Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona's Stunning, Yet Tedious Menus

Persona director Katsura Hashino recently revealed the surprisingly challenging process behind creating the series' iconic, stylish menus. While players admire their sleek aesthetics, Hashino confessed the reality is far less glamorous.

The Unexpected Difficulty of Menu Design

In an interview with The Verge, Hashino explained that unlike the simplified UI approaches common in game development, the Persona series prioritizes unique, bespoke designs for every menu. This commitment to both functionality and visual appeal, while resulting in the beautiful interfaces fans adore, is, in Hashino's words, "really annoying to do."

The development time required is substantial. Hashino recounted the struggles with early Persona 5 menus, initially deemed "impossible to read," highlighting the extensive iterative process needed to achieve the perfect balance of form and function.

The dedication to visual design is undeniable. Both Persona 5 and Metaphor: ReFantazio showcase this commitment, with their elaborate UIs becoming a defining characteristic alongside their narratives and characters. However, this visual richness comes at a considerable cost in development time and resources. Hashino emphasized the significant time investment, stating, "It takes a lot of time."

This meticulous approach extends to the technical aspects. Hashino explained that each menu, from the in-game shop to the main menu, runs on a separate program, requiring individual design and implementation. This contributes significantly to the overall development complexity.

This pursuit of visual excellence, a hallmark of the Persona series since Persona 3, has reached new heights in Persona 5 and continues in Metaphor: ReFantazio. The game's high-fantasy setting demands an even more ambitious visual style, amplifying the already considerable development challenges. While Hashino finds the process "annoying," the results undoubtedly impress players.

Metaphor: ReFantazio launches October 11th on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-orders are now open! [Link to pre-order article]