ReFantazio's and Persona's Menus: User-Friendly Design Enhances Digital Dining

ReFantazio and Persona's Stunning, Yet Tedious, Menus

Persona series director, Katsura Hashino, recently revealed the surprisingly challenging process behind creating the series' iconic and visually impressive menus. While players praise the sleek UI, Hashino shared the considerable development hurdles involved.

The Persona UI: A Balancing Act

In an interview with The Verge, Hashino explained that the seemingly simple UI design is deceptively complex. Unlike many games that utilize streamlined, generic UI elements, Persona meticulously crafts unique designs for each menu. This dedication to visual appeal, while resulting in the series' signature style, is, in Hashino's words, "really annoying to do."

The Time Investment

This painstaking process significantly impacts development time. Hashino recounted the challenges faced during Persona 5's development, where initial menu designs proved difficult to read, requiring extensive revisions to achieve the perfect balance of form and function. He emphasized that creating these menus "takes a lot of time," often exceeding initial projections.

A Hallmark of the Series

Despite the difficulties, the unique menus have become a defining characteristic of the Persona series. Both Persona 5 and Metaphor: ReFantazio showcase this dedication to visual design, with each menu element meticulously crafted. This commitment to visual identity, however, demands substantial resources and development effort.

The Technical Complexity

Hashino further explained the technical complexity, stating that "We have separate programs running for each of them as well." Each menu, from the in-game shop to the main menu, operates as a distinct program with its own unique design, highlighting the extensive work behind the scenes.

A Legacy of Design

The pursuit of balancing functionality and aesthetics in UI design has been a cornerstone of Persona development since Persona 3, culminating in the sophisticated menus of Persona 5. Metaphor: ReFantazio builds upon this legacy, expanding the visual scope to match its high-fantasy setting. While the process is undeniably challenging for Hashino and his team, the final result is undeniably captivating for players.

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