ReFantazio's and Persona's Menus Are Insanely Stylish. But Also \"Annoying to Do\"

ReFantazio and Persona Menus: Stylish, Yet a Developer's Nightmare

Persona series director, Katsura Hashino, recently revealed the surprisingly arduous process behind the series' iconic, visually stunning menus. While players praise their sleek design, Hashino confessed to The Verge that crafting these interfaces is far more challenging than it appears.

The Persona director explained that while most developers opt for simple, functional UI, the Persona team strives for a balance of functionality and aesthetic beauty. This pursuit of visual excellence necessitates unique designs for every single menu, a process Hashino describes as "really annoying."

This meticulous approach significantly impacts development time. Hashino recalled the initial iterations of Persona 5's distinctive menus, which were initially "impossible to read," requiring extensive revisions to achieve the perfect blend of style and usability.

The payoff, however, is undeniable. Both Persona 5 and Metaphor: ReFantazio boast visually striking UIs that contribute significantly to the games' overall personality and are instantly recognizable to fans. This visual identity, however, comes at a considerable cost in development time and resources. Hashino emphasized the significant time investment: "It takes a lot of time."

The complexity extends beyond mere design. Hashino revealed that each menu utilizes a separate program, further highlighting the extensive effort involved. From the in-game shop to the main menu, each element requires individual programming and design, demanding a considerable level of dedication to ensure a seamless player experience.

This dedication to balancing functionality and aesthetics has been a hallmark of the Persona series since Persona 3, culminating in the highly polished menus of Persona 5. Metaphor: ReFantazio, Hashino's latest project, takes this commitment even further, adapting the design principles to a grander, high-fantasy setting. While the process might be "annoying" for the developers, the results are undeniably spectacular for players.

Metaphor: ReFantazio launches October 11th on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-orders are now available.