GamesJRPGMetaphor: ReFantazio"I was like, ‘Why am I saying Persona?'": Metaphor: ReFantazio Strohl actor on finding out he was in an Atlus game, the future of Euchronia, and much moreWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesJRPGMetaphor: ReFantazio"I was like, ‘Why am I saying Persona?'": Metaphor: ReFantazio Strohl actor on finding out he was in an Atlus game, the future of Euchronia, and much moreWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Atlus / Sega)
Metaphor: ReFantaziois, without a doubt, one of this year’sbest JRPGs. Hell, I’d argue it’s one of the best JRPGs of all time thanks to its powerful narrative, along with its engaging mix of turn-based battles and social sim elements that leave you with oh-so-much to do. But it also owes a lot to its delightful cast of characters.
From your excellent supporting ‘followers’ like the sly, scheming Alonzo, to the big baddie himself, Louis, Metaphor’s characters are the life and soul of the JRPG. But from day one, I had an immediate favorite – Leon Strohl. The very first party member to join the protagonist’s cause to take down Louis and save the prince of Euchronia, the charming Clemar has a noble heritage and a tragic backstory, a drive to stand up for what’s right and protect those he cares about, and isn’t afraid to put himself in danger to do so.
Between emotional moments that tug on your heartstrings, rousing speeches that give you goosebumps, somereally coolbattle lines, and even a transformation scene that involves him ripping his own heart out, Strohl is taken to the next level as a character thanks to a phenomenal performance from English dub actor Stewart Clarke. Sitting down to chat with GamesRadar+ about his role, he’s buzzing with enthusiasm and says it was “a really fun challenge” to bring someone who wasn’t “your traditional noble character” to life.
Strohl’s beginnings
(Image credit: Atlus / Sega)
An impactful ending(Image credit: Atlus / Sega)I’ve not stopped thinking about Metaphor: ReFantazio’s perfect ending since I rolled credits, and I’m not sure I ever will
An impactful ending
(Image credit: Atlus / Sega)I’ve not stopped thinking about Metaphor: ReFantazio’s perfect ending since I rolled credits, and I’m not sure I ever will
(Image credit: Atlus / Sega)
I’ve not stopped thinking about Metaphor: ReFantazio’s perfect ending since I rolled credits, and I’m not sure I ever will
You may expect a ‘noble’ character to be rather high and mighty, snooty, and a tad out of touch with everyday folks, but that’snotStrohl, who’s incredibly grounded and wants the best for those around him. However, his bold introduction when he enrolls in the army alongside the protagonist initially gave Clarke a different impression. “He’s quite cocky. It’s very kind of like, ‘Oh, well, maybe the entire army isn’t doomed if I’m here,’ you know, there’s a lot of bravado. There’s a lot of talking back to authority,” he says of the introductory scene.
The actor initially leaned into his “stuck-up” perception of Strohl in his performance, but soon realized that there was much more to the Clemar than his upbringing. “Very quickly I was like, ‘Oh, wait, that’s not him. This is not him!’ And I remember going… ‘We need to go back. We need to redo that first scene.'”
Clarke believed that even though Strohl could be a confident character, making him too “full of himself” would “throw off his character arc.” After all, he’s meant to be your protagonist’s “ride or die” companion throughout the entire game, so relatability was key. “And, yeah, okay, he’s not perfect, but he will try his best,” adds Clarke. “We redid it, and that’s the joy of acting, is finding these discoveries and making these decisions.”
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
Thrown in at the deep end
(Image credit: Atlus / Sega)
For Clarke, it was a huge personal highlight. “It was just fun,” he laughs. “We did the awakening scene [day one], which is a baptism of fire, isn’t it? Welcome to the gig, here you go, do an awakening scene.”
While it could have been a daunting task, the actor enjoyed doing it so early: “It informed a lot about Strohl, about how passionate my version of Strohl is, how he speaks to power, how free he is communicating that to people, which again, informed me later on when he had scenes with Louis and all that kind of stuff.” That aside, he beams at the simple joy of expression it allowed for. “It was just great fun watching the animatic being like, ‘I’m in an anime scene. This is just great! Like he’s having a power-up moment, he’s going Super Saiyan.'”
Screaming for a character tearing their heart out wasn’t the only challenge Clarke faced, though, as he opens up about the broader challenge of voice acting: “filling in the blanks.” Not everything in Metaphor: ReFantazio is voiced, and Clarke didn’t have the story’s entire context while he was recording. As a result, he’d sometimes have to be filled in with extra details to help him imagine certain scenes, like the plot of Strohl’s Bond (essentially a Social Link) story, which is only voiced in the first and final ranks. An amusing moment early on in the game – when the party uses a painting of their arch nemesis, Louis, to stop his necromancer ally Zorba from attacking them – was also particularly confusing in this regard. “Honestly, I was like, ‘What is going on?'” he laughs.
