Atlus - Softonic English

This Persona 5 spin-off is an excellent mobile game, except for a small detail

On June 26, Black Wings Games Studio, a subsidiary of Perfect World, will launch Persona 5: The Phantom X, a new game for mobile and PC that brings back the world of Persona 5, although with new features. This title features a combination of RPG elements and a gacha system, while maintaining the turn-based battle characteristics that have defined the series. A game that promises to be everything fans expect, or almost. The nostalgia for Persona 5 is evident, as the game reuses familiar characters and settings, but also aims […]

On June 26, Black Wings Games Studio, a subsidiary of Perfect World, will launch Persona 5: The Phantom X, a new game for mobile and PC that brings back the world of Persona 5, albeit with new features. This title features a combination of RPG elements and a gacha system, while maintaining the turn-based battle characteristics that have defined the series.

A game that promises to be everything fans expect, or almost

The nostalgia for Persona 5 is evident, as the game reuses familiar characters and settings, but it also aims to provide an innovative experience with an alternate universe. Among the new characters, Wonder, Cattle, and Closer stand out, each with unique abilities that could attract players within the character system dynamics. However, some critics have pointed out that the lack of strong narrative pressure could make progress feel more overwhelming than exciting.

Throughout its development, Persona 5: The Phantom X has been compared to other spin-offs of the franchise, which have sought to enrich the world of the Phantom Thieves. Like its predecessors, the gameplay includes exploring palaces and encounters with enemies in an immersive environment, but its design is clearly influenced by the gacha style, making it necessary to accumulate resources and make pulls to obtain new characters.

As its release approaches, there is some uncertainty about whether the game will attract new players or will only please existing fans of the series. While the game has the look and feel of “Persona 5,” the key will be its ability to differentiate itself and offer a fresh experience to veterans and newcomers alike.

Apple Store DOWNLOAD

Apple Store accidentally reveals the release date of Persona 5: The Phantom X

The Atlus event, scheduled for today May 15, has been overshadowed by a slip from Apple’s App Store. This accidental revelation of the release date for the highly anticipated spin-off Persona 5: The Phantom X has surprised both fans and organizers. According to the leaked information, the game will be released on June 26 on mobile devices. Although the official page for the title had been active for months, the leak has raised concerns about possible surprises that may have been missed. The Atlus event in the background Developed by Black Wings Game Studio […]

The Atlus event, scheduled for today, May 15, has been overshadowed by a slip from the Apple App Store. This accidental revelation of the release date for the highly anticipated spin-off Persona 5: The Phantom X has surprised both fans and organizers. According to the leaked information, the game will be released on June 26 for mobile devices. Although the official page for the title had been active for months, the leak has raised concerns about possible surprises that may have been missed.

The Atlus event in the background

Developed by Black Wings Game Studio under the supervision of Atlus and SEGA, Persona 5: The Phantom X is a free-to-play game that incorporates gacha mechanics, turn-based combat, and social simulation, set in a parallel universe to the successful franchise. The visual style and stylized aesthetics that made Persona 5 famous will be present, along with new characters and settings that enrich the experience.

This spin-off had already made its initial debut in China in April 2024, and has expanded its availability to Taiwan, South Korea, and Hong Kong, so its arrival to the rest of the world was just a matter of time. However, Apple’s history of leaks, which previously affected launches like Apex Legends Mobile and Genshin Impact, has generated some skepticism. The App Store revelations may not be an isolated coincidence.

Fans will be able to follow Atlus’s event through its official YouTube channel, where it is expected to focus on gameplay news specifically designed for the Western audience, with the aim of satisfying the preferences of players less familiar with gacha mechanics. At the same time, it is anticipated that the release date will be officially confirmed during the event.

The combat of Metaphor: ReFantazio was different from what we have finally known

The next title from Atlus, Metaphor: ReFantazio, has taken a different direction in its combat system, following extensive analysis during playtesting. Originally, the game included a brutal battle system inspired by the Japanese role-playing game Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne, where randomness played a crucial role in deciding which character attacked first in a battle. This approach provoked negative reactions among players, who described this mechanic as “irrational” and “not fun.” Players were not prepared for a mechanic from 20 years ago Kenichi Goto, the main battle planner […]

Atlus’s upcoming title, Metaphor: ReFantazio, has taken a different direction in its combat system, following extensive analysis during playtesting. Originally, the game included a brutal battle system inspired by the Japanese role-playing game Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne, where randomness played a crucial role in deciding which character attacked first in a battle. This approach elicited negative reactions from players, who described this mechanic as “irrational” and “not fun”.

