Your Favorite Video Game Characters

[SuperStingray]

"What's your favorite video game" is such an easy question to ask but often a tough one to answer. And yet when it comes to characters, it's very easy to have one or some that stand out in your mind as someone you find funny, interesting, cute or just downright awesome. What are yours?

Mine are as follows:

Wario (Mario series and Wario Land/WarioWare subseries)

I've always been a fan of antiheroes, but Wario is not only not a hero, he's a perfect parody of the traditional video game protagonist. His greedy, repulsive behavior is not only humorous, it's a mockery of the video game mindset. In most stories, you're generally aware of the goal of the main character for almost the entire plot. But in most classic video games, the end is usually the last thing that comes to mind when the game itself is on your mind. I mean, face it, was saving the Mushroom Kingdom on your mind when you were dodging spinies, collecting coins and jumping over chasms in Super Mario Bros.? Maybe it was on Mario's mind, but I doubt you kept your attention on that. Meanwhile, Wario has a one-track mind on collecting coins and treasures and beating anything that stands in his way. You may try to dissociate yourself from his style, but when playing video games, at least ones with a very loose focus on story, odds are your immediate interests are the same as his. Perhaps this moment is best represented at the end of Wario Land: Shake It (The Shake Dimension) when Wario is being thanked by the damsel in distress for rescuing her. He interrupts her, grabs her, THROWS HER OVER HIS SHOULDER, grabs the treasure and leaves without a word.

GLaDOS (Portal)

Her range of esoteric thoughts and emotions as well as her disposition always leaves you questioning her motivations or even if she has one. When you start trying to kill her, she starts trying to make you feel guilty despite her attempts to do the same to you. With only her and her facility surrounding you, she's as much of a force as she is a character; basically nature embodied in an artificial form.

Niko Bellic (Grand Theft Auto IV)

Grand Theft Auto IV wasn't the most memorable game to me, but Niko was a strikingly good character. I think Yahtzee put it best when he said that Niko is a relatable character, but you won't be surprised to see him snap and start killing everyone. Some days, he wants to go bowling with his girlfriend or have a few drinks with his cousin, and other days, he's a vengeful killer. It's really hard to embody that kind of personality, but you couldn't have a much better one for a sandbox game.

Andrew Ryan (BioShock)

Frankly, I think Rapture is as much a character as an environment, but Andrew Ryan, as its creator, formed it the most. He's a man with convictions so strong, it made them all the harder to give up when he realizes they failed him. When he finally sees his city fall, he doesn't want to go with it, so he ends his life on his own terms. In a sense, he is for villains what Wario is for heroes as he shakes up the reality of the player's position in video games. As he says "a man chooses, a slave obeys," he gives a strong message about the limitations of your character's free will, and to an extent, your own in reality.

[GameFarnsworth940]

Papa Ceasar, House of the Dead Overkill

While not a playable character, he is the main antagonist (well, until a M. Night caliber plot twist occurs... What a tweest!). Why is he awesome? He compares his joy in killing one of the characters to sweet and sour chinese food... and makes it sound badass. "As you well know Isaac, I enjoy pain. It's like a good chinese dinner, you know? With the sweet and the sour. Expanding on that analogy, I will smile with delight, that's the sweet, as you scream for your fucking life. Of course, that's the sour."

Also, him carrying around that cane of his and wearing that ascot do give him bonus points.

[Carbo]

Travis Touchdown (No More Heroes)

The protagonist of the franchise. He's the amalgamut of every American nerd. He's an otaku, he loves wrestling, he collects anime merchandise and gundams, he watches porn, plays videogames, and most importantly he's gone out to fulfill the extremely subliminal and hidden true goal every real gamer does; becoming number one by slashing his way through a heap of colorful bosses who are out to become the same, along with their faceless insignificant minions. He's a genious heroic sociopath in the first game, he really doesn't give a shit. You'd think a character like him would be in some dire need, or become victim, of inevitable character development, but by the end of the first game when everything twists out against him, it still doesn't change the fact that he's out to finish off what he started, and you just don't want him to stop because his wisecracking, fuckhead-scoffing, anti-hero sociopathic attitude is such an awesome contrast and parody on the stereotypical gamer that you just love him all the more for it. Travis isn't just a videogame character; Travis is practically ourselves. There's a little bit of him in all of us; or vice versa depending on how you want to see it.

