The stunning menus in Persona games, including the latest Metaphor: ReFantazio, are a testament to artistic dedication, but creating them is surprisingly challenging, according to director Katsura Hashino.
Persona Menus: A Balancing Act of Beauty and Functionality
In a recent interview with The Verge, Hashino revealed the behind-the-scenes struggles of crafting the series' signature UI. While players praise the sleek and stylish menus, Hashino admitted the process is far more laborious than it appears. He explained that while most developers opt for simpler, practical UI designs, the Persona team strives for both functionality and aesthetic excellence. This involves unique designs for every menu, a process Hashino describes as "really annoying."
Developing these intricate menus is incredibly time-consuming. Hashino recounted the challenges faced during Persona 5's development, where early menu iterations proved difficult to read, necessitating numerous revisions to achieve the perfect balance of style and usability.
The unique visual style of Persona 5 and Metaphor: ReFantazio's menus has become synonymous with the series, adding to the overall immersive experience. However, this visual richness comes at a significant cost in development time and resources. Hashino confirmed this, stating that creating the menus "takes a lot of time."
The complexity extends beyond the visual design. Hashino explained that separate programs run for each menu, from the in-game shop to the main menu, emphasizing the considerable effort behind the scenes to ensure a smooth and visually stunning player experience.
This dedication to both visual appeal and functionality has been a hallmark of the Persona series since Persona 3, reaching a new level of sophistication in Persona 5 and further amplified in the high-fantasy setting of Metaphor: ReFantazio. While Hashino finds the process "annoying," the results are undeniably impressive, leaving players captivated by the meticulously crafted visual identity of the games.
Metaphor: ReFantazio launches October 11th on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-orders are now available.
