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We can finally stop the memes of Vex being the only Borderlands 4 character because Rafa has finally joined the fray. After two weeks of seeing the new Siren only, we finally have a new Vault Hunter, and he comes crashing down with one of the deadliest arsenals we’ve seen so far. However, there’s another thing that made me choose Rafa as my main already. As someone from Mexico, I’m glad to see a Latino in one of my most anticipated games of 2025.
The Deadliest Trooper Around
Let’s dive into the gameplay part first. The latest Borderlands 4 showcase features Rafa, who wields his deadly Arc-Knives, which also have elemental properties. The Peacebreaker Cannons and some deployable turret, and my favorite, the Apophis Lance, which seems to have two different firing modes, with one being able to obliterate enemies in the blink of an eye.
I was already drawn to Vex’s gameplay, but Rafa climbed to the top after this presentation. I’ve always been a fan of combining melee gameplay with the superb gunplay of Borderlands, so this new Vault Hunter seems like my ideal pick and one that many might want to try for some versatility. But beyond that, Rafa’s concept is quite interesting. He’s an ex-Tediore trooper wearing an exo-suit; it doesn’t get any cooler. Plus, he’s the closest thing we’ve seen to having Iron Man in Borderlands, and that’s a huge plus.
As a Latino, I’m Always Happy to See My Culture Represented in Modern Video Games
Yet, there’s another thing I noticed as soon as Rafa spoke, he’s Latino, and as someone from Mexico, I couldn’t be happier. While it hasn’t been confirmed in the promotional materials, you can hear the accent and how perfectly the voice actor pronounces Rafa. I’m sorry for the people up there, but he actually knows how to roll those “R.” Also, while we’re on the topic of voice acting, I’m pretty sure Alejandro Saab is the one behind Rafa, and that’s yet another plus for this Vault Hunter.
In truth, it is always great to see Latin American representation in Borderlands, and this isn’t the first time. We’ve all met Salvador and Ovejas, but it is terrific that Borderlands 4 is once again bringing Rafa as the Latino on the team. Furthermore, I appreciate the fact that Borderlands and many other recent games have broken the previously established stereotypes of Latin America. We see beautiful settings, badass characters, and just a lot of love for those who are on this side of the continent. So far, Borderlands 4 is shaping up to be one of the greatest shooters of the year, and while I’m excited for Vex and Rafa, I can’t wait to see the showcases of the other Vault Hunters.
