Golbez, real name Theodor, and called Man in Black before his identity is revealed in The After Years, is a non-player character in Final Fantasy IV and a playable character in Final Fantasy IV: The After Years. In Final Fantasy IV, he is an antagonist, a powerful sorcerer who pursues the Crystals. In The After Years, Golbez returns as a playable character.
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Appearance
In Final Fantasy IV, Golbez is a tall imposing man in dark blue and black armor with gold trimmings and a helmet with tall horns. The lining of his cape has been both red and blue sometimes even in the same game—the 3D remake release shows Golbez's official render with a blue lining, but his in-game appearance has a red lining. The exact color of his armor has also varied between appearances, from light blue to dark blue to black.
Personality
Through the majority of Final Fantasy IV, Golbez is a cruel and heartless man who will stop at nothing to obtain the Crystals, destroying anyone and anything that stands in his way. He is a cunning manipulator, tricking Cecil and his allies into retrieving two Crystals for him, and otherwise luring them into traps.
As Fusoya later reveals, Golbez is being manipulated by a powerful Lunarian named Zemus by bonding Golbez's thoughts with his. Awakened, Golbez's personality returns to his true self; Golbez is horrified by his actions and feelings of hatred. Golbez's true personality is that of a caring, self-sacrificing, and empathetic individual.
Trivia
- Sunset Shimmer was inspired by Golbez and shows many similarities with him.
- Both of them start cruel and dishonest due to their malice inside their hearts.
- Both act evil in their debuts after being consumed by hatred and loneliness as shown with their respective tragic backstories.
- Both feel horrified of their actions and feelings of hatred when they turn back to normal.
- Both of them are actually caring, self-sacrificing, and empathetic individuals.
- Both of them have a mind-control spell. Golbez has this until he is freed from Zemus' evil spell.
- Both of them relate to the main protagonist sharing the same bloodline.
- Both of them reform and save the world in their respective sequels becoming heroes as a result.
- Both of them are born in a different place and live in another world. Sunset was born in Equestria but lives on Planet Earth. Golbez was born on Planet Earth, but lives on the moon.
- Both of them have a deep manly voice. Sunset Shimmer is a tomboy having a deep singing voice. Golbez talks with a deep voice.
- Both of them act as supporting characters to the heroes.
