Katsura Hashino, a game creator at Atlus, is a leader in the JRPG genre.
This book explores the development history of Metaphor, his latest title and culmination, through seven years of interviews!
Metaphor: ReFantasio won the triple crown of "BEST RPG," "BEST ART DIRECTION," and "BEST NARRATIVE" at TheGameAwards 2024, voted for by media and game fans around the world!
What is the secret to its appeal?
Includes testimonies from those responsible for characters, scenarios, battles, daily life, and UI, as well as numerous rare documents. A masterpiece of nonfiction for everyone involved in creative work.
[Table of Contents]
Chapter 1: Setting the World—The Beginning
"I want people to have the image and fantasy that the world might change."
Chapter 2: Creating the Scenario—Katsura Hashino and Atlus
"My creative mindset—'If it's not fun, there's nothing I can do about it,' I don't think it's changed much."
Testimony 1: Shigenori Soejima (Character Design)
"I want people to love the characters as characters."
Chapter 3: Combining the Staff—Direction Techniques
"This is the very blueprint for an RPG."
Chapter 4: Prototype—Integrating the Story into the System
"It naturally became a cliched, classic story."
Testimony 2: Yuichiro Tanaka (Scenario)
"Only when you've completed it to the point where it can't be fixed can you see what really needs to be fixed."
Chapter 5: Creating Data—Why Cutting?
"It's satisfying when everything feels consistent."
Chapter 6: Mass-Producing Data—The Culmination of a Commitment to Detail
"In the end, it all comes down to whether it makes sense."
Testimony 3 Kenichi Goto (Battle)
"Ideally, the player thinks, 'I might die,' but doesn't get killed."
Chapter 7: Connecting the Game—Implementing "Fun"
"The player gets inspired by new things they want to do in the game, and they feel like, 'Wow, there are so many things I want to do. This is overwhelming!'"
Chapter 8: Data Adjustment—Consistency, Wit, and Consistency
"Give up or keep working? How can we find a way "in between" those two options?"
Testimony 4: Azusa Kido (Nichijou)
"Face the beloved aspects of the Persona series head-on."
Chapter 9: Finishing Touches -- Official Title: "Metaphor"
"Now is the time for the highest quality improvement."
Testimony 5: Koji Ise (UI)
"I feel like we've nailed the 'feel good' part."
Chapter 10: Toward Release -- Aiming for JRPG 3.0
"I want to explore how to create a JRPG that's in tune with the times."
Epilogue
Rimborso per mancata consegna
