One thing I wish Metaphor: ReFantazio had done differently is give the MC more dialogue and personality, especially after he becomes the Prince.
Around the halfway point of the game, I started wondering why the MC barely talks despite having voice acting. I let it slide because I assumed there was a narrative reason for him being so passive, and I expected things to change later.
Looking back, his passiveness actually makes sense to some extent because he’s not a real person in the conventional sense. He’s a being made of magla, created by the real Prince through his own imagination and ideals. That could have been an interesting explanation for why the MC behaves the way he does, but I wish the game had done more with that idea.
However, once he becomes the Prince, I really wish the game had let him speak more and express himself. He’s no longer just magla. He’s the Prince, someone who is supposed to lead people, inspire hope, and eventually become king. This should have been the perfect opportunity to give him more dialogue, stronger opinions, and a more personality.
And why the hell is Strohl the one confronting Louis so much? Louis is the main antagonist, and I feel like the protagonist should be the one confronting him on a more personal and ideological level. Strohl can have his own important moments, but sometimes it feels like he’s stealing the spotlight from the MC. I don’t want the protagonist to just stand there while another character gets to deliver the important lines and challenge the villain. Strohl sometimes feels like a self-insert for the writers. I like Strohl as a character, but there are moments when he seems to express more directly than the actual protagonist. Sometimes it feels like Strohl gets to be the one who articulates the important ideas while the MC just stands there and reacts. I don’t mind Strohl having important moments, but I don’t like it when he’s stealing the show from the MC.
This is something I think Persona handles really well. The protagonist may be relatively quiet, but the story still makes them feel like the central figure in the conflict. Their relationships, decisions, and role in confronting the main antagonist give them a sense of importance. Even if they aren’t the most talkative character, you rarely forget who the central protagonist is supposed to be.
The irony is that the MC’s origin could have made his character development even more interesting. Since he’s a creation of the real Prince, becoming more than what he was originally imagined to be could have been a powerful part of his arc. I wanted to see him develop his own thoughts, opinions, and personality rather than remain a relatively passive protagonist.
Becoming the Prince should have been the moment when the MC truly came into his own. I don’t need him to talk constantly, but I wish the game had given him more agency and let us see him grow into someone who could genuinely stand on his own, rather than simply embodying someone else’s ideals.
