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(Image credit: Atlus / Sega)
Katsura Hashino has been at Atlus for around 30 years, and his latest director’s credit on the fantasy JRPG Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of many. He was previously at the helm for Persona 3, 4, and 5, the puzzle game Catherine, and more. Speaking in a newinterview with IGN, he’s spoken a little more about what games motivate and inspire him to keep developing new things himself, and it sounds like he has a great deal of admiration for fellow creatives.
He adds that seeing artists and creatives “had something they really wanted to say” is ultimately “where I get all of my inspiration from,” as well as “the drive to continue to be creative myself.” While he doesn’t give any specific examples of this, it’s quite obvious just looking at Hashino’s own work that he’s constantly looking outside the box.
In a recent interview on the Xbox podcast, Hashino talks about how the team looked into “traditional fantasy culture,” including The Lord of the Rings when they started working on Metaphor: ReFantazio, before they “threw out all of our ideas” sinceit “would lack the originality that defines us.“This pursuit of originality is likely exactly what Hashino is referring to in this latest IGN interview, and it’s fair to say that it’s clearly worked out for him with his works to date.
Be sure to check out ourMetaphor: ReFantazio reviewto find out why it’salready become such a massive successfor Atlus.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
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2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
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3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”