Games Happy

When Atlus’ Undertaking Re Fantasy was formally revealed as Metaphor: ReFantazio, I questioned the place I would find yourself enjoying it probably the most. As somebody who has replayed Shin Megami Tensei V (with Vengeance) and Persona 5 throughout a number of completely different platforms and variations, I questioned if Atlus’ new fantasy RPG could be one thing I spend probably the most time with at house on my console or on the go by way of Steam Deck. With Valve’s handheld, I obtained to do each, and I’ve now put in over 120 hours into Metaphor: ReFantazio solely on each my Steam Decks. I’ve additionally performed about 30 or so hours of the console variations, however I’ll give attention to how the present construct of the sport I’ve is on Steam Deck and what settings I like to recommend for the absolute best expertise.

Earlier than going additional, the PC overview construct of Metaphor: ReFantazio has gotten a number of patches already with efficiency bettering on Steam Deck with each patch. Valve has presently marked Metaphor: ReFantazio as Steam Deck Playable and never Verified. It’s because Valve says some textual content is small and could also be tough to learn whereas the sport’s graphics settings require handbook tweaking to have it carry out effectively on Steam Deck. After enjoying it, I agree with each of these caveats for the score, and I will get to them beneath.

Proper off the bat, Metaphor: ReFantazio hasn’t gotten one of the best PC port relating to optimization and graphics choices. It appears like a step again from even Persona 5 Royal in methods, and the general picture may do with good anti-aliasing. There’s a rendering scale possibility that defaulted to 125% for me. Whereas that does assist cleansing up the picture on the Steam Deck’s display, I don’t suggest enjoying above 100% rendering scale not less than proper now. 

Identical to the demo, there are completely different menus for the graphics and show settings in Metaphor: ReFantazio. You may modify the graphics utilizing presets (customized, low, intermediate, excessive) or change the settings individually. I like to recommend doing the latter on Steam Deck. 

After seeing how each location in Metaphor: ReFantazio together with elective dungeons look and run on Steam Deck, there are a number of areas the place efficiency tanked effectively beneath 30fps earlier than patches. These have been the opening desert space, the primary essential hub metropolis, one mid to late recreation location, and the ultimate dungeon. The ultimate dungeon really had the worst efficiency I had seen for Metaphor: ReFantazio on Steam Deck with it dropping beneath 20fps earlier than the patch. As of the newest patch, that very same location runs above 30fps virtually all through with it even hitting 45 and 50fps. 

As for the sooner areas I discussed with efficiency points, they barely dipped beneath 30fps and I did not see something beneath 28fps when checking these areas on older save information and in addition in New Sport Plus.

Had I written my Metaphor: ReFantazio Steam Deck efficiency overview earlier than the most recent patch, there would have been a variety of caveats to this advice, however issues have modified for the higher now. My expertise has improved fairly a bit throughout the patches pre-release, and Metaphor is getting near excellent on Steam Deck. 

My Metaphor: ReFantazio Steam Deck advisable settings are rendering scale (100%), texture high quality (regular), working in fullscreen mode, ambient occlusion (off), and limiting the body price to 30 fps. This provides you with a extra constant expertise, though you are able to do what I did and go away it uncapped so the sport runs nearer to the 40s and 50s in lots of areas whereas sticking to the low 30s in large open cities and villages. 

Getting a locked 40 or 45fps at 90hz isn’t doable proper now as a result of even in case you play at 720p and decrease the rendering scale to 75% it drops beneath 40fps in locations like the ultimate dungeon. Whereas I might like to have a 40fps or 45fps at 90hz possibility obtainable for Metaphor: ReFantazio on Steam Deck, it is not doable with out dramatically decreasing the picture high quality, and that’s not price it. Enjoying at native decision and concentrating on 30fps is probably the most constant expertise on Steam Deck. 

