For many years, the Persona series by Atlus has been known for its high school social sim RPG games centered around the power of friendship and human connection. These games follow high schoolers as they navigate saving the world while dealing with everyday challenges like exams. However, despite promoting progressive ideals like self-acceptance and fighting corrupt systems, the series has often been criticized for its treatment of marginalized groups such as queer people and women.
Past Persona games have been called out for perpetuating harmful stereotypes and tropes, such as portraying gay men as predators, featuring instances of sexual abuse, and making homophobic jokes. Despite these flaws, recent titles like Persona 5 Tactica and Persona 3 Reload have made efforts to address and rectify these issues by allowing for more diverse and respectful representation.
The newest addition to the series, Metaphor: ReFantazio, continues this trend of improvement by avoiding the harmful stereotypes and tropes that plagued its predecessors. While the game may lack in romantic elements and overt queer representation, it makes a conscious effort to subvert expectations and steer clear of offensive and dehumanizing portrayals of characters.
One notable scene in the early stages of the game involves a character named Neuras expressing excitement over meeting a famous vocalist, Junah. Rather than resorting to cliches of inappropriate behavior, the game surprises players by having another character, Hulkenberg, respectfully show admiration for Junah’s talents without crossing any boundaries. This moment exemplifies the game’s commitment to breaking away from harmful stereotypes and creating more nuanced character interactions.
Overall, Metaphor: ReFantazio presents a more sophisticated and mature approach to the themes explored in the Persona series, without the problematic elements that have marred its reputation in the past. While the game may not be groundbreaking in its representation of queer characters, it is a step in the right direction towards inclusivity and respectful storytelling. Atlus seems to be listening to feedback and making strides towards creating a more inclusive gaming experience for all players.