Digital Dining Dilemma: Stylish Menus Bring Convenience and Frustration

ReFantazio and Persona's Stunning, Yet Tedious, Menus

Persona series director, Katsura Hashino, recently revealed the surprisingly challenging process behind creating the series' iconic, visually striking menus. While players praise their stylish design, Hashino admitted the effort involved is far from simple.

In an interview with The Verge, Hashino explained that unlike the typical straightforward UI development approach, the Persona and ReFantazio menus require unique designs for every single menu. This meticulous process, he confessed, is "really annoying to do," consuming significant development time. He cited Persona 5's initial menu designs as an example, initially "impossible to read" and requiring extensive revisions to achieve the perfect blend of aesthetics and functionality.

The payoff, however, is undeniable. The visually distinctive menus of Persona 5 and Metaphor: ReFantazio have become a significant part of the games' identity, adding to their immersive experience. This visual richness, however, comes at a cost – extensive time and resources dedicated to perfecting every detail. Hashino emphasized the considerable time investment, stating it "takes a lot of time."

The complexity extends beyond design. Hashino revealed that each menu utilizes a separate program, further highlighting the intensive development process. From the in-game shop to the main menu, each element receives individual attention and programming.

This dedication to both functionality and aesthetics, a hallmark of the series since Persona 3, has culminated in the highly polished menus of Persona 5 and the even more ambitious designs in Metaphor: ReFantazio. While Hashino finds the process "annoying," the results are undeniably spectacular, contributing significantly to the overall player experience.

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