The breakout success of Metaphor: ReFantazio is almost to be expected given how the game deftly combines the classic high-fantasy setting of early JRPGs with the social systems and addictive combat of Atlus' own Persona series. But the title's gameplay prowess is just half of the package, as Metaphor: ReFantazio also happens to feature an excellent story bursting with topical and relevant themes and some strong character development. Of course, that story would fall flat were it not for the game having a great villain to propel the player and their allies forward, and to that end, Louis Guiabern shines as one of the great modern JRPG villains.
Especially after the multiple-villain approach taken in Persona 5, the return of a singular main antagonist in Metaphor: ReFantazio feels like both a return to form from what players saw in Persona 3 and 4 and a callback to the classics in the genre. Louis Guiabern is so clearly evil, but the degree to which the player can find themselves empathizing with the villain as much as they might detest him speaks to his dimensionality as a character. Along with legendary foes like Kefka, Sephiroth, and Luca Blight, Louis Guiabern is a JRPG villain for the ages.
How Metaphor: ReFantazio Incorporates Themes of Anxiety Into Its Gameplay
One of Metaphor: ReFantazio's overarching themes is anxiety, and the game incorporates that theme into its gameplay through a variety of features.
Louis Guiabern is a Perfect Foil to Metaphor: ReFantazio's Protagonist
Like the greatest hero and villain dynamics in fiction, Louis Guiabern and Metaphor: ReFantazio's protagonist are two sides of the same coin. Both characters wish to see the land of Euchronia change for the better and have one's tribe and social status not be the driving force behind prosperity. But the ways that each character aims to achieve this goal could not be more diametrically opposed. While the protagonist and his allies seek to create a world where equality reigns and people are judged by their merits rather than their social status or birth, Louis views power as the great equalizer. Metaphor's heroes would see Euchronia change via an olive branch, whereas Louis would prefer to use a fist.
This difference of opinion toward a shared goal is part of what makes Louis such a relatable villain, but it's also what cements him in the conversation of the greatest JRPG antagonists. It's hard not to draw parallels to Cloud and Sephiroth's dynamic in Final Fantasy 7, where both characters wish to save the planet but are approaching that goal from opposite angles. In less-skilled hands, Louis' characterization and the plot of Metaphor: ReFantazio could have come off as cheap, but the strength of the writing and the unwillingness to give players easy answers to any of the game's moral dilemmas make Louis an intriguing character who, often, makes a frightening amount of sense despite his sociopathy.
Metaphor: ReFantazio Pulls Out All the Stops With Louis' Introduction and Design
For the most part, the best video game villains tend to make an entrance, and Metaphor: ReFantazio has a strong start that gets right to the heart of Louis Guiabern's evil. The opening movie alone leaves no question as to the lengths Louis will go to in order to achieve his goals, and he remains an imposing figure throughout, thanks to some excellent character design and an ice-cold demeanor that only serves to underscore his singular focus. Regardless of how powerful the protagonist and his allies become, Louis never stops feeling like a genuine threat who can and will crush all opposition.
In fact, Louis' eye-catching design is arguably just as important to his place as Metaphor's main villain as his characterization and dialogue, as almost all the greatest JRPG villains have an undeniable "cool" factor that makes them favorites among players. After all, there's a reason that Sephiroth became one of the most iconic and recognizable characters in gaming despite actually appearing in Final Fantasy 7 for only a fraction of its runtime. Metaphor: ReFantazio leans into its classic JRPG influences to deliver a bit of genre comfort food, and a large part of the game's appeal in that regard comes through in its intriguing main villain.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 93 /100 Critics Rec: 98%
- Released
- October 11, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Studio Zero
- Publisher(s)
- Atlus
- Engine
- GFD
- Number of Players
- 1
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
