By Reece Merryweather-Brown
Without its lead protagonist, a video game is nothing but a shallow husk of code. And so, I created this list to showcase the best of the best; the crème de la crème of videogame heroes, and anti-heroes.
Without its lead protagonist, a video game is nothing but a shallow husk of code. And so, I created this list to showcase the best of the best; the crème de la crème of videogame heroes, and anti-heroes.
10. Starkiller (Star Wars: The Force Unleashed)
Starkiller is the son of possibly one of the last Jedi in existence (excluding, y’know, Luke). After a battle that killed his father, he is found by Darth Vader, and, sensing the power in the boy, the Sith Lord takes him under his wing. After training him to the age of a young man, Starkiller’s conscience starts to kick in, as Darth sends him on missions to assassinate leaders of the Rebellion.
I really like Starkiller because he is really the embodiment of the word ‘rebel,’ not only going a different way than the path he is set upon, but completely changing direction. Along with this, playing as him is a personal dream come true, especially in his second outing, where I can throw AT-STs around like they weigh nothing.
I really like Starkiller because he is really the embodiment of the word ‘rebel,’ not only going a different way than the path he is set upon, but completely changing direction. Along with this, playing as him is a personal dream come true, especially in his second outing, where I can throw AT-STs around like they weigh nothing.
9. Nathan Drake (Uncharted series)
When Naughty Dog set out to make an adventure game, clearly they had Ms.Croft firmly in mind. But a female adventurer had been done already, so what about a male one. True, they’ve been done already, but never in so much style.
There’s not really any true origin story to Mr.Drake. He’s a treasure hunter, it’s what he does. He travels the globe looking for artefacts and what nots. So why do I like him so much? Because he’s hilarious, even while I’m beating the snot out of some man with an AK. Although having only really played the third instalment myself, I still really like this character, as he shows friendship, courage and loyalty. And if he shows all those in one game, he’s got to be good in the rest.
There’s not really any true origin story to Mr.Drake. He’s a treasure hunter, it’s what he does. He travels the globe looking for artefacts and what nots. So why do I like him so much? Because he’s hilarious, even while I’m beating the snot out of some man with an AK. Although having only really played the third instalment myself, I still really like this character, as he shows friendship, courage and loyalty. And if he shows all those in one game, he’s got to be good in the rest.
8. Batman (Arkham Asylum/Arkham City)
Do you really need me to explain to you why I love Batman? He’s Batman for goodness sake! How could I not put him on this list! He’s everything a superhero should be, with silently badass added on the side.
The caped crusader is not only a great character, but in Rocksteady’s Arkham games, it feels like being the dark knight, rather than some cheap impersonation.
The caped crusader is not only a great character, but in Rocksteady’s Arkham games, it feels like being the dark knight, rather than some cheap impersonation.
7. Max Payne (Max Payne 3)
I’ve never been a massive fan of Max Payne. I never played the PS2 games, or the PC games. Never saw the film, though I’m told that’s a good thing. But, nothing, nothing can beat the pure poetry of his latest outing. Max, an ex-cop, ex-husband and ex-father, is not a happy guy. Drinking every night at a bar, -in a vain attempt at drowning his sorrows-, he meets an ex-cop friend; Raul Passos. He tells Max that there’s a job for him, if he wants it; a paid holiday in the sun, looking after a rich family. When Max then kills the son of a mob-boss, it’s clear he has no choice but to acccept.
A lot of people don’t like Max, mainly due to the overwhelming sense that he wants to die. I, on the other hand, love him, because I get the overwhelming sense that he has nothing to lose. And this makes him unintentionally hilarious at points and at others ‘so deep I can’t even see him.’ He wields metaphors and similes like a man with an English degree as he puts bullet after bullet in the heads of his enemies. While Max may not be the most likeable character on this list, he’s certainly one of the most intricately designed.
A lot of people don’t like Max, mainly due to the overwhelming sense that he wants to die. I, on the other hand, love him, because I get the overwhelming sense that he has nothing to lose. And this makes him unintentionally hilarious at points and at others ‘so deep I can’t even see him.’ He wields metaphors and similes like a man with an English degree as he puts bullet after bullet in the heads of his enemies. While Max may not be the most likeable character on this list, he’s certainly one of the most intricately designed.
6. Ghost (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2)
Ghost is definitely my favourite character of any army-based FPS. Why? Because he’s tough, dependable and now a martyr, which only makes me love him more. His name suggests stealth, yet when the going gets tough he’s always there for you. Oh and he’s British. Your argument is invalid.
5. Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad (Assassin's Creed)
Altaïr is a member the Assassins, and elite group who wage war against the Crusaders in the first game of the series from Ubisoft. The Crusaders lust after a powerful artefact, that has been passed down through time, known as the Apple of Eden. After breaking the rules of the creed (hence the name) that the Assassins live by, he is disgraced and made to start from the beginning again. Altaïr is a great character for me, for a lot of reasons.
Out of all the Assassins so far Altaïr s my favourite, being the original and the smartest, and also the most headstrong. While the game itself misses out on certain elements, Altaïr s disgrace allows a great way to integrate a levelling up system that makes sense and works really well, and watching such an arrogant character turn into a likeable person feels very rewarding.