If you happen to, like me, additionally get pleasure from utilizing your Steam Deck plugged into your TV or monitor, there are a number of extra issues to bear in mind. There’s virtually all the time a efficiency influence to working a recreation by way of HDMI out or DisplayPort. My advice for taking part in docked is working the sport at 1080p with the rendering scale set to 75%. This ensures the UI is crisper than at 720p, however the recreation nonetheless runs decrease. It’s also possible to attempt enjoying at 1440p with a 50% rendering scale, however this actually pushes the system an excessive amount of with the present model of Metaphor: ReFantazio. You’ll begin to see common dips beneath 30fps in locations the place it often ran within the mid 30s.

As for show settings, Metaphor: ReFantazio solely runs at 16:9 whatever the decision you set in-game. I performed with it at fullscreen and 800p. For v-sync, go away it off in case you cap the body price utilizing the Fast Entry Menu on Steam Deck to restrict the body price or flip it on in case you are utilizing the in-game body price limiter at 30fps.

Whereas not mandatory, Metaphor: ReFantazio additionally permits you to select the button prompts displayed or have it auto detect primarily based in your controller. Since I used to be utilizing my new PS5 controller to play docked, I compelled Metaphor: ReFantazio to show PS5 button prompts (Sort 2) whereas enjoying handheld as effectively. The sprint possibility can also be good to have since I dislike holding a button to run in RPGs and like having it as a toggle. As of this writing, the toggle sprint possibility is seemingly solely obtainable within the PC model. Yet another factor I really like about enjoying it on Steam Deck is with the ability to faucet the touchscreen to progress dialogue like I do in most visible novels or journey video games. 

With the choices obtainable on PC and the advisable settings out of the best way, I wish to additionally notice that I did run into a problem the place I could not launch the sport offline earlier than going surfing and having it test (most likely for DRM causes). I tethered my Steam Deck to my telephone over hotspot to repair this the primary time, after which simply began leaving the sport in sleep mode earlier than heading out. This is not sudden given the numerous latest SEGA-published titles that had related points, however I wished to notice this since I bumped into it twice throughout the numerous hours I put into Metaphor: ReFantazio on each my Steam Decks. 

Visually, Metaphor: ReFantazio is sort of completely different to what we’re all used to from Atlus, particularly from Studio Zero’s employees. It’s nearer to Catherine than Persona, nevertheless it actually appears like in contrast to something Atlus has launched to date in its construction regardless of borrowing some construction from the newer Persona video games. 

Trying again, I can see myself desirous to replay Metaphor: ReFantazio much more than Persona 5 given the fight and construction of the sport’s stream right here. The areas are different all through the 100+ hours I put right into a single save, and I additionally love the numerous elective dungeons together with two I did not totally full but. I am working to try this in my New Sport Plus save. 

Primarily based on what I performed of the demo as effectively, the unique demo launch was very near the primary construct of Metaphor: ReFantazio I had on Steam. It struggled proper out of the gate to hit 30fps, and was worrying. Quick ahead to right this moment, Metaphor: ReFantazio seems to be and runs very effectively on Steam Deck all issues thought of. 

With trendy menus, nice character designs, and unbelievable music, my solely actual problem with the technical aspect of Metaphor: ReFantazio is the dearth of any kind of anti-aliasing. Working at a better rendering scale is a poor resolution given how heavy the sport is on present {hardware} together with consoles. I hope we see even fundamental anti-aliasing added as an possibility in updates. 

Whereas this is not the primary Atlus recreation to get a day one launch on PC with the console variations, it appears like probably the most vital one given it’s from Studio Zero. I liked my time with Metaphor: ReFantazio, and I am glad that it has improved significantly in its optimization since I began enjoying, making it a straightforward advice for Steam Deck house owners seeking to dig into a big RPG on the go. Hopefully we see extra optimization and options added to the PC port to take away the few caveats I’ve. 

Metaphor: ReFantazio is effectively price enjoying on Steam Deck, and I look ahead to persevering with my New Sport Plus save over the approaching weeks. I do know a variety of people personal a Steam Deck along with a console, and in case you have been hoping to have an excellent transportable expertise from day one with Metaphor: ReFantazio, seize it on PC to play on Steam Deck. 

Be sure to learn our prolonged overview of the total recreation as effectively right here.