(Image credit: Atlus / Sega)
Koji Ise, the mastermind behind the impressive UI of the popular 2024 JRPG Metaphor: ReFantazio, embarked on his journey with Atlus in 2018. Transitioning from the realm of website design within the advertising sector, he dove into game design — a captivating tale he shared at a GDC 2025 talk. ‘Metaphor was actually the first game that I designed for,’ he revealed through an interpreter. ‘As the lead UI designer for Metaphor, I mainly handled the UI elements in general as well as the game title logo.’
Ise entered the gaming world with a fresh perspective, creating some of the most noteworthy UI elements ever seen in a JRPG, drawing inspiration but stopping short of imitation from classics like Persona and Shin Megami Tensei. However, this creative journey was fraught with challenges. Numerous concepts were discarded, and Ise openly discussed periods of directionless development turmoil.
During the development of Metaphor, the goal was for Ise and his team to forge a unique art style, steering the game’s art direction and lending it a distinct identity. Initial designs toyed with NES-era nostalgia, fantasy-themed parchments, and sharp emotions, yet many of these ideas didn’t resonate. While some drafts failed to stand out, others were critiqued for their darkness or cumbersome sophistication. Feedback was relentless, and Ise recalled, ‘After these comments, I lost my way, unsure of what direction to take next.’
As discussions evolved, a colorful design proposal led Ise to reflect deeply on the Persona series’ legacy. He questioned whether a similar vibrant, stylized, and accessible design might suit Metaphor, although this approach ultimately ‘didn’t feel unique enough to stand on its own’ and lacked Persona’s signature essence.
Guidance came in the form of director Katsura Hashino‘s invaluable advice: ‘take a moment and stop listening to other people’s opinions so much,’ urging Ise to focus on his unique goals. ‘Those words really saved me,’ Ise admitted.
Breaking free from the shadows of Persona, Ise redefined his guiding philosophy. The solution he arrived at was termed ‘hyper stylish,’ an innovative interpretation of fantasy RPGs through Atlus‘ distinctive lens, creating an enthralling art style.
This ‘hyper stylish’ approach was structured around four design pillars: cool, immersive, intriguing, and buzzworthy. ‘That’s when we decided to approach the UI design not as a standalone meta feature detached from the game’s world, but as an element that connects the player to the world of the game,’ Ise elaborated.
The outcome of this vision is the celebrated interface of Metaphor: ReFantazio, which fans recognize today. It’s a striking, luxurious yet navigable assembly of menus that holds its own against giants like Persona 5 Royal. While minimalism often reigns supreme in UI talks, Metaphor demonstrates that a bold, dynamic UI can enhance the gaming experience significantly.
In conclusion, Ise encourages UI designers to hone in on themes and ideas exclusive to their game, using symbolic expressions to captivate and astonish players — incorporating memorable designs that evoke emotional responses. ‘How did Persona 5, Persona 3, and now Metaphor: ReFantazio achieve some of the best UI in JRPG history? Its veteran Atlus director stresses ‘unity’ and support for dev teams.’