ReFantazio Feels Snubbed in One Category

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 6, 2024 13 Views 8 Min Read
ReFantazio Feels Snubbed in One Category



The Game Awards are nearly here, and with its nominations for Best RPG, Narrative, Score, Art Direction, Game Direction, and finally, Game of the Year, it’s clear that Metaphor: ReFantazio has stolen the hearts of many. As the passion project of director Katsura Hashino alongside other Atlus legends, Metaphor‘s political fantasy tale is an emotional foray into the United Kingdom of Euchronia that encapsulates the wonders of RPGs; from its excellent turn-based combat building on modern Persona and SMT, to its nuanced approach in world-building and characters, the title’s strengths have further cemented it as a game that is both clever and thoughtful in its portrayals. Helping this is Metaphor: ReFantazio‘s wonderful cast of English voice actors, who have sparked fan discussion about the title’s lack of a Best Performance nomination.




2024 has seen no shortage of fantastic video game performances, from Briana White’s beautifully evocative role as FF7 Rebirth‘s Aerith to Luke Roberts’ thoughtful rendition of Silent Hill 2‘s James Sunderland. The impact that these voice actors have brought to life through their characters is unquestionable, and alongside the likes of Hannah Telle, Humberly Gonzalez, and Melina Juergens, it’s evident that the Game Awards’ nominees have pulled off performances worthy of the often difficult subject matter present in their respective games. Naturally, the list of performances needs to be narrowed down to accommodate the award show’s format, though considering the praise and quality of Metaphor‘s English voice cast, many of whom are newer to the industry, the absence of nominations from the title has been a bit of a let-down.

One of 2022's best games is upsat at its game awards snub

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A Varied Cast, Both in Dialect and Industry Background

Metaphor‘s approach to its English voice cast encapsulates its themes on multiple levels. It pulls from a host of English accents, including the likes of Scottish, Welsh, and Irish performances among its main roles and supporting characters, helping to support both its medieval backdrop and the diversity of Euchronia’s tribes and land. This is strengthened by the title’s exceptionally talented voice actors, many of whom are relatively new to the gaming landscape, making their inclusion all the more compelling. Even the lesser featured characters in Metaphor‘s political adventure, like Penelope Rawlins’ Fabienne or George Weightman’s Edeni, manage to bring such presence to their portrayals that further demonstrate the quality put into every facet of the game. In terms of main performances, however, fans have been drawn to some clear standouts that make the category snub hit all the harder.


Stewart Clarke as Leon Strohl

With many considering Strohl the standout party member of Metaphor: ReFantazio, Stewart Clarke’s performance as the forthright nobleman is as emotionally charged as it is witty. Clarke pulls off the character’s range excellently; whether confronting corruption by standing up for the people of Halia or joking about Hulkenberg’s acquired food taste, Strohl’s presence as the royal Warrior makes him a key figure in the prince’s retinue, both as a friend and ally. Clarke has seen a couple of previous notable roles in the gaming industry, including performances as FF16‘s Dion and Valkyrie Elysium‘s Eygon, though his presence in Metaphor has propelled his talents to an even wider audience.

A Host of Talented Performances That Amplify Metaphor: ReFantazio’s World

These sentiments can be shared by the rest of Metaphor‘s main party, with some exceptional performances that underlie the tragedies of its characters. Philippe Spall’s Heismay, for example, is a stirring portrayal that builds on the character’s grief and newfound resolve beautifully, especially in his last bond event with the protagonist. Emma Ballantine as Junah offers a spunky performance that hits on similar notes, showing her own range in connection to both the emotionally charged and everyday moments of the party’s adventure throughout Euchronia. Just as it is difficult for the Game Awards to narrow down its nominees, having to single out any one performance in Metaphor is tricky given just how much each voice actor brings to the table.


Extending beyond the main party, Greg Chun’s grounding portrayal as More is a delight, especially in his role as a narrator along the gauntlet runner’s travels, while Joseph Tweedale brings a cool, collected presence to Metaphor‘s antagonist Louis that builds on the villain’s astuteness while making his final confrontation hit harder in contrast. As strong as Metaphor is in its narrative, music, UI, and other facets, the way that the game’s performances bring its characters, and thus, its world to life, is worthy of commending, and though its voice actors are absent from the Game Awards’ performance category, it is wonderful to see how much attention has been drawn by fans to celebrate these performances in their own right.

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