Metaphor: ReFantaziodoes not waste any time killing a character off. The opening anime cutscene shows the main antagonist, Louis, killing the king in cold blood. This kickstarts the entire rest of the plot as the game follows a tour of rival candidates all trying to replace his majesty. The twist is that the King technically doesn’t die as he casts a powerful spell within his last dying breath to oversee this completion as a menacing moon-like rock hovering in the sky.
Metaphor: ReFantaziocan be likened toGame of Thronesas any race to the throne will be followed by a trail of blood. There are both villains and heroes that die, so let’s rank them out by taking into consideration how they die, the tragedy of their deaths, and whether it was deserved or not. There will be spoilers.
9The Prince
Does A Fusion Count As A Death?
The Prince kind of dies in the game but also not. One of the big plot points revolves around thehero ofMetaphor: ReFantazio, Will, going after the antagonist Louis to break the Prince’s spell. He’s finally able to do it after vanquishing Rella, the true spell caster, and there is a scene of the Prince finally waking up. Unfortunately, Louis’ men track down the Prince’s location and eliminate him right after. Technically, he does die but then he becomes a new entity after merging with Will who was his spirit all along. It’s a confusing half-death and fans will ultimately walk away unsure how to feel.
8Sanctifex Forden
Robbed Of A Boss Battle
Sanctifex Forden seemed like a standup man of the church initially, but then as the game went on it became more obvious he was manipulating the people to follow his ways. It’s a trope ofJRPGs to have religionor religious figures be villainous so it’s not too surprising. Flashbacks show all the terrible things he had done or ordered like the killing of the Prince via a young Rella. It seemed like he would be a big boss battle in the end game but Louis actually finished Sanctifex Forden off via a spear to the chest unceremoniously after faking his own death quite dramatically.
7Glodell
Hoisted By His Own Petard
Glodell was one of Louis’ trusted men and while he looked like a slick customer, Glodell was more like James from Team Rocket of thePokemonseries. He looked fashionable and had a good boy at his side at all times. He looked the menacing part but he was far from capable of doing anything besides screw up.
This pushed him to the edge, forcing Glodell to spy on Will and Junah, hoping to dig up some dirt. He found out they were spies, but unfortunately, the King’s magic prevented him from landing a blow on Will. Cast in golden chains, Glodell was blinked out of existence which is a way no one wants to go.
6Rella
A Sister’s Love Freezes Over
Rella is Junah’s step-sister although they treat each other like blood. Throughout the game, Rella seems like a good Saint-like character who the church is taking advantage of. Then she has a turn toward the end, vying for power over the throne. This leads the party to a boss battle at an abandoned mage academy where it is revealed Rella was only playing the part. She was indeed the one who cursed the Prince but only at the behest of Sanctifex Forden who threatened her family. Also, the process cursed her back so she was doomed the minute it was cast. While she isn’t exploded or gutted, it is sad to see her body freeze over as Junah cries over her sister’s frigid corpse.
5Louis
Justice Is Finally Served
Louis is the final death in the game and it is a righteous one. Players will fight him three times in the final conflict. Once as a still distinguishable Eldan man and then the other two times as a giant horrific Human. They are tough fights too that almost get the hero killed. Fortunately, Will’s heart is strong, allowing him to transform his body, his friends, and the Gauntlet Runner intoa giant mech. With one final slash, players can blink Louis out of existence and save the world as promised from his tyranny. It’s a satisfying death but it would have been better if he acknowledged his crimes and if it was more brutal like Zorba’s.
4Zorba
So Nice They Killed Him Twice
Zorba will be the first challenging boss players will face inMetaphor: ReFantazioand it seems like he dies after the conflict as he falls from a great height. Louis scooped him up secretly, reviving him using Human experimentation. When Zorba returns, his third eye is more protruding. It won’t be until the final dungeon that players will face him again in combat and that’s when Zorba will reveal his whole body. It now looks like William fromResident Evil 2post-transformation complete with the creepy arm and eyeball stomach. After the battle he once again falls but this time his body is shown splattered on the pavement in a satisfying pool of his own corrupted blood.
3Lady Joanna
Beheaded Before God
Lady Joanna is the overseer of Martira, a small town to the south of the capital. In this arc of the game, players are tasked with finding an ex-knight named Heismay who has apparently been kidnapping children. The twist is that Heismay is innocent and he helps the party discover that Lady Joanna was the one kidnapping children to feed them to her mutated Human child who looksstraight out ofAttack on Titan.
After defeating the child, Lady Joanna snaps out of her derangement and decides to face up to her crimes. When she does, Sanctifex Forden has her beheaded in front of a live audience. This is never shown, but it is heavily implied which is sad that she wasn’t given a chance to pay for her crimes in a non-death way.
2Grius
Died In The Line Of Duty
Grius was kind of a big shocker since he was a playable character inMetaphor: ReFantaziofor a good chunk of the intro. He even awakens with an Archetype, the Mage, although this was through Gallica’s will. Either way, he was a strong character and had ties to a sweet non-traditional family via Fabienne and Maria. Sadly, his life was snuffed out similarly to Glodell as the King’s magic prevented Grius’ assassination attempt on Louis’ life just like with Glodell’s case. It gets even worse as Zorba revives his corpse for a mini-boss fight, making this loss even more tragic. While Grius' effort was in vain, his memory lived on through his daughter Maria who helped change the slums of Grand Trad.
1Fidelio
A Brother’s Sacrafice
Fidelio was another one of Louis’ men and the brother of Basilio who hung at his every beck and call. It’s clear Fidelio trusts no one besides Louis, as he was brainwashed into thinking Louis was a man of honor. He finds out the opposite too late and it costs him his life. Right after killing Sanctifex Forden, Louis turns his attention to killing innocent people in a theater. Basilio steps in to help but Fidelio pushes him out of the way and gets a giant stomach plug shot out of him in the process. It’s grotesque but not asbloody as other media like the recently releasedSmile 2. It’s tragic but it leads Basilio to join the party as a new member for revenge.
