Top 5 Video Game Characters of ALL TIME

[sweetloaf]

So, I've been playing a lot of character driven games lately and I got to thinking about how absolutely perfect some of these characters actually are. So here's my list. Feel free to post yours! In fact, I encourage it!

5. Duke Edmun Dragonsbane (Dragon's Dogma)

Edmun is easily one of the most real characters I have ever seen in any game, regardless of genre. His motivation and eventual transformation are some of the most believable and horrifying scenes I have ever been a part of. I would recommend Dragon's Dogma solely based on this character alone. (And Dogma is a game RIFE with amazing characters)

4. Wander (Shadow of the Colossus)

I don't care what anyone says about the story in Shadow of the Colossus, in fact I just told one of my friends as much as he went on and on about how awful it was. This game has one of, if not, the BEST stories I have ever experienced. Wander's story is one of an, arguably, selfish individuals quest to bring back the one he loves. He sacrifices everything for this girl, even to the point of (unknowingly?) making a deal with the evilness of his world, and all for it to come crashing down on him at the end.

3. Robert Joseph "Mayor" MacCready (Fallout 3)

This is my favorite character in the Fallout series. I know he gets a lot of flak for being obnoxious, but come on. He's a badass thirteen year old that leads a group of neverland misfits in the post apocalyptic ruins of Washington DC. Don't be such a fucking mungo and respect the little bastard.

2. Delta (Bioshock 2)

For a silent protagonist, Delta really hit home for me. His story is undeniably the saddest of all the games, and he is just so full of a loneliness that I hope I never have to experience. His connection with Eleanor was done so fabulously that I shed a lone tear for the guy when the ending rolled around.

1. Joel (The Last of Us)

Expected, I'm sure, but god damnit. Joel was the fucking hero of video games this year. He was also, arguably, the worst person to be a protagonist until GTA V's motley of scumbags. His transformation over the course of the game was one so real that by the end of the game you're wondering if you just witnessed the actual apocalypse. I won't lie, I fucking sobbed like a baby at the end of this game. Not the true ending, but the ending you get if you fail to rescue Ellie. My jaw went slack, my heart stopped and my eyes exploded with tears. Then I got redirected back to my checkpoint and got the real ending, which was even fucking worse.

 

[Simpwn]

In all fairness I've only played one of the 5 games you've listed (Bioshock 2). If this is going to be a list of video game characters spanning across all consoles and generations I think you need to think more broadly than that. You need to account for characters that have built consoles from the ground up and have lasted through the generations.

Here are my top five.

5. Sonic

Sonic was the icon associated with the Sega Genesis. He continues to survive even while Sega is no longer in the console business.

4. Cloud Strife

When I think about my favorite RPG of all time nothing ever can surpass Final Fantasy 7. While the game mechanics were sound and graphics great for the original playstation, it was the story that kept everyone hooked. The revelation of Cloud's past and character development makes him one of my top 5.

3. Master Chief

Master Chief took Microsoft on his back and paved the way towards a new console wars thanks to the Xbox. He brought a new spin on the FPS genre that was focused more on multiplayer replay than single player story.

2. Link

The multiple stories and adventures of Link through out the console generations have helped shape the Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Gameboy, Gameboy Advance, Game Cube, Nintendo DS, Wii, and Wii U. Each time Link appears he brings adventure, excitement, and fun gameplay.

1. Mario

While the others in my list may have defined a generation or console or series of games, I think Mario defines gaming as a whole. He encompasses everything that is great about gaming. He is an icon that anyone recognizes (even my parents know who Mario is). He comes in many different variations and is timeless. You can pick up any Mario game at any time and have a great time playing it. Mario is gaming.

 

[sweetloaf]

/snip

I see where you're coming from, but my list (and my taste in general) is more about story/character development than gameplay. Many times I will play a "bad" game due to good characters. I also don't like platformers like Sonic and Mario.

 

[dainjre]

Here's mine...

5. Marcus Fenix

voiced by John DiMaggio, aka Bender. Awesome character for a shooter, way better than master chief IMO. Over the storyline of the games, he has quite a bit of character development.

4. Bang Shishigami

Bang is the loud-mouthed leader of a Ninja clan who's the sworn defender of love and justice. He has a strict "no kill" policy for even his most hated enemy, though he does want to beat the crap out of him. Also instead of shunai or stars, he uses rail road spikes as thrown weapons which is awesome.

3. Cave Johnson

Need I say more?

2. Ryu Hayabusa

this dude spits in the face of Oni during breakfast time, then goes and takes them on in a sneaking suit with naught but a sword and his insanely fast reflexes. Ryu is a badass.

