For those that enjoy video games for their story, we know that strong characters are just as important as the plot itself. More so, a captivating villain can possibly be more interesting than the protagonist you play as. However, there are some games that string you along with Bad Guy #1, only to spring Bad Guy #2 on you 40 to 50 hours later…right when you think you’ve entered the end game. This, in my opinion, is bad storytelling.
The largest culprits behind late-game additions of new villains are RPGs such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. I want to first preface this by saying that both franchises are iconic and beloved, and I have enjoyed the ones I’ve played thus far; however, as I play more RPGs, the more I discover the “surprise villain”.
The first video game I beat in 2025 is Dragon Quest 3: 2D HD Remake. I would’ve beaten it sooner if it wasn’t for the fact that the game didn’t end when I defeated Archfiend Baramos. The Archfiend is the supposed primary antagonist in Dragon Quest 3, and your whole mission from the very start is to destroy him. And yet, when I was victorious and ready to put my Nintendo Switch down, a shadowed figure named Zomas pops out of nowhere, and a whole new leg of the game unfolded before me.
Turns out, Zomas is the true source of the evil, and Baramos was more or less an instrument in spreading death and despair. While a puppet master is not uncommon in storytelling, the sudden bait-and-switch after you felt you beat the game felt like a cheap blow. I knew nothing of Zomas or even an inkling if additional gameplay after Archfiend Baramos, and such an abrupt addition creates inconsistent pacing.
Of course, RPGs aren’t the only offenders. This can happen in any genre. Many Zelda fans, for example, weren’t pleased when a brand-new villain from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess named Zant turned out to be a pathetically zany puppet of Ganondorf halfway through the game.
Introducing a vital character, especially an antagonist, when someone is near the perceived ending of a video game, book, show, or movie, is like pulling the rug from beneath them. It may feel like disrespect to their time and frustrate them to the point where they are no longer enjoying the medium.
Have you ever experienced a character bait-and-switch, and do you think it’s effective storytelling? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
Featured Image Source: Square Enix via DarkMurkrow
Leave a Reply