The players were not prepared for a mechanic from 20 years ago

Kenichi Goto, principal battle planner of Metaphor: ReFantazio and veteran combat planner of previous Atlus titles, detailed that in the initial design, there was a 30% chance that enemies would get the first turn, regardless of who initiated the combat. However, player feedback led Atlus to reconsider this aspect. Goto mentioned that whether the player or the enemies initiated the battle, the randomness created a sense of unfairness that affected the gaming experience.

As a result, the development team decided to implement a significant change: the player will always get the first turn if they initiate combat. This decision aims to eliminate the frustration caused by the random mechanics and provide a more logical and enjoyable experience during combat.

Additionally, Atlus is trying to solve the grinding problem that has plagued many JRPGs, seeking a balance that allows for a more dynamic and less repetitive gameplay. With these modifications, Metaphor: ReFantazio stands out as a promising addition to the genre, aligning with the trend of developers prioritizing the player experience over elements of arbitrary difficulty.

Steam DOWNLOAD

The director of Metaphor: ReFantazio receives an award from the Japanese government for his contribution to the country's art

The acclaimed video game Metaphor: ReFantazio, developed by Atlus and Studio Zero, has captured the attention of the public and critics since its release, establishing itself as one of the best titles of 2024. Its innovative narrative and unique artistic design earned it a nomination for Game of the Year at The Game Awards, as well as the award for Best Game of 2024 at the prestigious IGN and GameSpot awards. Metaphor: ReFantazio is recognized by the Japanese government Beyond its commercial success, which translates to a 91% positive review rate on Steam, the cultural impact of Metaphor: ReFantazio […]

The acclaimed video game Metaphor: ReFantazio, developed by Atlus and Studio Zero, has captured the attention of the public and critics since its release, establishing itself as one of the best titles of 2024. Its innovative narrative and unique artistic design earned it a nomination for Game of the Year at The Game Awards, as well as the award for Best Game of 2024 at the prestigious IGN and GameSpot awards.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is recognized by the Japanese government

Beyond its commercial success, which translates to a 91% positive review rate on Steam, the cultural impact of Metaphor: ReFantazio has been so significant that the Japanese government has decided to honor its director, Katsura Hashino. This recognition, awarded by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, highlights the importance of video games as an artistic and cultural medium, in addition to emphasizing the contributions of other creators such as Kiyotaka Oshiyama, a renowned director of the successful animated film Look Back.

Katsura Hashino, not only the director but also the producer of the game, has been instrumental in balancing creativity and the practical challenges of development, ensuring the commercial viability of the project. His vision has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and Japanese culture, so his award symbolizes not only recognition for his work but also the relevance that video games have gained in the artistic field.

By the end of 2024, we can affirm that Metaphor: ReFantazio has not only been a success in terms of sales and reviews, but it has also become a cultural monument that reaffirms the value and potential of video games as an art form, placing its creators at the center of contemporary narrative.

Steam DOWNLOAD

Atlus improves Metaphor: ReFantazio with significant quality of life updates

Atlus has released patch 1.11 for its acclaimed game Metaphor: ReFantazio, available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and PC. This new update, which corresponds to version 1.112.0 on Xbox, 1.0.112.0 on Windows, and 1.0.11.0 on Steam, mainly focuses on fixing bugs and improving the player experience. The menus, more navigable than ever Among the main new features of this patch, is the ability to change the team formation from the main menu and the equipment screen. This function will allow players to manage their team […]

Atlus has released patch 1.11 for its acclaimed game Metaphor: ReFantazio, available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and PC. This new update, which corresponds to version 1.112.0 on Xbox, 1.0.112.0 on Windows, and 1.0.11.0 on Steam, primarily focuses on bug fixes and enhancing the player experience.

Menus, More Navigable Than Ever

Among the main novelties of this patch is the ability to change the team’s formation from the main menu and the equipment screen. This feature will allow players to manage their team more effectively and quickly, facilitating the necessary exchanges and adjustments before facing critical situations in the game.

