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

ReFantazio and Persona's Stunning, Yet Tedious, Menus

Persona series director Katsura Hashino recently revealed the surprisingly challenging process behind creating the series' iconic, visually striking menus. While players admire the sleek UI, Hashino confessed the design process is far more laborious than it appears.

In an interview with The Verge, Hashino explained that unlike the simpler UI approaches of many developers, the Persona team crafts unique designs for every single menu. This dedication to both functionality and aesthetic beauty, while resulting in a polished and visually appealing experience, is incredibly time-consuming and, in Hashino's words, "annoying to do."

He recounted the development of Persona 5's distinctive menus, initially difficult to read, requiring extensive revisions to achieve the perfect blend of style and usability.

The impact of this meticulous approach is undeniable. Both Persona 5 and Metaphor: ReFantazio boast visually captivating interfaces that significantly contribute to the games' overall identity and atmosphere. However, this high level of visual polish demands considerable development time and resources. Hashino emphasized the significant time investment, stating, "It takes a lot of time."

The complexity extends beyond simple design; Hashino revealed that each menu, from the in-game shop to the main menu, runs as a separate program, further highlighting the extensive effort involved in maintaining a seamless player experience.

This pursuit of visual excellence, a hallmark of the Persona series since Persona 3, has culminated in the impressive UI of Persona 5 and reached new heights in Metaphor: ReFantazio. The game's fantasy setting is complemented by a painterly UI that expands upon the established design principles. While the process is admittedly "annoying" for the developers, the end result is undeniably spectacular for players.

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