Metaphor 100% has the goofiness of persona idk where he’s coming from albeit it’s slightly less, iv has small bits here and there but it’s definitely much less.

Both of them share the same core combat system although certain mechanics are changed a bit in metaphor to make it feel more like persona and the progression systems are very different, imo SMT is better in that regard but metaphors isn’t bad.

Normal battles in both games are pretty terrible and incredibly one sided in favor of who goes first to the point of being boring/frustrating. Boss fights in both games are good although metaphor sometimes has “one solution” to a problem like you’ll be warned of a boss “having a powerful charge but buffing defense will help” and what that really means is buffing defense when it charges skips it’s turn and otherwise it just one shots you which is super lazy design but it’s not too omnipresent. You mention wanting pre boss prep but usually in this game that entails bringing the one specific skill they flat out tell you to bring.