Katsura Hashino, the director behind Metaphor: ReFantazio and the renowned Persona series, recently shared insights into the development of the visually stunning menus that have become a signature feature of these games. While fans celebrate the sleek and stylish UI, Hashino confessed that crafting these menus is far more challenging than it appears.
Persona and Metaphor: ReFantazio Menus Take 'a Lot of Time' to Make, Hashino Said
In an interview with The Verge, Hashino explained the complexities behind the creation of these menus. "In general, the way most developers make UI is very simple. That’s what we try to do as well—we try to keep things simple, practical, and usable. But maybe the reason that we’ve achieved both functionality and beauty is that we have unique designs that we make for each and every menu. This is actually really annoying to do," he admitted.
The process of perfecting these menus can be time-consuming and demanding. Hashino recalled early iterations of Persona 5's menus, which were initially "impossible to read" and required extensive adjustments to achieve the desired balance of aesthetics and usability.
The visual appeal of these menus has become a defining characteristic of both Persona 5 and Metaphor: ReFantazio, contributing significantly to the games' unique identities. Fans appreciate the detailed craftsmanship that goes into every element of the UI, from the in-game shop to the party menu. However, Hashino emphasized the extensive resources and time required to refine these elements. "It takes a lot of time," he stated.
Hashino highlighted the complexity of the UI design process, noting that each menu operates with its own separate program and design. "Whether it’s the shop menu or the main menu, when you open them up there’s a whole separate program running and a separate design that goes into making it," he explained.
The challenge of harmonizing functionality with aesthetics has been a central theme in Persona development since Persona 3, reaching a new level with Persona 5. Metaphor: ReFantazio, set in a high-fantasy world, takes this approach even further with its painterly UI, reflecting the game's grander scale. Despite the difficulties in creating these menus, Hashino's dedication results in a visually spectacular experience for players.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is scheduled for release on October 11 for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-orders are now available, and for more information on the game's release date and pre-order options, please refer to our detailed article below.