Additionally, the patch introduces a feature to jump between categories in the main menu and the items screen, which optimizes user navigation, allowing them to access desired sections more quickly. This improvement is especially useful given that the game’s interface has been criticized in previous versions for its complexity in navigation.

On the other hand, patch 1.11 also addresses an issue that was preventing some players from progressing in the game when performing certain operations in the menu. These types of fixes are crucial to maintaining player satisfaction and ensuring a smooth experience.

Metaphor: ReFantazio players can check the full patch notes for additional details on improvements and fixes. Atlus continues to demonstrate its commitment to offering a product that evolves and adapts to the needs of its community, ensuring that each update brings users closer to an optimized gaming experience.

Steam DOWNLOAD

This is everything that Atlus has revealed about Metaphor: ReFantazio, their fantasy game in the style of Persona

The team behind the Persona franchise is back with a fantasy JRPG, and we’ll tell you all the details we know so far.

On April 22nd at midnight, the company Atlus held a special half-hour event to present their new game, Metaphor: ReFantazio. A turn-based RPG set in a fantasy world where, after the death of the king, the entire kingdom competes to win the title of the new prince. The reason is that in this world anyone can be chosen as king, with the chosen one being the one with the most support from the people, and our protagonist presents his candidacy as the start of the game’s events.

Metaphor: ReFantazio DOWNLOAD

Metaphor Re Fantazio is a fantasy role-playing game where you will play as the female protagonist wielding incredible power.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is a game by Studio Zero, which if the name doesn’t sound familiar, the games surely will. The creative team behind the studio is the same people who worked on Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5. Something that is noticeably evident in this game.

Aesthetically, it is reminiscent of Persona, only with a more cluttered and exaggerated art direction. Additionally, it will include different systems that will remind us of those of the beloved Atlus franchise. For example, we will have a job system, called Archetypes, that we can only unlock and improve through the social relationships we establish with the people who represent them. A nod to Persona’s social links, taken to the extreme here, as any character can use any archetype at any time.

Like in any good fantasy game, there will be different cities and dungeons that we can visit in our adventure. Stating that there will be a larger number of dungeons than what we are used to in Persona, it is understandable that combat will have a more prominent role in the adventure.

About the battles, in fact, they have emphasized that they will be a mixed system. For those in which we face enemies of a higher level than us, everything will happen in real time. But when we encounter enemies of our level or more powerful, the game will switch to a turn-based system where we can choose the actions of each of our characters. Making the process of facing different enemies lighter.

At the same time, Atlus has confirmed that Metaphor: ReFantazio will have a time limit to complete its missions, like in the recent Dragon’s Dogma 2. Something that will be added is that it is not an open world, but it will have very large scenarios. So much so that we will have additional mobility options, and even access to transportation to move from one region to another, which will not be automatic. Allowing us to establish relationships, manage our team, or get involved in some of its mini-games.

Metaphor: ReFantazio will be released on October 11th on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X. In addition, Atlus has confirmed that they will showcase the game at various events worldwide in the future, but they have not confirmed anything yet.

Metaphor: ReFantazio DOWNLOAD

Metaphor Re Fantazio is a fantasy role-playing game where you will play as the female protagonist wielding incredible power.

Really, how many ‘Persona’ games are there? A descent into gamer madness

It’s possible that you might think the solution to the question “How many games are there in the ‘Persona’ series?” is simple. Five, right? ‘Persona 5’ was released in 2016, and there has been nothing new since then.

You might think that the answer to the question “How many games are there in the ‘Persona’ saga?” is simple. Five, right? ‘Persona 5’ was released in 2016 and there hasn’t been anything new since then. But thinking that about this spin-off of the ‘Shin Megami Tensei’ saga (which could also be talked about for hours and hours) is like believing that there are only three titles of ‘Kingdom Hearts‘. Are you ready for a descent into the abyss of madness? I can tell you that you’re not.

Persona 5 DOWNLOAD

Cybernetic Persons

If the game doesn’t ring a bell, just know that it’s not a version of Ingmar Bergman’s masterpiece, but an RPG that started in 1996 with the game ‘Revelations: Persona’, a spin-off of ‘Shin Megami Tensei’, and continued with four more sequels. The problem is that each of these sequels has its own sub-sequels, totaling 23 games. To give you an idea of the mess: ‘Persona 2: Eternal Punishment’ came out after ‘Persona 4’ and its sequel in the form of a fighting game, ‘Persona 4 Arena’. Anything goes here.

