9/10
I think it's safe to say that Atlus has truly cemented its own aesthetic at this point. Will it eventually become tiresome? So far, it doesn’t seem that way—they’ve consistently managed to elevate their signature style with each new game.
Putting the aesthetics aside for a moment, before even getting into gameplay and story, I have to say that I absolutely loved the music. The soundtrack is incredibly fitting for a fantastical and epic world, creating an atmosphere that’s both immersive and impactful.
Gameplay-wise, it’s not too far from SMT or Persona, which makes it easy for longtime fans of the studio to jump right in. That familiarity allows us to focus on exploring a beautifully crafted world. But the biggest surprise for me was the story. Not because I didn’t expect quality from an Atlus game, but because so many aspects of Metaphor were hitting peak levels of excellence that I thought the narrative would end up just being one part of the overall experience rather than a standout feature. Instead, it completely pulled me in. Some might find it too cliché or lacking in depth, but for me, it was absolutely brilliant.