The 'weird family' behind the metaphor: ReFantazio

Although this year's awards season Coming up, I recently found myself reminiscing about my favorite games of 2024 and coincidentally, GameSpot's Best Games of 2024:metaphor:ReFantazio. The fantasy role-playing game quickly grabbed me for a number of reasons upon its release late last year, but perhaps what impressed me most about Metaphor was Atlus' ability to make this high-stakes fantasy adventure finally feel grounded and human.

Perhaps this shouldn't be as surprising considering Atlus' catalog of games, many of which deftly explore ideas like death, oppression, and self-actualization. While the Persona games and the studio's one-off games like Catherine remain rooted in real life, Metaphor is a dramatic departure from our world. Of course, a lot of that is the writing and overarching story of the game, but another part of what really makes this work is the wonderful acting of the metaphor.

So I was delighted when Caleb Yen, the actor behind Metaphor's main character, volunteered to answer some questions about his performance and time spent on the game. Donnie Yen spoke to GameSpot about his favorite lines, how to inject humor into a serious character, and the awkwardness that comes with playing the games he's a part of.

GameSpot: Before Metaphor: ReFantazio, Atlus had largely avoided having its protagonists fully voiced. How did it feel when you learned that you were tasked with achieving one of these tasks? The star of the studio?

He Jiale: To be honest, when I got the pre-order email, I was a little scared — (but) in a positive way that screamed, “Oh my God, I’m so excited about this.” It was such a gift to be able to voice the main character in so many key story moments, and even have some heavy monologues in the second half of the game.

One thing I love about your show is the sense of humor you bring to the role. How did you balance your portrayal of someone who was very much a person? A very serious and noble personality, but sometimes a bit awkward or silly?

We all have layers, you know? Even when things are heavy, or something crazy happens, we usually still get a little bit of humor out of it—a little bit of silliness. I think the same goes for the main character, especially since he's not really a warrior when we meet him in the story. All this was new to him. He goes on this journey for the right reasons, he wants justice for his best friend and the kingdom, but he can also be a silly little guy at times because he doesn't always know what's going on. But he grows as the story progresses, which is awesome.

I'd love to hear what you thought when you first read the game's story. What What is the most memorable moment for you? Which storylines appeal to you the most?

First of all, I just find this story incredible. The world-building in Metaphor: ReFantazio is fantastic, involving all the different tribes, how they interact, and the history of the world itself. Every character makes decisions because of the world they live in and the impact society has on them, and that's peak writing.

I love how deeply written the companion stories are. Any one of these people could be the star of their own game. Stroll has so much responsibility and survivor's guilt to bear, Hesme has to mourn her son while being abandoned, and Hulkenberg feels the shame of being a knight who does have duties beyond her title. And that’s just the first three companions! I love my weird family!

Building bonds is a big part of Metaphor: ReFantazio, so I'm curious to see which ones You have the most interesting life. Are there any actors that you think you have? Which characters did you have great chemistry with, or whose stories felt particularly impactful?

All of them are so nice! For an actor with whom I have chemistry, everything I do with Gallica is fun to do because Alejandra Reynoso and I have worked together before. Our character has a similar relationship in different titles, she's kind of like a sister or a parent figure to me, so it made sense to have her be the fairy guide here.

Hesme's story hit me like a truck. To follow this older guy on his journey and learn that he was just trying to help his people by interacting with other tribes but was ostracized for it, and then to see him mourn the loss of his son and try to find a final resting place… was so powerful.

How does it feel to go back and play a game where you voice the main character? Do you find it a little awkward or difficult?

A little bit! I hear a lot of myself when I play! But it was also really cool to be a part of such an amazing game and I'm really proud of the work that I did with the other actors and the whole team, so I got over it pretty quickly.

What is your favorite line or two in Metaphor: ReFantazio? Which line from a colleague is the most memorable to you?

Perhaps not surprisingly, I had a lot of fun with “Awakening!” Wire. I'm also a huge fan of Persona, so I would say, “Persona!” is pretty dreamy. Sometimes I say things like “ghost” and it makes me laugh.

(Yet) nothing struck me more than Philippspo's roar, “Oh, the power of kings!” As did Hesme. The little bat-man It seems Like a mascot character, but he's no– He's great.

And then there's a whole scene of everyone banging things together and calling out to Hasme. I love those line deliveries – so much fun! Did I mention I love my weird family?

One of the things that really pushes my love of metaphors over the edge is Unabashed social commentary. What was it like voicing this game in a game? Was it a really tumultuous time politically?

I think Metaphor: ReFantazio has really universal themes. Each character grapples with society's expectations of them due to how they were born, who their people are, their family status, and many other factors beyond their control. They have to balance all of that with what they really want in life, who they want to be loyal to, and pursue the ending that matters most to them. It’s an amazing game because every character truly feels connected to Metaphor: ReFantazio’s unique lore and story, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.

The above interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.