ReFantazio's and Persona's Menus Are Insanely Stylish. But Also \"Annoying to Do\"

Persona Menus: A Beautiful Headache for Developers

Katsura Hashino, the renowned director of the Persona series, recently revealed the surprisingly arduous process behind creating the series' iconic and stylish menus. While players admire the sleek UI, Hashino confessed that the design process is far more challenging than it appears.

In an interview with The Verge, Hashino explained that while most developers opt for simple, functional UI designs, the Persona team strives for both functionality and aesthetic excellence. This commitment leads to unique designs for every single menu, a process Hashino described as "really annoying to do."

This meticulous approach significantly impacts development time. Hashino recalled the initial iterations of Persona 5's menus, which were initially "impossible to read," requiring extensive revisions to achieve the perfect balance of style and usability. The development of each menu, from the in-game shop to the party menu, demands considerable attention to detail, resulting in a visually cohesive experience but at a significant time cost. "It takes a lot of time," Hashino confirmed.

The elaborate UI has become a defining characteristic of the Persona series, as recognizable as the narrative and characters. However, this visual identity comes with a substantial workload. Hashino clarified that "We have separate programs running for each of them as well," highlighting the complexity of maintaining separate programs and designs for every menu.

This pursuit of visual excellence began with Persona 3 and has culminated in the highly stylized menus of Persona 5. Hashino's latest project, Metaphor: ReFantazio, further expands on this design philosophy, incorporating a painterly UI that complements the game's high-fantasy setting. While the process is undeniably demanding, the resulting visual spectacle is undeniably impressive.

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