From actor to fan
(Image credit: Atlus / Sega)
Not knowing every detail of the game did have an additional benefit for Clarke, though – it meant that playing it himself was “such a fulfilling experience, because it filled in all those gaps.” Coincidentally, he rolled credits the day before we spoke, and considering that he describes it as “my kind of game” and spent 133 hours playing it, it’s no surprise to hear that he “loved it.” It turns out that we had a very similar approach to combat, too: “Strohl never left the party – obviously, you’ve gotta build around Strohl – so he just became Mr. Big Sword, and everyone else just kind of buff[ed] him. ‘Everyone throw your buffs on Strohl, and then he’s going to hit them really hard with a sword.'”
“I just wanted to say butthole, and I didn’t get to say butthole. That was sad.“Stewart Clarke, voice actor for Strohl
“I just wanted to say butthole, and I didn’t get to say butthole. That was sad.”
Throughout the lengthy recording process, Clarke was aware that he was working on a JRPG, and turned to playing Xenoblade Chronicles 3 to serve as “a kind of inspiration” for his work. However, he didn’t initially realize that he was part of an Atlus game, although certain lines nearly gave it away.
“We got to the very end of recording, [where] everyone calls out what Archetype they are when they become that Archetype. And we were doing the ones at the very end, the Royal Archetypes, and there was like, Persona Master, Soul Hacker, Devil Summoner. And then they were like, ‘Can you just say Persona?’ I was like, ‘Why am I saying Persona? What game is this?'” he recalls, grinning. When trailers for the game came out, he was hit with the realization that “this is a bigger deal than I thought it was.”
The future of Euchronia
(Image credit: Atlus / Sega)
Metaphor: ReFantazio has created a whole new world for Atlus, although at the time of writing, we don’t know if we’ll see any further expansions to it in the form of story DLC, sequels, or spin-offs. Would Clarke be down to reprise his role if given the chance, though? “Of course!” he says, without a moment’s hesitation.
“It’s beyond me, it’s not in my court, but yeah. If there was more story to tell, more things to do, I do think the world of Metaphor was brilliant, and I think it was crafted really, really artfully, and the world of Euchronia and the art direction and all of that was… it’s a fascinating world, and I think there’s more to tell,” he continues. “Whether that’s the story of our protag and the Six Partisans, I don’t know, but you know, I’m ready to answer the cry, ready to heed the call to adventure, should it arrive.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Be sure to take a look at ourMetaphor: ReFantazio reviewto find out why it’s an evolution of Atlus’best RPGs.
CATEGORIESPC GamingPS5PS4Xbox Series XPlatformsPlayStationXbox
CATEGORIES
More about jrpg
How Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth represents the best of Final Fantasy’s past while charting a course for the future
How Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth represents the best of Final Fantasy’s past while charting a course for the future
Latest26 years later, Codemasters’ Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest►
Latest
26 years later, Codemasters’ Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time”
26 years later, Codemasters’ Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time”
26 years later, Codemasters’ Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time”
See more latest►
Most Popular"This is incredibly rare”: How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hitI’m no Grinch, but will someone please direct me to the good Christmas games?This canceled Netflix fantasy series was one of the best shows of 2024 – and deserves a second chancePatton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics"Team Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s pastWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding"Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over ChristmasSpy x Family season 3: Everything we know so farOne of 2024’s best anime shows subverts all expectations, but that’s its biggest strengthHow Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth represents the best of Final Fantasy’s past while charting a course for the future
Most Popular"This is incredibly rare”: How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hitI’m no Grinch, but will someone please direct me to the good Christmas games?This canceled Netflix fantasy series was one of the best shows of 2024 – and deserves a second chancePatton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics"Team Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s pastWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding"Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over ChristmasSpy x Family season 3: Everything we know so farOne of 2024’s best anime shows subverts all expectations, but that’s its biggest strengthHow Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth represents the best of Final Fantasy’s past while charting a course for the future
Most Popular"This is incredibly rare”: How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hitI’m no Grinch, but will someone please direct me to the good Christmas games?This canceled Netflix fantasy series was one of the best shows of 2024 – and deserves a second chancePatton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics"Team Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s pastWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding"Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over ChristmasSpy x Family season 3: Everything we know so farOne of 2024’s best anime shows subverts all expectations, but that’s its biggest strengthHow Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth represents the best of Final Fantasy’s past while charting a course for the future
Most Popular
“This is incredibly rare”: How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hit
I’m no Grinch, but will someone please direct me to the good Christmas games?
This canceled Netflix fantasy series was one of the best shows of 2024 – and deserves a second chance
Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics”
Team Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s past
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé
17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding”
Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over Christmas
Spy x Family season 3: Everything we know so far
One of 2024’s best anime shows subverts all expectations, but that’s its biggest strength
How Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth represents the best of Final Fantasy’s past while charting a course for the future
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5
Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1
Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”