Persona's Stunning Menus: A Labor of Love (and Frustration)
Creating the iconic menus of the Persona series, renowned for their stylish design, is a surprisingly challenging task, according to director Katsura Hashino. While fans appreciate the sleek and visually captivating user interfaces, Hashino revealed in a recent interview with The Verge that the process is far more demanding than it appears.
Hashino explained that while most developers prioritize simple, functional UI, the Persona team strives for both functionality and aesthetic excellence. This requires unique designs for each menu, a process Hashino describes as "really annoying." The development time required is substantial; he recounted the difficulties in creating Persona 5's initial angular menus, which were initially "impossible to read," necessitating numerous revisions.
The visually striking menus of Persona 5 and Metaphor: ReFantazio have become a defining characteristic of the games, as beloved as the narratives and characters. However, this visual appeal comes at a cost. Hashino confirmed the significant resources dedicated to perfecting the UI, stating, "It takes a lot of time."
This attention to detail extends to individual elements. Each menu, from the in-game shop to the party menu, is treated as a meticulously crafted piece of the overall experience. Hashino highlighted the complexity, explaining, "We have separate programs running for each of them... when you open them up there’s a whole separate program running and a separate design that goes into making it."
This balancing act between functionality and aesthetics has been a defining challenge since Persona 3, reaching its zenith in Persona 5. Metaphor: ReFantazio further elevates this design philosophy, adapting the style to its high-fantasy setting. While Hashino finds the menu creation "annoying," the result is undoubtedly spectacular.
Metaphor: ReFantazio launches October 11th for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-orders are now available.
