The loveable rogue is a fantasy staple, and Balthier is one of gaming's greatest incarnations of it. A globetrotting sky pirate accompanied only by his trusted companion Fran, he is a delightful mix of charm, cunning, confidence, cynicism, honor, and a strange sense of being genre savvy. He does not break the fourth wall, but that seems to be out of politeness, as he easily rolls with many of the game's twists and turns and makes risks based on his knowledge of narrative.

Gameplay-wise, he is interesting. Though he starts with a specialty in guns, his stats make him more ideal for melee combat using speedy melee weapons like daggers and ninja swords, with a decreased emphasis on magic. This makes him resemble a steampunk fighter rather than that of mainstream fantasy, but it fits his character and role well.