1. Dante, son of Sparta

halfblood demon and devil hunter, Dante is the best video game character of all time. Hands down.

 

[Zakis]

This is a tough list but I am insanely disappointed my number one didn't come up here yet.

5. Three Dog

This is the man with the music and info to keep your ears happy as you make your way through the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Washington, D.C. Something about this guy's antics blaring over your pip-boy made the wasteland a little bit less lonely.

4. Nathan Drake

He is literally Indiana Jones for a new generation, the video game generation. He has a lust for solving ancient riddles and unlocking the past, quite a fair bit of humor, and his uncanny knack for finding trouble around every corner. Add to that the awesome voice actor Nolan North's stellar performances in all three games and you've got an epic character.

3. Booker DeWitt and Elizabeth

Wonderful writing and voice acting coupled with a dark, twisted story and short bouts of hope and happiness make these characters, and this game one of the best for me.

2. JC Denton

This is one of my most favorite games, if not the best game ever. In the dark future filled with human augmentation, government conspiracies, and terrorist groups(or are they freedom fighters), JC Denton was just a simple cop, until he ends up tangled in the fate of the world with some serious decisions to make along the way, as well as lots of people to blow up.

1.Gordon Freeman

While some may criticize him for being the 'silent protagonist' , the guy is just busy trying to save the world. When shit hit the fan, what does he do? Grabs a crowbar and goes to battle!

 

[dainjre]

Nevermind, I take it back... I want Solid Snake as my number 5.

nothing cooler than a foxhound

 

[sweetloaf]

I love Three Dog to death but god damn he gets annoying. Awoooooooo, children!

 

[Simpwn]

This is a tough list but I am insanely disappointed my number one didn't come up here yet.

I really considered Gordon for my list. However, I don't think he has had the broad appeal as some of the characters I have chosen.

 

[Euchale]

5. Horn

He is a character of a iPhone game that I recently installed and I simply love his story so far. Everything in his world is in a state of decay and there are huge robots walking around who say that the curse of flesh has been lifted. He is looking for a way to get humans back into the world.

4. Valnar Darnus

Main protagonist of the game Vampires Dawn. He was turned into a vampire, but managed to to keep his humanity.

3. Max Rovias

He figured out that something dark was going on, and instead of turning around and run away, he fought it. Also he made a medical journal about each creature you killed. Here a video:

Spoiler

2. Travis Touchdown

Killing everyone to revenge the death of his video game store owner.

1. Sheogorath

On one hand absolutely happy, on the other absolutely angry. On both sides insane.

 

[Baldoraxx]

5. Lui Kang

4. Sepiroth

3. Sonic

2. Booker DeWitt

1.Tidus

 

[Grimnar40k]

When I read the title my mind immediately went way back all nostalgic so I have to lean more toward Dainjre's kind of thinking with the list he put up. It's hard to not think about characters like Mario, Link, whoever the hell is in the Metroid suit, Mega Man, Sonic, John Madden(I kid) and all the other famous characters from our childhood. I think I was 5 years old when Nintendo came out so I grew up with these characters like kids these days grow up with SpongeBob and Dora. lol

 

[PsionicFox]

In no particular order, here are the five I think are my faves.

Sarevok:

Seriously. This guy goes from being your archnemesis and the 'big bad' to being a frenemie, and then (if you play it right), a very changed man who's seen the error of his ways.

Loghain Mac Tir:

Here's a bad guy who's motivation makes sense. There is little so terrifying as a man convinced of his own righteousness. And what a turn around (again if you play it right).

GLaDOS:

Deliciously evil, the all-seeing mastermind of your time in the Apeture Science testing facility. Until you kill her. And then resurrect her. And then save her from betrayal. It gets weird. But it doesn't stop being awesome.

Geralt of Rivia:

One of the most badass characters to ever grace videogames. Don't believe me? Go look up Killing Monsters on youtube. This guy is fucking batman. And he has a kickass story to boot.

Ezio Auditore da Firenze:

You want character evolution? Ezio has it in SPADES. This image does a fantastic job at showing that. From young carefree noble to angry youth out from blood, and all the way through to wise master assassin, Ezio's life is a turbulent one. Perfect for this list.

 

[Simpwn]

2. Travis Touchdown

Killing everyone to revenge the death of his video game store owner.

These games were really awesome. I enjoyed it for what it was on the Wii, but wished they developed the character more. He would be great in a Smash Brothers series.

 

[Euchale]

Also pretty much everyone who is talked about in this vid.