In the second game he eventually does get some character development after being fueled by revenge, but this character development doesn't ruin him at all surprisingly. In fact, after criticizing the entire association, everything he's been put through and why exploiting people as such, it changes the viewpoint on the entire character and instead we start respecting him for being a true bro. It's a big slam at the player's blind need of competition. You can't analyze Travis without analyzing the game; especially in the context of the sequel. But eventually he lies at the heart of it. In the first game, he was the player, and he was the one in the game. In the sequel, it's as if he is outside of the game and taking on what is essentially the huge downfall of an industry full of exploit, betrayal and unfulfilled expectations. In the end he continues to do what he does since he has a reason to live for doing it. But at the same time, he'll always be the coolest heroic sociopath ever bestowed to gaming. I fucking love Travis.

Edited July 9, 2010 by Columind

[Covskin]

Manuel Calavera from Grim Fandango.

The guy starts off as a smooth-talking salesman (Grim Reaper) down on his luck. He's desperate for that one great comission - the one that will finally let him move on and reach the Ninth Underworld. This is his punishment for something he did in life (which is never told), but the guy's just likable. He's charming, he's witty, he's an everyman. And just like everyone, he eventually gets a little desperate, and tries to play the system that's been playing him for years.

After screwing things up and in attemting to fix everything, Manny grows from a man willing to risk it all on his own personal salvation to a man willing to risk it all on making sure a wronged woman gets the afterlife she deserves. Its gradual (it is played out over 4 years after all) but sure. By the end, he not only helps out the majority of people,; he's still humble enough to see that not everyone needs to be saved.

And as I said, in general conversation, the guy's just smooth.

[Agent York]

My opinion has since changed since this video but since not up to making a very long post I'll leave it up to this video to explain some.

[Meow]

Just gonna quickly list mine in no particular order, but to give an example of a few of my favourite video characters:

Sonic, Knuckles, Marina from Mischief Makers, Billy Hatcher, Aile/Ashe from Megaman ZX/ZXA (Vent and Grey were so corny, well...Vent was cool in ZX1), Banjo/Kazooie, Bomberman, Taokaka (:3!), Midna, and then probably a couple more. I'd go in depth more but I have lots of HW to do.

[Phos]

The Crestfallen Warrior:

This guy doesn't do anything, doesn't contribute to the plot, and doesn't help the player in any way beyond telling them how to get to the first level. All he does is say haunting things about other people, the world, and things that you absolutely have to do to complete the game. His character arc will weigh heavily on your mind long after you think it should.

[Glenn]

Can't believe nobody's mentioned Lady Croft yet...!

How she's grown, eh lads?

[Rabbid A]

What a cute polygonal woman

[Meow]

Her tits no longer look like they can be used to cut your wrists with anymore, because damn.... those look like you could stab people with them. The 1996 version that is.

[Crystal Kingfisher]

I don't have much time to discuss why these are my favorite VG characters, so I'll just list them quickly:

Big Boss (Metal Gear Solid)

The Boss (Metal Gear Solid)

Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid)

Raiden (Metal Gear Solid)

Yosuke Hanamura (Persona 4)

Razputin (Psychonauts)

Sasha Nein (Psychonauts)

Adell (Disgaea)

Laharl (Disgaea)

Manny Calavera (Grim Fandango)

Eddie Riggs (Brutal Legend)

Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Knuckles (Sonic the Hedgehog)

NiGHTS (NiGHTS into Dreams)

Marth (Fire Emblem)

Ike (Fire Emblem)

Astal (Astal)

I have a really long list, so I'll just stop here.

