As I said in my review, Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of the greatest RPGs of recent years. It has such a great story, highly customizable combat, superb world-building, and excellent companions. Of the latter, however, there is still one issue that affects the final companions of Metaphor: ReFantazio—Eupha and Basilio. Despite having great personalities and compelling stories, their screen time isn’t that long compared to our other followers. Oddly enough, this is an issue we’ve seen in previous Atlus RPGs, mainly Persona 5.
For Atlus fans who’ve played most of their RPGs, you should already know about the daily schedule feature. You start your adventure on a specific day and then have to squeeze in a few activities that include progressing the main story, going to a dungeon or a school, and spending time with your companions. In both Persona 5 and Metaphor: ReFantazio, there is a noticeable issue with the final companions that, while minor, it is odd to see it repeat itself.
In Persona 5, Haru is the final confidant you’ll recruit, at least in terms of playable characters. While she’s great and has a terrific story tied to one of the game’s most iconic dungeons, the time you spend with her isn’t too long, at least compared to other confidants. The same happens in Metaphor: ReFantazio with Eupha and Basilio, the latter of which suffers the most from this companion issue. See, by the time you get Eupha and Basilio on your Gauntlet Runner, the game’s already reaching its final plot moments. Yes, there are two major dungeons you can tackle with Basilio, but it doesn’t compare to the screen time other followers have.
A Few More Major Dungeons Would’ve Fixed the Issue
For instance, Strohl, Hulkenberg, and Heismay stay with you for a considerable amount of time. Even as you travel from place to place, you can feel the characters bonding a lot, which leads to some fun situations. And while Eupha and Basilio certainly have great moments, they sometimes feel a bit neglected in the whole group dynamic. Despite my love for the two of them and the amazing storylines they both had, I wished we had another city to visit with them or even another main story dungeon to see them bond with the group further.
Also, this isn’t limited to the story aspect. This companion issue affects the gameplay portion of Metaphor: ReFantazio, too. By the time both join your party, you should already have an ideal composition. While the two Archetypes they bring are great, with Basilio’s being one of the best DPS in the game, chances are you already have your perfect team. Furthermore, leveling these two Archetypes and their Royal versions might be a steep road unless you play on Storyteller difficulty.
Ultimately, this issue doesn’t ruin the game’s experience. In truth, it still remains a 10/10 game for many. However, it is odd to see this situation in another big Atlus RPG. While how and when they join makes a lot of sense story-wise, adding a few more dungeons or situations to make them bond with the group would make a huge difference. Eupha and Basilio are incredibly likable and some of the best companions in terms of gameplay and story in Metaphor: ReFantazio. Unfortunately, they don’t get as much attention as the other members of your entourage.
