Who are your Favourite Characters of all time?

[RandV]

Beauty standards, sure, but I wouldn't say all of these have the same character traits (although they lean into the stoic emo thing too much as well)-- they wildly jump around a lot more-- you're also focusing on one developer that is generally considered very hit or miss and widely known for being guilty of some really lame tropes in general.

I also mentioned Western because most beloved AAA titles that get brought up tend to be Western, not necessarily to suggest that Eastern was necessarily an exception (although it does strike me as less of an issue).

When I think of Japanese AAA developers (can't think too many, to be honest), it does feel like each one does their own thing, though. Nintendo is very different from Square Enix is very different from Capcom is very different from From Software when it comes to how they handle protagonists. There also aren't THAT many critically acclaimed, character focused and story-driven Japanese games to begin with, it seems. Obviously the mediocre ones should be expected to be uninspired and follow the same tropes. When I think of the bigger protagonists from top-drawer Japanese AAA games, I think of things like Mario, Jill Valentine, Cloud, Solid Snake, and things that are completely non-applicable like Pokemon and Street Fighter.

I'd also imagine with that image that you're looking at 3 decades of game characters being redrawn by a single art director for a game like FF Dissidia and are very far from the originals.

 

[Shareefruck]

I'd also imagine with that image that you're looking at 3 decades of game characters being redrawn by a single art director for a game like FF Dissidia and are very far from the originals.

Great point. Aside from there being decent variation in personality types, which was the point being made, here's a less misleading representation (taken only from the period where the games were cherished the way the games I listed were).

Definitely some preferred standards of beauty specific to the East, but far from what was suggested. Only two of them (Cloud and Squall) are similar character archetypes (and I would argue that Cloud ends up being a deceptively clever subversion/commentary on the archetype, not a lazy trope like Squall is). Recent FFs (which get mixed reception) are more guilty of it, but nobody considers those games well written the way Last of Us, God of War, Bioshock Infinite, and Red Dead Redemption 2 are.

 

[YNWA14]

Hm.

I love Joel and Ellie. Delita from FFT is one of my all time favs also.

 

[J T Money]

Hm.

I love Joel and Ellie. Delita from FFT is one of my all time favs also.

Was just about to post Delita...definitely my favorite.

 

[Sprague Cleghorn]

At #1 for me, it’s Majima from the Yakuza series and by a long shot.

Dont really have a strong opinion on who’s next

 

[LokiDog]

Geralt of Rivia

Estinien Wyrmblood

Kratos in GoW 3


Honorable mentions for Link, Samus and Ezio.

 

[Ducks in a row]

Samus Aran #1

Kratos #2

Mega Man #3

The top 2 spots are set while the #3 spot can change from time to time

 

[LarKing]

In no order:

Master Chief - the ultimate badass and my OG. Hate how all the other Halo games tried to make every main character just like him. There is only one Master Chief.

Garrus from Mass Effect - loved the storylines with him and Shepherd. The stuff in ME3 with the other Turians and the galaxy ending was just so well written.

KOTR - I cant pick here. Just so many good stories with incredible writing. Gun to my head I’ll say Revan, Jolee, and Kreia.

John Marston and Arthur Morgan - didn’t love Marston in RDR2 but he was fantastic in the first one. Super fleshed out character that gets a very realistic ending imo. Arthur Morgan incredible as well.

Price and Soap from COD - such a badass duo. Never cared for COD storylines more than Modern Warfare even with 3 being kinda weak.

 

[jprenkert]

Arthur Morgan
Hank and Connor - Detroit: Becoming Human

 

[Nickmo82]

Add another vote to both Geralt and Majima.

Third one... hmm. Maybe Lee from the first Telltale Walking Dead game. That first season was actually damn good, then they followed it up with increasingly less interesting installments.

 

[YoSoyLalo]

1. James Sunderland (Silent Hill 2)
2. John Marston (Red Dead)
3. Ark (Terranigma)

HM: Happy Mask Dealer and Midna (Zelda)

Now that I’ve beaten RDR 2 i think I’d have Arthur over John. RDR1 is a better video game, but Arthur is such a great f***ing character

jame Sunderland and SH2 still unmatched. Most profound video game I’ve ever played and the closest competitors are light years behind.

