ReFantazio and Persona's Stunning, Yet Tedious, Menus

Persona series director, Katsura Hashino, recently revealed the surprisingly challenging process behind creating the series' iconic menus. While players praise their stylish design, Hashino confessed to The Verge that the development is far more laborious than it appears.

The Persona director explained that while most developers opt for simpler, functional UI designs, the Persona team strives for both functionality and aesthetic excellence. This commitment leads to unique, meticulously crafted designs for every menu. "This is actually really annoying to do," Hashino admitted.

This dedication to detail significantly impacts development time. Hashino recalled the initial iterations of Persona 5's angular menus, initially deemed "impossible to read," highlighting the extensive refinement required to achieve the perfect blend of form and function.

The payoff is undeniable. Both Persona 5 and Metaphor: ReFantazio boast visually striking UIs that have become synonymous with the games' identities. This visual appeal, however, comes at a cost. Hashino emphasized the substantial resources dedicated to perfecting this aspect. "It takes a lot of time," he stated.

Hashino's frustration is understandable. The Persona games are celebrated for their stylish aesthetics, with the menus playing a crucial role in shaping each game's unique atmosphere. From the in-game shop to the party menu, every element showcases meticulous attention to detail. While the aim is a seamless player experience, the behind-the-scenes effort is substantial.

Hashino further clarified that "We have separate programs running for each of them as well," emphasizing the independent development and design for each menu, from the shop to the main menu.

This pursuit of visual excellence, a hallmark since Persona 3, has reached its zenith in Persona 5 and continues in Metaphor: ReFantazio. The high-fantasy setting of ReFantazio elevates this design philosophy to a grander scale. While Hashino finds the process "annoying," the results are undeniably spectacular for players.

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