[Vertekins]

Laguna Loire (Final Fantasy 8)

This guy has such a loveable personality. For me, he is the very definition of loveable. From his antics with Kiros and Ward to his interactions with Raine and Ellone and his fierce dedication to upholding justice. He is such an extremely interesting foil to Squall as well which is made more interesting by the strongly implied reasoning that they are in fact father and son. And I find his lightheartedness as well as bashfulness around the ladies (Which often result in leg cramps) pretty funny.

You also gotta feel pity for the guy. He lost not one love but two. Julia Heartilly was heartbroken when she never saw him again after his incident at Centra Ruins and died when her daughter was only 5 and Raine died in childbirth. What cinches it is that he never was even aware that Raine was pregnant before he left to search for Ellone and can't even get away from his presidential duties in Esthar to accompany her at the birth.

Princess Zelda/Sheik (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)

Who couldn't find some respect for Zelda during OoT? She evaded Ganondorf for 7 straight years right under his nose as Sheik, guided Link with the Ocarina then the temple warping songs and when her identity was finally revealed, gave him the Light Arrows, which are extremely instrumental in the following Ganondorf fight. Not only that but after being saved from her crystal prison she leads Link out of Ganondorf's tower despite the peril they're in and unfailingly opens all of the doors with her power. And if that wasn't enough, is even capable of holding Ganon in place just so that Link can land the finishing blow.

Zelda in OoT is, in my opinion, awesome. And her and Sheik's theme are both some of the most serene and beautiful personal character themes ever composed.

Sonic the Hedgehog (Sonic Game Series EXCEPT the Sonic in Chronicles)

No other videogame character is as endearing as Sonic to me, nowhere near. He has a personality and degree of skill that generates a huge amount of respect. This guy took down Ultimate Emerl without particularly fancy moves! He can't even be possessed by evil things because of will power (Unless you count Sonic Rivals 2, he did get mind-controlled by the Ifrit). Even though he has remarkable acuity and skill, he is sometimes to brunt of jokes including what I swear has got to be a running gag now, the gag of him falling from a very great height and planting his head/face in the ground. He isn't immune to having fun poked at him by either common citizens and such and I like how SEGA gave him this trait because it makes him less 'perfect'.

He is a gift of a character with such fascinating little nuances. He's arrogant to a degree but doesn't like being referred to by fancy formal titles. He loves having fun but hates things like theme parks. His perception of anything slower is so screwed that he thinks that fast-moving cars don't look as if they're moving at all. And yet for all his kind heartedness, he can be very formidable when sufficiently enraged. He can be pretty intelligent and quick-thinking but jumps into things too fast without thinking thoughoughly.

[LunarEdge]

Django from boktai! OH YEAH!

such a good game.. needs a bigger fan-base.

[\gunther]

My favorite video game character is none other the living legend himself:

Even though many think he is a bit bland, I think he's honestly my favorite fictional character, and he will remain at the top until I die. I have a strong emotional attachment to the character. He's simplistic, yet charming. Goofy, yet oozing with badass-ery. He's a grown-up, yet he is full of childlike energy and excitement. To me, Mario is indeed the face of gaming. A world without Super Mario Brothers would be a grim, grim world.

Also he is primarily red and blue. Those are some of the best colors!

[gim_gam]

Wow, you think this is going to be an easy one to answer and then when you actually start thinging about it you just can't seem to pick one!!

So, the ones i've narrowed it down to so far, in no order:

Lightning (FFXIII)

Laharl (Disgaea)

Etna (Disgaea)

Yuna (FFX)

Knuckles

Sonic

Crash Bandicoot

I'm sure i'll be back in 15 mins or so to add more to this list

[Gringrot]

Donkey Kong,

Splodey (Spore),

Olimar,

Mudkip,

Steve (Spore).

[Saint Nathan]

(not in any particular order, just what I think of first)

Luigi - Oh my god does a character in a series with the plot and character development of my sock get any better? Luigi is the best Mario series character, just for the way he acts. He's confident and eager to help, and can hold his own in a fight. Yet at the same time, he's not only a bit of a coward, he's generally easily forced into crying for Mario's help. He'll traverse through a whole level in a wake of badassery, save Mario, and essentially come out the victor and be almost better at it than Mario.