 

[kmart]

1. max payne
2. jack (mass effect)
3. guybrush threepwood (monkey island series)

 

[MakeTheGoalsLarger]

1.Ken from Street Fighter II- perfect moves, perfect look (f*** off Ryu!)
2.Mallow from Mario RPG: because he was so nice and cute and helpful and a poor little kid searching for his parents.

 

[JJ68]

Artur Fkn Morgan

 

[Memento]

1. Legion (Mass Effect 2/3). It was such a twist to find that this geth - a major antagonist in the first game - had been following Shepard, not to kill him, but to join him in his fight against the Reapers. Legion basically was more intelligent than most geth due to a host of geth that made his physical platform work (prompting the name "Legion"), and he raised so many questions on what could be considered to have a soul. Asimov would've had a field day with Legion, and ultimately - in the best outcome where you spare both quarian and geth - he sacrifices his own life, just when he gained full sentience and fully realizes what it's like to die, to give the rest of the geth full sentience to help join the fight against the Reapers. He's my favorite Mass Effect character - out of a cast that includes Wrex, Drack (don't shame me for liking Andromeda; I loved it), Mordin, Tali, Garrus, Liara, Vetra, Peebee, Jaal, Samara, Thane, etc.

2. Connor Kenway (Assassin's Creed 3). I could've chosen any of the Assassins from other games - Ezio, Altair, Edward Kenway, Bayek, Aya, or Kassandra - but something about Connor simply spoke to me. He's mixed-race (part Native American, part Caucasian) in a time where he would've been looked down upon for being whom he is. His mother was killed early in his life by people he thought to be Templars. But he simply looks for the good in everyone, is one of the nicest characters in this series, even tries to make peace with the Brotherhood's sworn enemies, knowing all the good it could do. His fate particularly sucks because he loses everyone he ever cared about for a cause that isn't even his. But I have to say that the way he keeps getting back up after getting knocked down, his determination, his unfailing kindness...we could all try our best to be like Connor.

3. Silver (Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal/HeartGold/SoulSilver). This is a controversial decision, I admit. I could've gone with most of the evil team leaders (Giovanni, Guzma, N, and Colress being the main ones), some of the rivals (Gary, Cheren, Bianca, Hau, Gladion, Hop, etc.), even some of the leaders/Elite Four/Champions. But Silver arguably had the most growth out of any character in the series. He starts out as a petty thief, stealing the starter who's stronger than yours. He basically continues to act like an abusive asshole towards his Pokemon, is a constant dick to you, and refuses to admit he's less skilled in battle than others are. But he at least has a good excuse for being that way: Giovanni basically abandoned him as a kid for the sake of Team Rocket, and Silver wants to prove that he can never be weak again. But eventually, he starts to care more about his Pokemon, and slowly begins to understand what he lacks. He grows from a evil prick to someone who - while he'll never be your friend - at least becomes somewhat of a good person.

Honorable mentions (that aren't from the series I mentioned): Talion (Shadow of Mordor/Shadow of War), Zevran (Dragon Age: Origins), Fenris (Dragon Age 2).

 

[robertmac43]

2. Connor Kenway (Assassin's Creed 3). I could've chosen any of the Assassins from other games - Ezio, Altair, Edward Kenway, Bayek, Aya, or Kassandra - but something about Connor simply spoke to me. He's mixed-race (part Native American, part Caucasian) in a time where he would've been looked down upon for being whom he is. His mother was killed early in his life by people he thought to be Templars. But he simply looks for the good in everyone, is one of the nicest characters in this series, even tries to make peace with the Brotherhood's sworn enemies, knowing all the good it could do. His fate particularly sucks because he loses everyone he ever cared about for a cause that isn't even his. But I have to say that the way he keeps getting back up after getting knocked down, his determination, his unfailing kindness...we could all try our best to be like Connor.

