay is the pick of the bunch by some distance.
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