The debut chapter of the Metaphor: ReFantazio manga is now up for grabs free of charge. It shakes things up right from the start by altering the game’s opening scene: Strohl steps in to save the protagonist from bandits, taking the place of Hulkenberg, who did the honors in the game. There’s even a buzz that the game might eventually get an anime makeover.
This fresh manga series from Metaphor: ReFantazio has hit the shelves, and it’s already stirring things up by tweaking the storyline we know from the game. Atlus, joining forces with Shueisha, has started rolling out the manga on a monthly schedule in V Jump magazine. Readers who are familiar with both the game and the manga might catch onto these shifts pretty quickly. It’s possible that these changes are chalked up to adapting the story better for its new format, and who knows? We might see more alterations in upcoming chapters.
Created by Studio Zero, a branch under Atlus, Metaphor: ReFantazio really shook up the gaming world when it was released. It shattered sales records for Atlus and snatched up raving reviews from fans and critics alike in 2024. The RPG even bagged the RPG of the Year award at The Game Awards 2024, along with several other accolades, putting it on the map as a standout title. Since its launch, Atlus has been busy enhancing the game with updates and is now venturing into further storytelling with this manga adaptation.
If you’re interested, the first chapter of this manga can be easily accessed for free online on the Manga Plus website. Upon flipping through the pages, you’ll spot some distinct changes from the game’s story. As the story kicks off, we find our protagonist, now officially named Will, heading to the capital city of Grand Trad with his fairy friend Gallica. However, their journey takes a turn when they’re ambushed by bandits. Originally, it was Hulkenberg who rescued them in the game, but in this version, it’s Strohl, a chivalrous knight, who comes to their aid.
Upon reaching Grand Trad, Will encounters Maria right before she’s whisked away by kidnappers. Joined by Strohl, Will manages to save her and takes her to the Hushed Honeybee. Here, Gallica runs into Grius, setting the stage for a plot to take out Louis the following day. Interestingly, the entire storyline where Will and Strohl sign up with the army and face a human, unlocking their Archetype powers, has been omitted entirely. The manga seems to prioritize a swift storytelling pace, so it’s a waiting game to see when Archetypes will surface. They’re a crucial element in the game, being a source of character power and development.
Atlus isn’t new to the game-to-manga adaptation scene, and they’ve made narrative tweaks before. Although the manga’s beginning does alter from how players experienced the game, major events are likely to track back to the original plot, even if some bits are skipped for pacing’s sake. In the horizon, perhaps this manga will leap over to the anime domain, just as many Persona series have done. While news about Studio Zero’s next big project or a sequel to Metaphor: ReFantazio is quiet, fans can dive back into this enchanting journey by staying in tune with the manga.