Throughout its almost three decades of existence, ‘Persona’ has gone through free-to-play versions (‘Persona Ain Soph’), RPGs for Nintendo DS (‘Persona Q: Shadow of the labyrinth’), rhythm games (‘Persona 4: Dancing all night’) and even a hack and slash in the style of ‘Dynasty Warriors’ (‘Persona 5 Strikers’). Additionally, each game has had its own slightly enhanced versions, such as ‘Persona 4 Golden’ or ‘Persona 5 Royale‘, turning it into a mess only suitable for the most hardcore fans. Oh, and we must also add its adaptations to novels, manga, theater, and even concerts, all of them canon. The bravest explorers are in luck. Let the battle begin!

Persona 5 DOWNLOAD

Numerous Japanese creators drop potential unannounced projects for 2024

Numerosos creadores japoneses dejan caer posibles proyectos sin anunciar para 2024, prometiéndonos un año especialmente jugoso para los videojuegos

End of the year is the time to talk about our expectations for the coming year. Our wishes, our goals, and everything we hope to achieve. It’s a tradition, it’s something we all do to some extent, and it’s normal. One year ends. It’s normal to feel like it’s a moment of reset and starting over with a new year.

Steam DOWNLOAD

Japan is no different in that sense. They also make their New Year’s resolutions, even when we talk about Japanese creators in the video game industry. The difference is that they don’t just do it privately. Because the 4gamer magazine takes care of collecting every year the comments of dozens of Japanese creatives about what they have enjoyed the most in 2023 and what they expect for 2024. Including their own projects. And this year, more than one has let slip some exciting information.

Eiji Ishida, who works at Atlus and is particularly known for being the mastermind behind the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei franchise, has hinted that they are already working on a new game. Something that Suda51 has also done, stating that they are working on another game in addition to Shadows of the Damned Remastered, which will be released in 2024. And Kotaro Uchikoshi, creator of AI: The Somnium Files and the Zero Escape trilogy, true to his style, has declared that he is making a very crazy game that will go down in history.

They are not the only ones working hard. On the other hand, we have Hiroyuki Kobayashi. You may not recognize his name or his studio, GPTRACK50, but he has been involved in major Capcom franchises such as Dragon’s Dogma, Resident Evil, and Devil May Cry. And he has confirmed that he is working on an action RPG as only possible with the team he has assembled. Similarly, Yukinori Kitajima, from Synthese, a studio that has written scripts for games like Final Fantasy, has confirmed that a very ambitious title that he has been wanting to talk about for a long time will finally be announced this year.

To top it off, another great news is something we were expecting, but that doesn’t make us any less happy. Keiichiro Toyama, from Bokeh Game Studio, has confirmed that they will start showcasing their first game, Slitterhead, in 2024. This is huge news, considering that the game has former creators of Silent Hill and Siren among its ranks.

All of this promises us a 2024 full of surprises, if expectations are met. So we will have to be aware of everything these developers do, because it seems that we have some very good years ahead in the Japanese video game.

Steam DOWNLOAD

Strategic Gameplay Meets Persona 5 Universe in Persona 5 Tactical Announcement

Persona 5 Tactica promises us a Fire Emblem-style Persona game, with a great tactical component in its core.

Persona fans rejoice! In addition to a Persona 3 remake, a new spinoff installment of the franchise has just been announced, titled Persona 5 Tactical. Featuring a chibi art style, all the beloved characters from Persona 5, as well as some characters from other Persona games, this tactical game takes inspiration from Fire Emblem. Prepare for strategic gameplay where tactics are key to completing the game successfully.

The game has been announced for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, and Xbox Game Pass on November 17th of this year. While it’s likely to release on other platforms, this hasn’t been announced yet. In any case, Persona fans have reason to celebrate as it’s been a long time since so many high-quality titles have been announced in such a continuous manner. Even if we’re still waiting for the holy grail: the elusive Persona 6.

Xbox Game Pass DOWNLOAD

Some of the links added in the article are part of affiliate campaigns and may represent benefits for Softonic.