Connor is a great shout and one that has not been mentioned frequently in here. I think AC3's mixed reputation hurts peoples perception of him.

 

[ViktorBaeArvidsson]

Nazeem - Skyrim
Tails - Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Paragon - Marvel: Rise of the Imperfects <- this game was the best when I was a kid

 

[East Coast Icestyle]

1. Legion (Mass Effect 2/3). It was such a twist to find that this geth - a major antagonist in the first game - had been following Shepard, not to kill him, but to join him in his fight against the Reapers. Legion basically was more intelligent than most geth due to a host of geth that made his physical platform work (prompting the name "Legion"), and he raised so many questions on what could be considered to have a soul. Asimov would've had a field day with Legion, and ultimately - in the best outcome where you spare both quarian and geth - he sacrifices his own life, just when he gained full sentience and fully realizes what it's like to die, to give the rest of the geth full sentience to help join the fight against the Reapers. He's my favorite Mass Effect character - out of a cast that includes Wrex, Drack (don't shame me for liking Andromeda; I loved it), Mordin, Tali, Garrus, Liara, Vetra, Peebee, Jaal, Samara, Thane, etc.

2. Connor Kenway (Assassin's Creed 3). I could've chosen any of the Assassins from other games - Ezio, Altair, Edward Kenway, Bayek, Aya, or Kassandra - but something about Connor simply spoke to me. He's mixed-race (part Native American, part Caucasian) in a time where he would've been looked down upon for being whom he is. His mother was killed early in his life by people he thought to be Templars. But he simply looks for the good in everyone, is one of the nicest characters in this series, even tries to make peace with the Brotherhood's sworn enemies, knowing all the good it could do. His fate particularly sucks because he loses everyone he ever cared about for a cause that isn't even his. But I have to say that the way he keeps getting back up after getting knocked down, his determination, his unfailing kindness...we could all try our best to be like Connor.

3. Silver (Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal/HeartGold/SoulSilver). This is a controversial decision, I admit. I could've gone with most of the evil team leaders (Giovanni, Guzma, N, and Colress being the main ones), some of the rivals (Gary, Cheren, Bianca, Hau, Gladion, Hop, etc.), even some of the leaders/Elite Four/Champions. But Silver arguably had the most growth out of any character in the series. He starts out as a petty thief, stealing the starter who's stronger than yours. He basically continues to act like an abusive asshole towards his Pokemon, is a constant dick to you, and refuses to admit he's less skilled in battle than others are. But he at least has a good excuse for being that way: Giovanni basically abandoned him as a kid for the sake of Team Rocket, and Silver wants to prove that he can never be weak again. But eventually, he starts to care more about his Pokemon, and slowly begins to understand what he lacks. He grows from a evil prick to someone who - while he'll never be your friend - at least becomes somewhat of a good person.

Honorable mentions (that aren't from the series I mentioned): Talion (Shadow of Mordor/Shadow of War), Zevran (Dragon Age: Origins), Fenris (Dragon Age 2).

Legion was an awesome character and definitely my favourite! I loved Garrus but didn't enjoy the direction his character took after the first game.

 

[Mikeaveli]

Not many really stand out to me to be honest.

Joshua Graham - Fallout: New Vegas
GLaDOS - Portal 2

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Locke Cole from Final Fantasy VI
Amaterasu from Okami
Daruk from Breath of the Wild

 

[TimeZone]

Gray Fox (MGS)

Solid Snake (MGS)

Arthur Morgan (RDR2)

 

[Nizdizzle]

Nazeem - Skyrim
Tails - Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Paragon - Marvel: Rise of the Imperfects <- this game was the best when I was a kid

Is he the guy who is always sassing me about not going to the Cloud district enough?

 

[ViktorBaeArvidsson]

Is he the guy who is always sassing me about not going to the Cloud district enough?

“Do you get to the cloud district very often? Oh what am I saying of course you don’t.”

 

[robertmac43]

Jin Sakai is starting to creep up my rankings!