Then he figures out he had no fucking clue how the hell he just did all of that, and gets stuck somewhere.

I especially liked him in Galaxy 2, mostly because, while he wasn't exactly helping Mario very much, he was actually exploring on his own, he just happened to meet up with Mario on his travels. Not only that, but he appeared in all of the best levels.

Sonic - would elaborate but if you're here, reading this, then you know why, and it would be stupid of me to repeat everything ever.

Samus Aran - She's the most badass woman of gaming. Lara Croft has fucking NOTHING. Samus doesn't get... a lot of speaking time in her games, and she's behind a suit of future alien space armor the whole damned time. Yet she can show emotions just as well as any character. Metroid Prime 3, she's visibly distressed by her dream about Dark Samus, and whenever she's forced to fight one of her colleagues, who also got enough characterization to actually make you care about them. Super Metroid, do I have to mention Mother Brain being made into swiss cheese? Samus being tougher than steel doesn't stop the maternal instinct to fucking ruin MB's shit.

She's got a lot behind her as a character, even though she's literally behind a steel frame all the damned time.

Phillip - Penumbra left a very strong impression on me, it's characters were brilliant, and the game itself was a very good adventure with some nice scares. Phillip really does good though. As a first-person game, you would expect no character development of the person you play as, at all. Phillip, however, is very expressive. He comments on everything, in fact. Even the gameplay is based off Phillip's character, he's enough of a pussy at times to just scream in fear and give out his hiding spot.

Phillip is exactly the sort of everyman you would expect. He's actually overly ordinary. He's not very curious, he's easily frightened, and he's not very bright at times. However, by the end of the first two games, he grows and becomes a better person entirely. He's strong willed, has a good sense of right and wrong, and he makes sure his life is his own. This is while suffering emotional trauma that would break someone who wasn't as strong like a twig, in fact, the ending of the very first game haunts him through the whole series. Normally, I wouldn't mention him like I wouldn't mention Gordon Freeman, but he's special because he gets a very nice amount of characterization.

I might think of more shit later, i dunno.

[MizukiMoon]

Sonic the Hedgehog

Well, need I explain this : ) Sonic's just an all round awesome character, everything from his looks to personality, just appeals to me greatly.

Tails

Same as Sonic basically. I've never liked him quite as much, but he's certainly on par with the greatness of Sonic himself

NiGHTS

I've been a fan, even before I played a NiGHTS game. I don't know much about his (yes, I tend to refer to NiGHTS as a he) personality as such, and the game I played (Journey of Dreams) wasn't all that great, but his design just really appeals to me, he's got such a SEGA-Sonicky look to him, I can't help but love this guy.

Yoshi

Considering how much I hate the colour green, I've always had a soft spot for Yoshi. Ever since I first laid eyes on him in Super Mario World, I adored this little green dino. Heck, I even named a rabbit I used to own after Yoshi once!

Dixie Kong

Always found this one a strange character to be such a fan of, but ever since I first played Donkey Kong Country 2 in 2006, I've been quite a fan of Dixie. Her character design really appeals to me, she stars in one of my top 5 all time favourite 2D game, and I think her & Diddy make the cutest couple :3

Edited August 4, 2010 by S o n i c

[Unionhack]

Gotta throw my vote for Minsc the Ranger from Baldur's Gate 1/2. I've never seen so much personality packed into one character, especially in a game from 2000. If he'd have an appearance in a modern game, he could have one hell of a game.

