Persona Director Reveals the Unexpectedly Tedious Truth Behind the Series' Stunning Menus
The stylish menus in the Persona series, consistently praised for their sleek aesthetics, are, according to director Katsura Hashino, a surprisingly arduous undertaking. In a recent interview with The Verge, Hashino revealed the considerable effort behind creating these visually captivating interfaces.
While many developers opt for simpler, more functional UI designs, Hashino explained that the Persona team strives for both functionality and beauty. This commitment means crafting unique designs for each menu, a process he describes as "really annoying to do." This meticulous approach requires significantly more development time than initially anticipated. He cited the initial iterations of Persona 5’s distinctive menus as an example, noting their initial unreadability necessitated substantial revisions to achieve the perfect balance of form and function.
The images below showcase the intricate detail of these menus:
[Image 1: ReFantazio and Persona Menus] (/uploads/10/17283828276705076bf3c2e.png) [Image 2: ReFantazio and Persona Menus] (/uploads/38/17283828306705076e8742c.png) [Image 3: ReFantazio and Persona Menus] (/uploads/18/1728382833670507711e4d1.png) [Image 4: ReFantazio and Persona Menus] (/uploads/12/1728382835670505737aca8.png)
The payoff, however, is undeniable. The visually striking UI of Persona 5 and Metaphor: ReFantazio has become a defining characteristic, as beloved by players as the narrative and characters themselves. Hashino highlighted the significant resources dedicated to perfecting this visual identity, emphasizing the extensive time investment. He explained that separate programs run for each menu, each with its own unique design.
This dedication to visual excellence, a hallmark of the series since Persona 3, has reached its zenith in Persona 5 and continues in Metaphor: ReFantazio, whose high-fantasy setting further amplifies the visual complexity. While the process is admittedly "annoying," the resulting spectacular menus are a testament to the team's dedication.
Metaphor: ReFantazio launches October 11th on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-orders are now open.
