How Metaphor: ReFantazio Avoids a Common RPG Vendor Pitfall

There are plenty of ways to acquire gear and other items in Metaphor: ReFantazio, including finding them in chests and obtaining them as rewards for defeating enemies. However, there are also numerous vendors scattered throughout Metaphor: ReFantazio‘s world, and they happen to be highly useful, unlike those found in many other RPGs.

With its balanced economy and rewarding gameplay, Metaphor: ReFantazio effortlessly avoids a common RPG vendor pitfall, making the game’s reward system all the more rewarding. This refreshing approach ultimately allows players to pursue wealth as a means of progress in Metaphor: ReFantazio, as it can actually be put toward something substantial.

RPG Economies Tend to Trivialize Their Gear Vendors

Something that has become all too common in the world of role-playing games is how useless their vendors can be. Many modern RPGs tend to trivialize their vendors by giving players plenty of opportunities to earn money, whether it be through quests or selling valuable materials, only to provide them with nothing really worth spending on. As a result, players end up with overflowing coin purses that mock the poor villagers they go traipsing by on the way to their next quest. What makes these flawed economies especially noticeable is when vendors’ stocks are chock-full of gear players could potentially benefit from.

That being said, the only issue with gear vendors in most RPGs is that the gear is rarely better than anything players can easily obtain in the wild. More often than not, should players choose to spend money on a piece of gear sold by a vendor, they will obtain something better by completing a quest or exploring the game’s world not long after they make their purchase. Inevitably, this teaches players the valuable lesson to never spend their money on vendor gear in a role-playing game because there will usually be something better around the corner that only requires time and effort.

Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Economy Gives Plenty of Reasons to Spend Reeve

Fortunately, Metaphor: ReFantazio avoids this pitfall by not only offering players a wide variety of methods to obtain more Reeve — the game’s currency — but also giving them more than enough valuable gear and items to spend it on. Firstly, players can earn plenty of Reeve by completing quests, emerging victorious in Metaphor: ReFantazio‘s combat, and selling the useless exchange items that are picked up along the way. Additionally, players can exchange MAG at the MAG Exchange for Reeve and even more if they visit the vendor when the weather is bad.

Players can then spend this hard-earned Reeve in Metaphor: ReFantazio on powerful weapons, armor, and gear that can sometimes prove to be beneficial for many hours before they become obsolete. Granted, most of these powerful items cost upwards of 50,000 Reeve, but the number of different ways players can earn Reeve ultimately balances this out. Plus, as long as players shop on Idlesday, they’ll benefit from a hefty discount on these items, generally bringing them down to 40,000.

All in all, it’s fortunate that Metaphor: ReFantazio avoids the pitfall that so many other RPGs have carelessly fallen into and features a balanced economy with numerous methods to earn Reeve and more than enough gear and items to spend it on. This way, players can be sure that when they earn Reeve in the game, they’ll have somewhere to put it that will leave a lasting positive impression on their battle history.

From the creative minds behind Persona 3, 4, and 5 comes Metaphor: ReFantazio, a unique fantasy world, where your protagonist will journey alongside his fairy companion, Gallica, to lift the curse from the kingdom’s lost prince.

Control your destiny, face your fears, and awaken magical Archetype powers that lie dormant in your heart. By awakening to an Archetype, you will unlock the power to channel and combine the abilities of unique job classes. Strengthen your bonds and build your party to take down powerful foes and discover the kingdom’s true nature.

Released

October 11, 2024

Developer(s)

Studio Zero

Engine

GFD

ESRB

t

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

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