Out of all the Assassins so far Altaïr s my favourite, being the original and the smartest, and also the most headstrong. While the game itself misses out on certain elements, Altaïr s disgrace allows a great way to integrate a levelling up system that makes sense and works really well, and watching such an arrogant character turn into a likeable person feels very rewarding.
4. Jason Brody (Far Cry 3)
Jason Brody (or "Brrrrody", as I like to say in a South African accent a la Hoyt Volker) is a great character. Another fella from our friends over at Ubisoft, although in a very different game. Jason starts off as a rich-kid; the annoying person who has it all, thanks to Daddy or Mummy’s success. But, after landing on a strange island after skydiving, he’s kidnapped along with his brothers and close friends. Talking face to face with Vaas Montenegro, -the leader of a murderous gang of pirates-, it’s clear that everyone on this island is insane. The main thing I love about this character shows up right at the beginning. When Jason is in danger, he runs. Yep, just runs. He does not bump into an enemy during his sprint, grab his assault rifle and go full-on Rambo. He does not come back around to do a sneak attack on that aforementioned insane pirate. He just runs away. From the off, Jason acts like a real person would act in this scenario and, while not particularly slowly, he turns from scared rich-kid, to hardened survivalist, to accomplished warrior.
(Though it's hard to ignore the fact he looks like Jack Whitehall from a distant, Ed.)
(Though it's hard to ignore the fact he looks like Jack Whitehall from a distant, Ed.)
3. [the good] Cole McGrath (InFamous series)
Ah, Cole, you shiny headed superhero you. Cole is a courier. His day starts off as any would as he delivers his package. But something is strange. Upon arriving at his destination, he meets a man. He tells him to open it. It reveals a perfect sphere, glowing with energy. And again the man urges, open it. The blast kills thousands, and the fallout even more and death tolls stack up due to the collapse of scenery. And at the centre, unconscious, lays Cole McGrath, gifted now with the powers of electricity. Now, you may notice that up there, I put the good Cole McGrath. That’s because, if you didn’t know, InFamous is not just about frying innocent people with your lightning hands, it’s also about doing the opposite of that, being a superhero. Sure, you can fry people, but they’re not going to like you much, hence the title InFamous, meaning you can be either infamous, or just famous. I like good Cole for a lot of reasons. Though the main reason might be because I like the colour blue (that’s the colour his powers are if you’re good), the other is that Cole’s a really nice person to everyone. Starting in the middle of the Karmic meter, people don’t know you, but as you slowly gain the people’s respect, or indeed disrespect, people will act differently to you, and it feels great to be cheered on when you’re kicking the electrodes out of dustman or zapping 100 volts into a First Son.
2. Joel (The Last of Us)
Another Playstation exclusive character now; Joel. I bet you thought he was going to nab top spot didn’t you? Well, not today my friends, though I'll tell you it was close. Joel was a dad. He looked after his little girl as best he could, but when mushroom zombies start charging at everything, it got a little too hard. After fighting his way through a regular small-town zombie invasion he can see salvation. But then, a soldier stops them and is ordered to shoot to kill.
Joel from the start is shown as a protector. It shows you what he was and then throws you forward to show you what he is now as a result of losing the person he had to protect. And what use is a protector without someone to protect. Instead Joel becomes a hard-arse, not getting too emotionally involved with anyone. But the beauty of his character is that, as you play the game, you start to see glimpses of that protective nature more and more frequently until he is once again Joel the Protector. Especially in that interrogation scene...
Joel from the start is shown as a protector. It shows you what he was and then throws you forward to show you what he is now as a result of losing the person he had to protect. And what use is a protector without someone to protect. Instead Joel becomes a hard-arse, not getting too emotionally involved with anyone. But the beauty of his character is that, as you play the game, you start to see glimpses of that protective nature more and more frequently until he is once again Joel the Protector. Especially in that interrogation scene...
1. John Marston Sr. (Red Dead Redemption)
Lead character of Rockstar Games' wild west sandbox is my favourite character in, possibly, all of video-gaming. The ex-bandit leaves his gang when his gang leaves him, opting to start a family on his own little farm where he can finally live a normal life. But then, three years later, his wife and son are kidnapped by the government and he is forced to hunt down the men he used to ride with. One reason I love John Marston is because of his morals. Often he remarks that, while he did kill people and rob them, he only did it to those who were undeserving of their wealth and life, instead then giving the riches to poorer people, like a wild west Robin Hood. He has uncanny skills with almost all weaponry, with the Dead Eye mechanic making him a joy to play as.
In addition to this, he's a very modern man, for instance he believes that hitting or beating your children isn’t right, and that explaining the faults in what they have done wrong is much better. At the end of the day, Marston is a large part of why I love Red Dead (and they really don't write them like Rockstar does), so how could he not get the top spot?
In addition to this, he's a very modern man, for instance he believes that hitting or beating your children isn’t right, and that explaining the faults in what they have done wrong is much better. At the end of the day, Marston is a large part of why I love Red Dead (and they really don't write them like Rockstar does), so how could he not get the top spot?
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