[Axl.EXE]

Herpaderp, here's mine:

Larry Foulke (Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War)

Oh, man. Ace Combat seems to have a history of giving you some really annoying wingmen. This guy is the exception. Not only does he have an awesome reputation, (His full callsign, 'Solo Wing Pixy', comes from a mission in which he landed his F-15 WITH ONE WING), but he's actually a pretty useful wingman. About halfway through the game, he leaves your squadron, and he gets replaced by a typically wimpy wingman in an F-16. In the final mission, he comes back, in this beastly plane, whose TLS (the thing between the rudders), he uses to fry your replacement wingman. The ensuing dogfight becomes the final mission, and is quite hard, not surprising considering the fact that you first have to dodge his laser cannon, then his mini-nukes, and then you have to get him to come at you from head-on just to cause any damage. Oh, and the last part you only have, IIRC, 5 minutes on Very Easy (the easiest), and 2-3 on Ace (the hardest).

Shikieiki Yamaxanadu (Touhou 09: Phantasmagoria of Flower View)

Once again, this is a final boss. Touhou is well known for being an obnoxiously difficult bullet hell shooter. With such a reputation, you'd expect to see lots of spaceships. And what do you get? CUTE, MAGIC-USING LOLIS. And it's done quite nicely. Unlike most games in the series, Touhou 9 is a VS bullet hell, in which you compete with the boss of the level to see who runs out of lives first. Shiki, the stage 9 boss, is a Yama, in charge of determining who goes to heaven or hell, and what their punishment will be. Despite her reputation as a lecturer, she is actually quite compassionate. She is supposedly the most powerful character in the series, which is odd, as she is the final boss of the only game in the Touhou series I've ever beaten on Normal.

Edited November 24, 2010 by Axl

[Vulpine]

Knowing that my topic of the same name has been locked, I will say that my favorite video game characters are:

Fox McCloud (Star Fox)

Miles "Tails" Prower (Sonic series)

Blaze the Cat (Sonic series)

Marine the Raccoon (Sonic Rush Adventure)

Vulpix (Pokemon)

Edited November 28, 2010 by Vulpine

[Badnik Zero]

Sonic the freakin' Hedgehog, but that probably goes for a lot of us. And his furry friends too.

Bomberman. I appreciate his simple design. His game catalog is kinda like Sonic. Some great ones, but some terrible.

Ristar even though he hasn't been relevant for 15 years if he ever was to begin with.

Will I look like too much of a Sega fanboy if I say Ecco the Dolphin. Playing too much of this game cemented my love of strange ambient music at an early age.

Solid Snake because he pretty much defined the 32-bit era for me and so many other gamers.

The Demi-Fiend from Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne. He's your player character and for the most part silent, but he looks killer.

The King of All Cosmos from all the Katamari games. Anything involving him is going to be funny.

... And more I can't think of right now!

Edited November 29, 2010 by Dabnikz

[SHAX Hedgefox]

I'll probably add more to this later, but for now I'll list a few of them

1. Link - The Legend of Zelda

Link may not speak much, but he's still able to convey a fair bit of emotion in the newer games with just his facial expressions. The games he's starred in usually end up being one of the best games on whatever system they get released for (Even the CD-i games. They were the only real GAMES on the system). He's a mostly noble character, and also surprisingly likable for a guy who barely says anything.

2. Eddie Riggs - Brutal Legend.

Eddie may have been just been a pixellated Jack Black, but that was were his appeal was, imo. Sick of being a roadie for some Emo/ Pop rock band, Eddie gets trapped in another world after being crushed by the giant Ormagoden, and ends up in this strange Heavy Metal fantasy world, where he has to stop the evil Doviculus for enslaving the inhabitants of the world. Eddie had a lot odf personality in him and a good sense of humor, which isn't surprising since he's voiced by Jack Black. This game was severely underrated, imo, and it deserves a bit more love, and Eddie should've been the guy to do it. Considering that EA canned a sequel to the game, it's unlikely we'll be seeing Eddie again, but still, a good character nonetheless.

[sjmaster92]

Too busy for to go in-depth so I'll just list them in no particular order

The Prince( POP 08)

Sonic The Hedgehog

Crash Bandicoot

Monkey (Enslaved)

Ratchet

Sly Cooper

Pigsy (Enslaved)

Edited November 29, 2010 by sjmaster92

[Glenn]

The King of All Cosmos from all the Katamari games. Anything involving him is going to be funny.